I have to go back and read it again. I read too quickly the first time, just trying to desperately reach the end before it was ruined for me.

Heather,

So now you know how it ends, but have no idea what happened before that?

likewise, i took it camping, finished before returning to spoilersville...these are wonderful books, it's so rare that a book can transcend demographics...my sympathy to Mike D...

The word on the book publishing wires is that more and more young people aren't interested in books. Even though the Harry Potter phenomenon is the exception to that rule, they're finding that their love of Potter isn't sparking their interest to read other books. Have you found that to be true? Is Harry Potter the only book they're interested in reading?

Just curious.

Thanks!

~C

Cindy,

I can only speak for my own children. My oldest, Mikel, (now 18) read the first four books with great interest, then as he became an older teenager, his reading for fun dropped off, and I know he hasn't read the last couple.

My 13-year-old, Alyssa, started reading the HP books when she was in second grade, at first cycling through them over and over. But she remains an avid reader, devouring books of any and all kinds. I'm sure she will enjoy reading for fun her entire life.

My 10-year-old, Shayna, doesn't read for fun as much as Alyssa does, but she is making her way through the HP series. She does read some other books, but the HP ones are probably the most challenging she has tackled.

And my 4-year-old, Katie, sees the enthusiasm the entire rest of the family has for the HP books, movies and audio CDs, and is beginning to get into it herself. I hope that enthusiasm stays with her as she begins preschool this year and begins learning to read in the next few years.

I think there will always be some kids who really enjoy reading for fun and others who have different interests. But I can't help but think that such a well-written series with cherished characters can only help in the challenge of teaching children to love literature.

Thank you! Since I'm not a parent myself, I try to find other ways to keep my pulse on the future of books and the younger generation's reading habits.

Your family is typical of what the studies are finding. The 18 to 34 age group is not turning to books to fill their reading or entertainment hours. This is especially true with young males. Females are by far the biggest book readers and buyers, but even that number is shrinking.

The younger generations are reading, it's just not books. It's email, blogs, listservs, etc. And their entertainment hours aren't devoted to books, but to video games, DVDs and the internet.

The studies say that being exposed to books in the home or community has a profound effect on whether they'll turn to books later in life. The National Endowment for the Arts study called "Reading at Risk" found that this shift is having a huge impact on young people's future academic and professional success. Book readers are much more likely to do well as adults and tend to be much more active within their community and world.

The Harry Potter phenomonen is a great opportunity to think about the value of books.

Thanks so much for the feedback and book talk!

~C