Youth Reading Decline

There have been many studies over the years evaluating the decline in youth reading. In Charlotte Alter’s 2014, TIME magazine article, “Study: The Number of Teens Reading for Fun Keeps Declining,” she cites a study compiled by Common Sense Media. The Common Sense Media study found that while reading rates of children will steadily decrease as the get older, the decline was more significant over the last thirty years. The study found that in 1984, 8% of 13-year-olds and 9% of 17-year-olds said they “never” or “hardly ever” read for fun (qtd. In Alter). While this is not a terribly high number it is still more than what it should be. However, by 2014, those numbers had almost tripled to 22% and 27% respectively (qtd. In Alter). Common Sense Media …show more content…
In Motoko Rich’s 2007 article, “Potter Has Limited Effect on Reading Habits,” he stands in opposition to the mass excitement over the power of the Harry Potter series. He states the belief of the series “inspiring a generation of kids to read for pleasure in a world dominated by instant messaging and music downloads” is not as accurate as the populace has come to believe. While many children have gone on to read other series after completing the Harry Potter series, the majority do not. Gioia states that the series “got millions of kids to read a long and reasonably complex series of books. The trouble is that once Harry Potter novel every few years is not enough to reverse the decline in reading” (Rich). As the series progressed the novels became longer and longer. The daunting size of the books, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone was 309 pages while Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows is 784 pages, eventually turned kids away from finishing the series as the novels became too intimidating. Rich draws attention to a series of federal test administered every few years to fourth, eighth and twelfth graders in the United States. The results of the test state that in 1998, the year Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone was released, that children interested in reading for fun dropped from forty-three percent in fourth grade to nineteen percent in eighth …show more content…
Over the last seven years all across America individuals have put small “give one, take one” book exchanges in their front yards. Now they are being told to tear them down. In 2014, Spencer Collins’, a nine-year old boy, was excited to share his Little Free Library with his neighborhood, until at least two residents complained about the structure. The Leawood City Counsel in Kansas said it received complaints about Collins’ Little Free Library and that had to act. They declared his Little Free Library an “illegal detached structure: and told the family they would face a fine if they did not remove the structure within the week (Friedersdorf). In LA county, a resident is facing a similar situation, but has been informed if he pays for an application for a permit for the free standing structure he might be able to keep his Little Free Library (Friedersdorf). Across the United States there are now people standing in protest for those who are being told to tear down their libraries; letting them know that they are not