Books for Reluctant Young Readers

Back-to-school season is almost upon us, and you may have a reluctant young reader in your family. We know reading is not a favorite pastime for everyone, but our booksellers are here to assist. While we can’t force books on people (although I may be guilty of that with my friends and family), we can certainly guide young readers to books that might help them find joy in reading. It may become a book they look forward to reading on their own or with the help of a loved one. That’s a victory!

When families come into the bookstore, I love to hear kids exclaim, “The next book is here in that series! Can we get it?” Or when kids feel brave enough to come up to the front counter and ask for help finding a book. They are at home at Roundabout Books; that’s what we want. When I walk into the children’s area, and a kid is totally absorbed in a book, feet propped up on the footstool, I smile. Every single time.

When a parent or grandparent asks for recommendations for a kid who isn’t keen on reading, it’s an opportunity to choose a book to capture their attention. Does the kid like reading about dragons, dogs, family dynamics, or adventure stories? It helps narrow down among the hundreds of books in the children’s area.

For ages 6-9, there are many gems in our Early Chapter Bookcase. For lots of pictures balanced with text to keep their attention, “The Owl Diaries” and “The Last Firehawk” series from Scholastic are great options. The pictures are colorful, and there’s a learning moment in
each book. On the last page, there are five questions about the story to aid in reading comprehension. The “Mindy Kim” series is also a favorite that shares culture with readers and is based on the author’s experience growing up as one of the only Asian kids at her school. She struggles to fit into Korean and American culture. For sports fans, check out the books from Mike Lupica. His “Zach and Zoe” mystery series feature thrilling play-by-play sports action plus a mystery to solve. Each book focuses on one team sport.

Children’s graphic novels are always popular, and they help reluctant readers bridge up to middle grade novels. Many of the books deal with relatable scenarios such as friend drama, being new to school, and puberty challenges like acne. A few of my favorite authors are Maria Scrivan, Kayla Miller, Lily LaMotte, Megan Wagner Lloyd, and Christina Soontornvat. Their books have fun illustrations with multiple storylines. At the beginning of each chapter in Scrivan’s books, there’s a cute comic panel of a cat and dog; my favorite part of the book!
Children’s graphic novels range from fantasy to historical fiction, and a standout is “Hoops” by Matt Tavares, which shares the story of the historic struggle for gender equality in high school sports in the 1970s. It’s an inspiring and heartwarming story.

One of the best children’s graphic novels I’ve read is “When Stars Are Scattered” by Victoria Jamieson and Omar Mohamed, about growing up in a refugee camp, as told by Mohamed, a former Somali refugee. It’s one of those books that ends with a call to action and becomes a
good discussion during dinner. There are also many bilingual graphic novels like “Speak Up, Santiago” by Julio Anta or “Brownstone” by Samuel Teer. Both are contemporary stories that show the characters struggling with identity, community, and navigating their heritage. These debut graphic novels provide welcome diversity among the “Dog Man” and “Diary of a Wimpy Kid” series.

For middle schoolers, “Hatchet” by Gary Paulsen will always be in my top five best audiobooks. It’s on the Oregon Battle of the Books list this year, and I love seeing a tall stack of it on display. Stepping up from early chapter books to middle grade books can be manageable by
choosing slimmer books with lots of white space and a few illustrations sprinkled throughout. The “Penny Draws” series is a humorous, heartfelt, highly illustrated series about a girl who doodles to cope with anxiety. Her awkwardness is relatable as she navigates friendship dynamics and faces her fears.

Another option is Carl Hiaasen, whose books are set in Florida. They’re fast-paced stories that are laugh-out-loud funny while also mentioning current environmental issues! We also love introducing kids to new authors like Vera Brosgol. This Portland author’s debut illustrated
middle grade book, “Return to Sender,” shares the journey of two kids and a mysterious mail slot. The story is full of adventure, family secrets, and healing.

The next time you visit an indie bookstore, encourage the young reader to sit down and read a few pages from several books or ask one of our booksellers for assistance. We’re happy to reshelve books all day, in hopes that young readers walk out, excited to read. Our favorite
moment in the day is when a young reader or adult asks for a recommendation. Honestly, it’s even better when they return and say, “You were right. I loved this book. What else do you have
for me?”

Sara grew up in Greenville, South Carolina, and really misses sweet tea and southern hospitality. She reads all genres and has published three books. Hobbies include eating salty snacks, walking Pilot Butte while listening to an audiobook, baking, and gabbing on the phone
with her mother. She’s worked at Roundabout Books since 2018.

WHAT CASSIE’S READING:
Night Watch by Jayne Anne Phillips
The 2025 Pulitzer Prize winner. In 1874, in the wake of the War, erasure, trauma, and namelessness haunt civilians and veterans, renegades and wanderers, freedmen and runaways.

Cassie Clemans, Roundabout Books Owner

Twelve-year-old ConaLee, the adult in her family for as long as she can remember, finds herself on a buckboard journey with her mother, Eliza, who hasn’t spoken in more than a year. They arrive at the Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum in West Virginia, delivered to the hospital’s entrance by a war veteran who has forced himself into their world. There, far from family and the mountain home they knew, they try to reclaim their lives.