An Exploration into the Sustained Reading Interests of Seventh Grade Students

by Wilhelm, Jennifer

The reading interests of seventh grade students is an important part of motivating young readers, planning instruction, or building a library. As past studies have shown, the reading interest of students can change through the years. As teachers and librarians, it is important that we are aware of the current trends in the literary world. Through the use of survey research, this study attempts to find the reading interests of seventh grade students, specifically looking at the students' knowledge and interest of graphic novels, series books, and online sources. It also analyzes where students obtain the materials that they enjoy reading and looks at the change in interest between sixth and seventh grade. The information obtained from the surveys is then presented to the school librarian through an open-ended interview.