University of Arkansas professor Sandra Stotsky writes,
According to Renaissance Learning’s 2012 report on the books read by almost 400,000 students in grades 9–12 in 2010–2011, the average reading level of the top 40 books is a little above fifth grade (5.3 to be exact).
[snip]
The average book reading levels for grades 9–12 on the new comparison tables in the 2012 [Renaissance Learning] report are also very low, but some tables are more troubling than others. Let’s begin with the most troubling one. According to the Top 25 Librarians’ Picks by Interest Level, drawn from a list of 800 titles, librarians are recommending UG [upper grade] books at fourth- to fifth-grade reading levels for high school students.
This is shocking…and unacceptable.
H/T: Joanne Jacobs
