Book club books

Jordan's classmate's mom has initiated a "moms and boys book club," which sounds like a pretty good time. The idea is that moms and boys pick a book to all read, and we get together around once a month to discuss it and hang out. (As with most book clubs, there is a small amount of discussing the book and a large amount of socializing.) The hosting mom did this with her older son's cohort and loved it; it lasted for years. 

The first meeting of the book club was this weekend. Various boys brought books that they wanted to read, and voted on their choice. I had not heard of most of the books, but one of them was Ender's Game. Really? For fourth grade? I first read that book in grad school. I think it is at least middle school, and that it's too good a book to waste on younger kids. That whole thing where it's not clear whether it's a simulation battle or the real thing would either totally freak Jordan out or go straight over his head, hopefully the latter. And I don't remember how violent it is...? Even aside from the content, there is no way this book is at his reading level. Now, the hosting family has a middle school kid, so their fourth grader is probably reading his books, and I'm not going to judge that. Aaron gets stuff that we would not have offered Jordan at that age. But still... I was a little disoriented when it got voted in.

Fortunately there are terrific resources for parents to vet kids' media choices. My favorite is Common Sense Media, which reviews not only books but also movies, video games, apps, you name it. And thank goodness, because the boys' first-choice book was one I hadn't heard of called Maze Runner, and I was able to quickly look it up. Here's part of the review:  

"Parents need to know that the scenes of violence are stronger in this book and more graphic than those of, say, The Hunger Games, partly because at times it is adults murdering children, and not from a distance or out of sight. The teens stranded in the Maze have their memories wiped, but they are still aware on some level that they are being held captive and endangered by adults, not monsters or other children. Some of the teens in the Maze go insane from the fear, the attacks, or in one case, the memory of the world he had left behind. Main characters are conscientious and risk their lives to save others."

Whaaaat? That is so far from Jordan I can't even begin to tell you. There is no way I would suggest that he read such a book. I don't even think he would want to be present where such a book was being discussed. But none of the other moms had lifted an eyebrow. Are there actually fourth graders for whom this is a good book? Is our family so far from the norm? This is one of these things that is just really hard to know; we have had casual contact with these families for years, but don't know any of them very well. Instead of shouting "Who are you people?!" which would have been rather unhelpful, I wrote the other parents this letter:

Hello friends, 

I really enjoyed hanging out with you all yesterday, and would look forward to discussing books with you and the boys. Unfortunately, it turns out that at least two of the three are much too mature for Jordan. After reading the review of Maze Runner on Common Sense Media, which is usually pretty right-on for our family, I feel sure that that book would shock and frighten him; I wouldn't ask him to read it. I don't think he'd want to be present for a discussion of it whether he had read it or not.  

Ender's Game is a fantastic book but I think much better for a middle-school kid than a fourth grader; I would rather suggest that to Jordan when he is older and can appreciate it more. The Candymakers story sounds more matched to Jordan's maturity level, but at 480 pages, it's a lot more than he would read. 

Maybe Jordan and I can show up after the book discussion is over, just to socialize. If there is another chance to choose books, here are some that look promising to me: 

Infinity Ring: A Mutiny in Time, The Big Field, Best Shot in the West: The Adventures of Nat Love, This Means War

Thanks!
Rachel

I am hugely relieved to report that various parents replied with shock once they found out something about the book. Everyone who spoke up does not want (and some would not allow) their fourth grader to read it. The one whose kid brought the book said her kid "can't watch the Wizard of Oz without covering his face with a pillow" and would never knowingly choose such a book. So it seems like like no one really knew what they were choosing.

Instead, we will be reading The Candymakers, which is a goofy mystery that takes place in a candy factory, aimed at 8-12 year olds. Phew. And we have agreed that next time, the moms choose the book!