YAK November 2014 Patrick Jones / author

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 JDCJDC One book from your life

Why They Aren’t Reading By the time many students reach high school, they equate reading with ridicule, failure or exclusively school-related tasks.

Why They Aren’t Reading Students are not excited by ideas. They prefer to experience life directly rather than through reading.

Why They Aren’t Reading Many active adolescents are unable to sit still long enough to read for any prolonged period of time..

Why They Aren’t Reading Teenagers are too self-absorbed and preoccupied with themselves, their problems, families, sexual roles, etc., to make connections between their world and books.

Why They Aren’t Reading Books are inadequate entertainment compared to other competing media such as television, video games and the Internet.

Why They Aren’t Reading Persistent stress from home and school to read constantly is counter-productive for some adolescents.

Why They Aren’t Reading Adolescents may grow up in non-reading homes void of reading material with no reading role models. There is no one to pass down the value of reading..

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

Why They Aren’t Reading Reading is considered “uncool” and something adults do.

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

Qualities of Books for Reluctant Readers Cover - catchy, action-oriented, attractive, appealing, good "blurb"

Qualities of Books for Reluctant Readers Print style - sufficiently large for enjoyable reading

Qualities of Books for Reluctant Readers Format - appropriate and appealing balance of text and white space

Qualities of Books for Reluctant Readers Artwork/illustrations - enticing, realistic, demonstrated diversity

Qualities of Books for Reluctant Readers Clear writing without long convoluted sentences of sophisticated vocabulary

Qualities of Books for Reluctant Readers Acceptable literary quality and effectiveness of presentation

Qualities of Books for Reluctant Readers: Fiction High interest "hook" in first 10 pages

What do you think makes a good book for a reluctant reader? Gail Giles. It has to start fast from the giddy up. These kids won’t give you more than a sentence to snag their attention. You have to have a great first sentence. And a really good second sentence. And third, And ninth and twenty seventh and maybe if you’re lucky they will cut you some slack and let you have just an okay two thousand and third sentence, but you better pick it back up on the two thousand and fourth. These kids don’t have time to mess with a sloppy writer. They only read the good stuff so everything in the book has to be good.

Qualities of Books for Reluctant Readers: Fiction Well-defined characters and not too many of them

Qualities of Books for Reluctant Readers: Fiction Sufficient plot to sustain interest

When you write, do you think about the potential book's appeal to non-readers? R.L. Stine: Almost all of my books are designed for reluctant readers. When I wrote and edited educational magazines, I learned how to write for different reading levels. I try to keep my scary books at a 4th-grade reading and vocabulary level. In addition-- short books, fast-paced, lots of surprises and twists, cliff-hanger chapter endings to force them to go on to the next chapter, and plot-driven books with little description to slow down the action.

Qualities of Books for Reluctant Readers: Fiction Familiar themes with emotional appeal for teenagers

Young adult fiction emotional appeal: 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 and uncertainty of their life. 8. Help develop of socially responsible behavior 9. Explore lives of other teenagers..

Qualities of Books for Reluctant Readers: Fiction Plot lines developed through dialog and action rather than descriptive text

Qualities of Books for Reluctant Readers: Fiction Believable treatment (that does not preclude speculative fiction however)

Qualities of Books for Reluctant Readers: Fiction Single point of view / nothing tricky / just tell the story / Clear mirrors not pretty pictures

Qualities of Books for Reluctant Readers: Fiction Touches of humor when appropriate

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 an author: 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

For More Information Connecting with Reluctant Teen Readers Patrick Jones, Maureen L. Hartman, and Patricia Taylor Neal-Schuman, 2006