Reprinted from the "Summer Reading Comments Archives" of the Young Adult Library Services Association.

I think reading during the summer is a great and easy way to keep your mind going even when you're not in school. (Grace)

Hey! I think that summer reading is stupid. I think that the books they give us to read are old or boring. I know a lot of people don't even really read. They will just go to sparknotes or something, get a summary and say they read it. If they have to do a writing assignment or project they probably will not spend a lot of time on it. I know when I had to read and do a project I waited until 5 days before the first day of school then I read some of the book, got some sparknotes, talked to some people and rushed through the project. I know nobody wants to spend their summer reading a book and doing a project. Summer is our only time off from school and I know that
I just want to relax and chill with my friends. Peace out. (Jenn)

Last summer I read about 50 books (that's not exaggerating). In sixth grade I hated reading but since seventh grade I LOVE reading!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (Heather)

I had to read four books last summer and three books this past summer. This summer I traveled so much that I didn't have much time to read because I was always with people that I don't see very often. Summer reading has its benefits, but schools need to emphasize that learning is the key and not simple completion. Reading a book does not necessarily teach a student something unless the student is willing to pull lessons from it. (Megan)

I don't like reading in the summer mostly because I don't like the books that they assign to us. It would be a lot better if schools let the students pick the book that we want to read and then write a reflection on the book. We get told what to read and what assignments to read all year and the summer is our time to do what we want. I know I would do alot better on an essay about a book that I liked. (Oleander)

At my school we do have required reading. It is my first year there and it is a great school, but I wasn't used to it. I have some great advice on how to get finished and still have enough time to enjoy your summer. Set up a schedule of how many pages you will read daily (40-50 pgs.) If you have to write a summary like I did you might want to write it after you finish that book or you might get it confused. Put your final copies of your summary in one notebook. (DJ)

I read all sorts of books over the course of the summer. Some classics I even re-read. I enjoy John Grisham books as well as the easy-reading Nancy Drew series. Sometimes, heavy reading, like I do to brush up on various things, just needs to be relieved by something easy and fun. Don't limit yourself to just tough reading, but read fun books, too, even if some seem corny or childish. (Haley)

In general, I love to read. I do it anyway, and I do it all the time. However, I can't stand "Summer Reading" given to us by schools. The reading we do has absolutely no application in class. Instead we are given an exam and that's the end of it. Because I am in an honors group, we have the hardest reading, and no one ever picks fun books. Teachers always seem to assign books with no interest to me whatsoever (i.e. Dostoevsky and Defoe), and I will usually read anything. Because it's an assignment, the fact that I have homework always ruins my summer. A lot of people I know only read for Summer Reading, and if the book is bad it makes them hate reading in general. (Amanda)

I don't really like reading, (I may be the only one who doesn't), so this might be a way for me to be forced to read. In my school we have no choice in reading, don't you think we should? I'm a very picky reader, so it's hard for me to read what I am told to read, especially if it's really boring. (Izzy Chris) 

I LOVE to read!! It makes my vocabulary more interesting!! I read like 5 novels every month!! And I read the dictionary every month!! Books are good and great. I think that everyone should at least read 12 books every month!!! (Dawn) 

I don't think teachers should make students read a book. I mean, we have been in school. We just want a couple of months without having to read. (Anonymous)

This year we have to read One Flew Over a Koo Koo's Nest. My older sister had read it and said that it isn't that bad. I am not too happy about reading what the school says you have to because they aren't always good books, actually they always stink! We normally have to read two books and write a reduction on them, but this year we have to read one book plus the reduction and then get a vocabulary book from Borders and complete almost 30 pages! That stinks!!! But I am looking forward to reading One Flew Over the Koo Koo's nest. (Kay)

I think that if teachers are going to assign us books to read over the Summer or something then they should at least take the time to make it somewhat oh what's the word yeah, FUN!! If they don't it leaves kids with a feeling of not liking to read which I don't agree with because I love to read, but all you need is an exciting or good book to really get you going! All I'm saying is READING SHOULD BE FUN FOR EVERYONE!!! (Mepride)

I really love to read, but during the summer I have soooo much other stuff to do that I don't have any time to read!!! My WHOLE summer is practically filled up w/ sports! I DO like to read on vacations though. Reading takes me places that I could never go in real life. (Chels)

I think they should not make us read it. It is just us learning when we are supposed to have fun. (Missy)

Summer reading should be looked at as a way to expand your mind. Instead of being angered we have to read books we do not choose, we should look at it as an opportunity to experience something new. (Jenna)

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