Joe Giorello

People often ask, "Why do your books specify 'for boys'?" The answer comes from an array of education studies—and personal experience. In 2010, the Center on Education Policy found that “the most pressing issue related to gender gaps is the lagging performance of boys in reading.” More than a decade later, the problem's only worsened. Standardized tests in reading proficiency show boys are falling behind girls—in every grade and in every state. That's an alarming statement. And this problem should trouble us all. Reading is fundamental to learning. Studies confirm that boys who can't read well by grade 5 will later struggle in middle school, and even drop out of high school. However, these same studies recommend finding a specific type of books for these "reluctant readers." What kind of books? Nonfiction, primarily. Action-packed, always. And anything that seems "just for them." In other words, books "for boys." Can girls read these books? Of course. But I've witnessed this phenomenon in my own middle-school classroom, and in my own home. My youngest son seemed bored by books. Many of his friends showed this same attitude. Yet they would also read a book if it was "for them" or if it was related to military history— stories about battles, weapons, leaders, outcomes. But there weren't enough of those books written for their grade level. As a passionate reader and collector of military history, I began writing about historic battles for my son. I made sure the language was what any upper-elementary or middle-school boy could understand, and that the action leaped off the page. My son devoured those stories. So did his friends. That's how the "Great Battles for Boys" series was born. Necessity really is the mother of invention. You can learn more about the series at my website, www.greatbattlesforboys.com. Also, download FREE study guides for each book. Let's keep boys reading and give them a bright future. If you'd like to learn more about the reading proficiency problems among boys, see the following. Boys Fall Further Behind Girls for Daily Reading Amid Lockdown: https://bit.ly/2MKGCJz Study Shows Boys Have Fallen Behind Girls in Reading: https://bit.ly/2MslBDr New Study Shows Boys Lagging Behind Girls in Reading: https://abcn.ws/2MHIumb Why Boys Aren’t Reading: https://bit.ly/3j7ZMVB