Being a teacher or a tutor, how many times have you heard your students saying, “I don’t like reading!”? I am sure a million times! But we can’t really blame them. This is the era of Netflix and Hulu, and students these days are hooked to their screens all the time instead of reading books or novels like we used to.
No, we are not discouraging watching movies and shows; they can be knowledgeable and beneficial sometimes. But book reading is something that improves your memory, focus, and communication skills. It also improves your reading comprehension skills while keeping you engaged at all times!
So, are you wondering how to develop book reading habits in your students? Well, for that, you will need to give them something Netflix-worthy! You should give them books containing thrill, nail-biting suspense, and drama. Show your students that all these characteristics can be in a book too, and you will see them getting hooked to reading books.
To give you a helping hand, we have compiled a list of 14 mind-engaging books that will make your students love reading. You can ask them to read these books as assignments, but trust me, they will enjoy each of them once they start reading.
But before diving into the list of books, let’s briefly go through some characteristics of books you should give to students who don’t like reading.
Characteristics of Books for Students who Don’t like Reading:
If someone is an enthusiastic reader, they can read everything. But if someone doesn’t like reading and you want them to read, you will have to look for books with certain characteristics to gain their interest. Here are some of those characteristics and qualities:
The Books Should Work as a Mirror:
If you want your students to be interested in reading, give them something that matches their personality and interests. Now for that, you obviously need to know your students and understand their personalities. Try to know about their culture, background, and the current life they are living. After them, give them a book they find an instant connection with.
Find their Interests
The interests of every student are different; some like fantasy, some like rom-com, while some like a suspense thriller or murder mystery. So, you need to find the favorite genre of your students individually and then recommend their books. You can figure this out by asking them what types of shows and movies they watch.
Full of Cliff-Hangers:
Have you ever wondered why students these days binge-watch Netflix shows and series? Because they are full of suspense, questions, mysteries, and cliff-hangers. Therefore, you need to give them books with the same characteristics; the chapters should be short and full of multiple cliffhangers & twists n turns. This way, whenever they will put the book down, they will feel a sudden urge to pick it back up.
Easy to Read:
This is one of the most important points; always give easy-to-read books to students who don’t like reading. Heavy literature and philosophy will only make them run away from reading forever. You will need to give them something that is easy on the eyes and matches their reading level. Once they get comfortable reading, they can gradually move on to literature and heavy text.
Engaging and Captivating:
Last but not least, the storyline of the books should be engaging to keep the students hooked. Don’t give them something artsy or super dull. Instead, give them drama, fantasy, and thrill. Also, give them a storyline that captivates their minds while leaving them wanting and reading more.
10 Mind-Engaging Books for Students who Don’t like Reading
As promised, here are 14 mind-engaging books you can give to your students to read and make them love reading:
1.The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian - Sherman Alexie
This book revolves around the life of ‘Junior’, an Indian teenager, and the entertaining things he does. Due to some personal issues, he needed to leave his current school and transfer to an all-white school, where he was the only Indian. Nightmare, isn’t it? Well, that’s what this book is about. It tells the everyday struggles of Junior in a humorous and relatable way. Students will love reading this teenage high school story with an entertaining plot.
2.13 Reasons Why - Jay Asher
This book revolves around the life of Hannah Baker, a newbie in a high school. She committed suicide mysteriously and delivered a box to Clay Jensen’s house before doing that. There was a tape inside the box named “13 reasons why”. In the tape, she mentioned 13 reasons why she committed suicide. Yes, this is a popular Netflix series, and your students might have watched it. But trust me, it is nothing as compared to the book. The book is more profound, nail-biting, and emotional.
3.Maze Runner Series - James Dashner
I used to love the Maze Runner series when I was a teenager, and I am sure your students will love it too! The engaging plot of this series revolves around Thomas, a teenager who wakes up one morning on a mysterious island. He is stuck in that place with some other unknown boys. The most interesting part is that place is a towering maze full of deadly creatures, and the only way to escape is to go through it. It will be a mystery for students if Thomas will be the first person going out alive of that maze or not?
4.The Fault in Our Stars - John Green
Next on our list, we have a love story, but not an ordinary one. The book revolves around Hazel, who recently discovered she has cancer, and Augustus Waters, another cancer patient she met in the support group. They both teach other lessons that changed their perspective and thoughts about life. Also, they start positively taking their situation and life instead of being miserable. Yes, we also have a movie based on this book, but again, the book is a whole other mood.
5.The Taking of Jake Livingston - Ayana Gray
Trust me; students are obsessed with horror, suspense, and thrill. If they can watch thrilling movies, they will love the books too! This book revolves around the life of Jake Livingston, a 16-year-old boy who can see and talk to dead people. He comes across a dead man Sawyer, who used to hunt and kill teenage boys when he was alive. Now that he is dead, his eyes are on Jake. This novel gives a new name to mystery and horror!
6.Hawk - James Patterson
Next on our list, we have another engaging and mind-boggling plot. This book revolves around the life of a girl named Hawk. Do you want to know the most interesting yet disturbing part about Hawk? She doesn’t know her name, where she came from, and where her family is. All she keeps saying is that I am supposed to stand at the corner of the street and wait for my parents. This book will surely keep your students hooked with the never-ending suspense and thrill.
7.Medusa - Jessie Burton
Jessie Burton is one of the most famous and favorite authors of students and teenagers, and this book is proof of that. This book revolves around the Greek monster Medusa slowly involving into a cute love story. Medusa was sent to an Island where Perseus, another good-looking boy, accompanied her. However, Medusa is still confused if Perseus really likes her or not. Your students will adore this cute love story with eye-catching illustrations.
8.White Smoke - Tiffany Jackson
This book by Tiffany Jackson will be loved by students who had to travel and move a lot in their lives. This book revolves around Marigold, who recently moved to a beautiful and stunning house. But guess what? That house is haunted. She witnesses unusual things happening and a lot of other stuff! Your students will love reading this book and unlock all the mysteries and secrets of this house.
9.One of Us is Lying - Karen McManus
This book has a very basic plot that students love, including 5 characters; a beauty queen, a rebel, a nerd, an outcast, and an athlete. These 5 friends get detention from high school, but guess what? One of them dies before the detention ends. So, how did they die? Who killed that person? For that, your students will have to read the book. Trust me; they will love reading this murder mystery!
10.Between Shades of Gray - Ruta Sepetys
This book has a captivating and engaging storyline set in an old era in Lithuania. The plot revolves around Linda, a 15-year-old teenager living with her parents and younger brother. However, she and her family got separated from her father after Soviet officers came and took them to the Siberian camp. This book showed the reality of the Nazi regime and the level of cruelty at that time. You can assign these books to your students as a part of a history of Holocaust assignment. However, keep in mind that the students will raise many questions after reading this, so be prepared to answer them!
If your students love action and thrill, they will undoubtedly love this book. This book revolves around 12 people chosen from 12 different districts to live in the wild and survive. But do you know how they will survive and win the game? By running after each other live’s. Yes, the game only has one winner, the last person who stays alive. Katniss Everdeen is the main character of this story, a contestant in the game, and how she is bound to choose between love, faith, and humanity. We also have a movie based on this book, and if your students enjoyed the movie, they would love the book too.
12.The Girl on the Train - Paula Hawkins
This novel is written by Paula Hawkins, a world-renowned British author, and trust me; this is one of her best pieces. The story of this psychological thriller revolves around the after-divorce life of Rachel. She sits on the train every day and watches a couple in their house while passing by, Megan and Scott. One day she sees something extremely disturbing in that house and the next thing she remembers is waking up drunk with no memory of last night. This novel makes you bite your nails while Rachel tries to figure out what happened that night and unfolds other mysteries.
13.The Kite Runner - Khaled Hosseini
This novel by Khaled Hosseini beautifully describes the relationship between two friends living in a country that is about to be destroyed; Afghanistan! One friend is a boy from a wealthy family, and the other one is the son of a servant of his home. This book depicts loyalty, betrayal, redemption, and fathers' influence on their sons. It is quite an old novel, but its power, beauty, and words never get old. Your students will love the captivating story of this classic book.
14. The Art of Racing in the Rain - Garth Stein
This unique, interesting, and humorous storyline is narrated by Enzo, a cute dog. He believes that God will send him as a human in the next life if he becomes wise enough. So, he tries to learn as many things as possible about human life from the television and observes his owner. This tale by Garth Stein is a treat to read, and if your students have a pet dog, they will love every bit of this novel.
Final Thoughts
Book Reading is essential for students and definitely a beneficial activity. Just figure out what your students like to read, and assign them books from the above list accordingly. We promise they won’t complain!
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