Abstrak
The objective of this study was to investigate eighth-grade students' reading comprehension difficulties at SMPN 1 Lumbis Nunukan. The descriptive qualitative research method was used. The subjects of this study were eighth-grade students at SMPN 1 Lumbis Nunukan. Reading tests,observations,documentation, and interviews were employed to collect data. The researcher used observation of students reading exams and interviewed students to collect data. Miles and Huberman interactive analysis was used for data analysis, and it consists of four stages: first data collection, second data reduction, third data display, and fourth conclusions; drawings/verifying. The findings revealed that 30 students had difficulty in reading comprehension, specifically determining the main idea, detailed information, understanding language, interpreting references, and drawing conclusions. The level of difficulty experienced by students was understanding vocabulary and interpreting references. Factors causing students' difficulties in reading comprehension are genetic and environmental factors. Genetic factors were lack of vocabulary knowledge, students' background knowledge,and difficulty using strategies in reading, while environmental factors are from family and school.