ATA Magazine

Kid Lit—What book would you recommend for reluctant readers?

Portrait shot of a pre-teen girl reading manga.
Book cover image of Shadow Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon.

The Shadow of the Wind

This book by Carlos Ruis Zafon and Lucia Graves is lovely and charming.
— Jennifer Prestash

Book cover image of the Alex Reader Collection by Anthony Horowitz.

Alex Rider, The Graphic Novel Collection

By Anthony Horowitz, these books are great for adventure lovers. The protagonist is an adolescent in an adult world and shows how he can navigate his own adventures.
— Sinead Dullaghan

Book cover image of Creeboy by Teresa Wouters

Creeboy

This low-vocabulary, high interest novel is an engaging read that captures a reluctant reader’s attention and keeps it throughout. This presents a realistic story that allows a reader to understand the issues some of our Indigenous students face.
— Mary Claire Belanger

Book cover image of Popular Mechanics Do-it-Yourself Encyclopedia

Popular Mechanics Do-it-Yourself Encyclopedia

As a shop teacher, I encountered many students who were reluctant readers, but they love my collection of old Popular Mechanics red books.
— Robert McKague

Book cover image of Judy Moody & Stink Collection.

Judy Moody & Stink in the School’s Out Collection

In grades 2–5, more than any other book, the ones in these series have turned my students from fake readers to voracious consumers. So many students tried one, then started reading two or three at a time, and once they’ve read the whole series, they move on to new books, transformed into readers.
— Joshua Lafleur

Manga cover of Les Miserables by Victor Hugo

Graphic novels

Visuals take the stress off readers.
— Courtney Albrecht