Teenage boys in UK ‘stuck’ reading primary-level books while girls’ tastes expand

A new study indicates that teenage boys in the UK, aged 11 to 14, are predominantly reading primary-level books, with Jeff Kinney's "Diary of a Wimpy Kid" series dominating their reading lists. Eight of the top 10 most read books by this demographic were from this series. In contrast, girls in the same age group demonstrate a broader reading appetite, engaging with a more diverse array of authors and genres. Their reading preferences include titles such as Alice Oseman's "Heartstopper," Holly Jackson's "A Good Girl's Guide to Murder," and Suzanne Collins' "The Hunger Games." This divergence suggests that while girls' literary tastes are expanding, boys' reading habits may be stagnating at an earlier developmental stage. The findings were compiled by Renaissance, a company specializing in educational technology and assessment.