The article focuses on the value of reading and the enjoyment of this activity by students of lower secondary schools. The subject of the analysis is the relationship of different factors on attitudes towards reading: gender and the social status of students' families. The aim of the analysis is to learn if reading books and engagement in reading could overcome the negative influence of low social and cultural capital and gender on reading performance and educational outcomes. The study is based on the results of three editions of the national study on reading habits and attitudes among students of lower secondary schools conducted in

Ministerstwo Edukacji Narodowej (2020). Podsumowanie roku szkolnego. Pobrano z: https://www. gov.pl/web/edukacja-i-nauka/podsumowanie-roku-szkolnego-20192020 Ministerstwo Edukacji i Nauki (2021). Podsumowanie roku szkolnego. Pobrano z: https://www.gov. pl/web/edukacja-i-nauka/podsumowanie-roku-szkolnego-20202021