--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I like reading books about kids where…" description: "\"I like reading books about kids where there weren't really many adults, where they didn't need an adult to come and solve the problems for them. They c..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7be/john-boyne-2944_adults_i-like-reading-books-about-kids-where-th_2938509.jpg" --- # I like reading books about kids where there weren't really… ![“I like reading books about kids where there weren't really many adults, where they didn't need an adult to come and solve the problems for them. They could use their own ingenuity, use their own talents to solve whatever the issue was. And I like that still. I think that children want to read…” quote by John Boyne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7be/john-boyne-2944_adults_i-like-reading-books-about-kids-where-th_2938509.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7be/john-boyne-2944_adults_i-like-reading-books-about-kids-where-th_2938509.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7be/john-boyne-2944_adults_i-like-reading-books-about-kids-where-th_2938509.jpg) > “I like reading books about kids where there weren't really many adults, where they didn't need an adult to come and solve the problems for them. They could use their own ingenuity, use their own talents to solve whatever the issue was. And I like that still. I think that children want to read about heroic children. They don't want to read about children that have to be saved all the time.” [John Boyne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-boyne/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote celebrates stories where children solve problems independently, highlighting the appeal of youthful agency and heroism. **In simple terms:** Children enjoy stories where they are the heroes. Key Takeaway Encourage reading that empowers kids. Themes independence heroism creativity youth empowerment literature Mood inspirational hopeful Type literary motivational When to use this quote - classroom reading - parental guidance - library recommendations - youth workshops Key Concepts agency self-reliance imagination Questions to Reflect On - How can stories balance child agency with realistic guidance? - What impact does heroic child representation have on young readers? A Different Perspective Some may argue adult mentorship is also valuable for growth. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Adults](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adults/) [Book](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/book/) [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Heroic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heroic/) [Ingenuity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ingenuity/) [Issues](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/issues/) [Kids](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kids/) [Problem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/problem/) [Reading](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reading/) [Reading books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reading-books/) [Talent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/talent/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) ## Related quotes > [I wanted to write honest books for kids because I didn't have those when I was a kid.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judy-blume/i-wanted-to-write-honest-books-for-kids-because-i-didn-t-have-those/) [Judy Blume](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judy-blume/) > [I have an obsession with books about kids with Asperger's syndrome.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-glover/i-have-an-obsession-with-books-about-kids-with-asperger-s-syndrome/) [Donald Glover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-glover/) > [“Around the tenth time reading some of these books to your kids, you begin to develop some really strong opinions and questions about them.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-gaffigan/around-the-tenth-time-reading-some-of-these-books-to-your-kids-you/) [Jim Gaffigan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-gaffigan/) > [I have read only the first 'Harry Potter' book. I thought it excellent, perhaps the best thing written for older children since The Hobbit.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-wolfe/i-have-read-only-the-first-harry-potter-book-i-thought-it-excellent/) [Gene Wolfe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-wolfe/) > [I feel lucky that my career so far has included books for adults and books for kids. They're equally important to me, and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-van-eekhout/i-feel-lucky-that-my-career-so-far-has-included-books-for-adults-and/) [Greg van Eekhout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-van-eekhout/) > [The early readers are in-between books for the kids who aren't ready for novels yet but are done with my picture books. It's really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-lin/the-early-readers-are-in-between-books-for-the-kids-who-aren-t-ready/) [Grace Lin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-lin/) > [Every child's taste is different. Don't worry if they're not reading 'War and Peace' at age 12. First, build a good foundation and a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/every-child-s-taste-is-different-don-t-worry-if-they-re-not-reading/) [Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) > [Name the book that made the biggest impression on you. I bet you read it before you hit puberty. In the time I've got…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-paulsen/name-the-book-that-made-the-biggest-impression-on-you-i-bet-you-read/) [Gary Paulsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-paulsen/) > [What I think of sometimes, as I read the new books - do kids really need to see such a seamy side of life?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-reilly-giff/what-i-think-of-sometimes-as-i-read-the-new-books-do-kids-really-need/) [Patricia Reilly Giff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-reilly-giff/) > [These are books that want to be read out loud. These are books kids share with each other, and I think that's important.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-p-cleary/these-are-books-that-want-to-be-read-out-loud-these-are-books-kids/) [Brian P. Cleary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-p-cleary/) > [I like to buy books for the kids in my family. I guess that's why they call me the 'mean' aunt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-spiotta/i-like-to-buy-books-for-the-kids-in-my-family-i-guess-that-s-why-they/) [Dana Spiotta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-spiotta/) > [Schools and parents can team up to find books that kids will really get excited about - that will make them say, 'That was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-patterson/schools-and-parents-can-team-up-to-find-books-that-kids-will-really/) [James Patterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-patterson/) > [If you don't remember childhood and you idealize it, you can't write books for kids because they're not real. Kids pick that up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-munsch/if-you-don-t-remember-childhood-and-you-idealize-it-you-can-t-write/) [Robert Munsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-munsch/) > [It's great that there are so many different kinds of books for kids and adults to choose from. I think an eclectic reader is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-m-martin/it-s-great-that-there-are-so-many-different-kinds-of-books-for-kids/) [Ann M. Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-m-martin/) > [It's our job - as parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles - to find books our kids are going to like.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-patterson/it-s-our-job-as-parents-grandparents-aunts-uncles-to-find-books-our/) [James Patterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-patterson/) ## More by John Boyne > [“One single syllable of intimacy and the world is put to rights.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-boyne/one-single-syllable-of-intimacy-and-the-world-is-put-to-rights/) [John Boyne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-boyne/) > [“Bruno was jealous, he had to wear stupid pants en shoes while the boys at the other side of the fence were wearing nice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-boyne/bruno-was-jealous-he-had-to-wear-stupid-pants-en-shoes-while-the-boys/) [John Boyne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-boyne/) > [ We all are \[normal\]. Their idea of normal just happens to be different to some other people's idea of normal. But this is the… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-boyne/we-all-are-normal-their-idea-of-normal-just-happens-to-be-different/) [John Boyne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-boyne/) > [“Maybe there were no villains in my mother’s story at all. Just men and women, trying to do their best by each other. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-boyne/maybe-there-were-no-villains-in-my-mother-s-story-at-all-just-men-and/) [John Boyne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-boyne/) > [I think that books for young people should have serious and important themes, they shouldn't be trivial. So the books I write, they would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-boyne/i-think-that-books-for-young-people-should-have-serious-and-important/) [John Boyne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-boyne/) > [Just because a man glances up at the sky at night does not make him an astronomer, you know.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-boyne/just-because-a-man-glances-up-at-the-sky-at-night-does-not-make-him/) [John Boyne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-boyne/) > [“Every man is afraid of women as far as I can see,” said Julian, displaying an understanding of the universe far beyond his years.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-boyne/every-man-is-afraid-of-women-as-far-as-i-can-see-said-julian/) [John Boyne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-boyne/) > [I don't buy into the idea that an Irish writer should write about Ireland, or a gay writer should write about being gay. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-boyne/i-don-t-buy-into-the-idea-that-an-irish-writer-should-write-about/) [John Boyne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-boyne/) > [“For a moment he considered running across the platform to tell people about the empty seats in the carriage, but he decided not to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-boyne/for-a-moment-he-considered-running-across-the-platform-to-tell-people/) [John Boyne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-boyne/) > [I move between the two: I write an adult novel, and then I write a children's book. I quite enjoy that. It's a nice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-boyne/i-move-between-the-two-i-write-an-adult-novel-and-then-i-write-a/) [John Boyne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-boyne/) > [“Pavel is not a doctor any more, Bruno' said Maria quietly. 'But he was. In another life. Before he came here”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-boyne/pavel-is-not-a-doctor-any-more-bruno-said-maria-quietly-but-he-was-in/) [John Boyne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-boyne/) > [You’re my best friend, Shmuel,’ he said. ‘My best friend for life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-boyne/you-re-my-best-friend-shmuel-he-said-my-best-friend-for-life/) [John Boyne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-boyne/) > [“Astonishing how everyone is willing to go abroad to fight for the rights of foreigners while having such little concern for those of their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-boyne/astonishing-how-everyone-is-willing-to-go-abroad-to-fight-for-the/) [John Boyne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-boyne/) > [Bruno opened his eyes in wonder at the things he saw. In his imagination he had tough that all the huts were full of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-boyne/bruno-opened-his-eyes-in-wonder-at-the-things-he-saw-in-his/) [John Boyne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-boyne/) > [I wrote my first book at 20, but my whole focus from about the age of 12 was to be a writer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-boyne/i-wrote-my-first-book-at-20-but-my-whole-focus-from-about-the-age-of/) [John Boyne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-boyne/) [Explore all 135 John Boyne quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-boyne/) ## More Adults quotes > [I am certain that children always know more than they are able to tell, and that makes the big difference between them and adults,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-lusseyran/i-am-certain-that-children-always-know-more-than-they-are-able-to/) [Jacques Lusseyran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-lusseyran/) > [Behind every successful child is an adult who believed in him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-warren/behind-every-successful-child-is-an-adult-who-believed-in-him/) [Rick Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-warren/) > [Gratitude isn't just a feeling, it's an action. Expressing gratitude by writing in a journal, taking a photo, or shooting a video creates a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janice-kaplan/gratitude-isn-t-just-a-feeling-it-s-an-action-expressing-gratitude-by/) [Janice Kaplan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janice-kaplan/) > [The thing about hitting kids is, think about if you were doing the same thing to another adult. Hitting your kid is really the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-braff/the-thing-about-hitting-kids-is-think-about-if-you-were-doing-the/) [Zach Braff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-braff/) > [Plainly, the environment must be a living one, directed by a higher intelligence, arranged by an adult who is prepared for his mission.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-montessori/plainly-the-environment-must-be-a-living-one-directed-by-a-higher/) [Maria Montessori](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-montessori/) > [Almost everywhere we find . . . the use of various coercive measures, to rid ourselves as quickly as possible of the child withinus--i.e.,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-miller/almost-everywhere-we-find-the-use-of-various-coercive-measures-to-rid/) [Alice Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-miller/) > [Education, for most people, means trying to lead the child to resemble the typical adult of his society . . . but for me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-piaget/education-for-most-people-means-trying-to-lead-the-child-to-resemble/) [Jean Piaget](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-piaget/) > [I do not believe in public shaming. I do believe that young adults go to college to learn things, and that this process will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-weingarten/i-do-not-believe-in-public-shaming-i-do-believe-that-young-adults-go/) [Gene Weingarten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-weingarten/) > [The Role of Deliberate Practice in the Acquisition of Expert Performance”: “The differences between expert performers and normal adults are not immutable, that is,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/k-anders-ericsson/the-role-of-deliberate-practice-in-the-acquisition-of-expert/) K. 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As much as we like them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-abagnale/when-i-was-a-child-at-sixteen-i-was-just-a-child-all-sixteen-year/) [Frank Abagnale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-abagnale/) [Browse all 3,113 Adults quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adults/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I like reading books about kids where there weren't really many adults, where they didn't need an adult to come and solve the problems for them. They could use their own ingenuity, use their own talents to solve whatever the issue was. And I like that still. I think that children want to read about heroic children. 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