Getting a 13 Year Old Boy to Read a Book
By MARILYN
@Marilynda1225 (80018)
United States
August 9, 2018 12:17pm CST
It would be easier to push a boulder up the side of a mountain than get my grandson to sit and read the book he has to read before school starts.
The book he was assigned and has to do a report on is Endangered by Eliot Schrefer. My grandsons complain is that it's about a girl (I'm not a girl he says) and it's about monkeys (I don't like monkeys he says).
Here's a little synopsis of the book:
From National Book Award Finalist Eliot Schrefer comes the compelling tale of a girl who must save a group of bonobos -- and herself -- from a violent coup.
Congo is a dangerous place, even for people who are trying to do good.
When Sophie has to visit her mother at her sanctuary for bonobos, she’s not thrilled to be there. Then Otto, an infant bonobo, comes into her life, and for the first time she feels responsible for another creature.
But peace does not last long for Sophie and Otto. When an armed revolution breaks out in the country, the sanctuary is attacked, and the two of them must escape unprepared into the jungle. Caught in the crosshairs of a lethal conflict, they must struggle to keep safe, to eat, and to live.
(synopsis from Amazon)
This book got good reviews and it sounds interesting to me. But I almost have to agree with my grandson that it probably isn't anything that would be of interest to him.
I'm hoping he can read this book and get some enjoyment out of it and maybe one day he'll enjoy reading like I do.
Has anyone read this book or any of your kids have to read it for school?
12 people like this
14 responses
@Courtlynn (66918)
• United States
9 Aug 18
Not into reading myself, and that book definitely wouldn't get me into being one either.
Hope he can fight through it though to get it done for school.
2 people like this
@Marilynda1225 (80018)
• United States
9 Aug 18
I'm afraid he's going to have to buckle down and get it done. I do feel bad for him
1 person likes this
@Courtlynn (66918)
• United States
9 Aug 18
@Marilynda1225 right. maybe if he does it fast enough, it wont hurt so much lol
1 person likes this
@PainsOnSlate (21854)
• Canada
9 Aug 18
I haven't heard of it yet... My library is my favorite place...
2 people like this
@andriaperry (116860)
• Anniston, Alabama
9 Aug 18
No not this book but I used to read what the kids had to read, I was curious.
2 people like this
@Marilynda1225 (80018)
• United States
9 Aug 18
I'm almost curious enough to read it myself just to see why it would be recommended for middle school
@Hannihar (129607)
• Israel
10 Aug 18
@Marilynda1225
Why can't he read something that does interest him?
1 person likes this
@Marilynda1225 (80018)
• United States
10 Aug 18
Because this book was assigned as a summer reading project for school. He has to do a report on it when he returns to school in Sept.
1 person likes this
@Hannihar (129607)
• Israel
10 Aug 18
@Marilynda1225
That is too bad he cannot choose something he would like instead of that one.
@Marilynda1225 (80018)
• United States
9 Aug 18
I feel bad for him especially since his parents are constantly yelling at him to read it and get it over with. School starts soon and he's procrastinated all summer
1 person likes this
@Marilynda1225 (80018)
• United States
10 Aug 18
@Courage7 he said the same thing
1 person likes this
@Courage7 (19633)
• United States
9 Aug 18
@Marilynda1225 Yes I do feel bad for him too. A thing like this can put kids off reading. Shame they dont let them pick
1 person likes this
@snowy22315 (170719)
• United States
9 Aug 18
I haven't heard of it. I guess it might help to tell him that part of the reason we read is to open our mind to new experiences..yeah, I know pretty lame..but it's the best I could come up with!
1 person likes this
@Marilynda1225 (80018)
• United States
9 Aug 18
I wholeheartedly agree even though I feel bad for him. Just another life lesson
1 person likes this
@MALUSE (69409)
• Germany
9 Aug 18
Can you promise him a reward when he's written the synopsis*? One shouldn't have to bribe someone to make them discover the joys of reading but if it helps in the long run . . .
*not copied from amazon, of course. Maybe you can find questions on the book somewhere for which there are no answers on the net.
1 person likes this
@Marilynda1225 (80018)
• United States
9 Aug 18
Don't know if a bribe will work but it's certainly worth trying it
@akalinus (40674)
• United States
9 Aug 18
My son would not read in school. A teacher assigned him to read the Hobbit. I made him open the book and start reading. He read for a bit and was hooked. Since then, he has read hundreds, maybe thousands of books. He has read just about every fantasy book ever written and branched out from there.
1 person likes this
@Marilynda1225 (80018)
• United States
9 Aug 18
That's amazing that your son developed such a love of reading
1 person likes this
@akalinus (40674)
• United States
9 Aug 18
@Marilynda1225 I was ready to give up until he read the Hobbit.
1 person likes this
@JESSY3236 (19008)
• United States
10 Aug 18
I haven't read it. When I was in school, I didn't like reading books they assigned us to read. I rather read Sweet Valley High books when I was in school. Although I did like White Fang.
1 person likes this
@Marilynda1225 (80018)
• United States
10 Aug 18
I think kids would be more inclined to read it they could pick their own books
1 person likes this
@Marilynda1225 (80018)
• United States
10 Aug 18
This book doesn't seem to be a book for his age and with such a huge choice of books for young adults you would think that the teacher would have chosen something more in tune with both sexes
@JohnRoberts (109857)
• Los Angeles, California
9 Aug 18
Never heard of the book. I have been a reader since I could remember. I was the book report champion of the 4th, 5th and 6th grades. I was getting into more adult books by age 13. But I am from a far different generation of the past.
1 person likes this
@Marilynda1225 (80018)
• United States
9 Aug 18
That's pretty remarkable John and here you are today still loving books. I hope my grandson discovers a passion for reading too
1 person likes this
@moichan (666)
• Philippines
10 Aug 18
Maybe you can give him a treat or something he likes if he will read the book. I bet every kid would love to be compensated to do things they don't want to do.
