DR has published five reading tips and five book recommendations from a Copenhagen librarian, days after PISA results showed Danish 15-year-olds reading at their lowest measured level.
The advice comes from Sanne Caft, head of Københavns Hovedbibliotek and a librarian for more than 30 years. As DR reports, she says parents can help their children choose a book over the phone.
Her main point is that adults should read themselves and show through their own behavior that reading is worth free time. According to Caft, reading should become a fixed part of everyday life.
She also tells DR that no one has to finish a boring book. If the first title does not catch the reader, she recommends dropping it and picking the next one.
The PISA background
DR states that this year’s PISA study was published on Tuesday and that reading results were particularly weak. TV2 reported on September 7 that Danish school pupils are performing historically poorly.
An analysis from Dansk Industri, published September 8, puts the Danish reading score at 460 points. That is 29 points below PISA 2022, which the organization describes as almost 1.5 school years of lost learning in reading.
Per the same analysis, the share of low-performing Danish readers rose to 29 percent, while 4 percent were classified as high-performing. A note on the Danish results, distributed via Ritzau, describes the level as the lowest ever measured for Denmark in the PISA series. The study is a recurring benchmark for education in Denmark.
The five recommended titles
DR asked Caft to name five books that work well with teenagers. Her selections span realistic fiction, manga, mystery series and easy-reader titles.
- Valget by Sarah Engell, a realistic young adult novel about Danish politics and refugee questions. Caft says it lets young readers see themselves in questions of society, ethics and identity.
- One Piece by Eiichiro Oda, a Japanese manga series about friendship, treasure hunting and freedom. According to Caft, short chapters and strong cliffhangers keep motivation up.
- The Inheritance Games by Jennifer Lynn Barnes, a series built on romance, secrets and drama. Caft describes it as suited to readers who like puzzles, escape rooms and strategy games.
- Noter om at overleve by Christian Engkilde, set in a frightening future with natural disasters and family conflict. As stated by Caft, the genre leaves room to discuss hope, fear and courage.
- The LÆSBAR series, covering both everyday themes and adventure settings. Caft says the books are short and direct and work well for young people with reading difficulties.
DR notes that all five titles can be borrowed free of charge at libraries across the country. Caft adds that the supply of books is effectively endless, and that readers should keep searching until something holds their attention.
