My 10yo going into 5th grade has read it. She read George too. She’s fine. Hopefully it helped her understand what other kids might be growing thru and have some empathy. Try and have an open mind OP. Maybe if you actually read the book you might realize it’s not about sex.

FYI Common Sense Media rates this book as age 9+

https://www.commonsensemedia.org/book-reviews/rick

Reading a book about LGBTQ themes will not make your kid gay. Is that what you are worried about?

Anonymous wrote:Can one of these Westland parents clarify whether that specific book is required reading, or whether it is simply on a list of books from which the kids can choose?

Not a Westland parent but right on the school website it has the assignment and it is just this one book, not choices. Our school, Silver Creek, has 8 choices. Some about race, immigration, LGBTQ, autism, skin conditions, and one WW2 option. The theme seems to clearly be elevating situations or things that are not the cisgender white neurotypical male experience. I am surprised Westland didn’t offer options given the questionable appropriateness for 10-11 year olds.

Can one of these Westland parents clarify whether that specific book is required reading, or whether it is simply on a list of books from which the kids can choose?

I have gotten multiple emails and now a text about this book. If you want to know why American kids fall behind here is an example. Instead of learning about math or science, MoCo is pushing a LGBT agenda. This is the place of parents, not schools.

Get ready to be treated like you're a backward hick complaining to Westland about reading choices. I agree MCPS often chooses offensive or controversial material for students. And much of it is extremely dark and depressing material, too. Then they have to scramble to set up depression and suicide red flag seminars for the kids. wonder why....

Anonymous wrote:Why is MoCo pushing a book about sexuality for 5th graders going into 6th grade. I’m not having my kid read this book, and I find it extremely concerning that MoCo is pushing this. What is middle school going to be like? Are you not cool if you aren’t LGBT or gasp not yet sexual as a pre teen? What are other parents doing to complain.

How exactly is MoCo "pushing this"?

Anonymous wrote:Why is MoCo pushing a book about sexuality for 5th graders going into 6th grade. I’m not having my kid read this book, and I find it extremely concerning that MoCo is pushing this. What is middle school going to be like? Are you not cool if you aren’t LGBT or gasp not yet sexual as a pre teen? What are other parents doing to complain.

It's a book about a sixth grader dealing with issues some sixth graders are dealing with (I was definitely grappling with my identity as a sexual person at that age). Some kids will connect with that, some kids won't, but it's not age inappropriate because some kids aren't having that experience.

You don’t need to be pressured into having a sexual preference at ages 10-11. This is absurd. Westland is our home school.

You won’t get much sympathy on this website, OP. But I also agree that it’s not appropriate for a reading list for 11 year olds.

Anonymous wrote:Why is MoCo pushing a book about sexuality for 5th graders going into 6th grade. I’m not having my kid read this book, and I find it extremely concerning that MoCo is pushing this. What is middle school going to be like? Are you not cool if you aren’t LGBT or gasp not yet sexual as a pre teen? What are other parents doing to complain.

Knowing your sexual preference doesnt make you a sexual person....Are you stuck in the 1400s?

It's not on my kids middle school summer reading list. I think the individual school makes that decision, not MCPS.
And doesn't your kid have a choice of several books?

Anonymous wrote:Why is MoCo pushing a book about sexuality for 5th graders going into 6th grade. I’m not having my kid read this book, and I find it extremely concerning that MoCo is pushing this. What is middle school going to be like? Are you not cool if you aren’t LGBT or gasp not yet sexual as a pre teen? What are other parents doing to complain.

I think it's great that they're helping to create an accepting environment for all children.

Why is MoCo pushing a book about sexuality for 5th graders going into 6th grade. I’m not having my kid read this book, and I find it extremely concerning that MoCo is pushing this. What is middle school going to be like? Are you not cool if you aren’t LGBT or gasp not yet sexual as a pre teen? What are other parents doing to complain.