So… I guess you saw this article because you don’t like to read. Well, I have a question for you… WHY?!? Is it because it’s boring? Don’t have time? Too hard? Not important? Not fun? Well… THINK AGAIN! Maybe these are the “distractions” that are keeping you from reading… Your computer? Your TV? Your internet? Your cell phone “cough” texting “cough” your video game systems… “cough” PSP, Wii, Xbox 360, PS3, ETC. “cough”; or maybe sports that you may be involved in.
Ok, books are a little boring at first, but start out small. If you have a class book to read, but you HATE reading chapter books, then just read a couple pages at a time. Not reading at all can affect your grade and your intelligence. If you have to finish a book by a deadline, then don’t wait till the last minute. READ the book if you don’t you will be pressured and won’t take your time, which means you should TAKE YOUR TIME. If you hate books period, then just try reading children’s books with lots of pictures and few words and work your way up to big books like Twilight and its series. Once you get hooked on a series, you just can’t stop. Series keep you busy so you don’t have to go looking for another book every month.
What kinds of books draw your attention: Are they the ones with the colorful covers? Relatable characters? Interesting plot? Sounds funny? An eye-catching excerpt on the back cover? Good comments from friends? Reviews? Well I too, look for these things. Most important is the genre - I personally enjoy fantasy fiction. Some people do not; it just depends on the individual. There are so many genres in books; the biggest are fiction and non-fiction. Fiction is fake, make-believe, made-up. Non-fiction is real life, real people, actually happened.
If you find a book that you like, you will most likely want to read more. If not then try another book. Trying different genres will help you find which one is best for you. Once you have found a genre, then try to read books from that genre, but occasionally read books from genres other than yours. Most likely in school you will have a book report that has the genre that you hate. Read it anyway, because it is always good to read various genres to expand your “genre collection”.
Here are 20 books that I challenge you to read…
1. Twilight – Stephenie Meyer
2. Twisted - Laurie Halse Anderson
3. Mediator – Meg Cabot
4. The Clique – Lisi Harrison
5. Warriors: Into the Wild – Erin Hunter
6. Heaven Looks a Lot Like The Mall – Wendy Mass
7. Eldest – Christopher Paolini
8. Peter and the Shadow Thieves – Dave Barry & Ridley Pearson
9. Speak – Laurie Halse Anderson
10. Marley and Me – John Grogan
11. Stargirl – Jerry Spinelli
12. To Kill a Mockingbird – Harper Lee
13. Where the Red Fern Grows – Wilson Rawls
14. What My Mother Doesn’t Know – Sonya Sones
15. The Outsiders – S.E. Hinton
16. Budd, Not Buddy – Christopher Paul Curtis
17. Redwall Series – Brian Jacques
18. An Audience For Einstein – Mark Wakley
19. The Hunger Games – Suzanne Collins
20. Whale Talk – Chris Crutcher
Now if you read those books I guarantee that you will LOVE to read. There is no right and wrong way to get hooked onto books, you just have to read.
So remember, when someone tells you that they hate to read, tell them to READ! If you still hate books after reading those 20 books, then all I have to tell you is read some more, and more, and more! Put down those cell phones; turn off that T.V.; grab a book and READ! Oh and by the way, take your time and remember to HAVE FUN!