Is it just me?
Lately, it seems I've been receiving a stream of email from boys and parents of boys about my books, and they all have this unifying thread to them:
They never knew that there were Young Adult books that boys would like to read.
Most people don't seem to know that, either.
In the few years or so that I've been writing novels as a profession, things seem to be changing slowly in regards to the gender-exclusion of boys when it comes to having access to literature they connect with. At last weekend's SCIBA literacy dinner, for example, I picked up a number of titles (including my own, The Marbury Lens) that were boy-friendly. So, whereas back in 2008 the boy-book-to-girl-book ratio would have been about 1 to 50, it has gotten a little bit better in 2011.
Just a little bit.
Like, 3 to 20 or so.
But, seriously, it's about time publishers wake up and smell the boystench in the room.
Here's why:
I remember -- and this is how old I am -- when CD players first came out and people in the recording industry, as well as music lovers, began wringing their hands and wailing over their resistance to a new format and technology. It even got worse when mp3 technology became widespread and people claimed it was the end of musicianship and the entire industry as we knew it.
Definitely, the evolution-resistant businessfolk who pilot such industries as music tend to have blindness when being able to see around corners, so the music industry had to adjust and play catch-up to changes that were so obviously coming that most 7th-graders knew about it.
Attention: I will now shine a light around the next corner for all you dummies with corner-view offices in Manhattan.
There is this thing called an iPad. And now the industry for tablets is expanding like crazy (the Xoom looks pretty damn cool, for example).
Guess who prefers to use those things to read books?
Boys do.
The same boys who have always wanted to read books but are assailed by pink color schemes in the YA sections at their local booksellers and libraries.
Welcome to the next corner. You can wait and play catch-up, or you can start programing the next turn into your GPS now.
Academic studies about the use of technology in schools that I published here a year ago show exactly that -- that boys are much more engaged and positive (and retain information better) when reading the SAME material on a technological device than on paper. Better, even, ahem, than the "other" gender.
Just thought I'd let you know. In case you want to take advantage of an expanding market that is being swept up in a massively expanding industry.
Econ tip for the day.
Use it wisely and profitably.
Boys love to read. You should probably think about giving them some books.
9 comments:
Good points. The pink/YA section thing made me laugh out loud, but sadly, that's because I have made the same comment at stores recently.
I wonder what we'll be seeing in five years, as my books (hopefully) start coming out. Will the mainstream publishers have caught up, or will some indie presses have become well-known for their innovative works? I think the publishing industry needs to realize how much of an effect they have on pop culture.
Oooh... that's another topic entirely, Jonathon.
I'm not sure if publishers have an effect on pop culture, or if they try (sometimes brilliantly, but often... embarrassingly feebly) to react to it.
adverb-gasm
It probably also helps that when someone tries to read over their shoulders, the guys can always switch over to some gory, first-shooter tab. Or something.
I think what you say is true, but I don't know if it will stay true over the years.
I'm an exception. A boy who fancies paper. I love books so much.
Nahno ∗ McLein ™
Oh... I admit it that I prefer paper, too. But the study I quoted found such a significant link between boys' reading scores and technology as a method for delivering the material. The author's suggestion was that -- as opposed to the prevailing knee-jerk assumption that boys are illiterate -- that boys are, in fact, "differently literate" than girls.
During the 70s and 80s, we began to see this massive transformation in the way that teaching and learning were structured in schools. We recognized that a lot of our methodologies inflicted negative feelings and self-values on girls, so we changed things, and we have been realizing the positive effects of those changes across all realms, not only limited to academics, but school sports, as well.
Today, boys are being victimized in language arts and literacy programs, and nobody cares about it.
Well, they don't care yet, but they will if I have anything to say about it.
The study showed how boys consider technology to be "their" domain, and that, when they get to read on computers, iPads, and e-readers, they perform better and they feel more positive about reading (and themselves).
Do you have links to data re: tech and boys? It would be really helpful.
I have a PDF of that study that I took from a peer-reviewed academic study in February 2010... and now, dammit, I will have to excavate the abyss of my hard drive and send it to you, Michael.
But I will do it.
Why am I signed in as me rather than the other me? Damn you Google!
If you come across it that would be great. But please don't take time away from writing or even running around in the mountains like some half goat creature making the rest of us lazy slobs feel bad.
Michael,
I'm not sure if you know or are friends with James Preller. Anyway, he's so smart I seethe with jealousy every time I read one of his books or blog posts.
Today's Preller blog was particularly great, and it lists a couple really good sources for the war against boys' literacy:
James Preller's Blog
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