During the winter months, many of the outdoor activities that people who live on the Oregon coast often enjoy, are limited. Although snow is a rare occurrence in Coos Bay, there is plenty of rain in the winter that keeps people indoors. While people are stuck inside, the options for entertainment can become limited.
“I usually read literary fiction books in the winter because I can just stay inside and get cozy with my book,” Marshfield High School junior Arrayah Tyre-Gault said.
For high schoolers, strong reading skills are essential for academic success across all subjects. It has been proven that students who read regularly tend to perform better in school. Reading helps them absorb information, understand complex concepts, and express their ideas in an effective way. It also helps them to be more prepared for life experiences, as well as refine their language skills, and expand their minds, by reading both nonfiction and fiction titles.
“Reading fiction books at school fosters your imagination and creativity that school usually kills,” junior Jamison Batdorff said.
And reading doesn’t always take a lot of money–just time.
“I think it’s important to have libraries in schools so students who want to check out books and take them home can do that,” said Tyre-Gault. “Especially for kids who don’t have any books in their home.”
Thousands of people experience seasonal depression across the nation during winter each year, caused by less sunlight. The stress reduction that reading offers can allow for some relief for people who are struggling with their mental health. Sometimes doctors even prescribe reading therapy, also called bibliotherapy, to help alleviate stress.
“I think it’s important for high school students to have access to fiction books because they are more drawn to them, which is beneficial for their comprehension , vocabulary, and probably mental health,” said junior Maitea Zatica.
In recent years, reading has been popularized and romanticised on social media on platforms like TikTok and YouTube. Many young people have started sharing and recommending books on these platforms. One of the most popular and widely recommended books on TikTok is Colleen Hoover’s, “It Ends With Us.” This book was published in 2016, but went viral on TikTok during the pandemic in 2021, and has since sold over 10 million copies worldwide. The book’s success led to a recent film adaptation starring actor Blake Lively.
“I think that the promotion of certain books on social media influences young people to read the books that they see being recommended,” Zatica explained, “because they are interested in the hype around the book and just want to fit in with what everyone else is doing.”