Summer Reading List

Almost all avid readers have their summer reading lists, and I am no exception. I love reading other people’s lists, because it gives me ideas, so I hope my list can help some of you. It probably won’t help much, because I usually have a theme I follow during the summer, and this year I’m focusing on adolescent literature. Not everything I read during the summer will follow this theme, but at least half of the books I read will. For those of you who don’t like this ‘genre’ (for lack of a better word. I guess it would be more of a specific target audience with a wide variety of genres), I would say give some a chance. Even though the writing is more simplistic, the concepts or issues discussed can still be incredibly complex. Anyways, here’s my list:

ADOLESCENT READS:

Percy Jackson and the Lightening Thief – I will likely read all of the Olympian series before summer’s end, which will be no feat, considering the target audience for Rick Riordan’s series is sixth graders. I am almost finished with the first book, and I am frustrated by Riordan’s assumption that sixth graders automatically know and understand Greek mythology. His explanations or descriptions of gods and other mythical creatures are terrible, and sometimes, he fails to explain the characters or settings altogether. I think that the sixth grade mind would struggle to visualize what’s taking place within the novel.

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins – supposedly another first in a series. A classmate recommended it, saying that it’s set in the future somewhere in North America in the nation of Panem. Each year, the outlying districts of Panem each send one boy and one girl into the Hunger Games, while it is televised for everyone to see. It’s gladiator-style, where only one person ends up surviving. The story focuses on one of the girls entering the competition. It seems morbidly fascinating.

Incarceron by Catherine Fisher – focuses on seventeen-year-old Finn, a prisoner in the vast Incarceron, which is not only made up of cells, but also metal forests and dilapidated cities. Finn believes he came from the Outside. Not all prisoners believe the Outside exists. Finn finds a crystal key that allows him to speak to Claudia, a girl claiming she exists on the outside. Finn and Claudia devise a plan to help Finn escape.

The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky – narrated by a teen, Charlie, who writes a series of letters chronicling his life to an anonymous recipient. Chbosky is scheduled to deliver a speech to new incoming freshmen at Slippery Rock University in August. Many of my classmates have recommended this book, saying it’s a must-read.

The Kids are Alright: A Memoir by the Welch siblings – Four siblings struggle to define ‘home’ after their parents’ deaths.

Snow Flower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See – I started reading this a little over a year ago, and it was one of the best books I began and have not finished. I stopped for personal reasons, but I want to start this one over and finish it. It’s set in 19^th century in China, when women still had their feet bound and had arranged marriages, going on to live their illiterate lives in seclusion. I cannot adequately give you a synopsis of this book. I just really, really encourage you to read it. It’s captivating.

OTHERS:

House Rules by Jodi Picoult – I love anything by Jodi Picoult. I love her ability to write about complex, controversial issues without taking sides. This novel is about a teenage boy with Asperger’s Syndrome. He fixates on crime solving, studying criminal psychology and forensics. But, his odd behaviors and obsessions cause him to be the prime suspect in his tutor’s murder case. This one should be awesome!

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Steigg Larson – Okay. I’ve already started this, and I’m having a difficult time finishing it. I’m probably about 10% into the book (Kindle doesn’t go by pages). I am really not into finances, investments, and white collar crimes, and so far, this book is all about that. If anyone else out there is reading this or has read it, please let me know what you think. I hear the books in this series are fantastic, but I can’t get into them.

Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen – centers on a man named Jacob Jankowski and his experiences in the traveling circus. I’m excited for this one!

OTHER SUGGESTIONS THAT I’VE ALREADY READ:

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

The Help by Kathryn Stockett

Family Tree by Barbara Delinsky