| |
|
Teen Read Week Survey
As
part of Teen Read Week that took place from October 12 through October 20, 2001,
SmartGirl and the American Library Association (A.L.A.) put out a survey asking
you all about reading. An
astonishing 2,809 of you responded to this survey!
The
first thing we asked was whether you were a boy or a girl.
While 132 people responded with “no answer,” over 61% of the
respondents were girls, and more than 37% were boys.
The average age of all respondents was right around 14 years old.
SmartGirl
users from 28 countries contributed to our Teen Read Week survey.
93% were from the United States, 2.8% were from Canada, and 2.2% were
from the United Kingdom. We also had SmartGirl users from countries like Israel,
Mexico, Saudi Arabia, and Zimbabwe.
SmartGirl and A.L.A. asked, “What activity, subject, concept, or item are
you absolutely passionate about?” We
got all kinds of answers-but here are the top responses.
|
Statement
|
Girls
|
Boys
|
Total*
|
|
Sports
|
15%
|
47%
|
27%
|
|
Reading
|
7%
|
5%
|
6%
|
|
Internet
|
1%
|
5%
|
3%
|
|
Art
Related
|
2%
|
1%
|
2%
|
|
Shopping
|
2%
|
0.3%
|
3%
|
|
Music
|
5%
|
2%
|
4%
|
|
Friends/Family
|
3%
|
1%
|
2%
|
|
Romance
|
4%
|
2%
|
3%
|
|
Religion
|
1%
|
0.3%
|
0.5%
|
|
Animals
|
1%
|
1%
|
4%
|
|
Theater
|
5%
|
1%
|
3%
|
|
TV/Movies
|
2%
|
1%
|
2%
|
|
School
|
2%
|
1%
|
2%
|
|
Writing
|
2%
|
0.4%
|
1%
|
|
Babysitting
|
0.4%
|
0.1%
|
0.3%
|
|
Many
Passions
|
36%
|
24%
|
32%
|
|
Other
|
5%
|
8%
|
6%
|
*312
of you didn’t answer this question.
SmartGirl and A.L.A. then asked you, “Do you ever read about the thing or
things you're passionate about?” Here’s what you had to say:
|
Statement
|
Girls
|
Boys
|
Total
|
|
Yes,
all of the time.
|
27%
|
24%
|
26%
|
|
Yes,
some of the time.
|
57%
|
56%
|
56%
|
|
No,
never.
|
9%
|
9%
|
9%
|
|
No
answer.
|
7%
|
11%
|
9%
|
SmartGirl and A.L.A. asked you to respond to a question about how
often you read. Here’s how you
answered.
|
Statement
|
Girls
|
Boys
|
Total
|
|
I
read constantly for my own personal satisfaction, and I love it.
|
35%
|
17%
|
28%
|
|
I
don't have much time to read for pleasure, but I like to when I get the
chance.
|
41%
|
40%
|
41%
|
|
I
only read what I'm supposed to for school.
|
13%
|
24%
|
17%
|
|
I
basically don't read books much at all.
|
5%
|
9%
|
5%
|
|
No
answer.
|
6%
|
10%
|
7%
|
We also asked you what the reason you most often read is.
Most SmartGirl users read because they like to!
Here’s a breakdown of how you answered.
|
Response
|
Frequency
|
Percentage
|
|
No
Answer
|
246
|
8.8
|
|
Because
my parents encourage me to
|
103
|
3.7
|
|
Just
for the fun of it
|
1149
|
40.9
|
|
Because
I get bored and have nothing else to do
|
348
|
12.4
|
|
Because
I have to for school
|
543
|
19.3
|
|
To
learn new things on my own
|
276
|
9.8
|
|
I
really don’t read much
|
144
|
5.1
|
SmartGirl and A.L.A. asked, “If you don't read much or don't like reading,
why not? For example, do you not read because you don't have time, because you
think it's boring, because your friends might make fun of you, etc.?”
Here’s a breakdown of how you answered.
|
Response
|
Girls
|
Boys
|
Total*
|
| No
time/too busy |
41.4%
|
29.8%
|
36.1%
|
|
Boring/not
fun
|
29.3
|
39.3%
|
33.7%
|
|
Can’t
get into the stories
|
6.3%
|
7.7%
|
6.9%
|
|
Boys
are more interesting
|
.2%
|
N/A
|
.1%
|
|
Like
other activities better
|
7.8%
|
11.1%
|
9.2%
|
|
Too
much school work
|
5.5%
|
1.4%
|
3.7%
|
|
Makes
me tired/causes headaches
|
1.9%
|
2.5%
|
2.2%
|
|
I’m
not good at it (dyslexia, poor comprehension, etc.)
|
2.6%
|
4.3%
|
3.4%
|
|
Video
games/television more interesting
|
1.8%
|
2.3%
|
2.0%
|
| Books
are too long |
1.2%
|
.9%
|
1.1%
|
|
Friends
make fun of me
|
.4%
|
0%
|
.2%
|
|
Other
|
1.9%
|
.9%
|
1.5%
|
*Only
1,010 respondents answered this question
SmartGirl and A.L.A. then asked you, “If you don't read much or
don't like reading, why not?”
- “I
don't have as much time as I would like for reading. When I'm tired on
school days, I find it easier to relax watching TV. In the vacations I have
more time to read and I really enjoy it.” girl, age 16
- “I
don’t read because I never find the time for myself or set time
aside.”—girl, age 12
- “I
only read because I have to and because my parents encourage me to.”
boy, age 13
- “I
think the reason I don’t read is because I never run into a book good
enough to keep my attention.” boy, age 14
- “I
like to read, but it’s having the patience to make time for it that gets
in the way! Plus, a lot of the
books seem to be sci-fi these days, which I hate, so its also
availability.”—girl, age 14
- “I
don't really have time to read during school days and I don't really know
which books are worth reading.” girl, age 15
- “I
usually don't read because it gives me headaches trying to focus my eyes on
the words.” boy, age 14
- “I
do read, every so often, but the thing is I just don't the time for reading.
When I do actually get the time to sit down and read then I really get into
the book and don't want to do anything else.” girl, age 14
- “I don’t read because I am a visual learner so I find it hard
to learn with pages and pages of words. I like to see what I’m being
taught.” boy, age 17
- “I
am not a good reader.” girl, age 11
- “I
don't mind reading for myself but when school starts I don't like reading
anymore. School seems to have boring books to read. Most of the books that
I'm assigned to read have nothing to do with my profession. And I feel that
it's a waste of time. If I have to read something I feel that it should at
least offer me some type of helpful knowledge.” girl, age 16
- “If
I had more time to read, I would! But I don't have much free time to
read!” girl, age 13
- “I'm
more of an outdoors person and don't like to stay cooped up inside with a
book.” boy, age 13
SmartGirl and A.L.A. asked,
“How would you rate your reading level?”
|
Statement
|
Girls
|
Boys
|
Total
|
|
Advanced
- I like to read books meant for people in higher grade levels
|
46%
|
37%
|
43%
|
|
Average
- I am comfortable reading books for people at my grade level
|
42%
|
47%
|
44%
|
|
Below
Average - I can read books for my grade level, but sometimes have trouble
with the words
|
5%
|
7%
|
6%
|
|
No
answer.
|
6%
|
9%
|
7%
|
SmartGirl and A.L.A. asked, “Do you get good grades in
school?”
|
Statement
|
Girls
|
Boys
|
Total
|
|
Yes,
I get excellent grades - I am in the top 10% of my class.
|
28.1%
|
22.1%
|
25.8%
|
|
Yes,
I get good grades - I am in the top 25% of my class.
|
31.4%
|
27.4%
|
29.8%
|
|
I
do well in math and science and stuff like that, but not all that great in
my other classes.
|
3.8%
|
7.0%
|
5.0%
|
|
I
don't do well in math and science, but do great in most of my other
classes.
|
7.9%
|
4.7%
|
6.6%
|
|
I
get average grades.
|
19.5%
|
21.4%
|
20.2%
|
|
My
grades are below average.
|
1.0%
|
2.8%
|
1.7%
|
|
I
really don't want to answer this question.
|
3.1%
|
4.5%
|
3.7%
|
|
No
answer
|
5.3%
|
10.0%
|
7.1%
|
SmartGirl and A.L.A. asked, “Which of the following do you read most often?”
|
Statement
|
Girls
|
Boys
|
Total
|
|
Newspapers.
|
4%
|
6%
|
5%
|
|
Books
for pleasure.
|
41%
|
23%
|
43%
|
|
Fashion/beauty
magazines.
|
17%
|
0%
|
11%
|
|
Schoolbooks.
|
10%
|
9%
|
9%
|
|
Comics.
|
2%
|
4%
|
3%
|
|
Sports/automotive/hunting
magazines.
|
3%
|
30%
|
13%
|
|
News
magazines.
|
0%
|
1%
|
.4%
|
|
Video
magazines.
|
0%
|
9%
|
4%
|
|
Music/entertainment
magazines.
|
6%
|
4%
|
5%
|
|
Puzzle
magazines.
|
1%
|
0%
|
1%
|
|
Online
reading.
|
2%
|
3%
|
3%
|
|
Computer
manuals.
|
0%
|
1%
|
1%
|
|
The
writing on packages.
|
2%
|
3%
|
2%
|
|
Miscellaneous
magazines.
|
10%
|
6%
|
9%
|
|
All
of the above.
|
2%
|
1%
|
2%
|
|
None
of these.
|
1%
|
2%
|
1%
|
When someone
reads, it doesn’t always have to be a book. There are hundreds of other things
that can be read for entertainment or enjoyment.
SmartGirl and A.L.A. asked,
“What are your favorite
magazines, newspapers, or other non-book reading materials?” Here’s a table of your favorites.
|
Reading
Material
|
Frequency
|
Percentage
|
|
Local
Newspapers
|
246
|
8.6
|
|
National
Newspapers
|
59
|
2.1
|
|
News
Magazines
|
143
|
5.1
|
|
Entertainment
|
137
|
4.9
|
|
Teen
Magazines
|
878
|
31.3
|
|
Women’s
Fashion/
Beauty
Magazines
|
202
|
7.2
|
|
Children’s
Magazines
|
92
|
3.3
|
|
Sports/Health
|
400
|
14.2
|
|
Music
|
96
|
3.4
|
|
Science
|
47
|
1.7
|
|
Video
Games
|
133
|
4.7
|
|
Comics/Humor
|
121
|
4.3
|
|
Other
|
257
|
9.1
|
|
Non-applicable
Response
|
96
|
3.4
|
|
Does
not read magazines/newspapers
|
43
|
1.5
|
|
Did
not respond
|
288
|
10.3
|
|
Does
not have a favorite
|
51
|
1.8
|
SmartGirl and A.L.A. asked, “Do you enjoy reading?”
|
Response
|
Girls
|
Boys
|
Total
|
|
Yes
|
70.4%
|
54.1%
|
64.3%
|
|
No
|
9.4%
|
21.7%
|
14.0%
|
|
Sometimes
|
20.3%
|
24.1%
|
21.7%
|
Of those of you who said you liked
reading, the following table shows the reasons why:
|
Statement
|
Girls
|
Boys
|
Total
|
|
It’s
educational
|
22%
|
23%
|
24%
|
|
For
a hobby/fun
|
19%
|
23%
|
20%
|
|
For
escape/fantasy
|
20%
|
11%
|
17%
|
|
For
brain stimulation
|
13%
|
13%
|
13%
|
|
Grow
an attachment to characters
|
5%
|
4%
|
5%
|
|
It’s
relaxing
|
6%
|
5%
|
6%
|
|
For
motivation
|
1%
|
0.6%
|
1%
|
|
For
a time filler
|
5%
|
3%
|
5%
|
|
Don’t
know/didn’t answer
|
9%
|
14%
|
11%
|
Of those of you who said you sometimes liked reading, the following table
shows the reasons why:
|
Statement
|
Girls
|
Boys
|
Total
|
|
I
only read for pleasure
|
11%
|
5%
|
8%
|
|
It
depends on the material
|
45%
|
50%
|
47%
|
|
I
don’t have much time
|
9%
|
10%
|
9%
|
|
It’s
boring sometimes
|
8%
|
6%
|
7%
|
|
It’s
exciting sometimes
|
3%
|
2%
|
2%
|
|
It
depends on my mood
|
16%
|
14%
|
15%
|
|
Don’t
know/didn’t answer
|
10%
|
14%
|
11%
|
Of those of you
who said you disliked reading, the following table shows the reasons why:
|
Statement
|
Girls
|
Boys
|
Total
|
|
It’s
too hard
|
3%
|
7%
|
5%
|
|
It’s
boring
|
47%
|
43%
|
45%
|
|
I
get headaches
|
2%
|
0.5%
|
1%
|
|
I’d
rather do something else
|
16%
|
20%
|
18%
|
|
I
can’t find a good book
|
2%
|
2%
|
2%
|
|
I
can’t concentrate
|
7%
|
4%
|
5%
|
|
Don’t
know/didn’t answer
|
23%
|
24%
|
24%
|
When we asked if you enjoyed reading, we also asked you to share why or why
not. Here’s what some of you had
to say.
- “Yes,
because then you can go places when you are reading that normally you
wouldn’t go” girl, age 14
- “Yes!
I love it! It gives me something to do and something to think about
other then the stress of the day.” girl, age 13
- “I
love reading. I love the idea
that a bunch of papers
glued together can take me anywhere I want to go.
I love how every book is different, and how each character is a
different person. I love how
books can come to life, and how places and people in them can often at times
seem real” girl, age 15
- “No,
because every time I read a book I get bored. I can't find anything that
interests me.”—girl, age 17
- “When
I have a chance to, then yes” boy, age 18
- “Of
course I enjoy reading! Who wouldn't? When an author is expressive enough in
his/her writing to reach my emotions, then that is definitely something worth
reading." —girl, age13
- “Yes,
I think it clears my mind of all the bad things that happen during the day.
Also it helps me go to sleep at night and I don't have as many
nightmares.”—girl, age 12
- “Yes,
because it helps broaden my horizons.”—boy, age 16
- “No,
it’s boring. I’d rather be
hanging out with friends and having fun.”—boy, age 15
- “I
love reading because they fill in spare time and I love books. My first word
was 'READ'.”—girl, age 12
- “It
depends on the book I'm reading. If I can understand the book easily then I
enjoy it.”—girl, age 15
- “Yes
I enjoy reading when it's a good book because it makes me feel good.”—boy, age 15
- “I
really enjoy reading because I like to get away from my fast pace life and
sit back and loose myself in a book.”—boy, age 15
- “
I love reading! It takes me
places beyond my own imagination and inspires me in my artwork and
daydreams.”—girl, age 16
- “Yes!
It’s a way to pass time and sort of meet new people.
It is easier to understand people if you know what they’re going
through and sometimes books let you know how some things effect people
differently.”—girl, age 13
SmartGirl and A.L.A. asked,
“Outside of reading for school assignments, when do you do most of your
reading?”
|
Statement
|
Girls
|
Boys
|
Total*
|
|
I
read at night.
|
40%
|
34%
|
38%
|
|
I
read in the afternoon.
|
5%
|
6%
|
5%
|
|
I
read whenever I feel like it.
|
11%
|
9%
|
10%
|
|
I
read the most during summer or while I am on vacation.
|
1%
|
4%
|
3%
|
|
I
read when the teachers tell me I should.
|
6%
|
9%
|
7%
|
|
I
read a lot on the weekends.
|
7%
|
4%
|
6%
|
|
I
read the most in the car or on the bus.
|
3%
|
3%
|
3%
|
|
I
read when I am sick.
|
.3%
|
0%
|
.2%
|
|
I
read in the morning.
|
1%
|
3%
|
2%
|
|
I
read most while I am in the bathroom.
|
.3%
|
1%
|
1%
|
|
I
read the most while I am at home.
|
14%
|
20%
|
16%
|
|
I
read the most during various times and other places.
|
9%
|
11%
|
10%
|
* 457 respondents did not answer this question.
SmartGirl and the
A.L.A. asked, "Not including school
assignments, how much do you read?"
|
Statement
|
Girls
|
Boys
|
Total
|
|
Outside
of school assignments, I don’t read at all
|
6%
|
9%
|
7%
|
|
Under
one book per month
|
12%
|
17%
|
14%
|
|
One
book per month
|
16%
|
17%
|
17%
|
|
2-3
books per month
|
22%
|
20%
|
21%
|
|
3-5
books per month
|
13%
|
10%
|
12%
|
|
5-10
books per month
|
10%
|
7%
|
9%
|
|
10-20
books per month
|
7%
|
2%
|
5%
|
|
More
than 20 books per month
|
6%
|
4%
|
5%
|
|
No
answer
|
8%
|
13%
|
10%
|
SmartGirl and A.L.A. asked, “Does anyone in your life encourage you to
read for fun, either by setting a good example or by telling you?”
|
Response
|
Girls
|
Boys
|
Total
|
|
Yes
|
66.0%
|
63.8%
|
65.1%
|
|
No
|
22.6%
|
20.8%
|
21.9%
|
|
No
Answer
|
11.4%
|
15.5%
|
13.0%
|
SmartGirl and the A.L.A. asked, "If
you can recall, please tell us what your favorite book was during these
different times in your life." (If you haven't reached one of the age
groups yet, you can leave that one blank).
Here are the top fifteen answers for
when you were (are) 8-10 years old:
-
Dr.
Seuss books
-
Goosebumps/R.L.
Stine books
-
Fairy
Tales/Nursery Rhymes
-
Harry
Potter
books
-
The
Babysitter’s Club
books
-
Boxcar
Children
-
C.S.
Lewis books
|
-
Ramona/Beverly
Cleary books
-
Charlotte’s
Web
-
Nancy
Drew series
-
Little
House on the Prairie/Laura
Ingalls Wilder
-
The
Berenstein Bears
books
-
Curious
George
books
-
Animorphs
-
Where
the Red Fern Grows
|
Here are the top 15 books for when you were (are) 11-13 years old:
|
1.
Harry Potter
series
2.
Goosebumps
3.
Babysitters’ Club series
4.
Holes
5.
The Giver
6.
Where the Red Fern Grows
7.
The Hobbit
8.
The Outsiders
|
9.
Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul
10.
Hatchet
11.
A Child Called It
12.
Redwall series
13.
Nancy Drew
14.
Fear Street series
15. The BFG
|
Here are the top 15 books for when you
were (are) 14-16 years old:
|
1.
Harry Potter series
2.
Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul
3.
Bible
4.
To Kill A Mockingbird
5.
The Hobbit
6.
Odyssey
7.
Holes
8.
The Outsiders
|
9.
The Giver
10.
Babysitter’s Club Series
11.
Catcher in the Rye
12.
Coldest Winter Ever
13.
Push
14.
Goosebumps series
15.
The Tolkien trilogy
|
Here are the top ten answers for when
you were 17 years old (or older):
|
1.
The Bible
2.
Harry Potter books
3.
Catcher in the Rye
4.
A Child Called It
5.
That was Then, This is Now
|
6.
Shakespeare’s work
7.
Sloppy Firsts
8.
The Coldest Winter Ever
9.
Gone With the Wind
10.
A Case
of Need
|
SmartGirl and the A.L.A. asked, "What's
the best book you've read this year?" Here are the top fifteen
answers:
|
1.
The Giver
2.
The Outsiders
3.
Holes
4.
Left Behind
5.
Chicken Soup for the Soul books
6.
Sloppy Firsts
7.
The Odyssey
8.
A Child Called It
|
9.
The Hobbit
10.
Redwall series
11.
Where the Red Fern Grows
12.
The Tolkien trilogy
13.
Watsons go to Birmingham
14.
The Bible
15.
Enders Game
|
SmartGirl
and A.L.A. asked, “If you had more time, would you read more for fun?”
|
Statement
|
Girls
|
Boys
|
Total
|
|
Yes.
|
45%
|
39%
|
43%
|
|
No.
|
7%
|
8%
|
7%
|
|
Probably.
|
28%
|
29%
|
28%
|
|
Probably
not.
|
9%
|
10%
|
9%
|
|
No
answer.
|
12%
|
14%
|
13%
|
As the final question of the Teen Read Week survey, we asked you to share
any last comments or ideas you had about reading.
- “Reading
is such an incredible thing. You never know what a book is about and it
certainly does you well to go about and read it! Reading a good book is one
of my favorite things to do, and it has taught me so much already about
life!” girl, 13
- “Reading
is fun and once you learn, you can't lose it.” girl, 11
- “Reading
is a great way to expand your imagination. Without reading the world would
be lost. We wouldn't know about the past and we wouldn't be able to be where
we are today.” boy, 17
- “Reading
is a way let go. Characters in books often have similar feelings to you. It
is not geeky, it can be fun. Remember you can choose the books and choose
the way to let go.”—girl, 13
- “I
feel reading is an inspiration for people. I think that children should
start reading at an early age to understand the basic concept that reading
can do for them.” girl, 17
- “Make
sure to read, it's how the mind learns to use the imagination, and don't
ever think it's uncool to read!” girl, 17
- “If
you don’t read, you don’t live life to the fullest.” girl, 12
- “Reading
is a major part of my life and if it were somehow taken from me I'd probably
be lost, more than I know any way. I want to savor and remember all the
great things I've read, and can only hope that my mind can handle such
information.” boy, 15
- “Reading
is the best activity I know! What
else allows you to live in other people's heads for a time?” girl, 16
|
|
