At a recent swim meet, my friend Michelle and I discussed edgy YA novels like Speak and Looking for Alaska while our daughters rolled their eyes. One of their male teammates, sitting nearby with an iPod five inches from his face, glanced over at us.
“Perhaps we shouldn’t be discussing this in mixed company,” I said.
The boy shrugged. “I don’t care. I don’t read books.” He turned back to his screen.
Oh dear. He doesn’t read?
This word nerd has a new mission: get a book in this boy’s hands!
Teens have plenty to distract them from reading: school, sports, friends, and more gaming and social media options than any adult can keep track of.
Have you noticed how persistent these media are? Clash of Clans can nag my son and he doesn’t mind, but if I dare to mention laundry that needs folding…
If we’re going to keep teens interested in pleasure reading, we have to be just as persistent as games and social media.
Four Strategies to Promote Pleasure Reading with Teens
Give books as gifts. Take teens to the library or book store (if you still have one in your town); bribe them with a sweet treat from the cafe if necessary. Just get books in their hands!- Many popular movies, including Mockingjay, If I Stay, and Insurgent are based on books. Challenge the teens you know to read the book before they see the movie. I’m offering to take my daughter’s friends to the theater to see Insurgent (and pay for their movie ticket- not the popcorn) if they read the book first.
- Don’t get stuck on books. Graphic novels and magazines count as reading material but have more visual imagery and less text, making them less intimidating and more interesting than a 300 page novel.
- Find books that will interest them. If they have a hobby, find a non-fiction title about that. If they like sports, check out Mike Lupica. Find inspiring stories about young adults who have made a difference in the world, such as I Am Malala.
A Great Reading Resource
Next week is Teen Read Week. Since 1998, the Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) has sponsored reading activities at libraries during the third week of October to encourage teens to read for pleasure.
A fun part of the week is the TTT: Teens’ Top Ten. Teens aged 12-18 vote for their favorite books from the past year. I’m too old to vote, but the TTT is a great resource for reading suggestions. Find information about nominees, including book trailers, and vote at the Teens’ Top Reads post at DOGObooks.com. Here are some of the nominees for 2014:
- Eleanor and Park, by Rainbow Rowel
- The Rithmatist, by Brandon Sanderson
- Steelheart by Brandon Sanderson
- Openly Straight by Bill Konigsberg
- The Eye of Minds by James Dashner
- Love in the Time of Global Warming by Francesca Lia Block
- Maybe I Will by Laurie Gray
- The Nightmare Affair by Mindee Arnett
I haven’t heard of half these books, so I’m excited to explore the list. My eldest son enjoys Sanderson’s fantasy books.
And that boy from my daughter’s swim team? He’s getting a copy of The Eye of Minds at the next meet. It’s a thriller set in the virtual gaming world – hopefully that will hook him!
What are some other ways to encourage teens to read? Which books or websites can you recommend?
Other places to look for YA lit:
Thanks for sharing!
Julia
I have a boy who hates to read a book, so I appreciate this post, Julia. Thank you for the great resources – I will check out a few of those web sites and add a book or to to my son’s Hanukkah list!
You’ve mentioned that your son doesn’t read – I truly hope you find something he’ll appreciate. Let me know if you still have trouble, or if you find something that works!
Love this post Julia. Another recommendation for teens, especially kids who love video games, is Ready Player One by Ernest Cline. Just to give you an idea of what it’s like, here’s a quote from the book:
“My ship stood out in the vast array of vessels, since it was the only giant robot.”
It’s fun and funny and takes place in a dystopian society where everyone basically lives inside a “better” virtual world. I recommend it 🙂
Great suggestion, Andrea. I will make note of this book for my teen.