Summer Reading: Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbitt
“The first week of August hangs at the very top of summer, the top of the live-long year, like the highest seat of a Ferris wheel when it pauses in its turning.” This is the first sentence from Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbitt (1975 by Macmillan). A classic novel that grapples with the blessing or curse being immortal, Tuck Everlasting raises timely questions that apply to today’s fast-paced, youth-focussed society. As Winnie learns that life is precious and fleeting, her beloved Tuck family must endure immortality, and hide their secret from the rest of the world. Kids looking for a classic novel of family, friendship, secrets, and danger will enjoy Tuck.
Summer Reading: The Borrowers by Mary Norton
Kids looking for a classic fantasy adventure to read this summer will enjoy The Borrowers by Mary Norton. The first in a series, The Borrowers tells the story of tiny people living under the floorboards in an old house. One day they are discovered by a “real” boy who befriends them and gives them useful items – dollhouse furniture – in exchange for their daughter, Arrietty, reading to him. It is a story of friendship and family, risk and reward. The ending continues the adventure into the next book in the series, The Borrowers Afield.
Summer Reading: Endling the Last by Katherine Applegate
The first book in a trilogy, Endling the Last tells the story of Byx who believes she is the last of her species and embarks on a quest with a mix of creatures who become family to her. While Byx holds onto memories of her family and the hope of finding them, she learns to think of family in a new way. This adventure has everything readers look for: engaging, diverse characters, evil, magic, a map, and an ending that begs for another story. Fans of fantasy quests will enjoy this book and find lots to work with for those summer reading reports. Happy Summer! Happy Reading!
Summer Reading: One Crazy Summer by Rita Williams-Garcia
Award-winning author Rita Williams-Garcia tells the story of three young sisters on a summer adventure visiting their mother in California in One Crazy Summer. Visions of Disneyland and palm trees dissolve quickly when they realize their trip will be less vacation, and more adaptation to a strange neighborhood. The sisters learn about social activism, how they can help make a difference, and that there is more to summer than lazy days doing nothing. These girls are busy, independent, and fun. Readers will enjoy watching the girls make friends, and enemies, while also learning about Civil Rights in the summer of 1968, all while trying to get to know their mother, whom they have not seen in years. This book is sure to captivate young readers, and would be a complement to a social studies curriculum as well.
Summer Reading: Lawn Boy by Gary Paulsen
It’s summertime, and in addition to baseball, beach, and BBQ, let’s not forget books! Whether you have assigned reading or want to read on your own, Gary Paulsen’s Lawn Boy is a great story to start your summer off. A twelve year old boy needs some cash to fix his bike, but instead of getting money, his grandmother gives him his grandfather’s old lawn mower. The narrator figures out how to operate the mower, and his career takes off. Turns out, everyone in his neighborhood needs their grass cut. Before he knows it, he has more than enough cash and customers, and now he has to figure out how to manage his business. Enter his neighbor Arnold who gives him good advice and the profits keep rolling in. Readers will learn about investing in the stock market and being an entrepreneur. This book is sure to appeal to reluctant readers, and may even give them ideas to run their own businesses this summer.
Independent Reading: The Voyages of Doctor Dolittle by Hugh Lofting
Looking for a fun adventure that would be also work for a book report? Try the Doctor Dolittle books by Hugh Lofting. In The Voyages of Doctor Dolittle, readers meet Stubbins, a boy who becomes the doctor’s apprentice, and is also the narrator of the story. Dolittle is the world’s first environmentalist, and first animal-advocate. In his travels he repeatedly makes choices that are for the good of the environment and the animals. His home in Puddleby-on-the-Marsh in England is an animal sanctuary. The stories are enjoyable and fascinating. Kids will surely envy Stubbins who is lucky enough to share the journey with the good doctor.
Independent Reading: Three Strike Summer by Skyler Schrempp
Another great middle-grade novel to add to your library or independent reading list is Skyler Schrempp’s Three Strike Summer. Set in Oklahoma and California during the Dust Bowl, this novel would also complement an American history class. Gloria, the protagonist, must leave her farm in Oklahoma and move to California where there is work for her family picking peaches. The tense world of the adults in her life provides the backdrop for her quest to join the all-boys’ baseball team. She is smart, determined, and a great ball player; she doesn’t accept ‘no skirts allowed’ for an answer. A female protagonist with a poor and grieving family becomes the champion of the story on and off the ball field. Happy Reading!
Independent Reading: The House of Dies Drear by Virginia Hamilton
Teachers and students who are looking for a creepy children’s mystery novel this time of year will find exactly that in Virginia Hamilton’s The House of Dies Drear, and its sequel The Mystery of Drear House. As the new resident of a mansion that was once part of the Underground Railroad, young Thomas learns of secret tunnels and ghosts of runaway slaves living within the walls of his house, which was built by abolitionist, Dies Drear. History and mystery abound in this classic novel that will have students engaged. Add this book to your classroom library and independent reading list, or make it a part of your creepy curriculum. You’ll be glad you did!
Summer Reading: How to Catch a Polar Bear by Stacy Dekeyser
Is that summer reading assignment bugging you? Are you looking for a fun, neighborhood, family adventure, Stacy Dekeyser’s How to Catch a Polar Bear is the perfect choice for that summer reading assignment or long road trip. Mishaps abound as Nicky and his two pals, Ace and Penny, try to have the best summer ever but become involved in a feud between frozen custard shops. Polar bears, monkeys, and paper routes collide with humor and suspense as the kids sort out who did what to whom, and who let the polar bear out of the zoo. I’d recommend this book for older elementary to sixth grade students.
Summer Reading: The Eyes & The Impossible by Dave Eggers
Looking for an adventurous, animal-centered story for your summer reading project? Look no further than Dave Eggers’ The Eyes & the Impossible. My library has this beautiful edition with front and back covers made of wood. The illustrations are gorgeous. This book is a pleasure to behold, and to read. Johannes, a stray dog, is the narrator, and he is the lookout and the informer for his animal friends, including seagulls and Bison. He must keep an eye on those tricky humans to see what they are building in the park, but he has to be careful not to be leashed. His greatest fear is being “kept.” Students in third, fourth, and fifth grades would enjoy this adventure story about friendship. I recommend it for summer reading assignments, pleasure reading, or independent reading for school book reports. Happy Summer!
