Comments on: On Giving Youth A Chance

By: RfP

RfP — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 05:10:26 +0000

Wallis makes some good points, but the section you highlighted is an important flaw in his argument. A number of studies have found that teenagers *are* avid readers--more so than adults. For recent generations, reading books peaks in the teen years and declines during early adulthood. That finding was made by the same NEA survey that Wallis quotes. It's also backed up by other data, some of which I've compiled here.

By: Miki S

Miki S — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 03:03:00 +0000

Seems to me, if you’re waiting until they’re teenagers to try to tempt them to read, you’ve waited far too long!

I would think you want to hook ‘em while they’re very young. Then, while there might be a cutback in reading during their crazy wild teenage years, they’ll go back to it eventually.

Well, that’s how it worked for me…well, okay, I never really ever stopped reading altogether.

By: Alice Friedman

Alice Friedman — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 21:17:34 +0000

My teen-age grands are avid readers. They are reading the Meyers books and flip between YA books and regular adult literature.
They are completely teenagers. I call them the giggles but the first stop when they visit is the library.

By: donna myrow

donna myrow — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 17:35:53 +0000

Teens are genuinely excited about reading our teen-written newspaper. L.A. Youth was launched in 1988 and is the largest non-profit newspaper in the country (500,000 readers). Peer-to-peer personal stories enable them to see they’re not alone when facing problems and they have a terrific sense of humor.

By: links for 2008-07-29 « Charlottesville Words

links for 2008-07-29 « Charlottesville Words — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 17:31:20 +0000

[...] On Giving Youth A Chance | Booksquare “People being driven into a state of terminal time management crisis are hardly likely to become enthusiastic readers.” I’m hardly a “youth,” but I can sure identify. [...]