Getting your toddler to fall in love with books is easy: Simply hold them in your arms or put them on your lap and start reading. But as kids get older and go to school, reading can be more like work rather than fun – and kids, especially teens, may stop reading for pleasure. If you’re wanting to encourage a new love for reading, or reignite your child’s past passion for books, read on!
Here are ways to get teens reading, either again or for the first time:
Look for the right kinds of books
YA (young adult) novels tackle the edgy issues teens face and struggle with, from peer pressure and romantic longing to grief and trouble at home or school. Whether they’re personally grappling with these issues or seeking vicarious thrills, teens gravitate toward subject matter that’s relatable. Check the YA bestseller lists and our book reviews for ideas.
Combine movies with books
Hollywood is turning to teen lit for ideas more than ever. Offer your teen the print version to read before or after a big film adaptation comes out, and talk about the similarities and differences between the two. Check out our list of Books to Read Before They’re Movies in 2016.
Don’t skimp on pictures
Gone are the days when graphic novels were dismissed as comic books. Now recognised as literature, they may be the key to getting some teens hooked on books. They’re available in a wide range of genres – from adventure and fantasy to historical fiction, memoir and biography – so there’s certainly a graphic novel out there to suit your teen’s taste.
Adult books should be included in the mix
Find non-fiction titles on subjects your teen is curious about, such as climate change, race, political corruption or true crime. Check adult nonfiction bestseller lists to see what’s catching fire. Humorous adult books also work (by David Sedaris or Tina Fey, for example), as do horror (Stephen King), mysteries (Agatha Christie), thrillers (James Patterson, John Grisham), fantasy (George R.R. Martin), science fiction (Isaac Asimov), and sports (Michael Lewis).
Get creative with poetry
Novels in verse are a popular trend. All that white space on the page makes them easy to read, and the spare, lyrical approach can really pack a punch. Try Sarah Crossan’s One, Stasia Ward Kehoe’s The Sound of Letting Go, or Ellen Hopkins’ Rumble. Memoirs in verse are taking hold, too; check out Marilyn Nelson’s How I Discovered Poetry.
Don’t shun audiobooks
Spark teens’ interest by getting an audiobook to listen to on the way to school or on long drives. Let them download audiobooks to their smartphones. (They won’t risk looking uncool, because they’ll be under headphones or have their earbuds in.)
Read books yourself
Read at home where your teens can see you. Talk about what you’re reading, and express your enjoyment. Always take a book or magazine along when you go to the beach or face waiting in a long queue. Send your teen the message that reading is a pleasure, not a chore.
Invest in a bookshelf
Kids who grow up with lots of books around tend to read more. Stock the bathroom, car, dining table – wherever there’s a captive audience – with comic books, graphic novels, and magazines geared to your teens’ interests; short stories; poetry collections; the first book in a hit YA series; or classic sci-fi and mystery stories. Alternatively, invest in a book shelf or two and fill these with books.
Let them pick their own reads
Instead of giving your teen a voucher for a pedicure or video games, give them a gift card from your local bookstore. They’ll discover the treasure-hunt fun of looking for a good book.
