Reading Programs Successful for Teens

As Southbury teenagers return to school this week, some are bringing with them a summer's worth of reading: Fitzgerald, Steinbeck, perhaps even Joseph Campbell. 

Campbell? As in 'The Power of Myth?'

Believe it or not, yes. These are among the stimulating reads suggested by Pomeraug High School for students to pore over during their summer break. But for some students, the thought of reading during this time of freedom is about as appealing as a root canal is to those of us who are beyond the "braces" stage.

The good news is, here in town, the challenge is not as steep. Heather Szaley Aronson, teen librarian at the Southbury Public Library, said the percentage of teen readers who enjoy reading appears to outweigh those who do not. 

The numbers from this year's summer reading program bear that out. This year, 316 teens participated - about 100 more than last year. 

Not only that, they are reading some thought-provoking works. The reading lists for Pomperaug High includes On Writing by Stephen King and Steinbeck's The Grapes of Wrath, depending on the class. 

Teens who participated in the program had incentive. For every hour of reading, they were awarded a raffle ticket for a weekly prize: $25 gift cards to local stores from Staples to Starbucks, paid for by The Friends of the Library.

Apparently, for many teens, all it takes is a story with vampires or mythology to hook them.

"Fantasy is always a major draw. Realistic romantic 'chick lit.' Either real world or totally out of this world," said Aronson.

Teens also are drawn to anything that might be considered naughty. Some of the hot reads: Speak and A Tree Grows in Brooklyn.

"If they think it's risque, it's that 'forbidden thrill,' " said Aronson.

Aronson estimates teens in town fall heavily into the "good reader" category (roughly 70 percent to the 30 percent who need coaxing). 

To get a beat on the percentage, I hit the library. I met Griffin Watson, 14, perusing the shelves in the teen section. Watson, a freshman, is "addicted to books," said his mother, Suzanne. "If we aren't at the library, he's dragging me to Borders with his 33% coupon to buy more books."

What's Suzanne Watson's secret to encouraging her kids to read? "You have to find that genre that they enjoy, even if it's below their grade level," said Watson.  "A book is a book."

Nearby was Charlotte Iwasaki, 14. Seated at one of the tables in the teen section of the library, she was checking out a book to decide whether to read it. Channel surfing, book style. Iwasaki had already read two of three books toward her summer requirement, and planned to read Lord of the Flies.

Iwasaki's advice to her fellow teens who think reading is the pits? 

"You don't want to pick a book if you read the description and you don't like it," said Iwasaki.  "Pick a topic you enjoy."

That doesn't sound hard, does it?