Summer brings fun in the sun, travel, and enjoying the outdoors. But what would be more refreshing than soaking up the sun on a lawn chair with a good book in hand? Here’s a few good reads to start your summer off right:
Rumble FishS.E. Hinton has a way of masterfully crafting a story that perfectly balances youthful innocence, teenage angst, and tragedy. The book, Rumble Fish, is a gripping, action-packed novel with a captivating storyline and a powerful ending. Hinton writes characters so realistic, it almost feels as if you’ve known them your whole life. Rusty-James, the protagonist in this book, is enamored with his way of life and the motorcycle gang image. Always trying to live up to the idea of being the next “Motorcycle Boy,” he finds himself one challenging situation after another. With the perfect mixture of action and adventure, this book is hard to put down. If you liked the Outsiders, this story is right up your alley.
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ResistanceResistance by Jennifer Nielsen takes place during World War II. It follows Chaya Lindner, a Jewish teenage girl who joins the resistance movement to fight against the Nazis. When she is tasked with a special assignment, Chaya is led to the Warsaw Ghetto with a mission that could be her last. Despite the danger, she goes because she knows justice is worth fighting for. The author pulls from accounts of real life resistance fighters to craft a powerful and authentic story. This book is about the decisions that define heroism and having the courage to stay standing in the face of adversity.
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Everything, EverythingIn this romance novel, Nicola Yoon tells the story of Maddy Whittier and Olly Bright, a pair of teenages seemingly destined to never be together. For eighteen years, Maddy Whittier has never left home. She can’t because she has Severe Combined Immunodeficiency, or SCID, which basically means she’s allergic to the world. Ever since infancy, when it almost took her life, she has never been outside and never wanted to go anyway. That is, until a cute teen named Olly Bright moves in next door. Through a series of emails and texts, Maddy and Olly form an unlikely relationship that could change everything. Nicola Yoon is a bestselling author whose book, The Sun is also a Star, has won numerous awards and has been made into a motion picture.
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Ender's GameIn this sci-fi, set in an unspecified time in the future, Earth is preparing for a third invasion by the Buggers, a high-tech elite alien race. As Earth prepares its army, it recruits young kids, among them “Ender,” to be trained as soldiers by playing war games. But does everything meet the eye? The book, Ender’s Game, explores aspects of the human psyche like the necessity for compassion, the abuse of manipulation, and the drive for survival. Orson Scott Card writes a complex and action-packed story that will leave you thinking long after you’ve turned the last page
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Esperanza RisingEsperanza has only known comfort her whole life. And when a tragic event happens that changes everything, sacrifices must be made. Esperanza and her family flee to the United States where they have to start building a new life from scratch and for the first time, they experience the hardships they’ve never known. Pam Ryan writes a moving story about how even when it seems you have lost everything, there is still hope, and how dreams can become a reality with a lot of hard work. This touching story of hardship and resilience is sure to inspire you.
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No matter where you're going this summer, don’t forget to pack a book for that airplane flight or car ride. Or if you're planning a staycation, books can be your passport to the world. Either way, summer is a great time to relax, enjoy yourself, and read the next book that you just can’t put down.