Sun filters in through the wide windows. Colorful books line the shelves, and the low sounds of talking and laughter fill the space.

The Bellevue East library provides a space for students to socialize, study, or curl up with a good book. This school year, media specialist Shannon Dunkel is hosting a book challenge to encourage students to discover the magic of reading. Dunkel said she was inspired by book challenges she saw on social media.

“I just thought it was a really fun way to get kids interested in reading. So I picked some categories. I didn’t want it to be as broad as some of the ones that I was seeing, I wanted it to be maybe a little more difficult and encourage kids to read books and categories that they might not have chosen before,” Dunkel said.

The goal is to read eight books from provided categories before the end of the school year. Some examples of categories include: A book published in 2022 or 2023, a book with a one-word title, or a book where the cover caught your eye.

“Kids at Bellevue East are very, very busy… they are in so many things, while they’re taking advanced placement courses, while they are working, or helping out at home. So I needed to pick a number of books that I wanted students to read, and I wanted to make it really manageable,” Dunkel said.

According to a study by Common Sense Media, almost half of 17-year-olds say they only read by choice once or twice a year. However, in 1984, 64% of 17-year-olds read once a week or more. Experts blame this decline of reading on the rise of technology and the busy lives of teenagers.

“I just think that cell phones are really hard to put down. And soIthinkwhenIseealotofkids who have free time, I usually see them on their phone and not in a book,” Dunkel said.

However, technology also allows people to read online through apps such as Kindle or Sora. According to the Pew Research Center, 28% of 16 and 17-year-olds read on an e-reader.

“I think it depends on the person. I still think a decent amount of people do read, just how people read has changed… like Kindles, that’s what my dad uses,” sophomore Blake Zimmerman said.

Between physical books and e-books, there is no shortage of literature for students to immerse themselves in. And while reading among teens has certainly decreased, for many students, books are still an enjoyable escape.

“I do read in my free time because I enjoy reading. It’s like a movie inside my head. My favorite genre is realistic fiction because I can relate to it the most,” freshman Charlotte Palm said.

Aside from simply being entertaining, reading has many benefits. Reading teaches empathy, communication, and problem-solving skills, according to an article by the National Library of New Zealand. It can also improve writing skills and vocabulary.