EF-MySQL: Multiple Include Statements with TinyInt(1) Field - Throws System.FormatException

Question

Quite a strange behavior by Entity Framework while trying to execute a query with multiple include statements! The database has been setup using code-first. All the boolean properties are created as tinyint(1) by default and everything works fine as long as the include statements are limited.

There is already an answer here. But that forces the EF to use BIT column type instead of tinyint(1). Unfortunately, the column type needs to be retained as tinyint(1) due to some constraints.

I have created a sample project where the error could be reproduced.

Model:

public abstract class Entity
{
    public Guid Id { get; set; }

    public string Name { get; set; }

    public bool IsActive { get; set; }

    public Entity()
    {
        this.Id = Guid.NewGuid();
    }
}

public class Designation : Entity
{
    public ICollection<Employee> Employees { get; set; }

    public Designation()
    {
        this.Employees = new HashSet<Employee>();
    }
}

public class Address : Entity
{
    public ICollection<Employee> Employees { get; set; }

    public Address()
    {
        this.Employees = new HashSet<Employee>();
    }
}

public class Department : Entity
{
    public ICollection<Employee> Employees { get; set; }

    public Department()
    {
        this.Employees = new HashSet<Employee>();
    }
}

public class Task : Entity
{
    public Guid EmployeeId { get; set; }

    public Employee Employee { get; set; }
}

public class Employee : Entity
{
    public Guid DepartmentId { get; set; }

    public Department Department { get; set; }

    public Guid AddressId { get; set; }

    public Address Address { get; set; }

    public Designation Designation { get; set; }

    public ICollection<Task> Tasks { get; set; }

    public Employee()
    {
        this.Tasks = new HashSet<Task>();
    }
}

Now when I run the following query, it raises the exception. If one of the include statements is commented out, the query runs to completion without any errors!

using (var context = new TestContext())
    {
       var employees = context.Set<Employee>()
                              .Include(it => it.Department)
                              .Include(it => it.Department.Employees)
                              .Include(it => it.Address)
                              .Include(it => it.Designation)
                              .Include(it => it.Designation.Employees)
                              .Include(it => it.Tasks)
                              .ToList();
    }

Here's the exception & stack trace:

An unhandled exception of type 'System.FormatException' occurred in mscorlib.dll Additional information: String was not recognized as a valid Boolean.

   at System.Boolean.Parse(String value)
   at System.String.System.IConvertible.ToBoolean(IFormatProvider provider)
   at System.Convert.ChangeType(Object value, Type conversionType, IFormatProvider provider)
   at MySql.Data.Entity.EFMySqlDataReader.ChangeType(Object sourceValue, Type targetType)
   at MySql.Data.Entity.EFMySqlDataReader.GetValue(Int32 ordinal)
   at System.Data.Entity.Core.Common.Internal.Materialization.Shaper.ErrorHandlingValueReader`1.GetUntypedValueDefault(DbDataReader reader, Int32 ordinal)
   at System.Data.Entity.Core.Common.Internal.Materialization.Shaper.ErrorHandlingValueReader`1.GetValue(DbDataReader reader, Int32 ordinal)
   at lambda_method(Closure , Shaper )
   at System.Data.Entity.Core.Common.Internal.Materialization.Shaper.HandleEntityAppendOnly[TEntity](Func`2 constructEntityDelegate, EntityKey entityKey, EntitySet entitySet)
   at lambda_method(Closure , Shaper )
   at System.Data.Entity.Core.Common.Internal.Materialization.Coordinator`1.ReadNextElement(Shaper shaper)
   at System.Data.Entity.Core.Common.Internal.Materialization.Shaper`1.RowNestedResultEnumerator.MaterializeRow()
   at System.Data.Entity.Core.Common.Internal.Materialization.Shaper`1.RowNestedResultEnumerator.MoveNext()
   at System.Data.Entity.Core.Common.Internal.Materialization.Shaper`1.ObjectQueryNestedEnumerator.TryReadToNextElement()
   at System.Data.Entity.Core.Common.Internal.Materialization.Shaper`1.ObjectQueryNestedEnumerator.ReadElement()
   at System.Data.Entity.Core.Common.Internal.Materialization.Shaper`1.ObjectQueryNestedEnumerator.MoveNext()
   at System.Data.Entity.Internal.LazyEnumerator`1.MoveNext()
   at System.Collections.Generic.List`1..ctor(IEnumerable`1 collection)
   at System.Linq.Enumerable.ToList[TSource](IEnumerable`1 source)
   at EF.Console.Program.Main(String[] args) in C:\Users\ashin_000\Documents\Visual Studio 2015\Projects\ConsoleApplication1\EF.Console\Program.cs:line 52
   at System.AppDomain._nExecuteAssembly(RuntimeAssembly assembly, String[] args)
   at System.AppDomain.ExecuteAssembly(String assemblyFile, Evidence assemblySecurity, String[] args)
   at Microsoft.VisualStudio.HostingProcess.HostProc.RunUsersAssembly()
   at System.Threading.ThreadHelper.ThreadStart_Context(Object state)
   at System.Threading.ExecutionContext.RunInternal(ExecutionContext executionContext, ContextCallback callback, Object state, Boolean preserveSyncCtx)
   at System.Threading.ExecutionContext.Run(ExecutionContext executionContext, ContextCallback callback, Object state, Boolean preserveSyncCtx)
   at System.Threading.ExecutionContext.Run(ExecutionContext executionContext, ContextCallback callback, Object state)
   at System.Threading.ThreadHelper.ThreadStart()

As a work around, I had to segregate the include statements into multiple queries and run them separately, which isn't so optimal.

Please suggest a better solution! Thanks in advance!

Versions used: EF - 6.1.3 MySQL - 5.7.17 MySQL Connector - 6.9.9