Understanding teenagers’ experiences of reading fiction

Teenagers’ reading experiences are shaped by the interaction between the text and the reader. Characteristics of the text, like its genre, topic, and quality, will offer different experiences. Simultaneously, readers’ dispositions, existing knowledge and past life and literary experiences will also influence their experience with a text. As a result, the same book can offer different reading experiences to different readers.
Different fiction genres may have different effects on readers and allow for different types of reading experiences. Some genres may be more likely to offer opportunities for escapism, while others offer greater opportunities for excitement, relaxation, laughter, exploration, learning or empathy.
Readers’ own dispositions and use of imagination influence their reading experiences, allowing them to feel more engaged with the story, experience absorption and escapism and mentally enhance the story.
With declines in the number of teenagers reporting reading, it is important to increase awareness of the rich and diverse experiences offered by books and support teenagers’ skills in book selection. It is also important that teenagers have access to books which they will connect with, and that teenagers and their teachers have a good knowledge of young adult fiction to support their reading choices.