About this Blog
It is an unfortunate fact that young boys do not read as much as young girls do, or even as much as young boys used to. Part of that results from their nature, but I think part of it results from a failure of the publishing industry to engage and nurture that segment of the market.
The industry follows the money and girls do most of the reading. That’s understandable. However, most grade schools and middle schools require their students to read a certain amount of books per year. There is a built-in, mandatory market that the industry is not properly targeting. These children, boys included, are required to read approximately twenty-five books per year. They are not required to see movies or play video games. They are required to read books. With that much of an advantage, the publishing industry is still failing to engage young boys. There is a window of opportunity to do so, and they are not taking advantage of it. This blog is about literature for boys and what can be done to encourage boys to read.
~Carl
Cynthia C. Willis
March 4, 2010 at 8:38 am
Hi Carl,
Thank you for this wonderful website! It is always wonderful to discover people committed to opening doors to the wonderful world of reading for boys.
I would be happy to give you a signed copy of BUCK FEVER, my middle grade novel (boy protagonist) published by Feiwel and Friends in October, 2009. If you are interested, you can read more about BUCK on my website (www.cynthiawillis.com).
All the best to you,
Cynthia
Carl
March 4, 2010 at 10:25 am
Hi Cynthia,
Thanks for the support. I would love the book, but would love an interview even more!
I’ll try the email address on your website to contact you. Feel free to email me at Carl(at)Boylit.com.
Max Elliot Anderson
March 7, 2010 at 3:04 pm
Hey Carl.
My new book, Lost Island Smugglers – first in the Sam Cooper Adventure Series – is coming out in June. Contracts are also signed for Captain Jack’s Treasure and River Rampage. These are especially for boys 8 – 13. And a new publisher is going to republish my first 8 action-adventures & mysteries for the same audience.
Max Elliot Anderson
Carl
March 8, 2010 at 9:12 am
Thanks, Max. I will keep my eye out for them.
Ms. Yingling
March 18, 2010 at 4:33 am
Love the lists and comments, but the trailers are all blocked at my school. I have blog rolled you, though, in my quest for more boy book bloggers.
Carl
March 18, 2010 at 5:31 am
Thanks for the support. I hope you get to view the trailers from home.
Please check back for more commentary and interviews.
Terry Lynn Johnson
March 27, 2010 at 1:49 pm
Carl, you have an amazing resource here for readers and writers. Great job!
Thanks for visiting my site. My dogsledding books are for MG – YA readers, however, they feature female protagonists.
Love what you are doing here for boy readers. Keep it up!
Max Elliot Anderson
March 23, 2011 at 1:00 pm
VIDEO Book Trailer – Barney and the Runaway .
To help tell the story of Barney and the Runaway, and interest people in buying it for their young readers, I’ve produced the following video book trailer.
I hope you’ll take a look and then forward the link on to teachers, parents, grandparents, and families with young readers 8 – 13.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-0l7ZU94Ieo&feature=mfu
Thank you,
Max Elliot Anderson
Max Elliot Anderson
June 23, 2011 at 3:17 pm
Anyone who knows me, knows that the central focus in my life is getting kids interested in reading, especially boys 8 – 13. That’s partially because I grew up hating to read. I’ve been working on something that might help show boys that reading can be cool.
I hope you’ll show this 41 second video to the boys in your life, and then share it as widely as you can.
Thank you,
Max Elliot Anderson
Guys…read a book. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BgzkiTCeTEU&feature
Peter Johnson
September 19, 2011 at 9:48 am
I’m a YA and Middle-grade author, who’s considered a “boy” author. I thought might blog might interest you since it deals with what boys read on their own and what they are encouraged (and sometimea forced) to read, though U care mostly that they’re reading at all.
Be well.
Peter