Summer Reading List
Every summer, I am faced with the same problem: what to do with near unlimited time? School is over. I have no homework, nowhere I have to be. I can stay up as late as I want and sleep as late as I want. For the first week of summer, I become the most unproductive human in the world. Basically, I eat, breathe, sleep, and recuperate from the past school year. It’s amazing. But after a while, I want to do something a little bit productive. Nothing too time-consuming, but at least something more than existing. One of my favorite ways to fill that dead space is by creating a summer reading list. During the school year, I usually only have time to read for school, plus one extra book on the side. To finish said extra book, I stay up ‘till 12:30 a.m. to get a couple chapters in each night. For someone who already runs on very few hours of sleep and caffeine, its not good. But in the summer, I have all the time in the world to read. With this time comes infinite possibilities of reading material. However, I don’t want to waste this precious extra time on mediocre books. So, I make a reading list - a bucket list of all the books I want to get to before the summer’s over. Usually, I include at least one classic, a couple fantasy, some historical fiction, and occasionally, an autobiography/non-fiction. I cannot recommend enough the benefits of making a reading list. I never get to everything, but I always round out the summer having read at least one amazing book, usually more. Again, while I would definitely recommend making a summer reading list, I also recognize that summer has already started. So I’ve done the hard part for you! Without further adieu, here is my summer reading list for this year.
Les Miserables by Victor Hugo
This summer, Les Mis is my classic. Having never seen the musical or the movie, the story is entirely new to me. I’ve heard from several people, my dad and uncle included, that this is an incredible book. Although I’ve never read it, I know it follows the story of ex-convict Jean Valjean and his quest for redemption during the French Revolution. I hope to watch the movie when I’m finished!
The Wilderking Trilogy by Jonathan Rogers
I just finished the final book of this trilogy, The Way of the Wilderking, and I cannot say enough! Based on the life of David, the Wilderking Trilogy takes place in the fictional island kingdom Corenwald (which is suspiciously similar to Georgia, Rogers’s home state). A prophecy states that a so-called wild man will come from the swamps leading an army of feechiefolk (tribal, forest-dwelling people) to restore peace to Corenwald and become the Wilderking. The Trilogy is an easy, light read, written for a target audience of 10-12 years-old, but is definitely worth reading at any age. A fun, adventurous take on King David, the Wilderking Trilogy is a must-have on any summer reading list, especially for those who live in the American South or love colorful, creative characters.
Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand
This inspiring biography of Olympic runner-turned-pilot, Louis Zamperini, is a perfect Memorial Day read. It follows the remarkable story of survival that ensues when Zamperini crashes in the Pacific Ocean during World War II, left to survive using only his wits and courage. Fair warning, it is a heavy read, covering the attrocities of Japanese prison camps and the experience of POWs in great detail. However, nothing I’ve read has given me an appreciation for the soldiers who fight for us quite like this book. Along with themes of the dignity of life and redemption through pain, Unbroken is a story of the triumph of good over evil, and the heavy cost of freedom.
Inkheart by Cornelia Funke
Inkheart follows the story of Meggie, a 12-year-old girl who discovers that she, like her father, can read characters out of stories and into our world. One night, when Meggie’s father reads Inkheart, the titular book of this story, he accidentally releases a villain named Capricorn, who will stop at nothing to get his hands on the book. However, the book is also incredibly valuble to Meggie and her father, who will hold onto it no matter the cost. I am about a third of the way through this classic fantasy and am loving it. One of my favorite parts is the way Funke incorporates passages from famous literature, like The Lord of the Rings, Farenheit 451, etc. at the beginning of each chapter to tie into the story. The rich language, detailed plot, and complex characters make this a wonderful summer read!
The Last Bookshop in London by Madeline Martin
The Last Bookshop in London is a World War II novel following the story of Grace Bennet, who achieves her dream of living in London, only to find it torn apart by war. However, her new job working at a small book store teaches her the importance of literature and storytelling in dark times and connects her to a community of people who will stand together as World War II ravages Europe. I have not read this yet - it is also a fairly new book, so there aren’t many reviews of it. However, I love a good historical fiction and complex characters, and this books seems to have both!
My list is brief this year, but will probably grow as summer goes on and I discover new books :). I hope you find this helpful as you create your own summer book list. Happy reading!