As school gets busier, young people have less leisure time and sometimes reading for fun takes a backseat. However, try not to label someone ‘not a reader’: have faith that they’ll find a book they love, or that they’ll come back to reading for fun if they have some time away from it
- Keep offering books even if a young person has stopped reading regularly: a lot of films and TV are inspired by books, so that’s often a good option. Libraries have ebook borrowing options if they’d prefer that
- Bookshops, book festivals and libraries often hold free or low-cost author events. Seeing an author in person can be inspiring
- Continue to read in front of them!
National papers, and young adult outlets such as United by Pop publish regular book reviews
Monthly Inspiration from BookTrust on what to read for this age group:
Ghost Boys: The Graphic Novel
by Jewell Parker Rhodes, illustrated by Setor Fiadzigbey
This is a brilliant graphic novel about racial injustice and how there can be no healing until the truth is confronted and stories told. It’s thought-provoking, heart breaking and totally gripping for young teens. Despite its very serious content this is a book that can be read by 11 and 12-year-olds. As the librarian in the book realises, it’s not right to save this kind of content up for Black History Month and older teenagers. Everyone needs their story told and this fantastic graphic novel really tells it.