Special Topic Paper Summary - Hi Lo Books for Adult Readers

"About 130 million adults in the U.S. have low literacy skills according to a Gallup analysis of data from the U.S. Department of Education. This means more than half of Americans between the ages of 16 and 74 (54%) read below the equivalent of a sixth-grade level" (Schmidt, 2022, para. 1).

The topic of my paper is how readers' advisory services can cater to adults who read at a low level. These are adults who are not "level 1" readers - or readers who would benefit from basic literacy services, but rather adults who are literate but might struggle to read more complex books. 

Something important to remember about adults who read at a low level might seem obvious, but bears stating plainly: they are still adults. If an adult patron in this category comes to the library seeking readers’ advisory services, it might be tempting to focus solely on reading level. However, just because an adult reads at a 6th grade level does not mean they have any interest in middle school books. The vocabulary might be more comfortable for them, but reading is about more than just understanding the words. Books have to interest their readers, or the entire exercise is fruitless. 

This is the space for hi-lo reads. According to Shannon Maughan, “[a] hi-lo book, broadly defined, is a title that offers highly interesting subject matter at a low reading level,” (2012, para. 2). The “hi” in hi-lo means high interest. But that isn’t a universal measurement - what interests one reader may completely bore another. A lot of readers’ advisory work relies on finding read-alike, but adults with low level reading abilities might not necessarily be able to name books or authors they’ve previously enjoyed. However, a good readers’ advisory librarian knows how to direct a conversation. Ask about favorite video games, favorite movies or television shows, favorite hobbies. Find a topic that interests your reader, and go from there.

Knowing the terminology “hi-lo” is the biggest step to being able to locate these materials for patrons. There are plenty of libraries and librarians who have already done the bulk of the legwork by creating lists, articles, and books on the subject. For example, the San Francisco Library has a staff-created list that is frequently updated titled “Hi-Lo Picks for Adult Readers.”  Or the list “7 Hi Lo Books for Adults,” published by Nicole Klett, which suggests books in a variety of genres (from urban fiction to romance to dystopian) to match readers’ interests. 

References 

Klett, N. (2022, August 2). 7 hi lo picks for adults: Simple reads aren’t just for kids. Early Bird Books. https://earlybirdbooks.com/hi-lo-books-for-adults

Maughan, S. (2012, May 28). ALA 2021: What’s up with hi-lo? Publisher’s Weekly. https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/childrens/childrens-industry-news/article/52124-what-s-up-with-hi-lo-ala-2012.html

O’Neil, R. (2016, September 7). “Books where stuff happens”: An exploration of hi/lo books. Young Adult Library Services Association. https://www.yalsa.ala.org/thehub/2016/09/07/books-stuff-happens-exploration-hilo-searching/#more-21383

San Francisco Public Library. (2023, February 2). Hi-Lo picks for adult readers. San Francisco Public Library. https://sfpl.bibliocommons.com/list/share/380247022/711718427

Schmidt, E. (2022, March 16). Reading the numbers: 130 million American adults have low literacy skills, but funding differs drastically by state. APM Research Lab. https://www.apmresearchlab.org/10x-adult-literacy#:~:text=About%20130%20million%20adults%20in,of%20a%20sixth%2Dgrade%20level.