Reading is a good hobby for anyone. People enjoy reading either for fun or simply because they’re curious and want to know what the books are about. Some people like to read because they get to escape reality and enter a different one that they really enjoy.
Jordan Cushman, Language Arts teacher, believes it depends on what students read when their desires to read change.
“I feel like it is less about change in desire and more about the extreme differences,” Cushman said. “I have students that either love reading and are avid readers, or I have students that detest reading and will do anything to avoid it. I will say that I am seeing an increase in reading with things like BookTok which is a trend on TikTok that is getting more and more people into reading. Additionally, eReaders like kindles are getting people into reading with their portability and access to cheaper books.”
Now that it is 2025, kindle books are still very popular to this day, making up 83% of the e-book market in the U.S.. As for BookTok, it’s also very popular this year ever since it got 370 billion views as it continues growing in popularity. It’s not just the amount of views that makes it popular, it also engages book lovers in the community and makes combinations of genres into one book, an example being romantasy, which is Fantasy and Romance.
Cushman also believes reading is very important for students,
“It makes us a better writer, free thinker, and creative.” she said. “We are able to escape our world for a bit and jump into another. We can connect with strong characters, learn lessons, experience the excitement and heartache of stories. It’s a healthy outlet and source of entertainment as opposed to doom scrolling which has been researched and suggested to lower self esteem and mental well being. The teacher in me wants to tell you of all the academic benefits reading has, but the reader in me wants to tell you that it is the best hobby you can have, you just have to find what is right for you.”
Nash Meder, 9, explains how he came across his love for reading.
“My love for reading started back in the sixth grade,” Meder said. “It was just average school, having to learn how to read and all that. Once I started reading more and more I just started falling in love with it, specifically the horror genres. It really got me there and I love the heart-racing tales.”
He also went on to why he personally loved to read.
“I like to read a lot just for the fact that reading can sometimes take you to a whole new world,” Meder said. “It often can get you into the story, you get to hear and learn about the experiences or even learn stories that you have never heard before.”
