Hi-Lo Books

Having a new teenaged family connection from a different country who is still working on her English, I decided to investigate hi-lo books that might interest her. Hi-lo stands for high interest, low reading level. These books are for readers who, for various reasons, read below grade level. They may also be "reluctant readers." The idea is to get kids to read books that they are interested in and that they can handle. Such books are written for various ages from middle school through high school. A typical book for teenagers would be for age 12+ but at a reading level of grades 2-4. Hi-lo books are short -- 400-1200 words -- with many illustrations. Successful hi-lo books have engaging characters; interesting, fast-moving plots; short, simple sentences; limited vocabulary; and straightforward stories with no complications such as flashbacks. Readers should be able to relate to the characters and stories. The covers, layouts, and typefaces should be clear, yet not appear childish or "different" from regular books, something young people are very wary of. These books are not literary masterpieces, and lack complexity and nuance, but they do get young people to read, and the hope is that as they read more, they will eventually read more complex books. I am in favor of anything that gets kids to read more, so I salute the writers and publishers of hi-lo books.