Patrick Jones

Getting started School Library Journal November 2001 “ Why We Are Kids Best Assets” One in your face: “I hate to read” – what does it mean, why did he say it, and what you can do about it One fact: “Reading ability is positively correlated with the extent to which students read recreationally.” -National Center for Education Statistics. One story from JDC

Why They Aren’t Reading 1. Associate with failure

Why They Aren’t Reading 2. Time and energy

Why They Aren’t Reading 3. Negative peer pressure

Why They Aren’t Reading 4. Not stimulated by ideas / not practical

Why They Aren’t Reading 5. No encouragement

Why They Aren’t Reading 6. Not a priority / rather do that read

Why They Aren’t Reading 7.Some adolescents may consider reading solitary and anti- social.

Why They Aren’t Reading 8. Can’t find the good books

Young adults like fiction that : 1. Show YAs being independent from adults. 2. Reassure YAs they are "normal". 3. Present role models. 4. Demonstrate problem solving in action. 5. Allow to feel like winners/overcoming odds. 6. Display relationships of all sorts. 7. Capture intensity of their life. 8. Help develop of socially responsible behavior 9. Explore lives of other teenagers 10. Relax, emote, and release.

The Turn Around Books “I don’t think there is one turn-around book. That reduces a love to reading to a silver bullet—or in this case a magic book. Reluctant readers come to reading reluctantly. For a while they’ll be book-at-a- time readers---readers who will read the book we put into their hand but they won’t seek out the next good book on their own. Gradually, with support and encouragement, they’ll move toward a stance that says, “This reading thing is good—good enough that I’ll seek a book out on my own.” Maybe that’s the turn-around-book—the book that the kid on his own finds that he enjoys” - Dr. K. Beers (via )

Turnaround titles

Anderson, Laurie Halse. Speak Ashanti. Foolish/Unfoolish Brunvand, Jan Harold. Big Book of Urban Legends

Turnaround titles Burgess, Melvin. Doing It (M) Card, Orson Scott. Ender’s Game Chbosky, Stephen. Perks Of Being A Wallflower (M)

Turnaround titles Curtis, Christopher Paul. The Watsons Go To Birmingham—1963 Flake, Sharon. Skin I’m In Flake, Sharon. Who Am I Without Him

Turnaround titles Flinn, Alex. Breathing Underwater Foley, Mick. Have A Nice Day (M) Gantos, Jack. Hole In My Life

Turnaround titles Giles, Gail. Shattering Glass Going, K. L. Fat Kid Rules The World Korman, Gordon. Son Of The Mob

Turnaround titles Groening, Matt. Simpsons Comics (any) Hinton, S.E. Outsiders Holmes, Shannon. B- More Careful (M)

Turnaround titles Keys, Alice. Tears For Water Lubar, David. Hidden Talents McDonald, Janet. Spellbound

Turnaround titles Mowry, Jess. Way Past Cool Myers, Walter Dean. Monster Paolini, Christopher. Eragon

Turnaround titles Paulsen, Gary. Hatchet Pelzer, David. Child Called It Porter, Connie Rose. Imani All Mine

Turnaround titles Rodriquez, Louis. Always Running (M) Rowling, J.K. Harry Potter (any) Sachar, Louis. Holes Shakur, Sanyika. Monster: The Autobiography of an L.A. Gang Member ( M)

Turnaround titles Shakur, Tupac. Rose That Grew from Concrete Shan, Darren. Cirque Du Freak series Sleator, William. Interstellar Pig Smith, Jeff. Bone

Turnaround titles Souljah, Sister. Coldest Winter Ever (M) Sparks, Beatrice. Go Ask Alice Stine, R.L. Dangerous Girls

Turnaround titles Trueman, Terry. Stuck In Neutral Tyree, Omar. Flyy Girl (M) Vibe magazine staff. Tupac.

Turnaround titles Werlin, Nancy. Killer’s Cousin Williams, Stanley “Tookie”. Life In Prison Woodson, Jacqueline. Miracles Boys Woods, Teri. Dutch (M)

A core collection for reluctant readers:

WHAT will reluctant readers read? (Twenty four carets) Books – series fiction.

WHAT will reluctant readers read? (Twenty four carets) Books – adult fiction.

WHAT will reluctant readers read? (Twenty four carets) Books – nonfiction pop goes the culture

WHAT will reluctant readers read? (Twenty four carets) Books – graphic novels.

WHAT will reluctant readers read? (Twenty four carets) Books - collected comics.

WHAT will reluctant readers read? (Twenty four carets) Books – Manga.

WHAT will reluctant readers read? (Twenty four carets) Magazines

WHAT will reluctant readers read? (Twenty four carets) Comic Books

25 things to do to reach reluctant readers tomorrow 1. A library card: 2. Booklists: 3. Booktalking : 4. Build relationships:

25 things to do to reach reluctant readers tomorrow 5. Celebrate Teen Read Week: 6. Contests: 7. Displays: 8. Follow-up :

25 things to do to reach reluctant readers tomorrow 9. Get into the school LA depts: 10. Get input: 11. Get out of the library: 12. Get over yourself:

25 things to do to reach reluctant readers tomorrow 13. Get them in the building : 14. Go the shelves: 15. High visibility merchandising: 16. Honesty:

25 things to do to reach reluctant readers tomorrow 17. Keep current : 18. Listen: 19. Non-judgmental attitude: 20. Reader's advisory:

25 things to do to reach reluctant readers tomorrow 21. Samples: 22. Wave goodbye to just fiction 23. Weed the collection: 24. Zowie! Get graphic

25 things to do to reach reluctant readers tomorrow 25.

Chasing Tail Lights by Patrick Jones (July 2007)

For your consideration-

Walker Books for Young Readers nailed by Patrick Jones (April 2006)

For more information: Connecting with Reluctant Teen Readers: Tips., Titles, and Tools By Patrick Jones, Maureen Hartman, and Patricia Taylor Neal-Schuman, July 2006

Connecting Young Adults and Libraries Patrick Jones Consulting, training, and coaching for providing powerful youth services including library card campaigns and web projects