While activities such as going to the movies have been slowly rising above pandemic numbers, reading, and visiting libraries has continued to rise – especially in schools.

“PLD Library has always had a relatively high checkout count [as compared to other high schools],” Ms. Summer Perry, the librarian at Paul Laurence Dunbar said. “But, yes, I have noticed more serious readers.  Specifically, fantasy, mystery, and horror have really been top circulators. Manga is and will probably remain the constant top circulator.”

Students tend to love a wide variety of different books. However, manga  has been dominating the most popular spot in teenagers’ hearts.

Many of the books students like, they can choose to read for certain courses they take. Ms. Perry says that teachers giving their students opportunities to choose what they want to read can increase interest in reading.

The classes that students take tend to fuel their love for reading. Students are given new opportunities to find good books to read, which can improve their enjoyment of reading.

Ms. Perry collects data on which books students are checking out most. According to her data, books such as Concrete rose by Thomas, Angie, We are not from here by Torres Sanchez, Jenny, and The hate u give by Thomas, Angie being the most checkout out of this year.

Despite what teens think, you will reading various things your whole life. Reading more increases vocabulary and improves fluency.  Plus, you can learn most anything as long as you can read, Ms. Perry said.

Reading has many benefits including increased vocabulary and improved fluency. Reading could also teach you new things or help you learn outside of reading books. 

Reading has been a popular pastime for centuries, and it’s clear why. Despite new technology and newer activities that are even more popular than reading, books are a staple in killing time.