Over the summer I watch my two little siblings, ages 10 and 8, go to the library weekly and pick out a new book to complete the library’s summer reading challenge. The premise of the challenge is to get children to read every day for 15 days (not much at all). They only have to read for at least 15 minutes.
The library hands out a printed sheet that looks like a board game map, with spaces for the days they read to color in. When the sheet is full, they can bring it back to the library and “cash” it in for their prize. The more books they read, the more time they spend reading, and the more spaces they fill in the prizes get bigger and bigger.
I think that there should be something like this for teens.
Yes, most middle and high schools already have summer reading that is required, but most students don’t enjoy their summer reading, they’re just doing it for the grade.
Reading is supposed to be enjoyed. I love reading because I can escape my real life and follow the adventures of fun characters.
There are many more genres of fiction books than the books that are assigned in school. Most middle and high school students are unaware of and possibly have never experienced reading a book that they actually enjoy.
I was a middle schooler who hated reading. I hated it until I spent a week with my cousin who loved to read, and I asked to borrow one of her favorite books. It was “The Cruel Prince” by Holly Black and I loved it. Now I read every day, and it’s probably the best thing that has ever happened to me. After reading solely fantasy for a few months I looked into other genres- such as romance and mystery. After lots of trial and error, I was able to find some great books that I loved and started to build my TBR (to be read) based on books that I actually liked, instead of something that was assigned to me.
In August, I saw that my library had a summer reading challenge for adults, and I think that that’s a good step in the right direction, but the teenage group is still missing.
Unfortunately, many teens don’t go to libraries, but if they have younger siblings like I do, their parents might go and see the teen summer reading challenge and pick it up for their kid. I think the added prizes of free stuff might inspire them to start reading.
Reading is such a good hobby, especially for students. Yes, it may be time-consuming, but reading helps expand the vocabulary and grow the creative parts of your brain. Human brains don’t develop fully until the age of 25, so what’s the issue when reading for 15 minutes for 15 days allows you to further your education and get a free slushie?