I used to buy those workbooks every summer. You know the ones. They have math, reading, and physical activity challenges. They are supposed to help kids stay sharp over the summer and avoid the summer slide. But you know what I realized? I may start the summer out strong with them doing a lesson every day, but it always ends up falling to the wayside. And a not even half completed book sits on a shelf untouched for weeks on end.
But one thing that does happen regularly in our house is taking the time to sit down and read. We all literally stop what we're doing for 30 minutes every day, go to our favorite reading spots, and spend that time getting lost in a book. Every. Day. We've also started the habit of reading out loud as a family, too. It's so much fun to all share a story and talk through it. One year, it was Wonder, last year, it was The One and Only Ivan.
So, what's on our list this year? Here's what we have picked out thanks to some help from Kim, owner at Read It Again.
For Me:
- Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens: So, I read this the first four days of summer, and it's fabulous! Go get it. Now!
- Every Last One by Anna Quindlen: I found this one off of some reviews from friends on Goodreads.
- Winter Garden by Kristin Hannah: This was also a Goodreads find, but I loved the author's The Nightingale, so it's certainly worth a read!
- The Beginner's Goodbye by Anne Tyler: It's been a while since I've read anything by Anne Tyler, but I read just about everything by her back in the day, so seeing this one used at Read It Again, and classified as a New York Times Bestseller, I thought I'd take my chances!
For my 12-Year-Old Son:
- Unbroken (The Young Adult Adaptation): An Olympian's Journey from Airman to Castaway to Captive by Laura Hillenbrand. It's not pictured because he took it on a retreat with him this weekend and hasn't looked up from it since we brought it home last week! The adult version of this is so, so good, too, and I love that we can talk to him about it as he reads.
- Trials of Apollo - The Dark Prophecy (Book 2) by Rick Riordan: Yep, not pictured as it's also on his weekend trip! But, he loves pretty much everything by Riordan!
- Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys: This was recommended by Kim at Read It Again, and my son said it was one of the book club books from which he could choose during school, so we thought it was a good fit!
- The Cay by Theodore Taylor: This is apparently a quick read, but we are assured it is a fantastic book!
- Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein: I don't know anything about this one, but can you sense a WWII theme here?
- Hero on a Bicycle by Shirley Hughes: Another recommendation based on his favorite WWII subject!
For my 8-Year-Old Son:
- Charlotte's Web by EB White: I loved reading this one with my oldest, so this one may be a read-aloud bedtime book for us!
- Immortal Guardians (Spirit Animals: Fall of the Beasts, Book 1) by Eliot Schrefer: Yeah, my son has interesting taste, but he is totally into this!
- The Boy Who Saved Baseball by John Ritter: Perfect book for a boy who loves baseball? I guess we'll find out!
- Baseball Great by Tim Green: We love books by Tim Green, so this is sure to be entertaining!
- The Boxcar Children - The Khipu and the Final Key by Gertrude Chandler Warner: We had this on our shelves, so I guess we'll find out what these are all about!
- Watch Out! The Daring Disasters Of Ethan Flask (Mad Science) by Anne Capeci: Another bookshelf find. I love that he has his own style!
For the Family:
- Wishtree by Katherine Applegate: I've been hearing a lot about this book lately and am excited about discovering it with my family!
If you're pondering what to read this summer, perhaps this list will help. Other adult-sized recommendations I've gotten in the last few days are: Born a Crime, Swear On This Life, Then She Was Gone, and The Tattooist of Auschwitz.
Happy reading!
Erin
