My 6th grader is reading a book about what?

Last year, when Emily entered High School, I decided to read whatever books that her English teacher assigned for her to read. Mostly because...if I am going to be able to help her with projects, tests and papers, I will need to have read the material.  Last year, I read To Kill a Mockingbird and Whirligig for Honors English.
This year, I had no intention of reading the book list for 6th grade English, but when I heard about the book my son would be reading, I thought it best to read ahead.
One Friday, Jonathan said "Mom, we need to get The Hunger Games by Monday."  The Hunger Games is a book that I had heard of here and there. Many of the young girls I work with at the hospital have been reading the series with the same enthusiasm as The Twilight Series. I suppose for that reason, I did not expect it to be fit for a 6th grader. That weekend at work, I asked a few girls about the possibility of borrowing a copy of the book, forgetting that most of them read with E-readers. While talking, someone gave me a quick summary of the overall theme of the book.
"So, my 6th grader is going to read about an arena filled with children fighting each other until only one of them is left alive!?"  I said, "Are you sure this appropriate?"
"Oh sure! It's really good!" was the response!
At that point, I knew I had to get right on it. It took a total of about 48 hours for me to finish the book! I read until 1:20 am the first night. The next day, as soon as Jonathan got home from school, I grabbed the book and read more. I had to stop for him to read, but I knew eventually he would go to bed, and I would have the book and the children and the fighting and the killing all to myself. Of course, that night, I read until I finished.

 Jonathan is still reading it and very close to the end. He is not a reader. Even though he only reads the assigned 3 chapters a day, I have not had to nag him once. He finds a quiet place and jumps in. I can see him deep in the pages, in the arena, looking over his shoulder wondering what will happen next. A few days more and we will see if the enthusiasm will carry him into the next book in the series even though it will not be required. Of course, I will need to read it first.

What are your kids reading? Required or for pleasure?

I'm linking up late to alphabe-Thursday! Join the fun at Jenny Matlock's blog!