Many people have problems with finding their perfect book to read. Some people might find it difficult since some books might seem boring and some others might seem out of your level, but you are in luck! This is the kind of article you need to read to find your perfect type of book.
Finding your book level might be hard, but not impossible. First things first, don't be lazy. Just because a book is too long or big doesn't mean it's not right for you. Sometimes books might seem long but are really easy to read. Find something that challenges you a bit, but be realistic, don't challenge yourself to something crazy impossible (like finishing Harry Potter in 3 weeks- that can be too much).
The Five Finger Rule:
There is a simple and quick method when trying to choose a book, say in a bookshop or library, called the ‘Five Finger Rule’.
Here’s what to do:
- Choose a book
- Open it anywhere
- Make a fist
- Start to read the page
- Put up a finger for each hard word or mistake
- If after one page you have 5 or more fingers up (so five mistakes or errors), the book is definitely too hard.
Find your LEXILE Level
A Lexile reader measure represents a person's reading ability on the Lexile scale. A Lexile text measure represents a text's difficulty level on the Lexile scale. When used together, they can help a reader choose a book or other reading material that is at an appropriate difficulty level.
Your Lexile is usually given to you when you take your Reading MAP Test. If you need your results, ask your teacher. Lexile can be a good tool to know if the book you are choosing is within your reading range. To find the Lexile of any book, you can go to www.lexile.com and write the book title. You can also find book recommendations by age and by grade level.
Finding your reading genre
Genre is a style or category of art, music, or literature. As readers, we buy certain books because we have enjoyed similar stories in the past. Reading these novels gives us a sense of belonging, of sitting down with an old friend and knowing we’re on familiar ground.
To find your perfect book, you first have to find your perfect genre. There are so many genres and subgenres that if I start telling you all of them, I'd probably miss some, so let’s talk about the basic ones. I am going to give you a list of genres and a small description of them.
There are many reading genres, like non-fiction, humor, drama, etc. so to understand the one you like I provide you with a quick description of each.
Books are often classified into 2 groups:
- Fiction (not real events or stories)
- Nonfiction (real-life events)
Fiction Genres:
Within fiction, you can find subgenres such as:
- Realistic fiction: Stories that sound real and might be real, but some details are fictional.
- Historical fiction: it's a type of book that might include events, settings, or characters inspired by history.
- Mystery: These stories have suspense, usually something or someone is missing or lost.
- Romance: These stories are about a romantic relationship between two people.
- Action-Adventure: Any story that puts the protagonist in physical danger, characterized by thrilling near misses, and courageous and daring feats, belongs to this genre.
- Science Fiction: This genre incorporates any story set in the future, the past, or other dimensions.
- Fantasy: These stories deal with kingdoms. Myths, magical creatures and ideas characterize these books.
- Horror/Paranormal/Ghost: These are high-pitched scary stories involving pursuit and escape. The protagonist must overcome supernatural or demonic beings.
Non-Fiction Genres:
If you are into facts and real events, people and places, Nonfiction is for you! You can learn a lot by reading the following subgenres:
Biographies: tell a story about another person's life
History: explains real events from the past.
Travel guides: these help you know important facts about a place you might want to visit.
Self-help books: these help you by giving you advice about how to deal with or be successful at something you want to achieve.
Science and Technology: The latest discoveries and inventions are in this category.
Well, I hope this guide helps you find your perfect type of book since reading opens a wonderful world of wonders, mysteries, and imagination. Have a wonderful and happy reading time!
By Maria Alejandra Ramirez
6th Grade
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