David Pilkey's What Should Kids Be Reading?

I have never enjoyed reading. I always felt it was something that was forced. When I am given the choice of which book I want to read it makes reading a positive experience. Reading should be something that people enjoy and look forward to doing. Young adults should be required to read all genres of books but have the option of which book they read from each genre

Having teens read all genres of books supports them throughout their educational lives. According to David Pilkey's "What should Kids be Reading?" "If we let kids choose their own books, they'll be more likely to think of reading as something that’s good, as opposed to something that's good for them.” If kids are assigned a genre to read by their teacher, but are allowed to
choose any book from that genre , they can pick an enjoyable book, while still having a learning experience. Being exposed to different genres is essential in education. If teens read all different genres of books, they will be able to comprehend all genres when having to read them on a test in high school or college. They will also still enjoy reading because they can read what interests them. They will learn how to be responsible students and readers by choosing their own books. They will learn their interests of reading and their level.

Teens reading challenging books may not always support them as they get older. According to, David Coleman's, "What should kids be reading?", it does not only matter what students read but how they read. When summing up the Standards, we often say, “students should read like a detective and write like an investigative reporter.” A strong, college- and career-ready reader pays careful attention to evidence when reading." Certain genres will help kids prepare for college if they are able to find evidence in the book even if it is fiction. If kids are able to learn about the characters and who they are help them in college when having to do assignments off of books which occurs frequently. They will be able to understand the book and take out information or their claim in an essay of in an assignment.

Realistic Fiction is a genre that lets me connect to one of the main characters while reading the book which enables me to find the book to be more interesting.
This is a genre which teens should be exposed to. It can help them in their everyday lives. They will be able to see what the right decisions and wrong decisions are. This will lead them to make correct decisions. One of my favorite books is "The Secret Language of Girls." this book is about these two girls who were best friends then drifting away from each other. At the same time me and my best friend were drifting apart. This made it easy for me to connect to the characters during this book. It made me realize how my friend may be feeling. If teens are able to connect themselves to the main character, this enables them to find the book more enjoyable. They will also be able to comprehend the book easier.

Reading classics enables me to be exposed to literature written over the years. In one of my favorite childhood books, "Little House on the Prairie," I was able to learn about how they lived years ago. I was learning facts while still taking parry in an enjoyable story. Teens need to be exposed to different texts. They need to be able to enjoy a story while still learning something from it. Whether it is a reading skill, or fact from the book does not
matter.

It can be argued that YA fiction books have inappropriate topics and language which these teens should not be exposed to but they would be hearing this language in their everyday lives, anyway. This is a genre that will teach teens a lot. According to "Darkness Too Visible" by Megan Cox Gurdon, "Now, whether you care if adolescents spend their time immersed in ugliness probably depends on your philosophical outlook. Reading about homicide doesn't turn a man into a murderer; reading about cheating on exams won't make a kid break the honor code. But the calculus that many parents make is less crude than that: It has to do with a child's happiness, moral development and tenderness of heart. Entertainment does not merely gratify taste, after all, but creates it." If teens see these topics frequently they will not make a big deal about seeing this topics in books. They will be using this language very often and may swear at others as well. This could be bad. In addition, as young adult author Chris Crutcher points out in "Young Adult Fiction: Let Teens Choose", "Bad language doesn't hurt anybody. It might make a few -- mostly adults -- uneasy, but it doesn't hurt anybody. Words can hurt. Name calling hurts. Oral bullying hurts. Humiliation hurts. But bad language doesn't do sh*t." Many people use swearing use frequently. It does not mean that it is okay but it certainly is not from YA books. Teens typically learn this language when they are in younger grades, as early as elementary school. It is usually from other kids. YA books just use language that these teens would regularly hear.

Teens should have the choice of which book they read from each genre. Would you want to be forced to read a certain book because your teacher thinks it will be "good" for you? The only time I enjoy reading is when I read a book I am interested in that I chose.