Brain study finds that humans are born wired for reading letters and words
The area of the brain that recognizes letters and words is ready for action right from the start.
26 October, 2020
Credit: Ben White/Unsplash
- There's an area of the brain specializing in the recognition of letters and words.
- Neuroscientists wonder how this faculty develops since it would not be a trait associated with survival.
- fMRI scans reveal that this region is already connected to the brain's language centers in newborns.
<p>It's been over a century since scientists identified an area of the brain that serves as its "letterbox." The "<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Visual_word_form_area" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">visual word form area</a>," or VWFA, recognizes letter and word shapes before sending them on to the brain's language regions for processing. The VWFA is an area of fascination for neuroscientists since it seems unlikely that its specialized function would have developed through natural selection, what with reading being such a relatively recent development. Jin Li of Ohio State University (OSU) tells <a href="https://news.osu.edu/humans-are-born-with-brains-prewired-to-see-words/" target="_blank">Ohio State News</a>, "It's interesting to think about how and why our brains develop functional modules that are sensitive to specific things like faces, objects, and words."</p><p>Some feel that the VWFA develops its specialization as a person learns to read. They theorize that it may begin as a region not too different from its neighbor the visual cortex, which recognizes faces. Li is the lead author of a new study that disagrees.</p><p>"We found that isn't true," says study senior author OSU psychologist <a href="https://psychology.osu.edu/people/saygin.3" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Zeynep Saygin</a>. "Even at birth, the VWFA is more connected functionally to the language network of the brain than it is to other areas. It is an incredibly exciting finding."</p><p>The study's implication is that the VWFA is ready and waiting for reading even in newborns. "That makes it fertile ground to develop a sensitivity to visual words — even before any exposure to language." Saygin is a member of OSU's <a href="https://discovery.osu.edu/cbi" target="_blank">Chronic Brain Injury Program</a>.</p><p>The research is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-020-75015-7" target="_blank">Scientific Reports</a>.</p>
Newborn and adult VWFAs
<img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNDYwMTcyMy9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYyOTYxOTUxNH0.8HkbpfRQ_816GFHXRd5vHMe2iOJL0sE81VrQF-H6ZY4/img.jpg?width=980" id="8f047" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="856da0e74e21a990eaebedea01646704" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" alt="Family father and infant baby reading book" />Credit: EVERST via Adobe Stock
<p>Saygin, Li and their colleagues Heather Hansen and <a href="https://ccbbi.osu.edu/people/osher.6" target="_blank">David Osher</a> analyzed fMRI brain scans from 40 newborns and 40 adults that had been made as part of the <a href="http://www.developingconnectome.org/" target="_blank">Developing Human Connectome Project</a> and the <a href="http://www.humanconnectomeproject.org/" target="_blank">Human Connectome Project</a>, respectively.</p><p>The researchers found that even in the newborns who were less than a week old, the VWFA was different from the visual cortex in that it already had connections to the language areas of the brain. While the VWFA and visual cortex share some characteristics — they both require high spatial resolution in order to accurately comprehend what they're seeing — the study reveals that "the VWFA is specialized to see words even before we're exposed to them." </p><p>Comparing the newborn VWFA to the adult VFWA did reveal some differences, however. "Our findings suggest that there likely needs to be further refinement in the VWFA as babies mature," Saygin explains. "Experience with spoken and written language will likely strengthen connections with specific aspects of the language circuit and further differentiate this region's function from its neighbors as a person gains literacy."</p>Tracking the VWFA
<p>Saygin's lab is currently attempting to better understand the sort of further VWFA development that may occur prior to reading, by studying the brain region in 3- and 4-year-olds. Her team is also interested in identifying the types of visual stimuli the VWFA responds to at those ages.</p><p>Learning more about the VWFA is more than just interesting — it may also help experts address reading and other cognitive issues. "Knowing what this region is doing at this early age," says Saygin, "will tell us a bit more about how the human brain can develop the ability to read and what may go wrong. It is important to track how this region of the brain becomes increasingly specialized."</p>
Keep reading
Show less
The best graphic novels for young scientists and thinkers
The visual languages of comics and graphic novels are great exercise for developing brains.
01 May, 2020
Photo by Joe Ciciarelli on Unsplash
- In addition to being fun, studies have shown that the visual language of graphic novels stimulates the brain in ways that complex text can.
- For some readers, information is easier to process through images than it is through text alone.
- These graphic novels are great for getting young readers into philosophy, technology, and other scientific narratives.
<ul class="ee-ul"></ul>
<p>If you're not on the graphic novel train by now, you're missing out. In addition to being a pathway to reading for those who see big groups of text as daunting or inherently boring, studies have shown that the visual language of comics and graphic novels is good for the brain. <br><br>In a 2019 paper titled "<a href="http://www.visuallanguagelab.com/P/2019.PLM.NC.pdf" target="_blank">Visual narratives and the mind: Comprehension, cognition, and learning</a>," assistant professor at Tilburg University and comics theorist Neil Cohn writes that because narrative sequential images are often used in things like children's books and storyboards, it has led to the "general belief that visual narratives are transparent to understand, requiring little learning beyond basic cognition like perceptual and event processing, sequential reasoning, and theory of mind." Cohn says that there is a growing field of psychological research that has shown that this is not true. <br><br>Humans are <a href="https://qz.com/1777533/reading-comic-books-can-improve-brain-health/" target="_blank">60,000 times faster</a> at processing images than we are at processing text, and combining the two stimulates the brain in meaningful ways. In one study conducted at the University of Oklahoma, <a href="https://www.comicsbeat.com/new-study-shows-that-graphic-novels-really-do-help-people-learn/" target="_blank">80 percent of students</a> in a senior level business course reported learning more from a graphic novel than from reading a textbook. </p><p>"As we read, we practice multimodal literacy, drawing on our available resources and using them to shape meaning from the multimodal elements particular to a comics text, including the combination of words, images, spatial layout, gutters, sound effects, panel composition, body language, facial expression, emanata, and other comics elements," <a href="http://imagetext.english.ufl.edu/archives/v7_3/jacobs/?print" target="_blank">wrote Dale Jacobs</a>, author of "<a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/1441126414?tag=bigthink00-20&linkCode=ogi&th=1&psc=1" target="_blank">Graphic Encounters: Comics And The Sponsorship Of Multimodal Literacy</a>" and associate professor of English at the University of Windsor, Canada. "Reading comics, then, is an active process, and a theory of multimodality helps to explain how meaning is created by readers of comics and how readers reimagine themselves in relation to specific comics texts."</p><p>On top of all of that, reading graphic novels is often just more fun! Well-written stories with beautiful illustrations can make any subject more compelling and palatable, especially for young, easily distracted readers. Here are some titles worth adding to your young reader's shelves if he/she is into <a href="https://bigthink.com/gear/stem-toys" target="_blank">STEM </a>but not quite ready to thumb through textbooks and heady scientific journal articles.</p>
"Primates: The Fearless Science of Jane Goodall, Dian Fossey, and Biruté Galdikas" by Jim Ottaviani
<div class="rm-shortcode amazon-assets-widget" data-rm-shortcode-id="8fd2e3f54d2f4bf3e929b7c15d2af14d" contenteditable="false"> <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/1250062934?tag=bigthink00-20&linkCode=ogi&th=1&psc=1" target="_blank"> <img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51Q4-g3uehL.jpg" class="amazon-assets-widget__image widget__image"> <div class="amazon-assets-widget__description"> <div class="amazon-assets-widget__title" style="display: block;">Primates: The Fearless Science of Jane Goodall, Dian Fossey, and Biruté Galdikas</div> <div class="amazon-assets-widget__by-amazon"><!-- <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/1250062934?tag=bigthink00-20&linkCode=ogi&th=1&psc=1" target="_blank">by now at amazone</a> --></div> <div class="amazon-assets-widget__list-price"><span class="grey">List Price: </span><span class="list-price">$9.55</span></div> <div class="amazon-assets-widget__new-price"><span class="grey">New From: </span><span class="new-price">$9.55</span> <span class="grey">in Stock</span></div> <div class="amazon-assets-widget__used-price"><span class="grey">Used From: </span><span class="used-price">$2.96</span> <span class="grey">in Stock</span></div> </div> </a> </div> <p>Illustrated by Maris Wicks, this graphic novel focuses on three primatologists whose important work revolutionized the field forever. Reviews praise the book for its accessibility and compelling storytelling.</p>"Mysteries of the Quantum Universe" by Thibault Damour and Mathieu Burniat
<div class="rm-shortcode amazon-assets-widget" data-rm-shortcode-id="3058fea9f264a2c04f7883c64b665871" contenteditable="false"> <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/1846149290?tag=bigthink00-20&linkCode=ogi&th=1&psc=1" target="_blank"> <img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/513gCvSFvVL.jpg" class="amazon-assets-widget__image widget__image"> <div class="amazon-assets-widget__description"> <div class="amazon-assets-widget__title" style="display: block;">Mysteries of the Quantum Universe</div> <div class="amazon-assets-widget__by-amazon"><!-- <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/1846149290?tag=bigthink00-20&linkCode=ogi&th=1&psc=1" target="_blank">by now at amazone</a> --></div> <div class="amazon-assets-widget__list-price"><span class="grey">List Price: </span><span class="list-price">$53.99</span></div> <div class="amazon-assets-widget__new-price"><span class="grey">New From: </span><span class="new-price">$15.69</span> <span class="grey">in Stock</span></div> <div class="amazon-assets-widget__used-price"><span class="grey">Used From: </span><span class="used-price">$53.99</span> <span class="grey">in Stock</span></div> </div> </a> </div> <p>Co-written by theoretical physicist Thibault Damour and Mathieu Burniat, this French graphic novel follows an explorer named Bob and his dog Rick as they travel through the quantum universe. Along the way, they meet some of history's greatest minds, including Albert Einstein, Max Planck, and Louis de Broglie. </p>"Hawking" by Jim Ottaviani
<div class="rm-shortcode amazon-assets-widget" data-rm-shortcode-id="1d4d5963e5b843d98edc9dbd397499c6" contenteditable="false"> <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/1626720258?tag=bigthink00-20&linkCode=ogi&th=1&psc=1" target="_blank"> <img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41nuVlQmFvL.jpg" class="amazon-assets-widget__image widget__image"> <div class="amazon-assets-widget__description"> <div class="amazon-assets-widget__title" style="display: block;">Hawking</div> <div class="amazon-assets-widget__by-amazon"><!-- <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/1626720258?tag=bigthink00-20&linkCode=ogi&th=1&psc=1" target="_blank">by now at amazone</a> --></div> <div class="amazon-assets-widget__list-price"><span class="grey">List Price: </span><span class="list-price">$16.59</span></div> <div class="amazon-assets-widget__new-price"><span class="grey">New From: </span><span class="new-price">$14.49</span> <span class="grey">in Stock</span></div> <div class="amazon-assets-widget__used-price"><span class="grey">Used From: </span><span class="used-price">$7.48</span> <span class="grey">in Stock</span></div> </div> </a> </div> <p>Illustrated by Leland Myrick, this biography of Stephen Hawking's life is a great introduction for those unfamiliar with the legendary physicist, but it is also an interesting read for those who only know him through his quotes.</p>"Hedy Lamarr and a Secret Communication System" by Trina Robbins
<div class="rm-shortcode amazon-assets-widget" data-rm-shortcode-id="755acf7b73fd880a0c7311ccde932a12" contenteditable="false"> <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/0736896414?tag=bigthink00-20&linkCode=ogi&th=1&psc=1" target="_blank"> <img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/61WKsgV3OpL.jpg" class="amazon-assets-widget__image widget__image"> <div class="amazon-assets-widget__description"> <div class="amazon-assets-widget__title" style="display: block;">Hedy Lamarr and a Secret Communication System (Inventions and Discovery)</div> <div class="amazon-assets-widget__by-amazon"><!-- <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/0736896414?tag=bigthink00-20&linkCode=ogi&th=1&psc=1" target="_blank">by now at amazone</a> --></div> <div class="amazon-assets-widget__list-price"><span class="grey">List Price: </span><span class="list-price">$6.99</span></div> <div class="amazon-assets-widget__new-price"><span class="grey">New From: </span><span class="new-price">$6.99</span> <span class="grey">in Stock</span></div> <div class="amazon-assets-widget__used-price"><span class="grey">Used From: </span><span class="used-price">$2.00</span> <span class="grey">in Stock</span></div> </div> </a> </div> <p>Best known as a Hollywood actress and producer, Hedy Lamarr was also an accomplished inventor. This graphic novel tells how, during World War II, she developed a system that could be used by naval ships to send signals that could not be traced or blocked.</p>"T-Minus: The Race to the Moon" by Jim Ottaviani
<div class="rm-shortcode amazon-assets-widget" data-rm-shortcode-id="dad07f460068f9627930f66343589981" contenteditable="false"> <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/1416949607?tag=bigthink00-20&linkCode=ogi&th=1&psc=1" target="_blank"> <img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/61+ipC5iLzL.jpg" class="amazon-assets-widget__image widget__image"> <div class="amazon-assets-widget__description"> <div class="amazon-assets-widget__title" style="display: block;">T-Minus: The Race to the Moon</div> <div class="amazon-assets-widget__by-amazon"><!-- <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/1416949607?tag=bigthink00-20&linkCode=ogi&th=1&psc=1" target="_blank">by now at amazone</a> --></div> <div class="amazon-assets-widget__list-price"><span class="grey">List Price: </span><span class="list-price">$17.99</span></div> <div class="amazon-assets-widget__new-price"><span class="grey">New From: </span><span class="new-price">$13.33</span> <span class="grey">in Stock</span></div> <div class="amazon-assets-widget__used-price"><span class="grey">Used From: </span><span class="used-price">$3.07</span> <span class="grey">in Stock</span></div> </div> </a> </div> <p>Ottaviani is a name you'll see a lot when it comes to science-focused graphic novels. This novel in particular, illustrated by Zander and Kevin Cannon, is a fictionalized retelling of two nations doing everything they can to be first to the moon. </p>"Trinity: A Graphic History of the First Atomic Bomb" by Jonathan Fetter-Vorm
<div class="rm-shortcode amazon-assets-widget" data-rm-shortcode-id="a937bbe1e8a6fa8d64fa927ad0beed64" contenteditable="false"> <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/0809093553?tag=bigthink00-20&linkCode=ogi&th=1&psc=1" target="_blank"> <img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51OfhIi+vYL.jpg" class="amazon-assets-widget__image widget__image"> <div class="amazon-assets-widget__description"> <div class="amazon-assets-widget__title" style="display: block;">Trinity: A Graphic History of the First Atomic Bomb</div> <div class="amazon-assets-widget__by-amazon"><!-- <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/0809093553?tag=bigthink00-20&linkCode=ogi&th=1&psc=1" target="_blank">by now at amazone</a> --></div> <div class="amazon-assets-widget__list-price"><span class="grey">List Price: </span><span class="list-price">$10.89</span></div> <div class="amazon-assets-widget__new-price"><span class="grey">New From: </span><span class="new-price">$7.99</span> <span class="grey">in Stock</span></div> <div class="amazon-assets-widget__used-price"><span class="grey">Used From: </span><span class="used-price">$3.69</span> <span class="grey">in Stock</span></div> </div> </a> </div> <p>It's not easy to capture the importance and devastation of historical events with word bubbles and drawn images, but illustrator Jonathan Fetter-Vorm did it beautifully in his debut graphic novel, first published in 2013. In it, you meet scientists including Marie Curie and her husband Pierre, British physicist Ernest Rutherford, and German chemists Otto Hahn and Fritz Strassmann, and you learn the role they each played in what eventually became one of the most powerful weapons in the history of the world.</p>"Logicomix: An epic search for truth" by Apostolos Doxiadis and Christos Papadimitriou
<div class="rm-shortcode amazon-assets-widget" data-rm-shortcode-id="166f9d31b6987308124a3a9a1fae9378" contenteditable="false"> <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/1596914521?tag=bigthink00-20&linkCode=ogi&th=1&psc=1" target="_blank"> <img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51ExA-wU3BL.jpg" class="amazon-assets-widget__image widget__image"> <div class="amazon-assets-widget__description"> <div class="amazon-assets-widget__title" style="display: block;">Logicomix: An epic search for truth</div> <div class="amazon-assets-widget__by-amazon"><!-- <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/1596914521?tag=bigthink00-20&linkCode=ogi&th=1&psc=1" target="_blank">by now at amazone</a> --></div> <div class="amazon-assets-widget__list-price"><span class="grey">List Price: </span><span class="list-price">$16.79</span></div> <div class="amazon-assets-widget__new-price"><span class="grey">New From: </span><span class="new-price">$14.40</span> <span class="grey">in Stock</span></div> <div class="amazon-assets-widget__used-price"><span class="grey">Used From: </span><span class="used-price">$5.74</span> <span class="grey">in Stock</span></div> </div> </a> </div> <p>Chances are your young reader is not very familiar with the life and work of British philosopher and Nobel laureate Bertrand Russell, but after picking up this book they will be. It's a more accessible way to introduce anyone to complicated ideas involving mathematical logic and analytical philosophy.</p>"Neurocomic: A Comic About the Brain" by Dr. Hana Roš
<div class="rm-shortcode amazon-assets-widget" data-rm-shortcode-id="23a04f45f042a7d187595363ec9f3e45" contenteditable="false"> <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/1907704701?tag=bigthink00-20&linkCode=ogi&th=1&psc=1" target="_blank"> <img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/61TbrH8TatL.jpg" class="amazon-assets-widget__image widget__image"> <div class="amazon-assets-widget__description"> <div class="amazon-assets-widget__title" style="display: block;">Neurocomic: A Comic About the Brain</div> <div class="amazon-assets-widget__by-amazon"><!-- <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/1907704701?tag=bigthink00-20&linkCode=ogi&th=1&psc=1" target="_blank">by now at amazone</a> --></div> <div class="amazon-assets-widget__list-price"><span class="grey">List Price: </span><span class="list-price">$16.30</span></div> <div class="amazon-assets-widget__new-price"><span class="grey">New From: </span><span class="new-price">$16.30</span> <span class="grey">in Stock</span></div> <div class="amazon-assets-widget__used-price"><span class="grey">Used From: </span><span class="used-price">$6.24</span> <span class="grey">in Stock</span></div> </div> </a> </div> <p>With illustrations by Dr. Matteo Farinella and a story by Dr. Hana Roš (both neuroscientists), this graphic novel uses fantasy elements to teach young readers about what the brain is made of and what it can do. Neuron forests and giant sea creatures make for an engaging and educational read.</p>"Heretics!: The Wondrous (and Dangerous) Beginnings of Modern Philosophy" by Steven and Ben Nadler
<div class="rm-shortcode amazon-assets-widget" data-rm-shortcode-id="85af7c51896b7258779575f988926d28" contenteditable="false"> <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/0691168695?tag=bigthink00-20&linkCode=ogi&th=1&psc=1" target="_blank"> <img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51JWP-DteoL.jpg" class="amazon-assets-widget__image widget__image"> <div class="amazon-assets-widget__description"> <div class="amazon-assets-widget__title" style="display: block;">Heretics!: The Wondrous (and Dangerous) Beginnings of Modern Philosophy</div> <div class="amazon-assets-widget__by-amazon"><!-- <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/0691168695?tag=bigthink00-20&linkCode=ogi&th=1&psc=1" target="_blank">by now at amazone</a> --></div> <div class="amazon-assets-widget__list-price"><span class="grey">List Price: </span><span class="list-price">$10.20</span></div> <div class="amazon-assets-widget__new-price"><span class="grey">New From: </span><span class="new-price">$10.18</span> <span class="grey">in Stock</span></div> <div class="amazon-assets-widget__used-price"><span class="grey">Used From: </span><span class="used-price">$5.53</span> <span class="grey">in Stock</span></div> </div> </a> </div> <p>We may respect their minds now, but throughout history there have been thinkers whose ideas were less than popular with the masses (or even other thinkers). From Galileo to Newton, this funny graphic novel covers some of their wildest theories, like Earth not being the center of the cosmos.</p><p><em>When you buy something through a link in this article Big Think earns a small affiliate commission. Thank you for supporting our team's work.</em></p>
Keep reading
Show less
Learn key lessons from today's best business books in minutes
Get the meat of business books without all the fluff
22 April, 2020
- Over 1,200 business books are published annually.
- Soundview summarizes top business books, so you can absorb more information faster.
- 1-year subscriptions are on sale for only $49.99 today.
<p>
Every year, over 1,200 business books are published, and chances are none of us are going to read three books a day. So how does the modern professional uncover the proverbial diamond in the rough of online shopping carts? They go to
<a href="https://shop.bigthink.com/sales/soundview-executive-book-summaries-1-year-subscription?utm_source=bigthink.com&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=soundview-executive-book-summaries-1-year-subscription&utm_term=scsf-391117&utm_content=a0x1P000004sKYVQA2&scsonar=1" target="_blank"><strong>Soundview Executive Book Summaries®.</strong></a>
</p><p>
Soundview has been summarizing business books for over 40 years. It works with bestselling authors (John C. Maxwell, Daniel Goleman, Stephen Covey, and Patricia Zigarmi) and leading book publishers (Bloomberg, HarperCollins, Oxford University Press, and Prentice Hall) to offer you the most pertinent knowledge of each title while skipping extraneous or repetitive information.
</p><p>
With your
<strong><a href="https://shop.bigthink.com/sales/soundview-executive-book-summaries-1-year-subscription?utm_source=bigthink.com&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=soundview-executive-book-summaries-1-year-subscription&utm_term=scsf-391117&utm_content=a0x1P000004sKYVQA2&scsonar=1" rel="noopener" target="_blank">subscription</a></strong>, you'll immediately gain access to up to 19 books that you can quickly consume by text or audio. Each month will bring new goodies to your app. You'll get to choose from among Soundview's most popular business categories, including management and leadership, motivation, HR, technology, marketing, and entrepreneurship. You'll also gain access to exclusive content, such as Soundview newsletters and webinars.
</p><p>
As
<em>Inc.</em> Magazine puts it, "Soundview is where some of the best business minds get their information." Join them by <a href="https://shop.bigthink.com/sales/soundview-executive-book-summaries-1-year-subscription?utm_source=bigthink.com&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=soundview-executive-book-summaries-1-year-subscription&utm_term=scsf-391117&utm_content=a0x1P000004sKYVQA2&scsonar=1" rel="noopener" target="_blank">signing up for a one-year subscription</a>. You'll save 49% off the regular price—just $49.99 for the world's best business advice.
</p><p>
<em>Prices subject to change.</em>
</p><h3>More from the Big Think Shop</h3><ul class="ee-ul">
<li><a href="https://shop.bigthink.com/collections/work-from-home-essentials?utm_source=bigthink.com&utm_medium=referral-subdeal&utm_campaign=home-2020" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Work-from-home accessories</a> to keep you productive</li>
<li><a href="https://shop.bigthink.com/collections/diy-deals-to-keep-your-mind-busy?utm_source=bigthink.com&utm_medium=referral-subdeal&utm_campaign=home-2020" rel="noopener" target="_blank">DIY projects</a> to keep you entertained indoors</li>
<li><a href="https://shop.bigthink.com/collections/learn-something-new-while-wfh?utm_source=bigthink.com&utm_medium=referral-subdeal&utm_campaign=home-2020" rel="noopener" target="_blank">New skills</a> you can learn without leaving home</li></ul>
Keep reading
Show less
Why reading is a form of therapy in times of crisis
Our live stream with Harvard literature professor Lisa New begins at 1 pm ET today.
22 April, 2020
Time and again, reading has been shown to make us healthier, smarter, and more empathic. How can we use literature as therapy during this moment of drastic change?
<p><strong>Ask your questions for Lisa New in the live Q&A on <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PFT_XWOyAS8" target="_blank">YouTube</a> or <a href="https://www.facebook.com/BigThinkdotcom/posts/10157251978188527" target="_blank">Facebook</a>.</strong></p><p>In this <strong>live session with Harvard literature professor Lisa New</strong>, you'll dive into the world of prose and poetry, discovering the answer to questions like: how can I use reading as a coping mechanism? What do I lose when I <em>only</em> watch the movie and ignore the book? And why do people roll their eyes at poetry, anyway? Sheltering in place is the perfect time to reconnect with books and your love of reading.</p>
<p><strong></strong><strong>Lisa New </strong>is the director and host of <a href="https://www.poetryinamerica.org/" target="_blank"><em>Poetry in America</em></a>, director of <a href="http://versevideoeducation.org/home" target="_blank">Verse</a> <a href="http://versevideoeducation.org/home" target="_blank">Video Education</a>, and the Powell M. Cabot Professor of American Literature at Harvard University, where she teaches courses in classic American literature from the Puritans through the present day.</p>
Keep reading
Show less
Home libraries boost child cognition. These are the best books for every age.
Early reading experiences play an important role in brain development.
19 April, 2020
Photo by Brina Blum on Unsplash
- Recent studies have shown that children who grow up with books at home have increased literacy, numeracy, and information communication technology skills in adulthood.
- Bookstores and libraries are great, but according to researchers, early exposure at the parental home matters because "books are an integral part of routines and practices that enhance lifelong cognitive competencies."
- While age doesn't necessarily dictate reading level, here are titles suitable for children from a few months old up to 17 years.
<p>When you're making small talk with friends old and new, they typically ask questions that involve your<a href="https://bigthink.com/gear/hit-your-reading-goals" target="_blank"> reading habits</a>. People are often curious about the last book you read, what you're currently reading, and what titles are waiting in a neat little stack in your living room. Rarely does anyone ask what the first book you remember loving was, or what books from your childhood had the biggest impact on you, but it turns out that those early reading experiences are just as (if not more) important when it comes to your brain's development.</p><p>According to a <a href="https://bigthink.com/mind-brain/mind-brain-home-library-benefits" target="_blank">2018 study</a> that involved 160,000 people, growing up with a home library of 80-350 books (the average in the U.S. is 114) results in adults with significantly higher levels of literacy, numeracy, and information communication technology (ICT) skills. Studies have also shown that reading <a href="https://bigthink.com/21st-century-spirituality/reading-rewires-your-brain-for-more-intelligence-and-empathy" target="_blank">increases white matter</a> in the brain (boosting system-wide communication), and children who are read to regularly are <a href="https://bigthink.com/mind-brain/reading-to-babies" target="_blank">less likely to be hyperactive</a> and disruptive. </p><p>Libraries and publishers often give the option to sort books by age range, but not everyone progresses at the same pace. Those guidelines, and the distinctions made in this article, are generalizations and are meant to be flexible. That being said, here are some popular, best-selling, and well-reviewed books for the young reader on your shopping list.</p>
Ages 0 to 1
<div class="rm-shortcode amazon-assets-widget" data-rm-shortcode-id="dd4584786698c6c2d13525c77a124a1f" contenteditable="false"> <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/0062847538?tag=bigthink00-20&linkCode=ogi&th=1&psc=1" target="_blank"> <img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/61x0QyYCilL.jpg" class="amazon-assets-widget__image widget__image"> <div class="amazon-assets-widget__description"> <div class="amazon-assets-widget__title" style="display: block;">Baby Says Board Book</div> <div class="amazon-assets-widget__by-amazon"><!-- <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/0062847538?tag=bigthink00-20&linkCode=ogi&th=1&psc=1" target="_blank">by now at amazone</a> --></div> <div class="amazon-assets-widget__list-price"><span class="grey">List Price: </span><span class="list-price">$6.99</span></div> <div class="amazon-assets-widget__new-price"><span class="grey">New From: </span><span class="new-price">$5.80</span> <span class="grey">in Stock</span></div> <div class="amazon-assets-widget__used-price"><span class="grey">Used From: </span><span class="used-price">$1.99</span> <span class="grey">in Stock</span></div> </div> </a> </div> <p>Written and illustrated by John Stepsoe, this board book tells the story of a baby who wants nothing more than to play with his big brother.</p>Ages 1-2
<div class="rm-shortcode amazon-assets-widget" data-rm-shortcode-id="d1573225668fa47015a6bcd0c104e4a2" contenteditable="false"> <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/1250245605?tag=bigthink00-20&linkCode=ogi&th=1&psc=1" target="_blank"> <img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/519ikYPDaHL.jpg" class="amazon-assets-widget__image widget__image"> <div class="amazon-assets-widget__description"> <div class="amazon-assets-widget__title" style="display: block;">This Is Baby</div> <div class="amazon-assets-widget__by-amazon"><!-- <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/1250245605?tag=bigthink00-20&linkCode=ogi&th=1&psc=1" target="_blank">by now at amazone</a> --></div> <div class="amazon-assets-widget__list-price"><span class="grey">List Price: </span><span class="list-price">$8.49</span></div> <div class="amazon-assets-widget__new-price"><span class="grey">New From: </span><span class="new-price">$7.50</span> <span class="grey">in Stock</span></div> <div class="amazon-assets-widget__used-price"><span class="grey">Used From: </span><span class="used-price">$7.00</span> <span class="grey">in Stock</span></div> </div> </a> </div> <p>"This is Baby" is Jimmy Fallon's third children's book. With illustrations of diverse babies by Miguel Ordóñez, it helps teach your little one how to find various body parts from their head to their toes.</p>Ages 2-3
<div class="rm-shortcode amazon-assets-widget" data-rm-shortcode-id="7490ecb4e1ec86661999bd3bc4318140" contenteditable="false"> <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/1328809048?tag=bigthink00-20&linkCode=ogi&th=1&psc=1" target="_blank"> <img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/518G3Ov+0TL.jpg" class="amazon-assets-widget__image widget__image"> <div class="amazon-assets-widget__description"> <div class="amazon-assets-widget__title" style="display: block;">¡Me gusta cómo soy! / I Like Myself! (bilingual board book Spanish edition) (Spanish and English Edition)</div> <div class="amazon-assets-widget__by-amazon"><!-- <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/1328809048?tag=bigthink00-20&linkCode=ogi&th=1&psc=1" target="_blank">by now at amazone</a> --></div> <div class="amazon-assets-widget__list-price"><span class="grey">List Price: </span><span class="list-price">$4.99</span></div> <div class="amazon-assets-widget__new-price"><span class="grey">New From: </span><span class="new-price">$4.73</span> <span class="grey">in Stock</span></div> <div class="amazon-assets-widget__used-price"><span class="grey">Used From: </span><span class="used-price">$5.35</span> <span class="grey">in Stock</span></div> </div> </a> </div> <p>The earlier children are exposed to a new language, the better. This bilingual board book, written by Karen Beaumont and illustrated by David Catrow, is a story of positive self-esteem that the Amazon synopsis says is "high on energy and imagination." <a href="https://www.fatherly.com/play/best-books-for-2-year-olds/" target="_blank">Fatherly.com</a> recently listed it among their top 16 books for two-year-olds.</p>Ages 3-4
<div class="rm-shortcode amazon-assets-widget" data-rm-shortcode-id="e0fa11933873e7998f083d6ac8f86a3e" contenteditable="false"> <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/0060254920?tag=bigthink00-20&linkCode=ogi&th=1&psc=1" target="_blank"> <img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/61zGOvBSgAL.jpg" class="amazon-assets-widget__image widget__image"> <div class="amazon-assets-widget__description"> <div class="amazon-assets-widget__title" style="display: block;">Where the Wild Things Are</div> <div class="amazon-assets-widget__by-amazon"><!-- <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/0060254920?tag=bigthink00-20&linkCode=ogi&th=1&psc=1" target="_blank">by now at amazone</a> --></div> <div class="amazon-assets-widget__list-price"><span class="grey">List Price: </span><span class="list-price">$13.29</span></div> <div class="amazon-assets-widget__new-price"><span class="grey">New From: </span><span class="new-price">$9.98</span> <span class="grey">in Stock</span></div> <div class="amazon-assets-widget__used-price"><span class="grey">Used From: </span><span class="used-price">$2.88</span> <span class="grey">in Stock</span></div> </div> </a> </div> <p>A timeless classic by Maurice Sendak that most of us read growing up. If you don't own this one, now may be the time to add it to the collection.</p>Ages 4-5
<div class="rm-shortcode amazon-assets-widget" data-rm-shortcode-id="1e8e3a15918e25368e8d6761841594e5" contenteditable="false"> <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/0525553363?tag=bigthink00-20&linkCode=ogi&th=1&psc=1" target="_blank"> <img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/512D+TO5L8L.jpg" class="amazon-assets-widget__image widget__image"> <div class="amazon-assets-widget__description"> <div class="amazon-assets-widget__title" style="display: block;">Hair Love</div> <div class="amazon-assets-widget__by-amazon"><!-- <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/0525553363?tag=bigthink00-20&linkCode=ogi&th=1&psc=1" target="_blank">by now at amazone</a> --></div> <div class="amazon-assets-widget__list-price"><span class="grey">List Price: </span><span class="list-price">$10.96</span></div> <div class="amazon-assets-widget__new-price"><span class="grey">New From: </span><span class="new-price">$10.96</span> <span class="grey">in Stock</span></div> <div class="amazon-assets-widget__used-price"><span class="grey">Used From: </span><span class="used-price">$14.93</span> <span class="grey">in Stock</span></div> </div> </a> </div> <p>The book that inspired an Oscar-winning animated short, "Hair Love" is written by Matthew Cherry and illustrated by Vashti Harrison. It tells the story of a father who has to learn a difficult new skill: how to style his young daughter's long and curly hair.</p>Ages 5-6
<div class="rm-shortcode amazon-assets-widget" data-rm-shortcode-id="e248d2b38e7e89e883fa1d0a3c8a16fc" contenteditable="false"> <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/0375851569?tag=bigthink00-20&linkCode=ogi&th=1&psc=1" target="_blank"> <img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51PWDGLykIL.jpg" class="amazon-assets-widget__image widget__image"> <div class="amazon-assets-widget__description"> <div class="amazon-assets-widget__title" style="display: block;">Dr. Seuss's Beginner Book Collection (Cat in the Hat, One Fish Two Fish, Green Eggs and Ham, Hop on Pop, Fox in Socks)</div> <div class="amazon-assets-widget__by-amazon"><!-- <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/0375851569?tag=bigthink00-20&linkCode=ogi&th=1&psc=1" target="_blank">by now at amazone</a> --></div> <div class="amazon-assets-widget__list-price"><span class="grey">List Price: </span><span class="list-price">$24.49</span></div> <div class="amazon-assets-widget__new-price"><span class="grey">New From: </span><span class="new-price">$24.49</span> <span class="grey">in Stock</span></div> <div class="amazon-assets-widget__used-price"><span class="grey">Used From: </span><span class="used-price">$23.79</span> <span class="grey">in Stock</span></div> </div> </a> </div> <p>Dr. Seuss books are great for their re-readability, rhyme schemes, and unique art style. Children are looking for books that they can grab and read alone or with a parent at this age, so having this collection of five will give them some variety.</p>Ages 6-7
<div class="rm-shortcode amazon-assets-widget" data-rm-shortcode-id="2014944d24a18a93d061d1c8a064936e" contenteditable="false"> <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/0590414291?tag=bigthink00-20&linkCode=ogi&th=1&psc=1" target="_blank"> <img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/61D7aRL0MdL.jpg" class="amazon-assets-widget__image widget__image"> <div class="amazon-assets-widget__description"> <div class="amazon-assets-widget__title" style="display: block;">The Magic School Bus Lost In The Solar System</div> <div class="amazon-assets-widget__by-amazon"><!-- <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/0590414291?tag=bigthink00-20&linkCode=ogi&th=1&psc=1" target="_blank">by now at amazone</a> --></div> <div class="amazon-assets-widget__list-price"><span class="grey">List Price: </span><span class="list-price">$6.99</span></div> <div class="amazon-assets-widget__new-price"><span class="grey">New From: </span><span class="new-price">$2.90</span> <span class="grey">in Stock</span></div> <div class="amazon-assets-widget__used-price"><span class="grey">Used From: </span><span class="used-price">$0.91</span> <span class="grey">in Stock</span></div> </div> </a> </div> <p>We would absolutely recommend the cartoon if we could, but "The Magic School Bus" as a book series is also really fun for children. This particular book touches on a subject that we especially love: space exploration.</p>Ages 7-8
<div class="rm-shortcode amazon-assets-widget" data-rm-shortcode-id="9be77889817ed658f8b90df1c9b27cdc" contenteditable="false"> <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/0545935180?tag=bigthink00-20&linkCode=ogi&th=1&psc=1" target="_blank"> <img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51wIJQQ5OFL.jpg" class="amazon-assets-widget__image widget__image"> <div class="amazon-assets-widget__description"> <div class="amazon-assets-widget__title" style="display: block;">Dog Man and Cat Kid: From the Creator of Captain Underpants (Dog Man #4)</div> <div class="amazon-assets-widget__by-amazon"><!-- <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/0545935180?tag=bigthink00-20&linkCode=ogi&th=1&psc=1" target="_blank">by now at amazone</a> --></div> <div class="amazon-assets-widget__list-price"><span class="grey">List Price: </span><span class="list-price">$6.99</span></div> <div class="amazon-assets-widget__new-price"><span class="grey">New From: </span><span class="new-price">$5.00</span> <span class="grey">in Stock</span></div> <div class="amazon-assets-widget__used-price"><span class="grey">Used From: </span><span class="used-price">$2.50</span> <span class="grey">in Stock</span></div> </div> </a> </div> <p>The number one best seller in Amazon's "Children's Mystery and Detective Comics & Graphic Novels" section, this Dan Pilkey book is the fourth in the series, which you should consider collecting so that your 3rd grader can experience it all. </p>Ages 8-9
<div class="rm-shortcode amazon-assets-widget" data-rm-shortcode-id="85ec160c57e3652bf201b094504d269a" contenteditable="false"> <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/0142410314?tag=bigthink00-20&linkCode=ogi&th=1&psc=1" target="_blank"> <img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51W8IWdCSKL.jpg" class="amazon-assets-widget__image widget__image"> <div class="amazon-assets-widget__description"> <div class="amazon-assets-widget__title" style="display: block;">Charlie and the Chocolate Factory</div> <div class="amazon-assets-widget__by-amazon"><!-- <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/0142410314?tag=bigthink00-20&linkCode=ogi&th=1&psc=1" target="_blank">by now at amazone</a> --></div> <div class="amazon-assets-widget__list-price"><span class="grey">List Price: </span><span class="list-price">$6.99</span></div> <div class="amazon-assets-widget__new-price"><span class="grey">New From: </span><span class="new-price">$5.70</span> <span class="grey">in Stock</span></div> <div class="amazon-assets-widget__used-price"><span class="grey">Used From: </span><span class="used-price">$1.48</span> <span class="grey">in Stock</span></div> </div> </a> </div> <p>Another classic novel that most readers are probably familiar with (and one that comes with various <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charlie_and_the_Chocolate_Factory#Adaptations" target="_blank">adaptations</a>), "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" was written by Roald Dahl and first published in 1964. A cool bonus exercise could be reading the book then watching the 1971 film starring Gene Wilder to see how they compare and contrast.</p>Ages 9-10
<div class="rm-shortcode amazon-assets-widget" data-rm-shortcode-id="dab35f8b7d429bb900ea419100507b29" contenteditable="false"> <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/0545162076?tag=bigthink00-20&linkCode=ogi&th=1&psc=1" target="_blank"> <img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41XlFN304wL.jpg" class="amazon-assets-widget__image widget__image"> <div class="amazon-assets-widget__description"> <div class="amazon-assets-widget__title" style="display: block;">Harry Potter Paperback Box Set (Books 1-7)</div> <div class="amazon-assets-widget__by-amazon"><!-- <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/0545162076?tag=bigthink00-20&linkCode=ogi&th=1&psc=1" target="_blank">by now at amazone</a> --></div> <div class="amazon-assets-widget__list-price"><span class="grey">List Price: </span><span class="list-price">$52.16</span></div> <div class="amazon-assets-widget__new-price"><span class="grey">New From: </span><span class="new-price">$52.16</span> <span class="grey">in Stock</span></div> <div class="amazon-assets-widget__used-price"><span class="grey">Used From: </span><span class="used-price">$46.89</span> <span class="grey">in Stock</span></div> </div> </a> </div> <p>The beauty of buying the full Harry Potter set is that your child can grow along with the characters. The books get progressively longer and there are some pretty mature themes in the later installments, but your pre-teen will have time to build up to those.</p>Ages 10-11
<div class="rm-shortcode amazon-assets-widget" data-rm-shortcode-id="3211f605e758765bd52a57593721ac71" contenteditable="false"> <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/1534424555?tag=bigthink00-20&linkCode=ogi&th=1&psc=1" target="_blank"> <img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51pvtjTEAmL.jpg" class="amazon-assets-widget__image widget__image"> <div class="amazon-assets-widget__description"> <div class="amazon-assets-widget__title" style="display: block;">Becoming RBG: Ruth Bader Ginsburg's Journey to Justice</div> <div class="amazon-assets-widget__by-amazon"><!-- <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/1534424555?tag=bigthink00-20&linkCode=ogi&th=1&psc=1" target="_blank">by now at amazone</a> --></div> <div class="amazon-assets-widget__list-price"><span class="grey">List Price: </span><span class="list-price">$9.69</span></div> <div class="amazon-assets-widget__new-price"><span class="grey">New From: </span><span class="new-price">$9.69</span> <span class="grey">in Stock</span></div> <div class="amazon-assets-widget__used-price"><span class="grey">Used From: </span><span class="used-price">$7.00</span> <span class="grey">in Stock</span></div> </div> </a> </div> <p>Learning about history and politics is a lot more fun and engaging for children when it's in the form of graphic nonfiction. This biography of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is written by Debbie Levy and illustrated by Whitney Gardner.</p>Ages 11-12
<div class="rm-shortcode amazon-assets-widget" data-rm-shortcode-id="f3e4c707b4a7c9df832e94805e2c1c8d" contenteditable="false"> <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/1616207469?tag=bigthink00-20&linkCode=ogi&th=1&psc=1" target="_blank"> <img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51FQTWpePmL.jpg" class="amazon-assets-widget__image widget__image"> <div class="amazon-assets-widget__description"> <div class="amazon-assets-widget__title" style="display: block;">The Girl Who Drank the Moon (Winner of the 2017 Newbery Medal)</div> <div class="amazon-assets-widget__by-amazon"><!-- <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/1616207469?tag=bigthink00-20&linkCode=ogi&th=1&psc=1" target="_blank">by now at amazone</a> --></div> <div class="amazon-assets-widget__list-price"><span class="grey">List Price: </span><span class="list-price">$4.49</span></div> <div class="amazon-assets-widget__new-price"><span class="grey">New From: </span><span class="new-price">$4.49</span> <span class="grey">in Stock</span></div> <div class="amazon-assets-widget__used-price"><span class="grey">Used From: </span><span class="used-price">$5.47</span> <span class="grey">in Stock</span></div> </div> </a> </div> <p>Written by Kelly Barnhill, this fantasy story focuses on a girl named Luna who is raised by a witch and accidentally given magic powers, which she must learn to control. In a review for <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2016/10/09/books/review/girl-who-drank-the-moon-kelly-barnhill.html" target="_blank">The New York Times</a>, Diana Wagman wrote that the book "educates about oppression, blind allegiance and challenging the status quo while immersing the reader in an exhilarating story full of magical creatures and derring-do."</p>Ages 12-13
<div class="rm-shortcode amazon-assets-widget" data-rm-shortcode-id="ce0b0fee7134a5889f2d07791b88534d" contenteditable="false"> <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/0142401129?tag=bigthink00-20&linkCode=ogi&th=1&psc=1" target="_blank"> <img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/518qR6BG3JL.jpg" class="amazon-assets-widget__image widget__image"> <div class="amazon-assets-widget__description"> <div class="amazon-assets-widget__title" style="display: block;">Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry</div> <div class="amazon-assets-widget__by-amazon"><!-- <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/0142401129?tag=bigthink00-20&linkCode=ogi&th=1&psc=1" target="_blank">by now at amazone</a> --></div> <div class="amazon-assets-widget__list-price"><span class="grey">List Price: </span><span class="list-price">$5.69</span></div> <div class="amazon-assets-widget__new-price"><span class="grey">New From: </span><span class="new-price">$5.66</span> <span class="grey">in Stock</span></div> <div class="amazon-assets-widget__used-price"><span class="grey">Used From: </span><span class="used-price">$1.48</span> <span class="grey">in Stock</span></div> </div> </a> </div> <p>The subject matter in Mildred D. Taylor's "Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry" is by no means light and whimsical, so you'll want to consider whether or not your 7th grader is ready for it. Set in Mississippi in the 1930s, the book deals with racism, social injustice, and violence, but also family, love, and perseverance. </p>Ages 13-14
<div class="rm-shortcode amazon-assets-widget" data-rm-shortcode-id="b2eb69c21a9ffb03c584715b102adc7b" contenteditable="false"> <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/1984830171?tag=bigthink00-20&linkCode=ogi&th=1&psc=1" target="_blank"> <img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51qGtnv1BDL.jpg" class="amazon-assets-widget__image widget__image"> <div class="amazon-assets-widget__description"> <div class="amazon-assets-widget__title" style="display: block;">American Royals</div> <div class="amazon-assets-widget__by-amazon"><!-- <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/1984830171?tag=bigthink00-20&linkCode=ogi&th=1&psc=1" target="_blank">by now at amazone</a> --></div> <div class="amazon-assets-widget__list-price"><span class="grey">List Price: </span><span class="list-price">$14.49</span></div> <div class="amazon-assets-widget__new-price"><span class="grey">New From: </span><span class="new-price">$8.07</span> <span class="grey">in Stock</span></div> <div class="amazon-assets-widget__used-price"><span class="grey">Used From: </span><span class="used-price">$13.47</span> <span class="grey">in Stock</span></div> </div> </a> </div> <p>Katharine McGee's novel tells the story of an alternate America where there is a wealthy, drama-filled royal family. If your teenager is into celebrity culture and all that comes with it, then they should give this a read.</p>Ages 14-15
<div class="rm-shortcode amazon-assets-widget" data-rm-shortcode-id="63008fe526105070ad1de835612e7980" contenteditable="false"> <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/0062878026?tag=bigthink00-20&linkCode=ogi&th=1&psc=1" target="_blank"> <img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/516uVlGOH3L.jpg" class="amazon-assets-widget__image widget__image"> <div class="amazon-assets-widget__description"> <div class="amazon-assets-widget__title" style="display: block;">Serpent & Dove</div> <div class="amazon-assets-widget__by-amazon"><!-- <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/0062878026?tag=bigthink00-20&linkCode=ogi&th=1&psc=1" target="_blank">by now at amazone</a> --></div> <div class="amazon-assets-widget__list-price"><span class="grey">List Price: </span><span class="list-price">$9.49</span></div> <div class="amazon-assets-widget__new-price"><span class="grey">New From: </span><span class="new-price">$9.49</span> <span class="grey">in Stock</span></div> <div class="amazon-assets-widget__used-price"><span class="grey">Used From: </span><span class="used-price">$7.59</span> <span class="grey">in Stock</span></div> </div> </a> </div> <p>This YA fantasy novel is the first in a trilogy written by Shelby Mahurin. There are witches, witch hunters, forbidden love, and humor to be had in the 528 pages of the book, which debuted at number two on the NY Times bestseller list and was chosen as <a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/blog/teen/the-bn-ya-podcast-shelby-mahurin/" target="_blank">Barnes and Noble's YA Book Club</a> selection in 2019. </p>Ages 15-16
<div class="rm-shortcode amazon-assets-widget" data-rm-shortcode-id="3e76a48df8e53e22c349bd9c57a5e254" contenteditable="false"> <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B003JFJHTS?tag=bigthink00-20&linkCode=ogi&th=1&psc=1" target="_blank"> <img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41aPpkv7ZjL.jpg" class="amazon-assets-widget__image widget__image"> <div class="amazon-assets-widget__description"> <div class="amazon-assets-widget__title" style="display: block;">The Handmaid's Tale</div> <div class="amazon-assets-widget__by-amazon"><!-- <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B003JFJHTS?tag=bigthink00-20&linkCode=ogi&th=1&psc=1" target="_blank">by now at amazone</a> --></div> <div class="amazon-assets-widget__list-price"><span class="grey">List Price: </span><span class="list-price">$9.99</span></div> <div class="amazon-assets-widget__new-price"><span class="grey">New From: </span><span class="new-price">$9.99</span> <span class="grey">in Stock</span></div> </div> </a> </div> <p>Described as a disturbing tale of a dystopian world where men rule and women have no civil rights, this 1985 book has gained popularity in recent years thanks to the hit television show of the same name. Author Margaret Atwood served as a consulting producer on the show, which means a lot of this <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Handmaid%27s_Tale#Awards" target="_blank">multiple award-winning</a> book's power has been translated onto the screen.</p>Ages 16-17
<div class="rm-shortcode amazon-assets-widget" data-rm-shortcode-id="3b8204b00e4845b15afc7b07a0fb154d" contenteditable="false"> <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/0062020579?tag=bigthink00-20&linkCode=ogi&th=1&psc=1" target="_blank"> <img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51jMH81UuoL.jpg" class="amazon-assets-widget__image widget__image"> <div class="amazon-assets-widget__description"> <div class="amazon-assets-widget__title" style="display: block;">The Miseducation of Cameron Post</div> <div class="amazon-assets-widget__by-amazon"><!-- <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/0062020579?tag=bigthink00-20&linkCode=ogi&th=1&psc=1" target="_blank">by now at amazone</a> --></div> <div class="amazon-assets-widget__list-price"><span class="grey">List Price: </span><span class="list-price">$9.89</span></div> <div class="amazon-assets-widget__new-price"><span class="grey">New From: </span><span class="new-price">$7.75</span> <span class="grey">in Stock</span></div> <div class="amazon-assets-widget__used-price"><span class="grey">Used From: </span><span class="used-price">$3.46</span> <span class="grey">in Stock</span></div> </div> </a> </div> <p>Emily M. Danforth's coming-of-age novel from 2012 is about a young girl in Montana who, upon discovering her homosexuality, is sent to a conversion camp by her conservative guardians. While the character in the book is younger (12 years old), parents and kids <a href="https://www.commonsensemedia.org/movie-reviews/the-miseducation-of-cameron-post" target="_blank">seem to agree</a> that the mature themes are best appreciated by slightly older readers.</p>
Keep reading
Show less
Popular
