By Rodamanthi Sofikitou, @greek_studyholic
This article's idea came to me while I was teaching literature in Greece, where many highschool students were enthusiastic readers of Booktok novels. In this article, I will develop three main arguments to explain why Booktok novels could have a place in the high school literature classroom, as a way of building a stronger relationship with books and literature.
Based on my own teaching experience, I have noticed that many highschool students mainly read what we usually call "mainstream literature": Colleen Hoover, Emily Henry, Rebecca Yarros, R. F. Kuang and many more.
Many teachers - and I used to be one of them - believe that these books threaten or even replace what we consider "good literature". However, I have gradually changed my perspective - and let me analyse you why.
First of all, I believe that this genre can encourage students to become writers themselves. Colleen Hoover's language, for instance, is accessible, her stories are emotionally engaging, and students often feel that writing is sth they could also do. Instead of discouraging them, these books can inspire them to express themselves creatively and gain confidence in their own writing.
Secondly and foremost, the purpose would not be to teach BookTok literature as the ultimate literary achievement. Rather, we could use it as a bridge to more demanding literary works. If students first read books that they genuinely enjoy, they are more likely to participate actively in class and develop a lasting interest in reading. Once they become confident readers, we can gradually introduce them to canonical literature and demonstrate the differences in style, language, themes, and literary value. For example, after discussing It Ends with Us, students could compare its portrayal of relationships with Shakespeare's Romeo & Juliet or with Jane Eyre, examining how different authors explore similar themes.
Last but not least, if we were to reject contemporary popular fiction simply because it does not meet traditional literary standards, we might lose the opportunity to connect many young people with books altogether. Our ultimate goal for the literature teachers should be to cultivate lifelong readers, regardless of where their reading journey begins.
All in all, I firmly believe that it is essential for students to develop a meaningful relationship with literature. If popular fiction is the first step that leads them to discover the wider world of books, then it deserves a place in our classrooms not as a replacement for the literary canon, but as a gateaway to it. Little do we know that today's Booktok readers may become tommorow's great readers -and perhaps even tommorow's great writers.