The influence of novel reading to enhance youth literacy, to develop insight, and to foster creative thinking skills

I Made Sumartana (Politeknik Negeri Bali, INDONESIA)
Siti Mariam (UIN Walisongo Semarang)
Adisti Primi Wulan (STKIP-PGRI Pontianak INDONESIA)
Zulfiqar Ali (University of Baltistan, Skardu PAKISTAN)
Bareq Raad Raheem (College of Engineering for Artificial Intelligence Technology, IRAQ)
Sidratul Muntaha Uzma (Jagannath University, BANGLADESH)
Muhammad Mustafa (Lincoln University College (LUC), MALAYSIA)

Journal of Education, Social & Communication Studies
Vol. 3 No. 2 (2026): May 2026

Reading has various benefits in everyday life, especially for teenagers. This study aims to explore the impact of reading novels on adolescents' literacy, creativity, critical thinking and mental health. Through the analysis of data obtained from 12 respondents aged 19-20 years old, results show that 100% of respondents agreed that reading novels can improve their literacy and creativity. The knowledge gained from reading helps teens develop creative thinking and critical thinking skills. The survey results also indicated that 100% of respondents found reading novels helpful in coping with emotions and stress, with genres as diverse as romance, fiction, history and politics. In addition, this study confirms the importance of emotional intelligence in helping adolescents recognize and manage their feelings. This finding is in line with previous research showing that reading interest is positively related to critical thinking and critical reading skills. Overall, the results of this study suggest that reading novels not only improves cognitive skills but also provides significant emotional support for adolescents in facing the challenges of daily life.