“Let’s get out our [independent/book club/whole class] books and open to page __!”
at least one student in the room experiences a shiver of disdain and a wave of discouragement every time those words are uttered (it is likely that many more students experience this emotional response to the fear of reading inside them).
You are reading: Books for 9th graders who hate to read
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Why do students hate reading?
Some students rebel at the prospect of reading. several common findings appear in teacher reports:
- haven’t found a book, author or genre they like yet and don’t know where to start
- would rather fill their time with different forms of media or more kinesthetic activities
- find reading boring; not long after they start reading, they lose track of their place, get annoyed at having to reread difficult passages, or tune out when the author goes on and on. about seemingly insignificant details
- have been ‘forced’ to read books in high school that they didn’t like, either because the books weren’t interesting, relevant, or accessible
- their grades on ela depend to some extent on scores on ar (accelerated reader) tests/quizzes, the questions of which primarily prompt students to remember basic information about the plot
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here is the thing: all these reasons are totally valid. It can be physically and mentally challenging to decode text that can be filled with difficult vocabulary, unfamiliar cultural references, background/historical knowledge, and more. It can be emotionally draining to tackle controversial or sensitive topics. furthermore, teachers who engage students in whole-class novel reading alone (instead of including independent reading or smaller book club groups) risk isolating and alienating readers for the sake of the which feels like efficiency. At some point between elementary and high school, many students lose their love of reading, an act that used to involve play, imagination, risk, creativity, and fun. add multiple choice quizzes and reading and annotation timelines, and the magic is understandably less apparent.
in what i tell students when they say they don’t like reading, terry heick shares with a hypothetical student: “if you say you ‘hate reading,’ that means you hate ideas and emotions feeling things exploring things achieving things next time you say you hate reading, say instead: “i hate feeling things” or “i hate stories and ideas written in words on sheets of paper role that can help me achieve anything I’ve ever dreamed of and can help me dream if I have.” ‘t.’”
Such a statement could warrant a good laugh for a student struggling with reading. As educators, sharing your own challenges with reading—as a child, teen, and adult—can help reluctant readers feel less alone and reduce the pressure of seeming engrossed in a book they can’t stand. what comes next? an impressive book to rekindle the enjoyment of reading. this is where we can help.
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We’ve compiled a list of 33 of the best books for students who don’t like to read. How did these books get on our list?
- books are often narrated by multiple narrators
- books are written by multiple authors
- books are written in different ways
- the books are accessible to readers of all levels
- the books touch on topics that are relevant to the lives of students today
- the books touch on topics that adults often attempt prevent teens from reading (even if teens are experiencing it vicariously or in real life)
Upon finishing these books, students are likely to ask an ela teacher’s five favorite words, “what should I read next?” The great thing about these books is that many of them are part of a series, many are written by authors who have since published additional books, and many can act as a bridge to a new genre (such as historical fiction, mystery, poetry, or memoir). ). The more a student can find and read books that are enjoyable and meaningful, the more confident she will be in identifying books that she thinks she will like.
We hope that these books will be catalysts for your students and teachers, who could benefit from venturing outside the traditional canon and experimenting with new ways to foster a love of reading in their classes.
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links to products. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. read more about our policy here.
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