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Teens will read when given the right book

I’m preparing for class when one of my freshmen approaches me.

“Don’t be mad, Ms. Thurston.”

“Why?” I glance at my grade book. “You forget your homework again?”

“No,” he says. “But I finished Running Loose. I didn’t mean to,” he adds. “I just couldn’t stop reading…”

I’m a high school English teacher and from that conversation you’d think I worked with honors kids. But I don’t. I teach teens who come to my class declaring they “don’t read”, “hate school” and have considered dropping out.

But after a few weeks with me, they’re reading.

I may not start with Steinbeck, but there’s a wealth of literature targeted for teens that will turn them on to books so we can eventually get there.

If you’re in contact with young adults – as a parent, coach, teacher or mentor – but you haven’t had contact with YA lit, you owe it to yourself and to your kids to visit the “Just for Teens” program at the Rochester Children’s Book Festival on Saturday, November 5th at Monroe Community College.

This year, two special guests will be joining our annual literacy celebration: Chris Crutcher and Laurie Halse Anderson. If you don’t recognize their names, you’re missing out on two incredible talents.

Crutcher can’t write fast enough for me; I devour his books. And because he’s worked as a teacher and counselor with at-risk teens, I’ve felt a connection with him from the start (of course, he doesn’t know this, but you can bet he will after November 5th). Not only do I teach Running Loose, but I have his other books in my room because the kids who claim they “don’t read” always love his books. Today’s world is not always an easy place. Crutcher uses humor, honesty and raw emotion to explore the lives of teens struggling to find themselves and their place in this world. That’s why his books are vital.

As a writer, Laurie Halse Anderson has been my mentor (again, she’s not yet aware of this, but – you guessed it – she will be come November). Her ability to capture both the wit and insight felt by teens is amazing. Anderson knows kids are smart. She understands their potential and writes in a way that allows readers to discover their own. I literally could not keep her novel Speak in my room – it was perpetually signed out. My girls and I still talk about Melinda as if she were in class right along with us.

You may not realize it, but the Rochester area is home to dozens of writers of young adult literature including Vivian Vande Velde, Linda Sue Park, Mary Jane Auch, Leander Watts and Mary Beth Miller. All of these award-winning authors will be on hand from 10-4 to sign books and some will take part in the teen program between 1 and 3:30. Visit www.RochesterChildrensBookFestival.org and click the ‘Just for Teens’ button for details.

So to you grown-ups out there: stuff your car with teens, letting whoever complains loudest about hating books ride shotgun, and head to MCC on November 5th.

And to all you teen readers: I’ll be moderating the program, so when you get your books signed by Laurie and Chris, be sure and put in a good word for me, okay?

First appeared in the Rochester Democrat & Chronicle November 2005

All speeches and articles are copyrighted by, and are the property of, Laurie Thurston, and may not be reprinted without permission of the author.