I began to enjoy reading when I realized that there were books that I could relate to. The first time it happened, I had picked up one of Hallowell’s ADHD related books and suddenly – BAM! – I couldn’t put it down! It does take time to find books to capture our attention, but with millions of books out there, there’s got to be a handful that you’ll enjoy and get something out of – don’t give up!
For middle schoolers, Diary of a Wimpy Kid series seems to be doing really well – maybe if the entire class finishes one book in the series, the reward/incentive that the class trip would be to go and see the movie on the big screen? I bet it would generate some pretty interesting class discussions. Hate it or love, riding the wave of popular culture is the way to get kids’ attention this day and age – don’t dismiss it!