Earlier this year JJ gave me my first warning. It went something like, “Mom. You have one more year of reading and then it’s done.” I’ve blocked out the exact words and the exact timing as one does when stabbed directly in the heart with a blunt baby spoon found in the back of a silverware drawer. We’ve been reading every night for twelve years. Based on my last count, it’s been at least 60 chapter books just in the past five.
The countdown started sometime around his twelfth birthday as I remember the explanation being something about “It’s too childish.” Harumph. I pouted on the floor.
So we read A Long Walk to Water, and a bunch of tweenager books by Gordon Korman, and all three of the My Side of the Mountain trilogy. During this past series, I was reading the first book and was instantly struck with a twinge of sixth grade quasi plagiaristic guilt– apparently I’d copied the idea of an escaped convict sleeping in a forest fort when I turned it into a creative writing story. Who knew? Hopefully not my sixth grade teacher, Mr. Post.
We wrapped up Frightful’s Mountain and needed another book, stat. I didn’t want to let too many days pass for fear of the warning being activated early. Jake recommended The Ranger’s Apprentice because kids at school have said good things. We looked up the sample and I was reminded we’d already started this book and I hit the eject button. The first sentence alone will explain why:
“Morgarath, Lord of the Mountains of Rain and Night, former Baron of Gorlan in the Kingdom of Araluen, looked out over his bleak, rainswept domain and, for perhaps the thousandth time, cursed.”
The first word alone is exactly what I don’t like in my reading for pleasure. Add the introduction of creatures called Wargals described as “stocky, misshapen beings, with features that were halfway human, but with a long, brutish muzzle and fangs like a bear or a large dog” and you’ve lost me exactly one page in. I mean really. I read every single book written by the author of the Percy Jackson series where he took us to various versions of the underworld multiple times in assorted cultures and I’d say I’ve done my time in adolescent boy hell.
But Jacob convinced me to power on and we’re several chapters in. Now it’s mostly knights and castles and somewhat Harry Potter-esque so it’s getting better. They just went through the Choosing Ceremony which wasn’t a talking witch’s hat but… basically makes my misstep in sixth grade look quite mild in comparison.
I’ve just looked up that there are 16 books in this series so far. Brilliant.
Mark my words… I’m gonna get an extension.