The Book Stop

One of the things I noticed repeatedly while working in schools and libraries was how often parents would worry that their children had “stopped reading”. Usually this happened somewhere around the transition to secondary school, when reading began to feel more associated with tests, analysis and exam pressure than enjoyment.

Very often though, the issue was not that children disliked stories. It was that they had stopped seeing reading as something people genuinely did for pleasure.

Children notice what adults value. If they grow up seeing adults scroll endlessly on phones but never pick up a book, it is hardly surprising that reading can begin to feel like schoolwork rather than part of everyday life.

At the same time, I think we sometimes underestimate how much the reading world has changed in positive ways. The rise of online reading communities, particularly through platforms such as TikTok’s BookTok community, has introduced huge numbers of teenagers and young adults to books they genuinely want to read. Publishing has changed because of it. Young people are recommending books to one another with enormous enthusiasm and emotional honesty. In many ways, it has made reading visible and social again.

I see this in my own life too. I have a “26 for 26” Messenger book group with my daughters, family and friends where we share what we are reading throughout the year. It is surprisingly motivating. Sometimes it introduces us to books we would never otherwise have picked up. Sometimes it simply reminds us to make time to read at all.

That matters because reading brings with it so many benefits beyond academic success. Research consistently links reading for pleasure with improved vocabulary, writing ability, general knowledge and educational attainment. The National Literacy Trust states that:

“Children and young people who read in their free time at least once a month are more likely to have better mental wellbeing, higher reading skills and greater confidence than those who do not.”

I truly believe that reading develops empathy and that is something we need right now. Reading allows people to enter lives and perspectives beyond their own. It slows us down a little. It asks us to think, imagine, question and reflect.

One of the loveliest things I have noticed in recent years is the number of young adults who return to reading once exams are finally over. Freed from set texts and revision guides, many rediscover the pleasure of reading simply for themselves. Often they become passionate readers all over again.

That is why I firmly believe that all reading is good reading. Graphic novels, fantasy, romance, audiobooks, crime fiction, poetry, football magazines, literary classics, dystopian fiction, recipe books and memoirs. It all counts.

People become readers by finding books that mean something to them personally.

At The Book Stop we hope to encourage a reading culture that feels welcoming rather than judgemental. We would genuinely love teenagers and young adults to help shape the shop too. Tell us what you are reading. Tell us what authors you love. Tell us what genres you want to see more of on the shelves.

Bring your teenagers in to browse. Let them choose books for themselves. Buy them a gift card and let them discover what they actually enjoy reading rather than what they think they should be reading.

As an independent bookshop, we can order books in specially and we are always happy to help track down titles people are excited about. You can order online, over the phone or simply come in and have a chat.

We are building The Book Stop for readers, and that includes the next generation of readers too.

Reference: National Literacy Trust (2023) Children and Young People’s Reading in 2023. London: National Literacy Trust.