Finding books that engage teens with SEN

Published on: 10 February 2025

Author and SEND teacher Rhian Tracey recommends ways to keep teenagers reading.

As a SEND teacher in a secondary school, the first thing I ask a new student is, "What did you last read?" and they'll list set texts, often with a heavy sigh, or reel off non-fiction articles set for homework.

I'll follow up with another question, "What did you last read for fun?" and am met with a blank face and a trawl through their memory banks, normally back to when they were in Year 7, perhaps the last time they associated reading with the word fun.

We'll talk about why they stopped reading, and for most of my students, it's because they are dyslexic, or have another additional learning need, or are neurodiverse. I'll explain, backed up by science and Cambridge University, how reading for pleasure will improve their mental wellbeing, help manage stress and depression, as well as improve their levels of attention, which could lead to fewer behavioural challenges.

I take great delight in introducing students, who do not see themselves as readers, to graphic novels, audiobooks, and my ever-growing Barrington Stoke dyslexia-friendly collection.

Because everyone is a reader, or at least has the potential to be. We're born into stories; they're the first thing we hear, if we're lucky enough, and it's certainly how most babies and toddlers experience the world.

Finding accessible formats

I'm keen to help students return to that initial delight in books with pictures and reassure them that you don't stop enjoying books with pictures just because you've become a teenager. I consider graphic novels gateway books as they've helped me re-engage many students with literature, allowing them to see graphic novels as works of art.

I remind them of the pleasure they once experienced while being told a story and play them samples from the plethora of excellent audiobooks available; we really are living in a golden age of audiobooks.

And I love nothing more than putting a Barrington Stoke book into their hands and watching the relief on their faces as they access the friendly font, appealing page colour, and thought-out spacing between the words.

Encouraging movement

Once they've selected a graphic novel, audiobook, dyslexia-friendly book, or are using Immersive Reader, I'll get them to choose something (often called a fidget toy, but I prefer SEN tool) to hold in their hand while they read, and I'll explain why moving when reading is beneficial.

Any small, repetitive movements or actions, sometimes called fidgeting, often accompanied by a tut or a shake of the head, are actually great to do while reading. Gently drumming your fingers on a desk, twirling your hair, or bouncing or jigging your leg or foot is to be encouraged in neurodiverse students, rather than seen as a behavioural issue or the slippery slope to not paying attention.

The truth is fidgeting, or whatever you want to call it, allows our brains to boost our dopamine levels, especially when we need to focus.

Making the most of the library

As the sole parent to three teens, I'm well aware that cost can be a barrier to reading, and SEN tools! As a library user all my life, it's the place I've spent the most amount of time with my children, taking a bag for life and filling it with picture books, non-fiction titles and fiction.

Regular library users will know that you can access audiobooks for free through your local library using the Libby app. And most good libraries have a graphic novel section.

Reading recommendations

As a mother of two dyslexic teens, I understand the difficulties when trying to encourage reading and the many ways in which a young person might rather spend their time.

My dyslexic teens listen to audiobooks (which are very much a valid and rich reading experience in my humble opinion), rather than pick up a physical book. And watching them listen to bits from Sue Elliott-Nicholls' narration of my Bletchley Park Mysteries has brought me so much joy.

And when recently, for the first time, they voluntarily entered a bookshop, and using their own hard-earned money bought a graphic novel each, it truly felt like Christmas and my belief in fairies and wishes was somewhat restored.

Here are some of my tried and tested favourite accessible texts to share with reluctant or refusing readers.

Set texts

• No Fear Shakespeare Macbeth
• Classical Comics A Christmas Carol and Barrington Stoke's A Christmas Carol
• Classical Comics An Inspector Calls
• Waverley Books The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde adapted by Alan Grant and illustrated by Cam Kennedy
• Frankenstein, Wuthering Heights, Jane Eyre, and Great Expectations by Tanya Landman

Fiction

• Any of Keren David's books, but the one that never stays on the shelf for long in my classroom is The Disconnect, which is about a group of teenagers who are offered £1,000 to give up their mobile phones.
• Again, you can't go wrong with any of Phil Earle's books, but the ones which have most engaged my students have been The Dog That Saved the World (Cup) and Northern Soul - oh, and Mind the Gap, which has gone 'missing' more than once!
• Catherine Johnson's super-readable, dyslexia-friendly fiction titles are a firm favourite with my students. Race to the Frozen North, Journey Back to Freedom and Arctic Hero are some of the most popular, but to be honest, everything Catherine writes is accessible. Although it's not a dyslexia-friendly title, I'll recommend Sawbones next, because it expertly grabs the attention of reader from the opening pages, pulling them into the grave-robbing, body-switching world of 18th century London.
• The Hilda graphic novel series by cartoonist Luke Pearson is a glorious mix of fantasy and adventure for readers of all ages. What I loved about it most is that it's inspired by Scandinavian folklore, introducing the reader to a colourful world of trolls, giants, elves, and more. I would also recommend the Netflix adaptation.
• Thornhill by Pam Smy was thrust into my hands by Tamsin Rosewell at Kenilworth Books and I devoured it, as did my daughter. It's a dark and gripping ghost story that is both atmospheric and emotive and showcases Smy's extraordinary talent as an author and illustrator.
• Marvel and DC graphic novels are always extremely popular with my children, and my students, but should be checked first for content and whether they are age appropriate.

Audiobooks

• Big Finish Classics Frankenstein with Arthur Darvill and Nicholas Briggs.
• The Hunger Games, written by Suzanne Collins and narrated by Tatiana Maslany.
• A Good Girl's Guide to Murder, written by Holly Jackson and narrated by Luke Poli, Kristin Atherton, Clare Corbett, Jot Davies, Maryam Grace, and Olivia Forrest. My students, my daughter and I loved the books and the audio. The series is also available as a BBC adaptation.

Non-fiction

I'm delighted Barrington Stoke are publishing non-fiction books (with free teaching activities) and so are my students. Favourites so far are:

• Everest, Tragedy at Sea: The Sinking of the Titanic, Tutankhamun's Treasure, and Survival in Space by David Long, illustrated by Stefano Tambellini
• Lunar by Chris Bradford, illustrated by Charlotte Grange