Read what is about (doesn't sound natural to me)

Are the question and answer natural?

Did you read what was written on the chalkboard?

I read what was written on the chalkboard.

Is it natural to say "read what it is about"?

One reads something such as a book, magazine. Is "what it is about" a noun that can be read?

To me "read" doesn't work and the first sentence doesn't seem natural

I don't want to read what it is about. I want the book to be a surprise.

Are these 3 all natural ? Do all the verbs work?

I read what is was about.

I heard what it was about.

I saw what it was about.

Thanks