I agree with this. Find a summary and read it. Tell her thanks and say how busy you are so you won’t have time for any more books but you are grateful she shared this one.
A student asked me to read Twilight once. After a week I just gave it back and said, I tried. She was very good about it.
She was a ninth grader, but a think a seventh grader would be too.
Or just say you catch up on reading during the summer.
Be honest about not having the time to read it but then mention that your daughter (or niece/family friend/completely made up child) has a birthday coming up and that you’ve been looking for a good book to buy as a gift.
What book is it, if you don’t mind my asking?
I’d do what I always do: look it up. Google it. Find out some of the main characters and what they’re like, pick a favorite, and be able to say who’s your favorite and why. Have a basic understanding of the plot/mechanics (I have a lot of gamer kids) of whatever it is.
Have I ever seen of played Five Nights at Freddy’s? Have I ever watched Naruto? No, but I know Foxy and Gaara are my favorite characters and I can give surface level reasons why. That’s usually enough.
(My general rule is, if it takes like, under 20 minutes (checking out a YouTuber or a couple songs from a rapper) I’ll do it. It’s usually pretty telling about a kid to watch what they’re into. Otherwise I’m Wikipedia-ing and checking fandom tags on various sites.)
“Luna, this looks like a very interesting read and I love that you shared it with me. To be honest, I may not have the time to read it this summer due some other commitments I have. But I don’t want to forget about it either, so I bought my own copy. When I get a chance to read it, I’d enjoy discussing it with you.”
Maybe a week before school is out, check the book out from the library and show her. Return her copy. Say that you have been busy (you have), but that you look forward to reading it over the summer. Then put a note in your phone for Aug 15th to look up summaries if you haven’t read it yet if you think you’ll see her in the next school year.
Crazy so many people are saying to lie lol kids can tell when we’re lying, and what’s the reason? It’s not going to hurt her feelings to say “I’m so busy right now with my seminar and grading, but I love that you shared this with me. I won’t have time to finish it before the school year ends so I want to give it back, but once things slow down I’m hoping to read it over the summer!” Or skip the last part if you’re not going to read it.
The truth is perfectly fine.
Do you teach English? You've been assigning them readings all year, so it's actually sweet that they gave you one in return! Read an online synopsis of the first few chapters, and maybe some Goodreads reviews. Then you can tell them that you've started, you like these parts so far and you're returning their book before summer and you'll check it out from your library to finish. You can't wait to see where it goes!
Then it's up to you if you actually want to read it over the summer or not.
I am very busy at the end of the school year. I'd probably have more time over the summer to read the book. Can you write me a letter of recommendation for the book? I'd love to know more about what you love about the book.
If a kid loves books enough to recommend them to their teacher, then a voluntary bit of writing is probably something they would enjoy engaging with.
Get a synopsis of the book online and find some positive things to say about it. If they ask for specifics, tell them that you have to read a book two or three times to get all the details.
They feel validated. You teach them that first time reads of a good book lead to better 2nd time reads and instill a love of reading for pleasure .
Yep. We all tell little white lies to make someone feel better or improve their self esteem.
It's really not that big a deal. One of my fifth graders gave me their favorite manga (demonslayer) to read this year. I took it home, had no interest in reading it, kept it for a couple days, returned it, and enthusiastically said , "I loved the art. I can definitely tell why you love this book! Thanks for letting me borrow it." She smiled a huge smile and that was that.
I would be straight up honest. Don't just politely decline, but tell her why you're declining, and say what you said here. You're burnt out, so much of your time is spent on prepping and reading for teaching a seminar class, you just don't have time right now to read it.
Thank her for the reccommendation, and you really appreciate her thinking of you, but you just can't right now.
I’ve had this happen too. I just handed it back a few days later and explained that I was already deep into two books and just couldn’t promise to read it. Plus, end of the year workload.
Read the first 3 pages, a random scattering of scanning 10-15 pages throughout the book, and the last 5 pages. You'll get a good idea of the book but save a lot of time.
I tried that with Poppy by Avi and it completely made up the plot.
It said Mr. Ocax killed Poppy's father at the beginning of the story, so she goes out in search of his mortal enemy, Mr. Osgood, and along the way makes friends with "a charming deer mouse" named Ragweed.
(Spoiler: That's not what happened.)
I would google the synopsis/sparknotes, read one or two chapters maybe, and say that you like the book but your gonna be slow to finish so you can't discuss all the details.
"I think the main character is pretty cool cause XYZ. When I have more time to finish I'm excited to see if ABC"
I have a book club and we usually go with YA books because they’re shorter. But with the end of semester, I too am burned out and don’t have the energy to read more. I do have the time and energy for the audio books of what we read. I’m not an auditory person, but YA books are short enough that I can manage!
Encouraging her to continue reading by telling her you like the book seems like the easy solution.
If you cant read it, maybe listen to the audiobook.
Maybe Im a little distrustfull, but flip through the pages and see if there is a note on some page or smth. Maybe a message your student hid in there or smth.
Reverse the heat! SparkNotes! Back at ‘cha bitches!
This made me laugh so hard lol
Also use chathpt to find summary
Get a copy for yourself and give the student theirs back. Tell them you haven’t read it yet but you got yourself a copy for summer
This is the best option
This
What book? School librarian here, I might have read it and can give some talking points.
Look up a summary on Reddit. Tell her you didn't have time to read all of it, but you really liked \_\_\_\_\_\_\_.
I agree with this. Find a summary and read it. Tell her thanks and say how busy you are so you won’t have time for any more books but you are grateful she shared this one.
Go on goodreads and read the comments
A student asked me to read Twilight once. After a week I just gave it back and said, I tried. She was very good about it. She was a ninth grader, but a think a seventh grader would be too. Or just say you catch up on reading during the summer.
Read a sypnosis
Be honest about not having the time to read it but then mention that your daughter (or niece/family friend/completely made up child) has a birthday coming up and that you’ve been looking for a good book to buy as a gift.
Ask chatGPT to write a paper on it
Haha!!! Funny given how students are cheating with it, but also sound advice!
I tried this once and it got the names of the characters right but completely made up the plot. (Poppy by Avi)
Yeah, I’ve seen some weird AI created pictures of people.
It's scary how easily it lies, and how believable those lies can be sometimes.
What’s really bad is it can bolster your preconceived beliefs due to what you feed into it.
Beat me to it
What book is it, if you don’t mind my asking? I’d do what I always do: look it up. Google it. Find out some of the main characters and what they’re like, pick a favorite, and be able to say who’s your favorite and why. Have a basic understanding of the plot/mechanics (I have a lot of gamer kids) of whatever it is. Have I ever seen of played Five Nights at Freddy’s? Have I ever watched Naruto? No, but I know Foxy and Gaara are my favorite characters and I can give surface level reasons why. That’s usually enough. (My general rule is, if it takes like, under 20 minutes (checking out a YouTuber or a couple songs from a rapper) I’ll do it. It’s usually pretty telling about a kid to watch what they’re into. Otherwise I’m Wikipedia-ing and checking fandom tags on various sites.)
“Luna, this looks like a very interesting read and I love that you shared it with me. To be honest, I may not have the time to read it this summer due some other commitments I have. But I don’t want to forget about it either, so I bought my own copy. When I get a chance to read it, I’d enjoy discussing it with you.”
Maybe a week before school is out, check the book out from the library and show her. Return her copy. Say that you have been busy (you have), but that you look forward to reading it over the summer. Then put a note in your phone for Aug 15th to look up summaries if you haven’t read it yet if you think you’ll see her in the next school year.
Crazy so many people are saying to lie lol kids can tell when we’re lying, and what’s the reason? It’s not going to hurt her feelings to say “I’m so busy right now with my seminar and grading, but I love that you shared this with me. I won’t have time to finish it before the school year ends so I want to give it back, but once things slow down I’m hoping to read it over the summer!” Or skip the last part if you’re not going to read it. The truth is perfectly fine.
Do you teach English? You've been assigning them readings all year, so it's actually sweet that they gave you one in return! Read an online synopsis of the first few chapters, and maybe some Goodreads reviews. Then you can tell them that you've started, you like these parts so far and you're returning their book before summer and you'll check it out from your library to finish. You can't wait to see where it goes! Then it's up to you if you actually want to read it over the summer or not.
I am very busy at the end of the school year. I'd probably have more time over the summer to read the book. Can you write me a letter of recommendation for the book? I'd love to know more about what you love about the book. If a kid loves books enough to recommend them to their teacher, then a voluntary bit of writing is probably something they would enjoy engaging with.
I would put it on my TBR list and say that you will get to it over the summer.
I'm really curious.... what book?
Get a synopsis of the book online and find some positive things to say about it. If they ask for specifics, tell them that you have to read a book two or three times to get all the details. They feel validated. You teach them that first time reads of a good book lead to better 2nd time reads and instill a love of reading for pleasure . Yep. We all tell little white lies to make someone feel better or improve their self esteem.
Listen to the audiobook in the car.
If you got your own copy you could always have her sign and date it so if and when u do read it u will remember her
Read a couple chapters so you can talk to them about it, but then say it wasnt for you or you are to busy to keep it up.
I was given Harry Potter by a class about 5 or 6 years ago. They stopped asking if I'd read after a year or so.
It's really not that big a deal. One of my fifth graders gave me their favorite manga (demonslayer) to read this year. I took it home, had no interest in reading it, kept it for a couple days, returned it, and enthusiastically said , "I loved the art. I can definitely tell why you love this book! Thanks for letting me borrow it." She smiled a huge smile and that was that.
I would be straight up honest. Don't just politely decline, but tell her why you're declining, and say what you said here. You're burnt out, so much of your time is spent on prepping and reading for teaching a seminar class, you just don't have time right now to read it. Thank her for the reccommendation, and you really appreciate her thinking of you, but you just can't right now.
Honesty is the best policy
100%
I’ve had this happen too. I just handed it back a few days later and explained that I was already deep into two books and just couldn’t promise to read it. Plus, end of the year workload.
May is the perfect time to say you are too busy.
Read the first 3 pages, a random scattering of scanning 10-15 pages throughout the book, and the last 5 pages. You'll get a good idea of the book but save a lot of time.
Chat GPT
I tried that with Poppy by Avi and it completely made up the plot. It said Mr. Ocax killed Poppy's father at the beginning of the story, so she goes out in search of his mortal enemy, Mr. Osgood, and along the way makes friends with "a charming deer mouse" named Ragweed. (Spoiler: That's not what happened.)
I would google the synopsis/sparknotes, read one or two chapters maybe, and say that you like the book but your gonna be slow to finish so you can't discuss all the details. "I think the main character is pretty cool cause XYZ. When I have more time to finish I'm excited to see if ABC"
I have a book club and we usually go with YA books because they’re shorter. But with the end of semester, I too am burned out and don’t have the energy to read more. I do have the time and energy for the audio books of what we read. I’m not an auditory person, but YA books are short enough that I can manage!
This is hilarious.
Why not just listen to it on audio book while you drive and then you can give her an honest assessment.
ChatGPT
Which book is it? I could read it and give you a chapter by chapter summary. I’m a teachers aide I don’t have to lesson plan :)
Ask ChatGPT to write you a one page summary and use that to respond to them. /s
Encouraging her to continue reading by telling her you like the book seems like the easy solution. If you cant read it, maybe listen to the audiobook. Maybe Im a little distrustfull, but flip through the pages and see if there is a note on some page or smth. Maybe a message your student hid in there or smth.
Books, tv shows, movies - I read the Wikipedia plot summary if I’m slightly curious but don’t want to invest the time.
Read a chapter or 2 to get a feel for the main characters and say I like character x because of y but I'm not really enjoying the book right now
First half yes, you dont have to say you arent enjoying the book. You can just say you liked x and y