Publishing still a volume trade thanks to our literary teens ; ESSEX BOOK AWARD: Love of reading thriving in our schools as students are asked to select top novel of year by a popular author

CHILDREN are enjoying reading as much as ever, despitecompetition for their attention from computer games, the internetand mobile phones.

The thriving teenage fiction market, coupled with successfulmovie tie-ins such as the Twilight series, mean books are still atthe cutting edge of entertainment for many young people.

And the love of reading is being fostered at schools andlibraries across the county with visits by authors and specialevents focusing on reading proving more popular than ever.

This week students from 14 Essex schools gathered to listen to apopular author speak about his work at Great Baddow High School.

More than 100 pupils and teachers filled the school library tocapacity to find out more about writer Paul Dowswell, whose latestnovel Auslander is one of six titles short-listed for the Essex BookAward.

Run by the Essex School Library Service, the award invitessecondary pupils to read the six titles, discuss them with theirpeers and then vote for their favourite.

In its fifth year, the scheme is proving popular with moreschools signed up than ever before.

Lyn Holland, librarian at Great Baddow, said: "I think it hasgrown by word of mouth, with schools who have taken part beforetalking to other schools in their immediate area about the scheme."

At Moulsham High School and Humanities College a new initiativecalled "Read It!" has been launched to encourage older students toread more widely.

Staff were asked to provide details of their favourite books andwhy they love them.

From this, the initial list of recommended books was drawn up andsent home with the students.

Pupils have chosen perennial favourite Catcher in the Rye by JDSalinger to read and then discuss in class.

Tim Boud, leader of the humanities college, said: "We havepublicised 'Read It!' in assemblies and are hoping that parents,too, will read some of the suggested texts - if nothing else, itshould encourage healthy debate and discussion about books."

Librarians And at Great Baddow High School a team of 30 "pupillibrarians" have been recruited. As well as helping with the dayto-day running of the library they plan displays, advertising which newbooks are in stock and help to organise fun events.

Senior librarian Lyn Holland said: "There is a wealth of reallygood children's fiction around today and we continue to strive topromote it."

Having copies of the latest popular novels is a surefire way ofgetting pupils into the library and they also love spending breakand lunch times browsing through magazines and newspapers.

Mrs Holland said: "Our pupil librarians and members of our bookdiscussion groups are the stars of our most successful events, whichthey take the lead in organising.

"We try to entice the students into the school library early intheir secondary school career. In the autumn term the pupillibrarians plan and deliver a funbased literary lunchtime activityfor the new Year 7s."

The school also runs "Reading Game" lessons for year 7 and 8students, providing them with a pile of new books and asking them todecide upon the genre and to judge the best blurb, the best frontcover and the best opening line.

Mrs Holland explained: "The students then have to share andjustify their decisions, sometimes leading to heated debates.

"We are constantly looking for new ways to enthuse our studentsabout reading, and the best ideas for doing this come from thestudents themselves. It is sometimes hard work - but very rewardingwhen it draws in new readers."

And reading for fun is alive and well at Boswells School inSpringfield.

A lunchtime reading group is popular among lower school pupils,with up to 40 descending on the library once a week to exchangeideas for reading. English teacher Amanda Wilson explained:"Sometimes we read the same book, for instance, a Carnegie or EssexBook Award winner, but we make the most of the fact that thestudents read such a wide range of fiction so a lot of the time isspent with the students recommending books to the group.

"Research shows that reading for pleasure is one of the keyfactors in achieving academic success - and more importantly,reading is one of the great joys of life for many people."

TENSE: Crown of Acorns GRIPPING: James Rollins TITLES shortlistedfor the 2010 Essex Book Awards are: Ushig by Annemarie Allan Where IBelong by Gillian Cross Auslander by Paul Dowswell Drawing withLight by Julia Green Crown of Acorns by Catherine Fisher Jake Ransomand the Skull King's Shadow by James Rollins