Wednesday, July 23, 2014

Summer reading suggestions

Summer reading is well under way!  As you know, the lists you received from public middle and high school contains suggested titles. You may read whatever you want.

Here are some suggestions if none of the listed titles sound right for you:

If you love a good mystery try the Mike and Riel mysteries by Norah McClintock. Mike is a 15 year old high school student living with his uncle who is only 10 years older than him and not a very attentive guardian. Riel is Mike's history teacher and a former cop. Together they work to solve the mystery behind Mike's mom's death in Hit and Run, the first in the series.

The Neil Flambe mysteries by Kevin Sylvester are perfect for middle school age mystery lovers!  Neil's only 14, but he's already a very gifted chef, who also has a talent for solving mysteries.  First one is Neil Flambe and the Marco Polo Murders.

Who doesn't love reading a really good love story?  Gayle Forman has written a winner with Just One Day. It's the story of good-girl Allyson who, during a trip to Europe with her school, impulsively leaves with teen free spirit and Shakespearean actor Willem on a trip to Paris that lasts one day. When he disappears the following day Allyson is left with a broken heart and a year of self-discovery. The sequel to this one is Just One Year, which recounts the year from Willem's point of view. Good beach reads.

Steampunky, sci-fi series The Lunar Chronicles by Marissa Meyer has been wildly popular. If you haven't yet read this series, start with Cinder. It's about cyborgs and is a futuristic take on the Cinderella story.  Follow Cinder with Scarlet, then Cress

For some humor with a bit of adventure and mystery thrown in there's Au Revoir Crazy European Chick by Joe Schreiber. Perry is forced by his parents to escort frumpy exchange student Gobi to prom to enhance her American experience.  However Gobi is definitely not what she appears to be. She is a highly trained assassin and ends up taking poor Perry for a wild ride through the city on promo night.  There's a sequel too: Perry's Killer Playlist.

If you are into laying around at the pool or beach with your eyes closed, pick up an audiobook.  It's a great way to get your summer reading done while enjoying the summer!

And don't forget the 2015 Nutmeg nominated books!  There are 10 for middle school and 10 for high school.