Does everyone use a "Free Reading List" in their CM schooling?

So in re-reading all of these posts answer me this … Is it a poor idea to allow “free reading” to be really free?  I mean my older daughter might pick up something more in line with these lists (and off our shelf of books) but my son who is younger might not.  They are voracious readers both of them.  However, it’s weekly library trips where they peruse the aisles and find their own books that create their “lists” for free reading.  They don’t typically choose fluff, they tend to stay away from tarty teeny bopper stuff too, but they love fantasy and science fiction series books.  They will often choose a biography or subject based non-fiction book too.  So, what to do? 

For Literature they read about 6-10 books a year depending on their length, complexity.  Then they also read 6-8 books for both Science and History that are literature or biography in addition to our family spines for those subjects.  That would have them reading about 18-30 “good” books a year each for school.  Should I worry that’s not enough good literature?

I won’t address home library versus public library except to say that for this purpose they read their “free reading” books within days of getting them so in this instance I don’t have to fear the fine.  It’s well known on this forum what a huge fan I am of public libraries.  Huge.  Fan.  Love the grit and the hunt and the rabbit trails of a weekly visit to the library.  Always.  LOL.

Yes, I do think that they are making wise choices and getting what they enjoy for use during their free time.  I’m not sure variety is always in that mix, but I’m ok with that too since I feel I offer that in my side of their curriculum.  I want them explore on their own knowing I trust their choices. That’s kind of a big part of things within our little dynamic here.  They need to show me how they’ve listened over the years to the “dos and don’ts” and I need to give them the room/space/freedom to do so.  I’m controlling by nature so that’s why we need this freedom. 

I don’t think modern literature is completely doomed either!  Maybe not what we all value on here for our lessons but it’s premature for me to say there is not as much great literature coming out now as did back then …. before anyone reacts …. I’m a proponent of the oldies and the goodies too (although I do have a small list of ones that are highly recommended by CM moms that I think are yuck central).  Just offering hope and perspective for what’s on the shelves now too, that’s all.  I mean maybe no one thought these highly valued books were the cats pjs back then either?  I sometimes wonder if it’s nostalgia/roses in my lenses in some instances that cause me to love the older books – a wish for a time that was more simple, calmer, more modest all around, sometthing like that?