"But then again, reading in English isn't that naughty. It's still English, for goodness sake."
The Otago Girls' High School 13-year-old said she had been reading for as long as she could remember - since before she started school - and, on average, reads about one book a day.
So it is no surprise Moira has been named the top year 9 pupil in New Zealand for the 2010 International Competitions and Assessments for Schools (ICAS) English examination and was awarded the ICAS Medal for English.
It is the second year in a row she has won the accolade in the reading and comprehension test.
She is modest about the achievement, probably because her older sister Rebecca won the prize three times in the late 1990s.
Moira said there was no sibling rivalry between her and her sister, and she had no plans to beat her sister's record.
"If it happens, it happens," she said.
Otago Girls' High School English teacher Kathryn Dick said Moira was a joy to have in the classroom, even though she often caught her reading when she was supposed to be writing.
"She has such an inquiring mind. She questions everything.
"I enjoy being kept on my toes. It creates great conversations. We go places in class that we never thought we could go.
"We're very proud of her."
Moira said great characters and great plots were what she loved most about reading.
"I especially like fantasies. Books open up whole new worlds for me.
"And don't ask me what my favourite book is. I could probably list hundreds."
Moira will go to Christchurch next week to receive the medal - no doubt, with a couple of books in hand to read along the way.
