tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post998566916572667524..comments2024-03-27T10:02:56.747-04:00Comments on Fiction University: Boys Don’t Read? That’s Not What I’m SeeingJanice Hardyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02356672149097741248noreply@blogger.comBlogger21125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-15727102635505874282011-09-11T12:58:16.117-04:002011-09-11T12:58:16.117-04:00VERY interesting and thought-provoking. Yes, I thi...VERY interesting and thought-provoking. Yes, I think you may be right that by the time kids reach high school age, there are more activities vying for their attention. Plus perhaps dating. More serious sports, etc. That is COOL that boys read TWILIGHT! :) Good for them. A good book is a good book; I eventually even read it to find out what the fuss was about (and I enjoyed it).Carol Riggshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14092209912983783974noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-59132251265029738822011-09-09T10:14:57.724-04:002011-09-09T10:14:57.724-04:00I fear the "cool" factor plays a part. B...I fear the "cool" factor plays a part. Boys in their early teens are trying to establish their manly image. If reading, or certain types of reading, are perceived as nerdy or uncool, it won't matter how much they enjoy the books - image will take precedent. Not for all, of course, but for many.LD Mastersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01202135756299574972noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-28489145398799326092011-09-08T23:26:49.836-04:002011-09-08T23:26:49.836-04:00I'm a student myself, and I have to say that t...I'm a student myself, and I have to say that the not-enough-time thing is true. I play 5 (five!!! o.O) different instruments, am the debate captain, on the basketball team, AND in all honors. Oh, and I take zero period too. But I still find time to read. I think the most important thing here is not whether you have time or not, it's whether you care enough to *find* time. Because I absolutely cannot live without books, so I somehow always find time to read everyday, even if it's late at night ( I know--bad idea). The problem is though that once people start high school, other things (like you mentioned) start to take over as priorities and few are left who actually love reading enough that they are willing to continue. Especially if they're busier than the hours can be used in a day. But of course, boys DO read!! I help out at my middle school and today one of the boys in class was reading a Madeleine L'Engle book instead of the history books. Of course, he was reprimanded, but I think this shows that there <i>are</i> boys who love to read.Diana Juliannahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12645346227759177481noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-42101286464236167982011-09-08T23:00:24.435-04:002011-09-08T23:00:24.435-04:00Oh, I was so glad to see how you handled this. It ...Oh, I was so glad to see how you handled this. It was nice not to get bludgeoned over the head with your opinion. I agree, MG guys are reading. I do think there's a drop with high school guys, and you raised some highly interesting points about that. Great food for thought!<br /><br />-MandyCreative Ahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02960292977608812418noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-27514601636782563532011-09-08T17:48:44.472-04:002011-09-08T17:48:44.472-04:00I think reading is down in all ages and sexes… but...I think reading is down in all ages and sexes… but I doubt it’s systemic of boys.Jeff Kinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00667419764890599092noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-65023964849670410382011-09-08T14:38:28.532-04:002011-09-08T14:38:28.532-04:00My teenage sons both read quite often, but switche...My teenage sons both read quite often, but switched to adult titles around 7th grade for their pleasure reading. <br /><br />I don't think boys are reading less, I just think they're not reading YA.Sarah J. MacManushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03430266551248332700noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-39822506714047270452011-09-08T14:32:56.749-04:002011-09-08T14:32:56.749-04:00My 11 year son is an avid reader, and while he has...My 11 year son is an avid reader, and while he has read books with female protagonists, he's going through a phase where he will only read a book in which the mc is male. To him girl main characters = romance.<br /><br />My 15 year old nephew reads one book a month, and it's adult fantasy. It's my 17 year old niece who reads YA books.Stinahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11415189347501942340noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-30134332992957726012011-09-08T14:21:25.175-04:002011-09-08T14:21:25.175-04:00I think you're spot on - MG boys read. A lot. ...I think you're spot on - MG boys read. A lot. Then high school boys move on to ... adult books. They just skip YA for the most part, because they can't find what they want. My avid-almost-teen-boy-reader reads YA boylit (if he can find it), adult books (increasingly SF), and MG. But he says he'd still rather read books with kid characters!Susan Kaye Quinnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07348197999397141067noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-16654353823728645872011-09-08T13:17:32.868-04:002011-09-08T13:17:32.868-04:00I think I probably read more in high school becaus...I think I probably read more in high school because by then I'd mastered the art of half-paying attention in uninteresting classes while reading my book...<br /><br />I think it's fairly hard to draw conclusions without good data. As a middle-schooler, I picked up the Dragonlance and Brooks novels that Jonathan mentioned because that's what my brother was reading, and that lead me into LotR, Redwall and Harry Potter.MKHutchinshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07715686902529938959noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-31202322184029672642011-09-08T12:02:37.454-04:002011-09-08T12:02:37.454-04:00When I was in high school, a lot of guys simply di...When I was in high school, a lot of guys simply didn't read fiction. They had no interest in it. Those who did (like me) were usually SF/fantasy/horror fans. Just as Natalie said, we jumped from reading middle grade books to reading adult fiction sometime in junior high. <br /><br />I'm sure there were some YA books for guys being published, but at that time, all the high-profile stuff was pretty clearly written for girls. To us guys, it all looked like romance of one kind or another — paranormal romance, romantic suspense, literary romance, etc. <br /><br />I think there's actually quite a bit of YA-friendly adult fiction that appeals to guys. For example, in the fantasy genre, books like the Dragonlance series and books by R.A. Salvatore and Terry Brooks were popular with my friends. Books by John Saul were categorized as adult thrillers, but often featured teenaged protags. There's kind of a hidden YA-for-guys category ... it just isn't marketed as YA.Jonathannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-8260058440700720542011-09-08T11:15:05.396-04:002011-09-08T11:15:05.396-04:00I've noticed my brothers read less than I do, ...I've noticed my brothers read less than I do, but I read more than most people. <br />Both of them are much pickier than I am. The 16 year old will rarely pick up a new series; he generally only reads book by particular authors he likes.(plus the rare fighter pilot autobiography) The 12 year old will read some books I tell him he'd like so he reads more.<br />Both of them seem to prefer sci-fi or fantasy and they want books with action and at least one male protagonist. <br />Both of them are homeschooled. The 16 year old is busier doing other things now, so I think he's reading a little less than he used to but the 12 year old is only limited with his reading because he won't read books that aren't really good. <br />Since he only likes books with male protagonists, it does make it harder for me to find books for him. (Most of the well-written, action-packed dystopian I read is from a female POV.)Jessi L. Robertshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12368094392959597176noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-78877673079032812302011-09-08T11:09:51.935-04:002011-09-08T11:09:51.935-04:00Natalie, makes me wonder how many guys *do* skip t...Natalie, makes me wonder how many guys *do* skip the YA and go right into adult novels. I know when I was a teen, most of the YA out there (at that time) was relationship based, and those didn't interest me. So I read fantasy and sci fi from the adult shelves. <br /><br />Laura, that's the argument going around now, but that's true of every reader. I don't think you can apply that solely to boys and YA. <br /><br />Paul, I think the Twilight example fits the peer pressure example. Folks read it just to see what the fuss was. I can see some books being deemed "uncool" and kids shying away from them. <br /><br />Michael, the fact that your boy teen read Girl, Stolen is a great example of boys reading. <br /><br />Angie, I'd agree with that. We always had books in the house and my whole family reads. <br /><br />Melissa, that's an awesome point. Just cause they aren't reading the paranormal romance YA titles doesn't mean they aren't reading at all. There are a TON of reading options out there that aren't YA books.Janice Hardyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02356672149097741248noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-88572004205895086862011-09-08T11:00:53.120-04:002011-09-08T11:00:53.120-04:00My brother read in high school: he read the sports...My brother read in high school: he read the sports pages and Sports Illustrated and anything else sport-related he could get his hands on. But that *is* reading. If the Web had been around back then, I bet he'd have been reading blogs and participating in fantasy sports leagues. <br /><br />Now as an adult, he reads novels again. He never quit reading. He just took a break from fiction.Melissa Alexanderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13560125503655770461noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-90715512306877848192011-09-08T10:41:02.174-04:002011-09-08T10:41:02.174-04:00I think you make tons of great points. I want to a...I think you make tons of great points. I want to add one: The boys that I see reading have parents that read, parents that make it a priority, parents that fill their house with books, parents that see the importance in reading. If you teach children the joy of reading I don't care how busy life gets--your kids will read.Angela Cothranhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09243582290698922119noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-40275672788154064302011-09-08T10:20:29.332-04:002011-09-08T10:20:29.332-04:00I never thought about it, but you're probably ...I never thought about it, but you're probably right about the time thing. I was home-schooled so I didn't have the same time crunch in high-school that a lot of people face, but I know my first semester at community college I didn't have time to read anything non-class related. I went on a major reading binge over my winter break.Chicoryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16504144663440678542noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-85418119129372703642011-09-08T09:10:18.968-04:002011-09-08T09:10:18.968-04:00For my progeny, Cain and Able, whether or not they...For my progeny, Cain and Able, whether or not they crack open a book depends on the subject matter and amount of free time. Summer vacations allow more recreational reads, but I agree, competing with video games and budding hormones is quickly becoming problematic.Kathryn Elliotthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16112741861843306231noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-85797975983088683412011-09-08T08:22:20.799-04:002011-09-08T08:22:20.799-04:00Good point about the video games. My freshman read...Good point about the video games. My freshman reads far less than he used to, and has to be cajoled. But if I find him the right book, he'll read. Recent faves have been <i>Girl, Stolen</i> and <i>Hacking Timbuktu</i>.Michael G-Ghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07947421844294471304noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-37294036918651057062011-09-08T08:08:24.798-04:002011-09-08T08:08:24.798-04:00A love of reading is one of the greatest gifts a p...A love of reading is one of the greatest gifts a parent can give a child, I feel. Certainly, I just as many boys browsing bookshops in Dublin as girls, if not more.<br /><br />Though I do think that boys are more likely to be attracted to the books that have more "grown-up" looking covers. I wonder if there's anything to be said for peer-pressure influencing a child's choice of book?Paul Anthony Shortthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14393249001158230985noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-61125228752209493692011-09-08T07:20:57.004-04:002011-09-08T07:20:57.004-04:00I think you make a great point. Boys definitely re...I think you make a great point. Boys definitely read. I did.Matthew MacNishhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03264738483763244969noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-65750851461174627182011-09-08T07:10:49.438-04:002011-09-08T07:10:49.438-04:00I think some boys will read girl books and others ...I think some boys will read girl books and others won't, depends on the boy. I have one of each. But YA? Some of those covers with girls in flowery dresses - I don't think they'll read. But something like Divergent? Yes. It's hard to find time to read in High school - sports, social, homework, social....etc. But some def. still do.Laura Paulinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06503090226508079501noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-42875418383316231662011-09-08T06:45:34.914-04:002011-09-08T06:45:34.914-04:00We just started high school this week. My daughter...We just started high school this week. My daughter is on the swim team and has 6:00 am practice 3 days a week and after school practice everyday plus Saturday am. So for any kids-boys or girls-who are in a high school sport, there is less time for anything, including reading. And yes, the homework will limit the fun reading time. As will all the activities they're supposed to do to be well-rounded.<br /><br />My daughter has a friend (guy) who reads all the time. I've noticed he's moved into adult books, mostly SF and Fantasy. I could see guys not being as interested in all the YA out there with mostly girls as the main characters. <br /><br />I do think reading and down time in general is very important for high school kids and hard to find.Natalie Aguirrehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03756087804171246660noreply@blogger.com