Yes, sounds just like our son - same age of 8.5 years old. Speaking loud is his style, whether he is physically far from a listener, or just an inch away. I believe it is his will to want to be heard and taken seriously at all times................. I will not even mention the books, IPads, flashlights I find in his bed in the morning. Yet, how can I complain about his thirst for knowledge? Good luck and I wish you lots of patience. They grow and change (thankfully) and give us different challenges then.
You made me smile with recognition. Our DS hasn't mastered his "library voice" at all. I'm constantly reminding him to turn down the volume at restaurants. It's a bit concerting when your child's voice is squeezed tight and high-pitched as they try to get to the nth degree of what is being said.
As for the flashlight and books (etc.!!) found in bed the next morning, well...our kids could do a sleep-over in perfect harmony.
DD6 had trouble sleeping for days after seeing a monarch butterfly die. She kept sobbing that it needed to finish migrating before it was supposed to die. In her mind, the loss of one monarch, too soon, was throwing off the entire balance of the universe.