This question sends me straight to teaching kids to read. As a first grade teacher I have two different students for this post I will focus on the reluctant reader versus the struggling reader. A reluctant reader is a child who can read but won’t. This child can read but may refuse to do so by misbehaving when asked to read. The reluctant reader may become frustrated during reading or need to be persuaded to pick up a book. Reluctant readers do not read for pleasure. Reluctant readers do not see reading as a fun activity. Many reluctant readers might prefer to do anything else but read.
You have to answer why are these readers reluctant?
Before we can try to motivate the reluctant child to read, we must first, identify why the child refuses to read. Children may express hesitancy toward reading for a variety of reasons, a few of these reasons may be:
they find reading boring or the reading material presented to them disinteresting. They have a poor attention span and thus have trouble connecting with books. They do not recognize the benefits of reading.
The list of reasons why a reluctant reader refuses to read can go on and on. Yet, it is important to be aware of why the child refuses to read and to motivate him/her to do so. If a child who can read, stops reading, then he/she will face further challenges in their ability to learn. Reading allows children to increase their vocabulary and helps them to express thoughts and ideas in speech and writing. If a reluctant reader continues to stop reading, he or she will face difficulty understanding more challenging text.

Another variable sometimes can be that their family or caregivers absolutely do not value reading. It is not talked about it is not modeled it is not encouraged, etc. in the home or any place beyond the school walls. It’s so hard when folks at home devalue anything in education… It can have such a powerful effect.