- Brittany C.
- Saturday, December 04, 2021
Why do books make great gifts?
As an avid reader, books have always been my escape into another world. From journeys across space to quests in magical places, books open doors you may have never even imagined. Stories provide teens, children, and even adults connections to people different than themselves and cultures different than their own. The true magic of reading is that it sparks emotional intelligence and empathy in readers.
In an interview with LitHub, author Sunil Yapa says “Empathy is a profound act of imagination and human connection. In fiction, we imagine ourselves into other people’s experiences. Of course, another word for that is ‘reading.’”
Books give readers an opportunity to explore the human experience, foster important discussions, and seek diverse perspectives in meaningful and enjoyable ways. By gifting a teen in your life a book, you’re giving them so much more.
Why are books more important than ever?
From virtual classes to social distancing, the toll of the pandemic has been heavy for teens and children. Many have found relief in books. Throughout 2020 and 2021, teens began using TikTok as a creative outlet to share their love of reading and younger children showed an increase in reading habits. Even adults are reading more! According to a survey by Book Riot, 58.4% of participants say they are picking up more books since the pandemic started. Why? Because reading has been shown to support mental health and reduce stress--among many other benefits. Escapism is a powerful tool and books can take you anywhere.
How do I choose great books?
We’ve curated multiple lists spanning several genres to help you narrow down the perfect gift! These lists include diverse characters and authors, award winners, 2021 debuts, staff favorites and so much more. Check them out below:
2021 Teen Fiction Debut Authors
Teen Science Fiction and Fantasy 2021
New Additions to Popular Teen Series
Most Popular Teen Fiction of 2021
2021 Teen Books for Younger Readers
New Teen Books for December 2021
Great 2020-2021 Graphic Novels for Younger Teens
If you’re looking for more assistance, find more recommendation lists here, check out our Personalized Recommendations form, or call us at 803-929-3470.
Looking for more resources?
Check out this great blog post at We Need Diverse Books on the importance of choosing diverse books for community or school-wide reads. Pro-tip: these are also great reasons to read diverse books as a family!
Find other great recommendation lists and book reviews at Epic Reads and Penguin Teen.
Interested in BookTok? Check out this list by SheReads for notable BookTok influencers on TikTok!
We also recommend checking out a few of our favorite Booktuber videos below:
Give a copy by shopping local through BookShop.org or supporting the Richland Library Friends and Foundation through Amazon Smile with your purchase.