What do adolescents care about? Chatting online with friends, movies, their favorite bands . . . but many are also avid readers. What motivates some of these "typical teens" to become lifelong readers and others to slide by with the minimum amount of assigned reading? Teri Lesesne says the key is finding the books that get them hooked in the first place. This excerpt begins with a series of vignettes in which the writers share thoughts on teens and reading. In chapter one, Lesesne examines who adolescents are and offers strategies for getting to know them better. She challenges teachers to try to connect with teens better by showing a willingness to learn about students' talents and interests. (author/ncl)

This site offers teachers advice related to the difficult task of matching book recommendations to teen interest to encourage reading for pleasure. There are good vignettes and examples, along with a list of questions to ask to students to assess their interests. In addition to supporting learning in the English classroom, the material is applicable to students in the Education and Training career field. (jrs)