“Oh Potter, you rotter, what have you done?”
Last November my husband began reading Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone to our son. After a few chapters, they were both hooked. Within a few weeks, they were on to book two.
One weekend our son told us that he had been thinking about some things from the first book and wanted to know if he could reread it to himself. This is where it all began.
He reread the first two books, and was then frustrated with the pace at which my husband was reading book three aloud to him. We told him that he could go on and read it to himself. He was enchanted by Harry and Hogwarts, and there was no stopping him.
When it was time for book seven he dove right in, but, he put the book down after about three chapters. He has been elusive in his reasons for not finishing, so we haven’t pressed. I’m thinking he was scared; others have suggested that he probably doesn’t want it to end.
When he put book seven down, we thought that after almost eight months of nonstop Harry Potter, he would read something else. We couldn’t have been more wrong.
Each day he picked one of the Harry Potter books and carried it around all day long. He would read various chapters and passages at random, then decided to start at book one again. The books have become an additional appendage on his body. They are dog-eared, stained, tattered, and strewn about the house.
At first I thought this was great, he was reading and loving what he was reading. But then, as the calendar moved toward September it hit me that he hasn’t read much other than Harry Potter for almost a year. I asked friends for suggestions: What did their kids read after Harry Potter?
Percy Jackson was a fail, but children’s Greek mythology books were a hit. The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, score! Meanwhile, Encyclopedia Brown and The Hardy Boys are collecting dust as Harry Potter continues to log many miles.
I decided to ask my fellow GeekMoms if their children had done this with Harry Potter, and whether I should just let it go, or encourage other books. Many responded that their kids had a similar experience with Harry Potter. Some let it go, and some encouraged one other book in between each Harry Potter book. Many also shared with me their own book obsessions. There were also a few responses that stopped me in my tracks.
GeekMom Samantha had this to say, “…there is clearly something he is working out, something he is grappling with that the books are providing for him. Something that only reading them over and over will give him. Eventually, he will move on when he comes to his moment of clarity or closure.”
GeekMom Ariane posed this succinct question, “What’s your concern with this behavior?”
What was my concern? Honestly, I still can’t completely answer that question. I guess I would prefer that he read a variety of books. Maybe I feel that that is what he is “supposed” to do? Maybe I fear an unhealthy obsession? I seriously don’t know. I don’t even know if I am that concerned, or if it’s just that I think that maybe I should be. Ariane stumped me.
With all of the GeekMom responses in mind, and my inability to pinpoint what my concerns were, we decided to let it go but keep other new books available to him.
Last weekend we visited our favorite local bookstore. The owners chatted with our son and helped him pick out some great new books for us to read to him, and for him to read on his own. He has read one and the others are sitting on the coffee table, waiting…
I have asked him many times why he keeps reading the books. He usually just shrugs and keeps on reading. Today I told him that I was going to write about his love for Harry Potter. This time he looked up and said, “I just don’t want it to end.” With GeekMom Sam’s words in my head, I told him that as long as he keeps reading them, the adventure will continue.
When I am really tired, or just bored, and don’t want to start a new book (which can keep me up, sad to say) I reach for HP. I have read them over and over again (I was in high school or college when they came out)– it’s like having a friend waiting there for you. I wouldn’t worry about it. All kids have their favorite things, and no one would worry if their kid played with the same truck over and over again, would they? Of course not.
Good thing your child LIKES to read, and CAN read.. right?
Both of my daughters loved both the Harry Potters and all of the Rick Riordan books, but I get discouraged with just how long the books are. I feel like it’s such a marathon that they don’t get that sense of urgency and massive motivation to read that comes with a book where you’re introduced to a bunch of characters and you can find out everything that happens to them within several hours of reading.
My daughter, now 14, discovered Harry Potter several years ago. She read and reread it repeatedly. When she discover fanfic she read them again, along with many, many Harry Potter fanfics. She has since moved on and reads a variety of books – but, her Harry Potter books remain a tried and true favorite. Her favorite parts are marked and she still occasionally goes back to reread certain parts.
A response to Cristen’s concerns from an geek educator.
http://popgoestheclassroom.com/2013/09/13/geekmom-asks-about-harry-potter/