A Unique Way to Get Teenagers to Read More

Many parents ask, "How do I get my teenager to read more?" It's a common challenge, and the answer might have less to do with finding the right book and more to do with finding the right format.

A Fresh Approach to Getting Your Teenager to Read More

Fiction Mail is a personalized fiction series delivered as real, physical letters mailed directly to your teenager, one letter at a time. Their name is woven into the story throughout each letter, making them an actual character in the narrative.

Since each letter arrives in the mail one at a time, there's genuine anticipation built right into the experience. They'll actually look forward to checking the mailbox.

It's also completely screen-free, which is a bonus for parents trying to balance their teenager's screen time.

Here are three Fiction Mail series that are a great fit for teen readers:

The Cold War Spy

Image of a letter and envelope in our custom handwriting font from the Cold War Spy series of Fiction Mail stories as letters.

When Eliza cleans out her late grandmother's apartment, she discovers a mysterious journal and a blackbird pendant that reveal an astonishing family secret: her sweet, cookie-baking grandmother was actually a brilliant Cold War spy in the 1950s. Over eight weekly letters, your teenager will follow Eliza as she pieces together her grandmother's incredible double life, uncovering covert operations, dangerous missions, and decades-old secrets.

One Fiction Mail customer, Laurie L., bought The Cold War Spy for her 15-year-old daughter and left a 5-star review: "The story inspired my daughter to start digging into my great grandmother's history."

The Time Traveler

Image of a letter and envelope in our custom handwriting font from the Time Traveler series of Fiction Mail stories as letters.

Professor Mellon is a renowned time traveler who sends letters from different points in history, offering firsthand accounts of the world's most pivotal moments. With sharp wit and incredible encounters with historical figures, he brings the past to life in ways no history book ever could. It's a great way to sneak a little history education into your teenager's week, kind of like hiding vegetables in a meal they already love.

This series is available as a 4-letter weekly series, an 8-letter weekly series, or a 12-letter monthly series, making it easy to match the experience to your teenager's reading pace.

Scavenger Hunt

Image of a letter and envelope in our custom handwriting font from the Scavenger Hunt series of Fiction Mail stories as letters.

When Sarah starts a new job, she joins her colleagues on a team-building scavenger hunt. During the game, she stumbles upon what she thinks is just another clue, only to realize she's found an ancient treasure map that could lead to unimaginable riches.

Over eight weekly letters, your teenager will follow Sarah as her innocent workplace game transforms into a real-life treasure hunt, complete with puzzles, danger, and a race against time as others will stop at nothing to claim the treasure for themselves. This series does contain some violence, so it's probably best suited for older teens.

What Our Customers Are Saying

Mandie H. wrote: "My teen loved these! I wanted to get them back into reading so when I got these it turned into a fun activity that we could do each week together." 

And Mary P. shared: "This is a gift for my granddaughter. She loves it and we are already planning future Christmas and birthday gifts!"

Ready to give it a try? Browse our series perfect for teenage readers and find the right fit for your teen.

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