How to encourage teens to read

Q. It's August, and my teenager hasn't yet started his summer reading assignment. How do I get him to crack open the books without nagging?

A. "One of the problems in the summer is books are competing against the pool and sports and being with friends," says Andrea García, associate professor of literacy studies at Hofstra University. "It's seen as another schoolwork assignment, and they don't want to do it during the summer."

To get your tween or teen going, make reading social, García suggests. "A big part of reading for pleasure is the social component, having someone to talk to about the book," she says.

Try the following:

Encourage your child to find out what books his friends are reading. If some have chosen the same book, encourage them to get together to read and talk about what's unfolding. "At that age, peer interest is so important," García says.

Make it a family reading event. "Parents can read the same books," García says. Ask questions. Share insights. You can even read to your child. "You'll start getting into the story," García says.

If the book has been made into a movie, watch it together. "It's OK for students to see the movie, then read the book, because they can compare and contrast them," García says. Listening to an audio version is also acceptable, she says.

Have your child organize a reading meet-up at the local library. Many have teen spaces where kids read and socialize, García says.