How The Book Truck is Breaking Down Barriers to Reading

Teenagers in underserved areas are all facing one common problem: book deserts. A book desert is defined as a geographic area where printed books and other reading material (textbooks, comics, etc.) are relatively hard to obtain. Similar to a food desert, there is a correlation between income and access to reading material. Low-income communities are typically the ones affected by book deserts.

The Book Truck, a nonprofit organization located in Long Beach, is working hard end book deserts and improve literacy skills amongst teenagers in these underserved communities.

The Book Truck’s mission is to increase literacy skills among foster care, homeless, and low-income teens to create a pathway out of poverty.

Through their innovative programming, they motivate teenagers living in underserved communities who have never picked up a book to start reading. Throughout the year, free books are given to teenagers. The Book Truck carries books that teens want to read. Trained adult staff members and volunteers help teens select the “right” book for them.

Overall, The Book Truck strives to highlight the importance of reading. Reading is not only looking at works on a piece of paper. Reading is knowledge, fun, interactive, engaging, and immersive. The Book Truck creates a community amongst teens through by bringing in books that reflect their interest and lives.

(Image via thebooktruck.org)

For more information on The Book Truck or how you can help and become apart of their community, visit their website https://thebooktruck.org/.