Boys stuck in first gear: study reveals diverging reading habits between boys and girls
Teenage boys are clinging to childhood favorites like ‘Diary of a Wimpy Kid,’ while their female peers are exploring a far wider range of literature – a stark division highlighted by a new study.
A gap widens: reading choices divide boys and girls
The research, conducted by Renaissance and published in their annual ‘What Kids Are Reading’ report, reveals a significant divergence in reading habits as boys progress through key stage 3. More than eight out of the top ten most-read books by 11-14 year old boys were from Jeff Kinney’s relentlessly mediocre ‘Diary of a Wimpy Kid’ series. Girls, however, were devouring titles from diverse genres and authors – Alice Oseman’s ‘Heartstopper,’ Holly Jackson’s ‘A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder,’ and Suzanne Collins’ ‘The Hunger Games’ all found prominent positions on their reading lists.
The analysis, based on over 23 million completed reading quizzes from nearly 1.1 million children across the UK and Ireland during the 2024-25 academic year, paints a clear picture: boys are falling behind. Previous research from the National Literacy Trust demonstrated that by 14-16, fewer than 10% of boys are reading daily in their free time, compared to 18% of girls. The decline in dedicated reading time after primary school is a worrying trend.
And it’s not just about quantity; it’s about engagement. Renaissance data shows that a mere 28% of secondary schools actively dedicate at least 15 minutes a day to reading, a stark contrast to the 62% of primary schools that prioritize this crucial activity. Kinney himself, with a staggering 300 million books sold, succinctly put it: ‘I’ve sold 300m books. What’s next?’
But the study’s most revealing finding is this: pupils who choose their own books consistently demonstrate stronger comprehension, scoring an average of 92% on quizzes related to their favorite titles, compared to a considerably lower 76% across all books. Martin Galway, head of professional learning and partnerships at the National Literacy Trust, bluntly stated: “The growing gap we see in secondary school, particularly for teenage boys, is a clear call to action. Too many young people are ‘stuck’ or disengaging from reading altogether, often because they have not yet found books that feel relevant, accessible or inspiring.”
This report arrives during the government’s National Year of Reading campaign, a desperate attempt to reignite a passion for reading that plummeted to record lows last year. The focus on teenage boys as a priority group underscores the urgency of the situation. The most-read books in years 7-9 were – predictably – dominated by ‘Diary of a Wimpy Kid,’ followed by ‘Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone.’ Girls, however, gravitated towards ‘The Hunger Games’ and ‘Heartstopper.’
Bernadetta Brzyska, Renaissance’s head of research, offered a pointed observation: “Children read best when they read what they love… This is not an argument against popular series. Familiar authors and box-set fiction pull reluctant readers in. The question is what comes next.” It’s a question that demands immediate attention – and frankly, a serious re-evaluation of how we’re fostering a love of reading amongst our youth.