Reluctant readers are not poor readers. They might be unmotivated readers, uncommitted readers or just dormant readers at this time. It is important to understand that when we are talking about reluctant readers we are talking about those who choose not to read not those who cannot read well.

Student readers might be classified into three broad categories: strategic (mainstream) readers, reluctant readers, and remedial readers.

Strategic readers are able to use strategies, such as prediction, drawing inferences, recognizing cause and effect relationships, summarizing, questioning, and rereading. These strategies permit comprehension of a text on or above the instructional reading level.

Reluctant readers usually are able to read any material that is interesting to them. Reluctant readers are frustrated by text they find difficult and do not understand how to effectively apply reading strategies to ease their burden.

Remedial readers typically enter high school reading several grade levels below their peers. They have a limited vocabulary and few internalized strategic reading skills. Often, remedial readers have stalled at or below a fourth-grade reading level and need help reading and understanding information from high school texts. Consider using the Scrapyard Warriors audio book CD set to support remedial students as they read the book. Research supports that methodology.

Used by itself the Scrapyard Warriors book addresses the needs of reluctant readers and strategic readers.

Elements of Scrapyard Warriors' design were aimed specifically at reluctant readers. The cover, the title, the pace, the linear plot and the setting of the novel are designed to capture and hold the attention of reluctant readers.

On the surface level a video game maze is an apt description of the plot. The characters must solve puzzles before the enemy closes in much like PacMan taken at its simplest level. The emphasis is on getting reluctant readers to open the book. Once they've started to read then the emphasis is on keeping them engaged in the reading process by keeping the action sections of the plot regularly spaced with little "down time" which often takes the form of long sections dialogue.

At the same time Scrapyard Warriors has sufficient scope to address the needs of strategic readers. The background themes provide the strategic reader with mental meat that will stimulate them. The teacher's guide that ships with school versions of Scrapyard Warriors describes the themes and the metaphor that this novel addresses.

If you have reluctant readers you need to determine what kind of reading does interest them. If they are fans of science fiction then Scrapyard Warriors will excite the dormant readers and bring back some of the uncommitted to the fold.

Scrapyard Warriors can be used as a stand alone novel selection for independent study. Armed with the teacher's guide learning assistance teachers and home school teachers can set students up to work through a series of worksheets independently. The handy answer key that accompanies the teacher's guide minimizes the amount of preparation that is required from the teacher..

Call or write to Solar Source Publishing for the latest ideas on using our novel with your students to create a win-win situation.