By: Joy Millam Heather Gruenthal Teacher Librarians & YALSA’s Quick Picks for Reluctant Readers Committee

 They are the goths, geeks, preps, jocks, nerds, skaters, and gamers. Kids from every demographic can be RR’s.  How do we define a reluctant reader: RR’s are kids who for whatever reason do not like to read.

 Sometimes they are too busy to read Athletics and extra-curricular activities Demanding course of study (IB/AP coursework) Employment

 Booktalks  Digital book trailers  Purchase appealing books for them  “Read the movie”

 RR’s like books that have these characteristics Appealing covers Attention getting opening Edgy topics

 Ask for donations (registration packet or back to school night, alumni letter)  Recycling collection  Book fairs (physical & virtual)  Amazon wishlist  Selling bookmarks

 Twilight  The Vampire’s Assistant (Cirque du Freak)  Harry Potter Series  Holes  Ella Enchanted  Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants  The Chronicles of Narnia  Coraline

 Cirque Du Freak: The Saga of Darren Shan Book 1 Cirque Du Freak Book 2 The Vampire’s Assistant Book 3 Tunnels of Blood Book 4 Vampire Mountain Book 5 Trials of Death Book 6 The Vampire Prince Book 7 Hunters of the Dusk Book 8 Allies of the Night Book 9 Killers of the Dawn Book 10 The Lake of Souls Book 11 Lord of the Shadows Book 12 Sons of Destiny

 Downriver  The Wreckers  A Girl Named Disaster  Hatchet  The Cay  Reef of Death  Soldier X  Stormbreaker  Julie of the Wolves  My Side of the Mountain

 RR’s also like Gateway books like PostSecret Very visual Few words These books don’t look like much but they lead to quality books.

 Read all books you share with students  Cover is impactful  Choose popular books ie: Child Called “It”  Take notes as you read Cite passages Note important events

 Buy extra copies  Note popular titles & find similar titles (ie: “It”- Bruises, Basement)  Practice, practice, practice Your comfort is critical Practice passages and summaries  Take your show on the road Make regular appointments

 Take books to the classroom  Prepare several different presentations  Ensures availability  Wear comfy clothes  Leave brochures  Display booktalk books  Add encouraging note

Don’t booktalk a book you disliked Don’t reveal too much Don’t go too long per title 2-5 min per title max. Don’t memorize Don’t talk too fast

 The Giver  Gathering Blue  The Hunger Games  The Messenger  Uglies Series  Shadowchildren Series  Invitation to the Game  Ender’s Game  Tom Clancy’s Net Force  Unwind

 Eighth Grade Bites  Ninth Grade Slays  Tenth Grade Bleeds  Vampire Plagues  Peeps  Cirque du Freak  In the Forests of the Night  Thirsty

Bluford High Series  Lost and Found  A Matter of Trust  Secrets in the Shadows  Someone to Love Me  The Gun (Payback)  The Fallen  The Bully

 Angus, Thongs, and Full-Frontal Snogging  Diary of a Wimpy Kid  Annie’s Baby  Jay’s Journal  Sleeping Freshmen Never Lie

 Clique Series  The Girls  Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants Series  True Confessions of a Heartless Girl

 Arizona Kid  What my Mother Doesn’t Know  Forever  My Darling, my Hamburger  I’ll Be Seeing You  Out of Time  Running Loose

 Maximum Ride by James Patterson  The Face on the Milk Carton by Caroline Cooney  Swallowing Stones by Joyce McDonald  Split Image by Mel Glenn

 Goosebumps Series and Fear Street Series by R. L. Stine  Spooksville Series by Christopher Pike  Raven’s Gate  In the Forests of the Night

 Goosebumps Series and Fear Street Series by R. L. Stine  Spooksville Series by Christopher Pike  The Silver Kiss and Blood and Chocolate by Annette Curtis Klause  In the Forests of the Night by Amelia Atwater Rhodes  The Mediator Series by Meg Cabot

 Akiko Series  Alien Secrets  When the Tripods Came  Ender’s Game  Among the Hidden  The Animorphs  Turnabout  A Wrinkle in Time

 Daughters of the Moon

 Harry Potter  Eragon  Dealing with Dragons  The Golden Compass  The Book of Three  The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe  Dragonsinger  Everworld Series

 Circle of Three Series 1 so mote it be 2 merry meet 3 second sight 4 what the cards said 5 in the dreaming 6 ring of light 7 blue moon 8 the five paths 9 through the veil 10 making the saint 11 the house of winter 12 written in the stars 13 and it harm none 14 the challenge box 15 initiation

 Fingerprints 1 Gifted Touch 2 Haunted 3 Trust Me 4 Secrets 5 Betrayed 6 Revelations 7 Payback

 Sweep Series 1 book of shadows 2 The Coven 3 Blood Witch 4 Dark Magick 5 Awakening 6 Spellbound

 This presentation and these booktrailers are available on our websites: Booktalksandmore.pbwiki.com RIYL.wikispaces.com

Sources  Pictures used by permission from Valencia High School  Some photos courtesy of Creative Commons and Google Images. All are copyright free.  Book covers courtesy of individual publishers.