Reading’s Hottest Trends
By Kelly Patten
If you’ve stepped outside recently in Bangkok, you’ve most certainly felt it. Some days it’s the searing sun, other days it feels like walking through a hot, sticky shower. April heat waves are a part of life in Thailand. Frequent showers, blasting the AC, and dips in the pool give us some respite, but the heat remains. And while some days I wish for the cool, gentle breezes of spring, the April heat reminds me how lucky I am to call our tropical paradise home. So, embrace the heat, grab a cool drink, a lounger by the pool, and enjoy reading about what’s hot (and not) in literacy today.
What’s hot
Choice
Nothing will turn a child (or adult) off reading faster than forcing them to read a certain level, genre, or author. As a parent, I’m sure you’ve quickly learned the value of presenting choices to your child. Making decisions about books empowers and motivates kids to keep reading. Maybe that book about butts/poop/underwear isn’t on the top of your “to be read” list, but if your child shows an interest, don’t stop them!
Some kids can happily browse a library and find just what they’re looking for, but others might need more support. You can prompt decision-making skills by offering a narrower choice—do you want to read a book about robots or sharks today?
Graphic novels
Sometimes as adults, we look back on our adolescence with fond nostalgia. But we need to recognize that the books we loved as children and teens might not be a great fit today. Graphic novels are often written off as “not real” reading, but that couldn’t be further from the truth! Graphic novels are engaging and appealing to kids because of their unconventional approach to storytelling. Sequential art panels, thought bubbles, and inventive page design help kids and teens develop both critical thinking and visual literacy skills.
#BookTok
Book reviews have taken on lots of new forms beyond the traditional words on a page. Many readers now turn to BookTok to learn about new and noteworthy books that are trending. BookTok appeals to younger readers because of short “snapshot” videos with appealing visuals that mirror their speech and experiences. Publishers are capitalizing on the BookTok community and it is frequently used to promote young adult, fantasy, and romance genres.
Social issues
We all love a good beach read, but books that focus on thought-provoking social issues can inspire change and develop empathy in the reader. Books that focus on social issues are written for all ages, and you can find both fiction and non-fiction. There’s an incredible range of topics to be found, too—from gender identity and racism to climate change and cycles of violence.
What’s not
Book bans
I’ve been living outside of my home country, the United States, for almost 11 years. A disheartening, often politically motivated trend in the US is the current banning of books in schools and libraries. Book banning is a type of censorship that limits or prevents access to texts, usually on a local scale. Banned books often focus on the LGBTQ+ community, people of color, sexuality, and historical events.
Life abroad can sometimes feel disconnected from the problems at home. One way to fight book bans is to support authors whose works are targeted. Some commonly challenged and banned books you might consider reading are (1):
“And Tango Makes Three” by Peter Parnell and Justin Richardson; illustrated by Henry Cole
“Separate Is Never Equal: Sylvia Mendez and Her Family’s Fight for Desegregation” by Duncan Tonatiuh
“The Name Jar” by Yangsook Choi
“All Boys Aren’t Blue” by George M. Johnson
“The Hate U Give” by Angie Thomas
“Out of Darkness” by Ashley Hope Pérez
While book banning is always going to be a firm “not”, what's hot is always changing; the only constant is that reading is the hottest hobby we know! So, grab a book and get reading!
Photos from Canva.
References
- PEN America (2024) Book Bans. pen.org/issue/book-bans/
About the Author
Kelly is currently a stay-at-home mom who has lived in Bangkok for over seven years. She previously worked as a primary educator and literacy specialist. Kelly loves reading fiction books, listening to podcasts, and exploring Thailand with her family.