SUBSCRIBE
SUBSCRIBE
SLJ Blog Network +
  • 100 Scope Notes
  • A Fuse #8 Production
  • Good Comics for Kids
  • Heavy Medal: A Mock Newbery Blog
  • Teen Librarian Toolbox
  • The Classroom Bookshelf
  • The Yarn
  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • About TLT
  • Reviews
    • Book Reviews
    • A to Z Book Lists
    • Book Review Policy
  • Teen Issues
  • Middle Grade Mondays
  • Programs
    • TPiB
    • Tech Talk
  • Professional
    • Teen Services 101
    • Things We Didn’t Learn in Library School
  • MakerSpace
  • Projects
    • #SVYALit
    • #FSYALit
    • #MHYALit
    • #Poverty in YA Lit

April 15, 2013 by Karen Jensen, MLS

What is a “Reluctant Reader”? An introduction to Orca Books

April 15, 2013 by Karen Jensen, MLS   26 comments

Reluctant readers are those who, for whatever reason, do not like to read.


 Reluctant readers are typically students who are disengaged, struggling readers, many of which are not realizing success in any aspect of their school career. Educators encounter struggling readers in the classroom every day. These students need to be engaged in reading and must be helped to develop the skills required to not only be successful in school, but to become lifelong readers and learners. 

Unfortunately, many of these students arrive at middle and secondary school believing that they can’t read and/or that they dislike reading. This negative attitude tends to be combined with a steadfast view that it is too late for them to become good readers. The pre-existing attitudes and beliefs of these students make it extremely challenging for teachers to actively engage them in reading. 

Orca publishes four series aimed at reluctant readers: Orca Currents, Orca Sports, Orca Soundings, and Rapid Reads. These short, high-interest novels are written at a lower reading level and feature compelling plots, linear storylines and contemporary topics that will appeal to middle and high school students.


Orca Currents are written expressly for middle-school students reading below grade level. Ideal for lit circles and independent reading. Ages 10-14. 

SCROLL TO KEEP READING THIS POST

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

Orca Sports combine mystery and adventure with team sports, such as hockey, baseball, football and soccer, as well as solo sports such as scuba diving, running and even race-car driving. Ages 10+. 

Orca Soundings are short, high-interest novels for teens reading below grade level. With contemporary themes and exciting stories, Orca Soundings are books teens want to read. Ages 12+. 

Rapid Reads are a series of short, high-interest reads aimed at a diverse audience, including ESL students, reluctant readers and adults who struggle with literacy. 

In addition to publishing a variety of hi-lo titles, Orca Book Publishers has developed www.reachingreluctantreaders.com to provide educators with resources, materials and ideas for working with reluctant readers in their classrooms, as well as aid teachers in finding high quality fiction that will engage their students.

All this week we’re celebrating Reluctant Readers, please join us.

For More Information:
Strategies to Help Engage Reluctant Readers
Education Rethink: 11 Ways to Engage Reluctant Readers

Confessions of a Librarian Parenting a Reluctant Reader (tips for success)
Confessions of a former “Really Good Reader” – an interesting post at The Nerdy Book Club

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Filed under: Orca Books, Reluctant Readers

SHARE:

Read or Leave Comments

About Karen Jensen, MLS

Karen Jensen has been a Teen Services Librarian for almost 30 years. She created TLT in 2011 and is the co-editor of The Whole Library Handbook: Teen Services with Heather Booth (ALA Editions, 2014).

ADVERTISEMENT

Related Posts

April 2013

Take 5: Resources for Working with Reluctant Readers

by Karen Jensen, MLS

April 2013

Orca Book: New 2013 Titles for Reluctant Readers, and the librarians that love them

by Karen Jensen, MLS

September 2015

Relearning reluctant readers

by Karen Jensen, MLS

June 2014

Sunday Reflections: What the ukulele taught me about reluctant readers

by Karen Jensen, MLS

May 2013

Cover Reveal: Tag Along by Tom Ryan (and a Giveaway!)

by Karen Jensen, MLS

ADVERTISEMENT

SLJ Blog Network

100 Scope Notes

Name That LEGO Book Cover! (#44)

by Travis Jonker

A Fuse #8 Production

Ellen Myrick Publisher Preview: Fall 2023/Winter 2024 (Part Six – Diamond, Eye of Newt, & Floris Books)

by Betsy Bird

Good Comics for Kids

Squire & Knight | Review

by J. Caleb Mozzocco

Heavy Medal

More Mock-Newbery Titles Needed: Share June Suggestions Now

by Steven Engelfried

Teen Librarian Toolbox

Top 25 Titles at My School: Graphic Novels and Mauds Reign Supreme!

by Amanda MacGregor

The Classroom Bookshelf

The Classroom Bookshelf is Moving

by Erika Thulin Dawes

The Yarn

Trying Something New: SPEED ROUND w/ Marla Frazee, Doug Salati, Dan Santat, and Amina Luqman-Dawson

by Travis Jonker

ADVERTISEMENT

Related Articles on SLJ

Florida Teacher Fired After Tweets About Book Removals Continues Fight Against Censorship

13 Spanish-Language Picture Books About Silly Pirates, Imaginary Tigers, Latinx Traditions & More

7 Multimodal Picks for Exploring Shakespeare's 'Romeo and Juliet' | Refreshing the Canon

4 Adult Crossover Titles for Teens to Read This Summer | We Are Kid Lit Collective

28 Picture Book Picks by BIPOC Creators | We Are Kid Lit Collective

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Kristi C. says

    April 15, 2013 at 12:21 pm

    Thanks so much for this topic. As you know from our Twitter discussion, I have had issues with this and my own kids, and when you are a librarian there just seems to be something a bit more painful to it! Looking forward to the week.

  2. Teen Librarian's Toolbox, Karen says

    April 15, 2013 at 1:42 pm

    So glad you stopped by. Tomorrow I share 5 resources for working with Reluctant Readers. It was very informative to me to have to research and write all this and be reminded of why we do what we do.

  3. ann says

    April 15, 2013 at 1:42 pm

    I work at a school for kids with learning disabilities – we have MANY reluctant readers! The Orca books work really well for older students who are still beginning readers because they have mature content and the cover don't look baby-ish.

  4. Alison King says

    April 15, 2013 at 1:49 pm

    Hi, I work at a library and would love to win this for our children's collection!

  5. Sarah Woo says

    April 15, 2013 at 1:53 pm

    Our population of reluctant readers seems to be growing, so Orca books have been a lifesaver. I've started purchasing some multiple copies when we can afford it, so small groups of reluctant readers in Sped and regular ed classes can read and discuss them as a group. The covers are appealing, they jump right into the action, and they are appealingly short!

  6. Christine Deffendall says

    April 15, 2013 at 2:03 pm

    So excited for the opportunity to win books! Especially Hi/Lo books. I want to cry every time anyone says they don't like to read.

  7. Unknown says

    April 15, 2013 at 2:47 pm

    We'd love to win this for our library collection! We have a lot of Orca Sounding books already, but nothing from 2013.

  8. Leanna says

    April 15, 2013 at 2:47 pm

    Sorry, I'm the unknown up there. @_@

  9. Kathi Vanderbilt says

    April 15, 2013 at 2:52 pm

    Thanks for the terrific info. While we have some Orca books in my high school collection we don't have all of the different types mentioned.

  10. Tracey says

    April 15, 2013 at 2:55 pm

    I haven't read anything from this publisher before so I'd be really excited to see what they have to offer 🙂

  11. Robin Mills says

    April 15, 2013 at 3:20 pm

    My students love the Orca collections. I have been building our collection for the last few years. The books are engaging, realistic fiction. Students who “hate” reading, will pick up one of these books and finish it.

  12. allerkins says

    April 15, 2013 at 5:59 pm

    Sounds like a great giveaway. I need to get more of these for my library. We see a lot of reluctant readers!

  13. Anonymous says

    April 15, 2013 at 6:32 pm

    We would love to win some books for our library! Thanks for the opportunity.

    I would also like to see some other options for entering contests if possible. Twitter is just not happening in our area of the country.

  14. Anonymous says

    April 15, 2013 at 7:27 pm

    When using Rafflecopter, you are limited to what types of entry forms people can make. You can comment each day at every post to be entered as far as I know. But additional entry means would require me to pay a monthly fee to Rafflecopter and I do this all in my spare time and am trying to limit how much of my personal income I spend on it so that I can continue. I really love doing this blog and trying to nurture teens and libraries . . . please keep commenting and entering. I can investigate other fair ways of doing contests in the meantime. Thanks for your comment. Karen, TLT

  15. Diella Noffke says

    April 15, 2013 at 7:31 pm

    This sounds like such a great initiative, I've never heard of it before but I know quite a few people who could benefit from it. 🙂

  16. Anonymous says

    April 15, 2013 at 8:51 pm

    Thank you for this opportunity to win these books. It would be a great addition to our curriculum collection.
    Shannon

  17. @MelanieCDuncan says

    April 15, 2013 at 11:35 pm

    Thank you for the chance to win books for my reluctant readers!

  18. Librarian Katie says

    April 16, 2013 at 12:17 am

    Thanks for running this contest!

  19. Robin says

    April 16, 2013 at 12:26 am

    My students love the Orca titles we have!

  20. max says

    April 16, 2013 at 3:06 am

    Well, I grew up hating to read in spite of the fact that my father published over 70 books during his lifetime. I never read any of them growing up. I managed to graduate from college with a degree in Psychology because I was fascinated by the subject. Probably as a result of my lack of interest in reading, I made a lifetime career out of motion picture, video, and TV commercial production. Only after I turned 55 did I begin to understand why I hadn't enjoyed reading. Based on additional research, I began writing action-adventures & mysteries for readers 8 – 13, especially boys. The primary reason was reach out to other struggling, reluctant readers like I had been. I'm getting great responses from educators, parents, libraries, and the kids tell me that reading one of my books is like being in an exciting or scary movie. Exactly what I hoped would happen.
    Amazon Author Page http://www.amazon.com/Max-Elliot-Anderson/e/B002BLP3EE

  21. NWHSLMIC says

    April 16, 2013 at 11:51 am

    I have a few Orca Books and they have worked well for our resource room students.

  22. Anonymous says

    April 16, 2013 at 3:05 pm

    We have some orca books here…more would be good! Thanks for this opportunity!

  23. Elsa Prettol says

    April 16, 2013 at 3:35 pm

    Thank you for organizing the giveaway! We do not have any Orca books yet, so this would be a great start.

  24. heatherholton says

    April 16, 2013 at 3:52 pm

    We have some Orcas in our YA collection and the teens love them! 🙂

  25. Christina Kelley says

    April 16, 2013 at 5:41 pm

    I recently purchased a few Orca titles for our teen collection and took a few with me to my monthly book club at our local detention center. Several of the teens loved the Orca books I brought. It would be great to be able to provide more for them!

  26. Youth Librarian says

    April 16, 2013 at 5:44 pm

    I have ordered lots of Orca titles for the YA section here, but would love to win some that could be giveaways! I don't do twitter, so this is my only entry! Please pick me anyway!!!
    Annie Curtis gplyas@gmail.com

ADVERTISEMENT

Archives

Follow This Blog

Enter your email address below to receive notifications of new blog posts by email.

This coverage is free for all visitors. Your support makes this possible.

This coverage is free for all visitors. Your support makes this possible.

Primary Sidebar

  • News & Features
  • Reviews+
  • Technology
  • School Libraries
  • Public Libraries
  • Age Level
  • Ideas
  • Blogs
  • Classroom
  • Diversity
  • People
  • Job Zone

Reviews+

  • Book Lists
  • Best Books
  • Media
  • Reference
  • Series Made Simple
  • Tech
  • Review for SLJ
  • Review Submissions

SLJ Blog Network

  • 100 Scope Notes
  • A Fuse #8 Production
  • Good Comics for Kids
  • Heavy Medal
  • Neverending Search
  • Teen Librarian Toolbox
  • The Classroom Bookshelf
  • The Yarn

Resources

  • 2022 Youth Media Awards
  • The Newbery at 100: SLJ Celebrates the 100th Anniversary of the Award
  • Special Report | School Libraries 2021
  • Summer Reading 2021
  • Series Made Simple Spring 2021
  • SLJ Diverse Books Survey
  • Summer Programming Survey
  • Research
  • White Papers / Case Studies
  • School Librarian of the Year
  • Mathical Book Prize Collection Development Awards
  • Librarian/Teacher Collaboration Award

Events & PD

  • In-Person Events
  • Online Courses
  • Virtual Events
  • Webcasts
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Advertise
  • Subscribe
  • Media Inquiries
  • Newsletter Sign Up
  • Content Submissions
  • Data Privacy
  • Terms of Use
  • Terms of Sale
  • FAQs
  • Diversity Policy
  • Careers at MSI


COPYRIGHT © 2023


COPYRIGHT © 2023