Why schools love Bookbuzz Secondary
This popular reading programme for secondary schools has been specially developed by BookTrust to encourage young people to get reading. Here is what teachers, librarians and students have been saying about it.
Register for Bookbuzz SecondaryWith over 1,200 schools joining the programme each year, Bookbuzz Secondary is supporting practitioners and librarians in meeting their reading for pleasure objectives, bringing reading to life and inspiring students to become lifelong readers.
To get books into the hands of students who may not have books at home was the best part about Bookbuzz Secondary.
School Librarian
What schools are saying:
The lessons involving Bookbuzz Secondary have a wonderful atmosphere – firstly the opportunity for the pupils to choose a free book creates lots of excitement and then handing them out matches this.
School Librarian
Bookbuzz Secondary titles are chosen with both Year 7 and Year 8 in mind, so we’ve used Pupil Premium funding to keep our Year 8 Pupil Premium students reading. We were blown away by their enthusiastic response! They are genuinely excited about getting to choose and read their own books.
School Librarian
On receiving his Bookbuzz Secondary book [one Year 7’s] tutor noted that he was reading it during silent reading in form time … and has been finding corners in the corridors to read because he is enjoying it so much! The Bookbuzz Secondary scheme has clearly engaged this ‘reluctant reader’ and proves it’s getting the right book into the right hands.
School Librarian
Bookbuzz Secondary really does help create that ‘buzz’ about reading. From the moment we tell students that they will get to choose their own book to keep, excitement fills the air.
Head of English
“The most impactful thing I do with Year 7 readers every year”
A school librarian who has used Bookbuzz Secondary for over a decade shared why they love using the programme with their students.
“I think Bookbuzz [Secondary] is the single most impactful thing I do with Year 7 readers every year. The short [author] videos are just the right length to introduce each title, and the thoughtful selection of titles means that there’s always something for everyone.
“The excitement about the books doesn’t end when the books arrive either. I put a special Bookbuzz logo sticker on the covers of the free books you get with the scheme for your library and have them on a display for the rest of the year because the Year 7s return to the collection again and again. Year 8s often get drawn to them too as they associate Bookbuzz with books that they enjoyed. We often end up talking about the selections and which book they chose, it’s a vehicle for book chat that lasts long beyond the set up and delivery.
“I always look forward to the Bookbuzz Library Lessons at the start of the autumn term too as it starts the year with high quality‘no strings attached/demand free’ book chat with the new Year 7s centred on their personal interests and reading habits. It’s a brilliant scheme.”
Why students love Bookbuzz Secondary
When I read my Bookbuzz Secondary book I feel part of something.
Student
Bookbuzz Secondary means you can find different books you never knew existed that you like.
Student
It has motivated me to read more often and choose books that I wouldn’t usually choose to read.
Student
Removing barriers to reading for fun
Lucy Morris, Reading Co-ordinator at Oldham Academy North secondary school, uses Bookbuzz Secondary each year to engage their Year 7 and 8s and encourage reading for pleasure. She explains:
We are in one of the most deprived areas in the country, in a community where reading is probably not a main priority, or talked about at home. Reading for pleasure is embedded in everything that we do at our school. Any opportunity to get books into students’ hands, we jump on it.
More case studies
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At BookTrust, we’re proud our Bookbuzz Secondary programme has been inspiring a love of reading in students across the country. We spoke to Rachel, a secondary school librarian in West Sussex about the power of reading for pleasure in students
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Michelle, a secondary school librarian in Essex, describes how BookTrust’s Bookbuzz Secondary programme helps keep a love of reading alive for Year 7 students.
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We spoke to Alison, a PSE Lead in Cardiff, about how Bookbuzz Secondary has helped change students’ relationships with reading for pleasure.
Read a librarian’s Bookbuzz Secondary blog
We love hearing about the innovative ways that schools use our Bookbuzz Secondary programme to engage their students. Secondary school Library Manager Lucas shared his experiences running Bookbuzz Secondary 2025.
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My goal is to introduce the books in a fun and engaging way and to inform the students that they will be able to eventually take one of the books home with them. To do this, I try and make the reveal of taking a free book home a surprise.
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To highlight the Bookbuzz Secondary books with our Year 7 and 8 students in their library lessons, we take part in a“Save the Book” activity that is easy to do and generates a lot of debate.
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To generate a lot of excitement around the Bookbuzz Secondary books, I run a quick and simple activity called Hello Dragons.
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Students will work together to complete timed challenges to find each Bookbuzz Secondary book around the library – and each book will have a riddle tucked inside it.
Register for Bookbuzz Secondary
For just £3.65 a student you’ll receive a book and bookmark for each participating young person along with a launch pack featuring 32 new, high quality, diverse and inclusive books for your school, a supportive programme guide and grab-and-go resources.
Register nowDid you know Bookbuzz is now available for primary schools too?