It’s their worst nightmare. Wake up early, run down to the tree, and lo and behold: rectangular gifts wrapped in pretty paper. These are BOOK-shaped gifts. No reluctant reader wants to receive books for Christmas.
But plenty of you out there LOVE books, and you want to encourage the kid(s) in your life to love them, too. What to do when they have no interest in reading? I think I have a few ideas for you to put under your Christmas tree (or Chaunukkah bush, or Festivus pole…) that will make everyone happy.
Chapter Books:
Ignatius MacFarland by Paul Feig
This is my favorite “dude book” of the year. Its main character, Ignatius “Iggy” MacFarland is so desperate to escape a world where he doesn’t fit in that he builds his own rocket ship in hopes he can go meet up with some aliens. But when everything goes wrong and Iggy winds up in an alternate frequency, he and a new friend have to team up to save the world. What makes this book so great for non-readers is the fact that Paul Feig was truly channeling his inner 12-year-old while writing it. They guy humor is all there, not to mention some wacky illustrations. If your giftee has already read this, try the Artemis Fowl series by Eoin Colfer or Sea Legs by Alex Shearer.
Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney
Already a runaway hit, this novel-in-cartoons has captured a ton of reluctant readers already. Jeff Kinney’s book is the story of a middle school student, Greg, who seems to hit drama around every corner. Based on the author’s web cartoon, this title is laugh-out-loud funny and sure to impress any boy or girl whether they like to read or not. If your giftee already loves Kinney’s books, try The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick (for novels with lots of drawings) or Louis Sachar’s Wayside School series (for belly laughs).
Middle School is Worse Than Meatloaf by Jennifer L. Holm & Elicia Castaldi
This Lonestar List title is a smorgasboard for the eyes – it’s a novel-cum-scrapbook chronicling the life of Ginny Davis as she deals with seventh grade. The book is full of “stuff” – notes and letters, diary entries, and instant messages – that move the plot forward while being visually stimulating. Girls who are shy about reading will love this book for its cool format, and also for the neat story inside. If your giftee has already read this title, try Ellie McDoodle by Ruth McNally Barshaw or Geek Chic by Margie Palatini.
Love That Dog & Hate That Cat by Sharon Creech
These books by Sharon Creech follow the poetry assignment of Jack, a kid in Miss Stretchberry’s class. Through the poetry – which he writes very reluctantly – we get to know Jack, learn of his experiences, and even see a dialogue between him and his teacher. Because it’s written entirely in verse, these books are wonderful for kids who are intimidated by text-heavy novels. They are sweet, engaging, and even humorous, and they include an index at the back of poetry that Jack is studying. If your giftee already has these titles, try books by Karen Hesse (for more verse) and anything by Andrew Clements (for school hijinks).
Teen Books:
Crank and other books by Ellen Hopkins
Ellen Hopkins writes novels-in-verse, which, for the reluctant reader, means fewer words on the page and much less time spent reading. However, despite her low word count, Hopkins’ writing is intense, packed with the grit of teen issues. Crank deals with a former good girl’s addiction to crystal meth, Impulse is about three teens living in a psychiactric facility, and Identical follows two twins as they deal with abuse in very different ways. While Hopkins’ books are very transgressive, teens love these titles and the style in which they’ve been written. If your giftee has already read all of Hopkins’ work, try out Sonya Sones‘ titles for verse or Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson for intensity.
ttyl by Lauren Myracle
Recently ridiculed for its potty-mouth language and mature content, ttyl desreves a second look. This is a book about real girls dealing with real-life issues. It’s written entirely in IM lingo, which is daunting for many grown-ups, but perfect for reluctant teen readers. Ultimately, this is a smart book in which three best friends help eachother deal with their mistakes – along the lines of some of Judy Blume’s work for teens and tweens. If your giftee has already read the ttyl books, try The Boyfriend List by E. Lockhart or the Georgia Nicolson series by Louise Rennison.
Kin by Holly Black & Ted Naifeh.
The latest from the co-author of The Spiderwick Chronicles is a beautiful graphic novel that takes the reader from the urban world they think they know into the faerie world lying just under their noses. The format is perfect for a teen who isn’t too keen on reading, as it’s pretty much a big comic book. Black’s writing is fluid and exciting, and Naifeh’s drawings suck you right in. One thing is certain: after reading this book you won’t think about Tinkerbell anymore when you think of faeries. If your giftee already has Kin, try Sandman by Neil Gaiman or Wicked Lovely by Melissa Marr.
Guys Write for Guys Read edited by Jon Scieszka 
This is an anthology of short shorts and drawings from guys’ favorite writers and illustrators. Each contributor has written (or drawn) a piece about being a guy. Jon Scieska, who runs guysread.com, put this together to raise money for his site – a site that raises awareness about literacy for boys. Because each piece is so short, and because it also includes comics and drawings, this is a great book to give a guy who doesn’t normally read much. Not only can he read tons of stuff that resonates with him, but it won’t take long to read a piece or two. If your giftee already has this anthology, try Burger Wuss by M.T. Anderson or The Juvie Three by Gordon Korman.
