Discovering Your Reading Identity

Reflect on what you enjoy reading and why, to find books you'll actually want to finish.

Your reading identity is the mix of topics, genres, formats, and moods that make reading enjoyable for you. Middle school is a great time to figure it out, because your choices are expanding beyond children's books. Start by thinking back: Which book did you finish fastest? Which one did you think about after you closed it? What did those books have in common? Maybe you love fast plots with short chapters, or you prefer slow stories about friendships, or you'd rather read about real scientists than invented heroes.

For example, a student might notice: 'I finished both survival stories in a weekend, and I liked the true story about a mountain rescue too. I like books with high stakes and real danger. ' That insight is more useful than 'I like adventure,' because it points to specific next books, including nonfiction. Your reading identity will change over time, so revisit these questions every few months.

• 1Reading identity: the topics, genres, formats, and moods you enjoy
• 2Look for patterns in books you loved
• 3Be specific so you can find your next book
• 4Your reading identity changes over time