Recently, we've found ourselves reflecting on our favorite books set during the summer--whether they be fantasy stories or tales of ordinary kids spending their summers making friends, solving mysteries, and reading good books.
So rather than posting our usual author interview this Monday, we've decided to share ten of our favorite books set in the summer!
What are your favorite summer books? Share in the comments below, or send us a review!
-Piranha T. and SK
Realistic Fiction
So rather than posting our usual author interview this Monday, we've decided to share ten of our favorite books set in the summer!
What are your favorite summer books? Share in the comments below, or send us a review!
-Piranha T. and SK
Realistic Fiction
| The Penderwicks: A Summer Tale of Four Sisters, Two Rabbits, and a Very Interesting Boy by Jeanne Birdsall (The Penderwicks series, Book 1) - The four Penderwick sisters spend their summer at a beautiful estate called Arundel, where they explore new places, get into scrapes, and make wonderful new friends. While it's set in the present day, The Penderwicks has the delightful feel of a beloved classic! (Ages 8+) |  |
To Night Owl From Dogfish by Holly Goldberg Sloan and Meg Wolitzer - Twelve-year-olds Bett and Avery might not seem to have much in common--daredevil and worrier, outgoing and quiet, Californian and New Yorker. But when they find out that their dads are dating, and plan to send them to summer camp together so they can get to know each other, the definitely-not-future-sisters are united by one thing--determination to NOT become family. But things quickly get far more complicated than they were expecting.... (Ages 9+)
| Strange Birds: A Field Guide to Ruffling Feathers by Celia C. Pérez - In a Florida town known for the Floras--an uptight club which is supposedly dedicated to helping the community--four outsiders are brought together over apricot ladyfingers, random facts...and a mission to bring down the Floras' famous hat, bedecked in feathers from endangered birds. Centering around four strong, unique girls and a remarkable summer, this book is perfect for budding birdwatchers, or anyone looking for a lighthearted summer read. (Ages 10+) |  |
 | Hello, Universe by Erin Entrada Kelly - When Virgil and his guinea pig Gulliver become stranded in an abandoned well, Virgil's story intertwines with those of three of his classmates in a set of overlapping, parallel stories which take place over one day, and change all of their lives forever. (Ages 10+) |
| Clap When You Land by Elizabeth Acevedo - In the aftermath of the plane crash which killed their father, two sisters, one from the Bronx, one from the Dominican Republic, grapple with grief, betrayal, and family secrets--including each other's existence. (Ages 14+) |  |
Mystery
Mr. and Mrs. Bunny: Detectives Extraordinaire! by Polly Horvath - When Madeline, the responsible one in the family, discovers that her parents have been kidnapped by foxes, she knows it's up to her to save them. Fortunately, she gets the help of two (aspiring) detectives who are sure to save the day...despite their being, well, rabbits. Excellent on audio and absolutely hilarious, this is one of our all-time favorites! (Ages 7+)
The Matchstick Castle by Keir Graff - The last way Brian wants to spend his summer is in Boring, Illinois with his boring relatives, but when he and his cousin Nora stumble into the forbidden forest and discover the Matchstick Castle--a precarious building inhabited by a family as quirky as their home--his summer becomes much more exciting...especially when the cousins discover a plan to destroy the Castle for good, and it's up to them to stop it. (Ages 8+)
The Parker Inheritance by Varian Johnson - When Candice moves into her grandmother's house, she discovers a series of puzzles that have eluded people for generations--and which could be the key to solving a historical mystery and clearing her grandmother's name. At once a brilliant, multi-layered mystery, an exploration of social justice issues, and--most of all--an irresistible story of two new friends in summertime, this is a summer must-read! (Ages 10+)
Fantasy
Fantasy
Over Sea, Under Stone by Susan Cooper (The Dark is Rising Sequence, Book 1) - Siblings Simon, Jane and Barney Drew are expecting an ordinary vacation in Cornwall with their mysterious Great-Uncle Merry. But when they discover a strange manuscript in the attic of the house they're staying in, they must decipher the trail of ancient clues it leads to before the rising forces of the Dark get there first. (Ages 8+)
Gregor the Overlander by Suzanne Collins (The Underland Chronicles, Book 1) - Faced with an endless, boring summer of babysitting his little sister, eleven-year-old Gregor instead stumbles into the Underland, a world miles beneath New York City and populated by giant cockroaches, spiders, bats, rats, and people with translucent skin and violet eyes. He quickly learns that his only hope of getting home resides in a quest--to save the Underland, and perhaps to solve a mystery that could put his own family back together. (Ages 10+)
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