Ransom’s Reluctant and Struggling Reader Success Stories

Here at Ransom, we are on a mission to get everyone reading, regardless of their age, ability or attitude.

Nothing makes us happier than hearing that we are one person closer to achieving that goal – that our books have gotten through to someone who never thought reading could/would be for them.

To share the joy, we’ve listed some of these “success stories” below.

If you know someone who is struggling and/or reluctant to read, we also hope it inspires you to continue supporting them on their reading journey.

We’re certainly here to support you.

The Power of PIG

It’s a story we’ve heard more times than we can count – but it doesn’t make us smile any less.

David’s Prison Breakthrough

The blog of reading engagement specialist David Kendall is a really great read.

Our favourite post? The account of the incredible experience he had when using Skyscrapers (from our Thunderbolts series) and Ben’s Jerk Chicken Van (from our Neutron Stars series) with a new prison reading student.

You can read the moving story – and see the power of these books in action – here.

David has since been in touch to say:

"Honestly the Thunderbolts series is amazing... Students with very little English have been entranced by the high quality photos. Other students have loved the wide range of topics – science and animals always seem winners. I love seeing bored faces crack into smiles when I lay the books out on the table.”

And as for Neutron Stars:

“[The] series makes my job a thousand times easier. I can lay out the books and just the covers will get people talking. My students are all in prison so they're not likely to go for the softer titles but I had one of the best reading experiences ever with a copy of Ben's Jerk Chicken Van – a real breakthrough moment because we had a proper book, a proper story that we could share and understand on an equal basis.”

Sean’s Goal

Football. It’s one of the most powerful tools for getting kids (especially boys) reading.

And ever since we published Tales from the Pitch – our series of fictionalised biographies of top footballers – we’ve been receiving emails from parents like Sean:

“The books arrived today after school.

My son is still reading Mbappe (an hour + straight at least) and I finished Lewandowski! The books are great and it’s awesome to see my son, a reluctant reader, so focused and enjoying his reading.

Thank you again!”

With the series set to grow, we look forward to putting an end to the “I don’t do books” mantra of many more footy fans.

Siti’s Success

Like so many people, Izzy (not her real name) felt like reading just wasn’t for her – like books were never on her side.

Then she discovered Siti’s Sisters and, with the help of her wonderful teacher, got in touch to tell us how much progress she’s made:

“My name is Izzy and I’m 15 nearly 16.

Before I never enjoyed reading because I have disabilities and find words hard. But I can’t wait to start the next book. I like to finish it fast.”

We can only thank Izzy for being a shining example of the fact that everyone can experience a love of reading – you just have to find the right book(s).

Charlotte’s Shakespeare Fear

Shakespeare can make a reluctant reader out of anyone – but Charlotte’s GCSE exam was right around the corner and the clock was ticking…

“It was a week before my English GCSE exam and I’d barely made it past Act 1 of Romeo and Juliet; I found it so boring!

Last minute, and probably not the wisest of decisions, I switched my play study to Macbeth. It seemed like a great idea for an hour before complete panic set in…”

Enter Microwave Shakespeare – our pacey, easy-to-read retellings of Shakespeare's key plays. The result?

“The plot line was simplified in English I could actually understand, with the key quotes, essential to the play, highlighted in Italics, making it so easy to pick and analyse my quotes. By the day of my exam I was cool as a cucumber, and came out with an A*!

Afterwards I read some other books from the Microwave Shakespeare series and realised that if I had started with them in the first place, I would’ve found Romeo and Juliet much more interesting and fun to read!”

“The Boffin Boyz”

We have the pleasure of speaking to some truly amazing teachers who have used our books – as well as a little bit of creativity – to achieve some truly amazing things.

For example, Claire set up The Boffin Boyz – a book club “to try and encourage reluctant boy readers who had been identified in Year 4 and 5” in her school.

Here’s what she had to say:

“They immediately took to the series and were extremely enthusiastic. They were (perhaps unsurprisingly) struggling writers too and the Boffin Boyz group has helped them discover an enthusiasm for writing as well… I believe they are less inclined to view reading and writing with dread and that their willingness to share and record their ideas is a testimony to the quality of the materials and their enthusiasm for it.”

Pretty incredible, right? Now let’s hear it from The Boffin Boyz themselves:

“Boffin Boy is the best book I’ve ever read.”

“These are really exciting stories. I look forward to reading them every week and enjoy the characters.”

“The characters are great. I like the way they appear in every book. I love Wu Pee because he loves pizza and so do I.”

(We’re happy to report that Boffin Boy author David Orme has since paid The Boffin Boyz a visit.)

Have your own success story?

We love hearing about the ingenious ways teachers, literacy specialists and parents have used our titles to get through to reluctant and struggling readers of all ages.

It is why we do what we do.

So get in contact – and let’s celebrate our successes together!