The news from the National Literacy Trust this month was bleak. Their annual report revealed that just one in three eight- to 18-year-olds enjoy reading in their free time – the lowest level in almost two decades of research. Boys and young people in secondary school in particular are turning away from books, with steep declines in reading recorded for both groups.
Bleak – but not entirely shocking. Consider the often joyless way books must be taught in schools, and the increasing lack of libraries within them. Take into account the cuts in funding for public libraries, leading to hundreds of closures. We cannot discount the increasing demands of attention, time and energy from elsewhere on our young people. The pressure they are under is immense – but we have to make space and time for books and their many benefits. It’s a fact that books build confidence, contribute to wellbeing and promote empathy. They open doors to new worlds, and let you walk in the shoes of others without having to leave your bed. If that’s not magic, I don’t know what is.
So, how do we get children back to books and turning those pages again? We have to give them ways to discover the joy of reading in ways that matter to them. Let your children read what they want – within reason, without pressure. Please don’t tell them you were reading weighty tomes at their age, it’s not helping. Resist that urge, relax your rules, let them read.
One of my favourite books as a child was a medical encyclopedia. I read it until the covers came off, and I turned out fine, mostly. So, if your 14-year-old wants a picture book, great – get it. Now, if your nine-year-old is interested in a spicy YA, maybe read it first and check its suitability. If they can handle it, fantastic. Start a tiny book club with them and talk about it. If they’d prefer an audiobook or an ebook, fine.
If you need recommendations for quality books, the National Literacy Trust and BookTrust have lists and resources. Book festivals have family and school programmers who produce interactive and fun events with authors. In the meantime, here are 10 books I’d recommend to start a reading revolution.
Anthologies are a great way to introduce children to a wide range of authors at once through short, snackable stories and poems. Joyful, Joyful, curated by Dapo Adeola, features 40 authors and illustrators from across the world. It’s a celebration of Black joy with stories about mythical whales, talking books and Halloween dance competitions. If your children particularly enjoy mysteries, I recommend the Murder Club series edited by Robin Stevens and Serena Patel. If they want to chill their bones, Read, Scream, Repeat, curated by Jennifer Killick, is a must.
If nonfiction is more their thing, one of my favourites is I Am a Book. I Am a Portal to the Universe by Stefanie Posavec and Miriam Quick. A winner of the Royal Society young people’s book prize, it brilliantly ties the design of the book to scientific concepts through an incredibly funny and slightly sarcastic narrator.
Barrington Stoke has been publishing inclusive and diverse dyslexia-friendly novellas for reluctant readers, and those who struggle, for more than 25 years. Its catalogue is packed full of brilliant authors and stories of all genres. I recently read the timely and terrific AdelAIDE Just Wants to Help by Melinda Salisbury. It gently cautions readers about the rampant use of AI, the dangers of social media, chasing fame and performative activism.
Mega Robo Bros by Neill Cameron is a funny graphic novel series featuring two regular brothers who happen to be robots – the most powerful on Earth, or so they think. They fight to save the world and fight each other. Also try the naughty Norse god series Loki by Louie Stowell and The Cheat Book by RAMZEE.
Steady for This by Nathanael Lessore is so funny, so contemporary, so perfect for working-class and minority teen boys. Shuan, AKA MC Growls, is gearing up to take part in Raptology, hoping it will impress his crush, but when a practice run is livestreamed it goes very wrong.
Last but by no means least, I recommend the Choose Your Own Adventure and Fighting Fantasy books series. I love games, I write games and I still love these books. If screen time is a concern, they are a good start. In House of Hell by Steve Jackson you seek refuge in a spooky mansion in a storm, and it only gets scarier from there. Grab your dice, get going and choose wisely.
• The Nine Night Mystery by Sharna Jackson is published by Puffin. To support the Guardian and the Observer buy a copy at guardianbookshop.com. Delivery charges may apply.
