Teenagers and Reading can be mutually exclusive ideas. However, here are some thoughts which may help encourage reading, and so improve vocabulary, use of language and understanding.
Young Adult (YA) novels tackle the edgy issues teenagers struggle with, from romantic longing to peer pressure to grief and trouble at home or school. Teenagers will gravitate toward relatable subject matter whether they are personally grappling with these issues or are seeking vicarious thrills.
Merge movies with books. Hollywood is turning to teen literature for ideas more than ever. Offer your teenager the print version to read before or after a big film comes out and discuss with them the similarities and the differences between the two. Which was better? The book or movie? Why?
Graphic novels, once dismissed as comic books, are now recognised as literature. These books may be the key to getting some teenagers hooked on books and are available in a wide range of genres, from adventure and fantasy to historical fiction, memoir, and biography, so certainly, there is a graphic novel out there to suit your teenager’s taste.
Encourage your teenager with appropriate adult-level books. Find non-fiction titles on subjects your teen’s curious about, such as climate change, race, political corruption, or true crime. Check adult non-fiction bestseller lists to see what is going viral.
Try some poetry. Novels in verse and performance poetry are an increasingly popular trend. Poems are easy to read as they have all that white space on the page. The spare and lyrical approach to poetry can pack a punch.
Let your teenager get an audiobook to listen to on the way to school or on long drives. They can download audiobooks to their smartphones to not risk looking uncool because they will be under headphones or have their earbuds in.
Model reading at home, where your teenager can see you. Express your interest and enjoyment and talk about what you are reading. Always take a book with you when you go to the beach or waiting in a long queue. Demonstrate to your teenager that reading is a pleasure and not a chore.
Keep reading material around. Children who grow up with heaps of books around them tend to read more. Fill the bathroom, car, dining table (wherever there is a captive audience) with comic books, graphic novels, and magazines geared to their interests. There is nothing wrong with “micro-reading.”
Hand your teenager a gift card to your local or online bookshop. They may discover the treasure-hunt fun of looking for a brilliant book.