What makes young people decide to pick up a book and read it?

I'm in school to become a librarian, and I'm interested to know what draws people to books. Is it cover art? Or do you wait for people to recommend a book to you? Do book awards like the Newbery or the Coretta Scott King award influence you?
Please include in your answer what group you fall into, primary student, middle school, high school, parent or adult. Also it would be nice to know if you have a favorite genera. - Media
- Review
- Cover
- Popularity of the author
- CURIOSITY I think it's mainly what the like and can relate to b/c my brother hates reading but loves the Captain Underpants books. He reads those all the time and he's 12, but ask him to read anything else and he's having a fit.

You know that section at Barnes and Noble and Borders where the staff picks their favorite books and writes a little index card explaining why they liked it? That could work in a school too. Maybe ask the hip, younger teachers, the favorite teachers, etc to choose a new book every month for the section and set it up like they do at the bookstore. I think kids like to read stuff people they like/admire have read so they can talk about it with them.

As a 10th grader, i personally like true storys that match my personality/feeling. For example our english class read "of mice and men", the story really connects to my feelings, then thats when i want to finish the book.