“Once, in my father’s bookshop, I heard a regular customer say that few things leave a deeper mark on a reader than the first book that finds the way into his heart. Those first images, the echo of words we think we have left behind accompany us throughout our lives and sculpt a place in our memory to which, sooner or later — no matter how many books we read, how many worlds we discover, or how much we learn or forget — we will return.”
– Daniel Sempere, The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafón
I could have a million conversations with a million different students: elementary, middle, and high school, and I am bound to meet people who would say that there are no or very few books they enjoy. And I would like to say the former is impossible.
I used to be one of those kids. I never liked reading; I thought it was boring, tedious, and unnecessary. I couldn’t comprehend just why someone would read for fun outside of school. Well, until 6th grade, when I picked up The Lost Hero by Rick Riordan for an independent reading assignment. 4 years and 3 bookshelves later, I don’t know why anyone wouldn’t want to read. So, I just had to ask: Why do or don’t people like to read?
According to eleventh grader Aleena Hussain, “I love reading because it gives me a form of escape from reality.” She believes one of the best ways for schools to approach reading and getting kids to enjoy it is to “have a variety of options for students to choose from, especially during independent reads where they can recommend newer, more popular books that have great reviews.”
However, one outlet meant to help children enjoy the art of reading is school, yet kids still don’t like to read. So, how can the school help kids learn to enjoy it?
Eleventh grader Lori Novik suggests, “ACTUALLY ADVERTISING GOOD BOOKS!!!!!!!!!!!!”
As for school librarian Mrs. Bertrand-Loesch, “I encourage reading with a buddy…read the same book at the same time (like a mini-book club) works well. Reading with a book club can also be enjoyable. It definitely has helped me read books I otherwise would not have read, and I look forward to talking about them and listening to others describe how they interpreted the story or characters. It definitely makes the experience more enjoyable.”
My advice is to find an interest, hobby, or piece of cinema you enjoy and find a book, of any length and genre, that has something corresponding to it. Maybe then it will peak your interest more.
