Reading as a Teenager

There are many reasons why, as a teenager, books and reading are a taboo subject. Reading is something that, to most, is ‘dorky’, ‘nerdy’, or, at worst, a waste of time. We read for school, but that’s the extent of it. For some, not even that. Obviously there are exceptions, with many teenagers devouring books with as much joy as Stranger Things. And this negative stigma around books is beginning to change due to platforms like Instagram and TikTok. Social media has opened up a whole new demographic of readers and writers.

There are a couple reasons why books are so taboo in high schools. For one, it’s heavily intertwined with school. We are taught that books are something to be graded on, something to be tested about. High school has jaded us away from the childhood bliss of reading the latest Andy Griffiths book and replaced it with essays on the symbolism in Animal Farm. Even with books I would normally have loved, I dislike when we have to study them for school. As much as reading critically is important, sometimes it’s just as important, and enjoyable, to just read. And this is what school drives out of us. This idea that reading can just be devouring a good story. We are taught that reading for fun (and in some senses reading at all) is a childish hobby. Another thing is that many books we read for school are written by adults, and so many of the characters are not relatable, or have the elements of reality that are given to their adult counterparts. Many adults paint teenagers in novels as clueless, irresponsible and naive, or worse, as miniature adults with adult priorities. This is not necessarily purposeful or due to a lack of skill, but simply because of a tendency to shy away from that part of their lives. As Jodi Picoult put it in her introduction to S.E Hinton’s The Outsiders, “Adults don’t see adolescence clearly, either because they  can’t or because it’s just too painful to do so”. She goes on to explain how literary teenagers were and are “well-scrubbed, polite adults-in-training”, creating a chasm between teens and the people we are reading about. Obviously this isn’t as prominent as it was in the 50s and 60s, but it is still something that many teenagers observe in literature (and film) today. But here’s the thing: we notice when this isn’t the case. Authors that come to mind are Stephen Chbosky (Perks of Being a Wallflower), and Clay Comber (100 Remarkable Feats of Xander Maze [definietly not biased]), both of whom give teenagers their warranted amount of intelligence and awareness about the world around them. It is these novels that stay with us and shape the times.

However bleak this outlook may seem, the culture around books is changing. Due to platforms like TikTok and Instagram — and their trends of #BookTok and #Bookstagram — reading and books are becoming increasingly popular and ‘cool’. Influencers, readers and writers alike now have a way to advertise to the masses, cheaply, quickly and with incredible range. Social media has created a whole new demographic of readers and writers who take recommendations straight from those like them. Rather than having to appeal to critics or prizes to win over the masses, writers now have a whole demographic of readers who they can appeal to through trends. It has changed the definition of what a ‘good book’ is, which has drastically changed the way people, teenagers and young adults in particular, consume literature. Most teenagers have some form of social media, and it is hard to escape the posts, reels and TikToks recommending, advertising and raving about, books. We are surrounded by them in a way we never have been before. People that never would have thought to read before, or liked it much, are reading the latest Colleen Hoover or Taylor Jenkins Reid. Even prolific bookstores like Dymocks have #BookTok sections, an ode to the way this is changing the way we read. Just like Netflix made the romcom cool again, TikTok is making books cool again. As an avid reader of books, and as someone who is always on the lookout for good books to give to people, this fills me with infinite hope. It is commonly accepted that books are on their way out, that teenagers would rather be on social media, with their friends, or watching Netflix (all of which are good things, in their own right), so to have books and reading be such a big part of what many adults think is out to ‘replace them’ is incredible. To know that there are thousands of people out there, sharing their opinions on books and stories, sharing their thoughts, and that people are hearing these thoughts and then actually going and reading these books is phenomenal. Social media maybe isn’t good for much, but the reading community is certainly making it a better place.

You can’t force anyone to read, just like you can’t force anyone into any other hobby. But if you’re looking to push a teenager in the direction of the bookstore, try the #Booktok section, or ask at your local bookshop for Booktok recommendations. Or even do some research and find out what books are trending, new, or popular. Make reading a social thing, and surround them with books and people who like books. Encourage conversations and opinions about literature and novels without testing them. Don’t look down on any books, no matter their genre, size, author, or popularity. Remember that reading isn’t everyone’s thing, and that’s okay.  And above all, keep reading, regardless of what anyone else (whether adult, teen or child) says.