Summer, for an educator, is the time we decompress between last year’s classes, mistakes we’ve made that give us inspiration for the next year, and to breathe deep and relax. I love the extra time to read and this year has been no exception. I’ve read a ton. Over the summer I read a lot of middle grade fiction and some where great and some I didn’t finish. This are my top eight titles from the summer not in any particular order because they were all five stars.
And Then, Boom! by Lisa Fipps: This novel-in-verse story is heart-wrenching as an adult because it shows the reality of poverty and absent parenting. Joe’s grandmother takes care of him after his mom disappears and even thought times are tough money-wise there is a lots of love but when she dies and his mom comes back temporarily life drastically changes for him. This is a quick read and it mirrors the honesty in her previous verse novel, Starfish. Should be an excellent conversation starter for you and your kids.
El Niño““` by Pamela Muñoz Ryan: This is a thrilling magical realism beach adventure that swept me away. Kai’s sister Cali disappeared in the ocean two years previous and his family of swimmers is trying to carry on. Kai lets himself get pulled in to a mythical story Cali left behind that has him believing she is still alive. Through this vision though he finally finds the strength to compete at the top.
Across So Many Seas by Ruth Behar: This epic novel spans four generations of Jewish young women from the Spanish Inquisition to Cuba and on to America. This book shows the struggle of Jewish families through the years. Each young woman was unique in her story but shared a love of music and family from each generation.
Not Quite a Ghost by Anne Ursu: Ursu leads us through a very subtle creepy story featuring Violet as she navigates a new, somewhat spooky attic room in an old home her mom and stepdad buy for the family. Violet falls ill in this new and realizes she may not be alone in the room. I listened to this on Libby and the narrator, Eva Kaminsky, did an amazing job of pulling me.
The Sherlock Society by James Ponti: Four kids and one hilarious grandfather undertake a decades old cold case involving Al Capone and his mysterious hideway near Miami. One mystery leads to another real-life problem and the kids, Alex, Zoe, Lina, and Yadi find out what it means to be a true detective. More to come and I’m looking forward to the series.
Gracie Under the Waves by Linda Sue Park: I love Park’s A Long Walk to Water and this new story lends itself to teachable moments as well. Gracie loves to snorkel and plans a vacation with her parents approval to Roatán, Honduras where she meets reef experts and finds that her passion leads her to friends and a desire to know more. Really well done and perfect for 3rd-5th grade.
The Bletchley Riddle by Ruta Sepetys: Bletchley Park, the home of WWII codebreakers is featured in this 1940 mystery with Jakob and Lizzie trying to figure out more about their missing mother. This one holds many surprises and I learned a lot about how the codebreakers struggled to break through before the Nazis invade.
Tree. Table. Book. by Lois Lowry: Eleven year old Sophie is best friends with her neighbor, 88 year old Sophie. They drink tea together and have deep conversations. When the younger Sophie learns that her friend is having memory issues she starts to give her tests. As she asks her to remember a pattern of words she unleashes three very different memories of the elder Sophie’s stories taking her back to Polish childhood.
I’m excited to share these stories with students in the first few weeks of school as they rush through the library doors, eager to find new books to read.
Right now I’m reading A Place for Us by Fatima Farheen Mirza, listening to K vs J by Kwame Alexander and Jerry Craft (narrated by these two authors as well) and still wading through The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt.
Peaceful Reader 