Choosing the Right Book

"With great power comes great responsibility." 

-Ben Parker

Whether at the library in school, a public library, or at a book store, here are some things to consider when searching through the catalog and/or browsing the shelves and trying to choose a book...

THINK ABOUT YOUR INTERESTS AND GOALS...

• Why do you want a read a particular book? If it is for a school project, will it meet all of your teacher's requirements? If it is for a book to read on your own, does it meet the requirements and/or expectations that you might have at home?

THINK ABOUT YOUR READING ABILITY...

• Scan a few random pages and think about the "Five Finger Rule." If there are 5 or more words that you cannot read or don't know the meaning of, it might be a bit too challenging. If there aren't any challenging words at all, it might be too below your reading ability and might be boring. It's totally not an exact process, but seeing around 3 moderately challenging words is usually a good sign for a book that will hold your interest.

• Skim it! Flip through the pages and see what it's like. Are the chapters really long? Really short? Is the text big or small? Does it seem like there are going to be a lot of characters or names/places to keep track of?

THINK ABOUT YOUR COMFORT LEVEL...

• Read the summary on the cover or on the copyright page. This usually gives a potential reader an idea of whether the subject material will be something you are interested in and/or what the maturity level of the content is.

• Oftentimes, the publisher will describe information on the copyright page (or somewhere else within the book) about the author's intended age/interest level of the book. You might see terms that describe the suggest age/interest range (young adult, middle grade, mature, etc.), and you might see descriptions about the content (violence, relationships, complex themes, etc.). 

• If at first glance, you get the feeling right away that a book might not be the best choice for one reason or another, it probably isn't.

• Ask for help! If you are unsure about if a book is right for you, ask a teacher, a librarian, or a parent or caregiver.

GIVE IT A TRY...

• When you check out a book, commit to reading at least the first three or four chapters (or around 20-30 pages). If you start out fine but realize you don't understand what is going on, it gets boring, you find more and more words that are difficult to understand, you come across content that makes you uneasy or uncomfortable, or anything else, it is totally ok to stop reading and find a new book.

WHEN IN DOUBT...

• Whenever you check out a book with Mr. Meier, he'll always help make sure the book you've chosen is right for you, and you can always ask for help and/or suggestions.

• Talk it over with your parents or caregivers. They might have specific expectations for challenging your reading skills and/or avoiding content they think might be too mature for you.

• Ultimately, the book you choose is up to you, but please don't be offended if suggestions for another book are made or it seems like Mr. Meier has ideas for books that might be a better choice.

Here are a bunch of other resources kids, teachers, and parents can use to find reviews and other helpful information about choosing the right book...