I'm going to get DD a subscription to Teen Vogue. They have really great articles.

Anonymous wrote:Maybe try some local book signings/readings with authors he might be interested in?

We've done that too. It was fun and interesting.

We don't censor or criticize their reading choices. Not saying you do, but I've seen parents get irritated that kids reread book, choose fluffy books or books that aren't on level. DD loves manga, and I wanted to expose her to Shakespeare, so I got her some Shakespeare inspired graphic novels. She really liked the merchant of Venice. She wanted something scary and had seen the previews for Stephen King's It, so I let her try it even though I didn't think it was a great choice for a 14yo. She thought it was too scary so she stopped on her own. Now she's reading the hobbit.

Don't being home things from the library - take them to the library to choose their own books.

And sadly yes, cut the electronics.

Maybe try some local book signings/readings with authors he might be interested in?

You can't. My 17 year old only reads what he needs to for school and very select things that are of special interest to him. He never just picks up a book and reads for pleasure.

I make my 12 year old read books but it's certainly not for pleasure, he hates it.

Read with them. We have reading hour (that sometimes lasts 3 hours if everyone gets caught up in what they are reading) in my house where everyone is in the same room reading at the same time. Also, I rotate reading the same books as my kids, so we can have conversations ahout them. This has been super fun for me this summer with my 15 year old because his summer reading list is full of non-fiction and being able to have discussions with him about "The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks", "I am Malala", and "Sapiens" has been incredible. His grasp of the material and his ability to articulate his point of view have lead to some very insightful discussions. Also, read out loud together. We read The Sorcerer's Stone (the first Harry Potter) as a family a few years ago, my daughter who was a senior in high school at the time had never read it and was really grumpy it got voted as the pick.... she went on to read all the others (along with her then 5th grade brother who was rereading them with her).

Cancel the phone plans for the summer

How old is he and what did he like?

If he loved to read before, then he's just matured and needs to find new interests, book-wise. DS went through this at the beginning of the summer, and finally found a new series he loves. An oldie but goodie:
The Chronicles of Amber. First book: Nine Princes in Amber. By Roger Zelazny, 1970. I would say 12+

It is still necessary to help teens find good books.

Subscribe to some magazines he might like. Subscribe to a newspaper and leave it on the breakfast table. Ask him to read articles to you while you cook, then discuss.

My DS2, 14, reads a lot for pleasure, but rarely novels. He loves books of random trivia like The Bathroom Reader (and its umpteen sequels), news of the weird type stuff, and satirical writing like The Onion, Jon Stewart, Stephen Colbert, etc. He also likes books of cartoons like The Far Side. When he does read a real book, it is usually nonfiction, especially (auto)biographies.

Take away the reason they stopped reading. For my son, it was electronics.

I think teens are old enough to decide for themselves if they would like to read for pleasure. Time to let go a little.

Get them The Three Musketeers.

I have just always taken her to the library and asked what she's reading and pointed out books I thought she'd like.

My older DS really doesn't read for pleasure. It's a bummer for me - he's not a terrific reader but not a bad one, but it's rare the book that catches his attention. He does read magazines and occasional books related to movies or whatever. I buy him whatever I can and hope that some of it gets read in bed before he falls asleep but most doesn't.

My tween DS reads every single night before bed. Usually graphic novels but at least he's reading. I buy him what he likes too. I read all the time and I hope that some of it is rubbing off but some kids truly don't read a lot. He's has other interests, but reading sadly isn't one of them. When it's time for the summer required reading, he'll do it, but probably the last week before school starts.

Summer reading lists have gone by the way side this summer. DS used to wake up and read weekend mornings, with no prompting or nagging. Lately kiddo hasn't picked up a book. I've come home with books from library, taken him to the book store, nothing seems to be interesting to him. Ideas, thoughts, suggestions?