The Walk gets 4 Stars

If you are looking for a quick read, a book with a bit of an emotional tug, relateable, a bit of love, and a lot of travel writing then give The Walk by Richard Paul Evans a read. 

I give The Walk 4 out of 5 stars. It was an enjoyable book, and a fast read, but I just didn't think there was much to it.  I'm not saying I didn't enjoy this book b/c I did.  I also really enjoyed thoughts the book presented.  

I liked the promise McKale had Alan make. the promise to live even after the love of his life died.  I liked this quote, and find it to be quite true, "The only way to remove pain from death is to remove love from life." 

There were some more spiritual, inspirational, and advice aspects to the story as well. "Never forget God puts people in our lives for a reason. Only through helping others can we save ourselves." 

 In the story Evans told the story of the famous violinist that played in a subway and few paid any attention to him in the subway, but others would pay hundreds of dollars for tickets to a concert to see him play.  After the story a character shared this advice, "Some people in this world have stopped looking for beauty then wonder why their lives are so ugly. Don't be like them.  The ability to appreciate beauty is of God, especially in one another.  Look for beauty in everyone you meet, and you'll find it.  Everyone carries divinity within them, and everyone we meet had something to impart."  

The reason why this book didn't get a high review is b/c even though I felt emotional attachment at times, I really felt this book was mostly a travel log of Alan's walk from Seattle to Spokane with a lot of detail about what he ate.  I realize the book had good character development, but there wasn't quite enough story development to really grab you as a reader and make it memorable.  

All in all, there isn't anything horribly wrong with the book.  However, there isn't anything amazing about it either. 

Just so you can feel a bit more background information on the book, Amazon had the following book description: 

"What would you do if you lost everything—your job, your home, and the love of your life—all at the same time? When it happens to Seattle ad executive Alan Christoffersen, he’s tempted by his darkest thoughts. Instead, he decides to take a walk. But not any ordinary walk. Taking with him only the barest of essentials, Alan leaves behind all that he’s known and heads for the farthest point on his map: Key West, Florida. The people he encounters along the way, and the lessons they share with him, will save his life—and inspire yours. 

A life-changing journey, both physical and spiritual, The Walk is the first of an unforgettable bestselling series of books about one man’s search for hope."

Have you read the book and/or series? What did you think? 

As always, happy reading!

The Best Printz (YA Award Books) Books

Last week I shared my favorite aka The Best Newbery Books.  Newbery is an award given every year (always near the end of January or early February) to the best children's/juvenile literature book.  It has been around for the last 93 years.  This year it will be announced on February 2nd, and I'm excited.  

I read the Newbery books every year.  I feel it's part of my job as a librarian, but I also thoroughly enjoy it as well.  

There is another award that is given that same day, and it is the Printz Book Award given to the best (for it's literary merit) YA (Young Adult/Teen) book published the previous year.  The book can be fiction, non-fiction, poetry, and even a collection of short stories.  Though, I'm not sure I've ever seen a collection win.

The Printz Award has only been around since 2000; so it is a relatively new award.  However, books geared and written for the teens/young adults is relatively new as well.  For years it was children/juvenile books and adult books only.    

I do love YA books like many of you.  Though, I also struggle with the content in some YA books.  I love a good story, but I'm not a fan of violence or sex just to throw it in there to attract readers.  I personally think there needs to be a reason/need for it.  In YA and adult literature there seems to be some authors that throw content such as violence, sex, or drugs just to attract readers.  I don't enjoy that, but I do enjoy a well written book even if it does have some violence, or whatnot.

I have compiled a list of the 8 Best Printz Award Books.  These books are not all squeaky clean reads, but they are all fabulously written books that if they do involve some intense content it is for a legitimate purpose.

Are you a YA literature fan?  Which of these 8 books have you read? 

The 8 Best Printz (YA) Award Books

Revolver by Marcus Sedgwick 

A Honor book in 2011

This tense psychological drama is a well written interesting read for both boys and girls 9th grade and up. 

The Monstrumologist by Rick Yancey 

A Honor book in 2010

This tense and incredibly descriptive horror book is a clean read, just gruesome.  Boys and girls alike will enjoy this book, though boys will probably love it.  

Best for 7th grade and up. 

The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks by E. Lockhart 

A Honor book in 2009

This boarding school fiction is all about girl power.  Girls will love everything about this book and will want to read it over and over again. 

Best for 7th grade and up. 

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak 

A Honor book in 2007

This World War II book (not your typical WWII book) is well written and will touch your heart.  This thought provoking read was recently adapted into a movie.  I love the different point of view Zusak writes from in this book; it is very original and unique. 

Best for 7th grade and up. 

  

Looking for Alaska by John Green 

The Printz Medal winner in 2006

There is quite a bit of language, sex, and drugs in this story, but it is a well written story (very John Green, who is the author of The Fault in Our Stars, like) that I thoroughly enjoyed.  

Best for 9th grade and up. 

how i live now by Meg Rosoff 

The Printz Medal winner in 2005

This medal winner is a well written fascinating novel that is almost like a dystopian.  The narrator is a girl, but boys and girls alike will enjoy this read.  

Best for 7th grade and up. 

Monster by Walter Dean Myers 

The Printz Medal winner in 2000.

This medal book is a definite thinker/though provoking book; with the main character in jail boys will especially love this book.  This would be a great book for reluctant readers.  

Best for 7th grade and up. 

Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson 

A Honor book in 2000

This thought provoking fiction novel about how a girl is affected from being raped.  The main characters reaction and growth show great character development and allow you as the reader to really feel for her. There are no details of the rape, and it is quite a clean read even with the subject matter. This would be a great class read; girls will gravitate to it, but boys could enjoy it almost as much if you can get them to pick it up. 

Best for 7th grade and up.  

Happy Printz Award Books reading! 

 Which of these Printz Award books are your favorite? 

Gift from the Sea gets 3 Stars

I recently read Gift from the Sea by Anne Morrow Lindbergh for my book club.  This book club consists of all women, and to think of it I have never been in a book club with a man in it.  Not that men don't read or wouldn't enjoy discussing a book, but it seems that book clubs are kind of a women thing.  Do you agree? 

Gift from the Sea is a great book for women, and a great book for a book club to discuss.  The book consists of several different essays full of advice and thoughts Anne Lindbergh had.  Lindbergh would often go and visit a rural beach cottage with no modern (1950s) luxuries; she wrote these essays and felt these lessons learned while there really were gifts from the sea.  Each essay is usually related to a specific seashell and some of its unique attributes.  

I give Gift from the Sea 3 out of 5 stars.  I thought it was a good and enjoyable read.  I felt the lessons learned/essays really were timeless, and that a reader can learn and appreciate being able to connect with the writing.  It is a bonus that this is an incredibly fast read that you could easily enjoy in one afternoon. 

Gift from the Sea reminded me a lot of As a Man Thinketh; it almost felt like a woman's version of that book.  These books are both filled with lots of imagery and lessons/essays/thoughts that can be applied to ones life to really make one be the best person he/she can be.  

I gave this book 3 stars not b/c the writing or content was poor.  It really was b/c I didn't feel moved or changed from reading Gift from the Sea when I feel that is the whole purpose of the writing.  I felt like I was basically reading a book of reflection/contemplation from Lindbergh rather than an inspiring/motivational read.  

Amazon had the following book description which ends up giving some great information about the author.  

"In this inimitable, beloved classic—graceful, lucid and lyrical—Anne Morrow Lindbergh shares her meditations on youth and age; love and marriage; peace, solitude and contentment as she set them down during a brief vacation by the sea. Drawing inspiration from the shells on the shore, Lindbergh’s musings on the shape of a woman’s life bring new understanding to both men and women at any stage of life. A mother of five, an acclaimed writer and a pioneering aviator, Lindbergh casts an unsentimental eye on the trappings of modernity that threaten to overwhelm us: the time-saving gadgets that complicate rather than simplify, the multiple commitments that take us from our families. And by recording her thoughts during a brief escape from everyday demands, she helps readers find a space for contemplation and creativity within their own lives.

With great wisdom and insight Lindbergh describes the shifting shapes of relationships and marriage, presenting a vision of life as it is lived in an enduring and evolving partnership. A groundbreaking, best-selling work when it was originally published in 1955, Gift from the Sea continues to be discovered by new generations of readers. With a new introduction by Lindbergh’s daughter Reeve, this fiftieth-anniversary edition will give those who are revisiting the book and those who are coming upon it for the first time fresh insight into the life of this remarkable woman.

The sea and the beach are elements that have been woven throughout Anne Morrow Lindbergh’s life. She spent her childhood summers with her family on a Maine island. After her marriage to Charles Lindbergh in 1929, she accompanied him on his survey flights around the North Atlantic to launch the first transoceanic airlines. The Lindberghs eventually established a permanent home on the Connecticut coast, where they lived quietly, wrote books and raised their family.

After the children left home for lives of their own, the Lindberghs traveled extensively to Africa and the Pacific for environmental research. For several years they lived on the island of Maui in Hawaii, where Charles Lindbergh died in 1974. 

Anne Morrow Lindbergh spent her final years in her Connecticut home, continuing her writing projects and enjoying visits from her children and grand-children. She died on February 7, 2001, at the age of ninety-four."

Have you read Gift from the Sea?  What did you think? 

The Impossible Knife of Memory gets 4.5 Stars

I often requests books from the library.  It's great b/c they pull it aside and have it all ready for me.  Convenient.  However, I do think it is fun to walk the shelves, browse, and select books that way.  

I came across The Impossible Knife of Memory by Laurie Halse Anderson from a recent library shelf browse.  

I have read several of Anderson's books, Speak review can be found here, and I truly think she is a great author with a distinct voice and style.  Anderson is always able to keep the reader unsure exactly of what is going on and confused a bit, but not frustrated.  It seems to keep the reader invested and involved in the story.

Lately, I've been reading books about kids, of all ages, with some hard lives.  It makes me sad when these kids have to deal with adult things.  Dealing with hard things like divorce, PTSD from Vets, family member addictions, etc. really wears you down and makes it difficult to focus on high school/kid stuff like college, school, etc.  I've seen this in real life while teaching.  How can a kid focus and worry about homework or a test when they have to figure out what they are going to eat for dinner or how to avoid upset parents?  It's tough.  

I've seen kids dealing with hard things and read about hard things in books.  I do think kids going through hard things and reading a book like this one, or the one I posted last week, Lock and Key, can really help them.  A little bibliotherapy if you may.  Books like these books can show a reader that eventually there are positive outcomes even though it is not always pretty and definitely not easy. 

I gave The Impossible Knife of Memory 4.5 out of 5 stars.  It wasn't a perfect book, but it was a very good book.  I took off 1/2 a star b/c I do think the PTSD of Hayley's father, Andy, and his PTSD is not portrayed nearly as harsh as it should've been, and that his growth seemed a bit abrupt. However, I do like the deeper thought of the "knife of memory" found throughout, and I thought the character development which drives the story is great.

Hayley and her father, Andy, are tough.  Tough to crack, but tough to get inside their hearts as well.  Both of them have memories that cut through them like a knife, and at unexpected moments prick or stun them.  They both eventually learn that if you don't deal with the sharp and difficult memories it will just get worse.  They learn that we can't forget our past; it's who we are.  We have to learn to deal with our past and move forward  Both Hayley and Andy slowly do that throughout the story.

All in all, this story is great with a touch of romance, but it also has a lot of depth making it a great book for high school kids as well as adults. For example, at one point in the story (pg 357-358) Trish, who Hayley hated at first but that changes slowly and she becomes a great friend/guidance.  Hayley is found telling Trish, "I'm never getting in a pool again." as a result of traumatic experience as a child.  However, Trish wisely says, "I think you will as long as you have the right lifegaurd."  I think that principle can be applied at a deeper level.  We can't avoid the hard, but others can definitely help us overcome it.

There is some language, drug use, and underage drinking but it is all in context.  

Amazon had the following book review: 

"Hayley is the daughter of a veteran, and his PTSD colors every aspect of their lives. After serving his country, Andy is trying to rebuild some stability for himself and his daughter, but each day is a challenge for them both. Hayley lives with the constant threat of her father harming himself or others while also dealing with feelings of abandonment after essentially losing her parental figures. She copes through snark and skepticism but begins to let her guard down when her charming, easygoing classmate, Finn, gives her a much-needed taste of normal teenage life. A relationship with Finn opens the door to the possibility of trusting again, but it's not easy. Through Hayley's tenuous search for balance, Anderson explores the complicated nature of perception and memory, and how individuals manage to carry on after experiencing the worst. Readers will be thoroughly invested in this book's nuanced cast of characters and their struggles. Hayley's relatable first-person narration is interspersed with flashbacks of Andy's brutal war experiences, providing a visceral look at his inner demons. The endearing Finn and Hayley's bubbly best friend, Gracie, add levity to the narrative, even as they, too, grapple with their own problems. With powerful themes of loyalty and forgiveness, this tightly woven story is a forthright examination of the realities of war and its aftermath on soldiers and their families. One of Anderson's strongest and most relevant works to date."

The Impossible Knife of Memory is a great read.  You'll enjoy the depth in this story and the quirky and relatable characters.  I'm pretty sure high school (9th and up) girls especially, but boys as well, will enjoy this read and could really learn and grow from reading it.

Happy Reading! 

As always, any thoughts on the book?  

The Last Lecture gets 4.5 Stars

My husband and I took a weekend trip to California without the kiddos.  It was fabulous to spend time just as a couple (marriage maintenance as my parents refer to these trips as), not have to worry about nap times, and going for a run as a couple without having to push a stroller.

The drive alone is fabulous as well.  It's so wonderful to just be able to talk as adults and not have to turn around to pass snacks, toys, or put out fires between the kiddos.

A car trip without kids means we can also listen to an audiobook.  This is super exciting for us! 

We gave The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch a listen to, and we both thoroughly enjoyed it.  
I give The Last Lecture 4.5 out of 5 stars.   It's a great book with great life lessons.  The Last Lecutre is a great discussion book that men and women, young and old, will enjoy equally.  As fair warning, it is a bit touching and emotional at times as you easily relate to it.  I totally cried at points, but even my husband (who seriously never cries) mentioned how he was having a hard time listening to Pausch talk about his kids and missing them since he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and given only months to live. . Therefore, this book can touch everyone, even the not so emotional men like my husband. 

The only reason this book lost half of a star was b/c at times I wasn't completed riveted with this non-fiction/memoir read.  However, even with my pickiness with the rating system I will say that this book is a fabulous book.  

I would actually recommend this book to men and women high school to adult.  It would also make a great gift for a recent high school or college graduate.  The lessons learned in this book is applicable to anyone at any stage.  

This book is full of more than 50 small life lessons.  Those short life lessons allow you as a reader to read and listen to it a little bit, go away, and then come back at a later date to read more.  You aren't going to impact your comprehension of the book b/c of the short lesson format.  This is helpful for the reluctant reader aka the one that doesn't love or have a habit of reading. 

This short lesson/stories format is great as an audio book and for someone that wants to listen to something at home between lots of activity or for commuting to work.  A bonus is the audio book reader is fabulous as well.  

I don't love all audio books, but I do think readers are improving b/c I haven't had any qualms with an audio book version of a book for years.

Amazon had the following book description that helps you understand the background of the story.

"A lot of professors give talks titled "The Last Lecture." Professors are asked to consider their demise and to ruminate on what matters most to them. And while they speak, audiences can't help but mull the same question: What wisdom would we impart to the world if we knew it was our last chance? If we had to vanish tomorrow, what would we want as our legacy?

When Randy Pausch, a computer science professor at Carnegie Mellon, was asked to give such a lecture, he didn't have to imagine it as his last, since he had recently been diagnosed with terminal cancer. But the lecture he gave--"Really Achieving Your Childhood Dreams"--wasn't about dying. It was about the importance of overcoming obstacles, of enabling the dreams of others, of seizing every moment (because "time is all you have...and you may find one day that you have less than you think"). It was a summation of everything Randy had come to believe. It was about living.

In this book, Randy Pausch has combined the humor, inspiration and intelligence that made his lecture such a phenomenon and given it an indelible form. It is a book that will be shared for generations to come.

"We cannot change the cards we are dealt, just how we play the hand." --Randy Pausch"

This book is great, and a book that you can refer to and read over and over again to be reminded of the important lessons that we should apply to our lives.   

Below are a few of my favorite lessons from Pausch: 

"Luck is indeed where preparation meets opportunity." 

"Complaining does not work as a strategy. Whining does nothing." 

"Give your kids permission to dream. Help fuel their dreams as well." 

"The best short cut in life is only two words... work hard."

 Those are just a few of the 50+ lessons learned from The Last Lecture.  All around it is full of great advice that makes you really think and want to improve in your personal life, as a parent, and in your career.  

This last lecture is a book that is worth the little time it'll take to read/listen to.  Go check it out for your next road trip or free time you can find.

Happy inspiring reading!   

Everyone Loves a Great Audiobook

Audiobooks are fabulous!  I love listening to them as I run, drive, pack (like my sister or friend have to do this week), or just clean around the house.  I love being able to "read" aka hear a story and still do other things at the same time.  Audiobooks are the ultimate book lovers multi-tasking tool! 

If you haven't gotten into the fabulousness of audiobooks you really should.  

Today I'm giving you the low down on audiobooks... when they are helpful, where to get them, and the best audiobooks around aka which ones to avoid so you don't go crazy while listening to them.

When are audiobooks helpful? 

If you struggle with the old English writing like Dickens, Bronte, or Austen but you want to read a "classic" try listening to it.  The reader will help you get by the language/writing of that time period and get into the story.  I found many books like Persuasion by Jane Austen can be found online for free  including on YouTube, or for a free download.  Therefore, you can listen at home or whenever is convenient.    

Children and beginning/early readers can HUGELY benefit from listening to an audiobook as well.  If you have a child who struggles to read or doesn't enjoy it b/c it's hard then try having the child listen to the audiobook as they follow along in text.  This is a great benefit to the kids.  They will learn what good reading sounds like, they can be independent and "read" a story on their own, and their comprehension will improve as well because they are listening as well as "reading"/looking a the text.  There are a ton of children's audiobooks for free, YouTube has MagicTreehouse books read for free as well as numerous other sites.  

As surprising as this fact may be... I LOVE to bake, and I LOVE to eat the food I bake.  Seriously, I go on vacation and am disappointed by the hard or flavorless treats I get in a bakery.  I love baking and eating so I have to balance out that love with exercising.  I love to exercise.  When I go on long training runs or long races I love to listen to audiobooks.  A few months ago I ran my first Ragnar Relay.  I ended up listening to The Five Love Languages of Children and thoroughly enjoyed all of my runs b/c I could listen to a fun book with an interesting concept.

Audiobooks are helpful and useful tools for a multitude of purposes and reasons.  

Where can you get audiobooks?

Obviously, your Local Library has CD audiobooks for your next roadtrip.  They also have programs like OverDrive that let you download it to your phone, Tablet, e-reader like Kindle/iPad, iPod, or MP3 player.  Lots of choices here and they are all FREE!

YouTube as I listed and linked above has a TON of audiobooks on there that you can listen to while you are at home.  You could listen to it on your Smart Phone as well, but it may eat your battery and data. 

iTunes has many classic books (with the copyright no longer valid) that are free, like this Persuasion one. You can also buy books there; the price varies though from quite affordable to a bit pricey.  However, for a last minute audiobook purchase for a race or drive the next day, I found the cost bearable.   

Amazon is a clear "go to" place as well.  You can buy audio cds, or even download files directly to your kindle.  When you look up a book just be sure to see what version (Kindle, paperback, hardback, Audio CD) you are buying.  Some of the books you have to specifically type in Audiobook, and some are connected with the books other versions/formats.  

There are some books with Amazon where you can listen to the book with a free Audible App on your kindle or Android phone.  This Persuasion book/audio illustrates that concept.   

As always, you can easily Google books and audiobooks to find other books.  You can google "free audiobooks" and find lots of generic ones, but I prefer to type the title of the book I am looking for and audiobook to see what options I have.  

Personally, the library is my first choice and Google searches are my last, but these options above should leave you well equiped/knowledgeable in the "Where to get/find audiobooks" department. 

Finally, 

What are the BEST Audiobooks to Listen/Read? 

Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card 

This is a great sci-fi action book for anyone with middle school kids and up.  My husband LOVED listening to this one on a road trip with just the two of us.

The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch 

This is a fabulous  non-fiction book for adults and college students.  It has a lot of life lessons that leave you really thinking. 

For my thoughts/review click here. 

Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling

From my blog title (a spell "To Open" in the Harry Potter books) you may notice that I am a pretty big HP fan.  The reader for the Harry Potter series is fabulous.  This book series is great for elementary kids and up.  Though, the later books in the series may be better for older kids.  Adults will love this series as well!

Divergent by Veronica Roth 

An action filled Young Adult (YA) dystopian book that is enjoyed by boys and girls as well as the young and old.  B/c of the action in this book it is probably best suited for teens and up.   I have a good friend that loves this audiobook for her half-marathon races.  

Freakonomics by Steven D. Levitt 

A fascinating social sciences type of book that leaves you thinking about things in a different light.  Teenagers to adults could enjoy this, but the adults probably enjoy this non-fiction book the most. 

The Giver by Lois Lowry 

This book hits theaters late summer/early fall.  It's a fabulous dystopian classic with a great reader for this book that middle school kids and up will enjoy. 

The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis 

A great classic fantasy series for the whole family to enjoy. 

From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler by E.L Konigsburg 

This is a fabulous book and one I dearly love.  Living in a museum sounds wonderful and fascinating!  The whole family can enjoy this classic. 

How to Train Your Dragon by Cressida Cowell 

David Tennant is the reader and he is amazing.  This is also a really fun fantasy book series the entire family can enjoy. 

Roald Dahl books read by the author

These books are fabulous, funny, and the whole family will thoroughly enjoy them.  I love that they are read by Roald Dahl as well.  How fun to hear the author read them! 

A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle

An absolute classic that if you or your children have not read or listened to (at least the first one) you should.  Your whole family will enjoy this classic. 

Classics like The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas 

This one is super long, but the version read by Bill Homewood is the best.  I love classics for audiobooks b/c if your children have not read them, this may be the only opportunity they get to hear the awesome story.  This book is fabulous and teenagers and older will love it! 

To be honest, any book that you really love/like is probably a good audiobook.  Lately, I have found the readers to be quite good, and I haven't had any qualms with any audiobook readers I've listened too.  

 However, as a disclaimer stay away from dramatized readings, unless you are the dramatic type.   I feel the dramatized versions are way too distracting to really hear the story; They drive me crazy!  

Lastly, if you still need more ideas of good books to listen/read check out my Books Page for all of my book lists and book reviews.  There are plenty of good ones there! 

Do you have a favorite audio book?  I'd love to hear what it is. 

8 Books to Read if you Liked The Fault in Our Stars

Have you read The Fault in Our Stars?  I liked it a lot and gave it 5 out of 5 stars; for more on my thoughts of the book click here.

The movie, The Fault in Our Stars just came out last weekend.  Have you seen it yet?  Did you love it?  Did it follow the book?  I have not seen it yet, but I do hope to very very soon.  I at least hope to see it in the theaters and not wait until Redbox which it ends up I am doing for Divergent. 

If you liked, enjoyed, and/or loved The Fault in Our Stars (TFIOS) then you should check out these eight books.  They are fabulous as well.

8 Books to Read AFTER The Fault in Our Stars

The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks by E.Lockhart  

This book is witty, funny, and clean with a strong female character really showing the older guys at the boarding school a thing or two in the art of pranks.  This book is a great girl power book. I love it!

What Happened to Goodbye by Sarah Dessen 

A 17 year old dealing with the divorce of her parents reinvents herself every town she moves to with her dad.  A story that is relatable, engaging, and all around fun to read.

For my thoughts/review click here. 

Looking for Alaska by John Green 

Another great one by Green.  Though, this one is about a boarding school, a nerdy boy and an out of his league girl, first love, and some tough subjects like suicide.  There is reference and/or instances of smoking, sex, underage drinking, and language in the content.

Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson 

An emotional novel about two teenage girls, that used to be childhood friends, who both struggle with eating disorders.  It’s raw and compelling and even disturbing/tough to read at times, but a great novel about a tough subject.

If I Stay by Gayle Forman

A little slow at first but a compelling novel about a girl in a coma that has to decide to deal with the grief and stay or join the rest of her family in death. Coming to theaters August 22^nd.

Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson

 A powerful novel about a girl who has a traumatic experience that completely changes her.  You’ll empathize with the main character and be completely drawn into the story and the strength she exhibit.

A Walk to Remember by Nicholas Sparks

An oldie, but falls along the same lines as TFIOS with the whole heart wrenching love story.  

Me Before You by Jojo Moyes 

This moving romantic novel is thought provoking and you really become involved in the characters lives and experiences just like TFIOS.    

Summer Reading Book Lists for Twelfth (12th) and College Students

I love summer!  I love having no school, or fewer classes at least if your in college during summer term.  I love the warmth.  I love the pool, beach, or boat time.  I love the sunshine, and I love reading.

The summertime is a great time to read.  It's a time to read books for fun and truly enjoy what reading is and can be all about.

The past several weeks I've given you loads of reasons to read.  I've given scientific research as well as down right a teacher/librarian begging you to get your kids reading during the summer so they don't lose too much knowledge.

I personally think reading is fun, though I didn't always feel that way.  I actually hated reading until my senior year in college.  I personally think everyone can feel that reading is fun and enjoyable with the right book in his or her hand.  It doesn't matter if you are young or old.

The following book lists have many of those "right books" and they are for all different ages.  As always read from whatever list you want.  The reading level doesn't matter.  What is important is that you are excited about the choice you are making and the book you are reading.

Here are book lists published earlier with loads of fabulous books on them:

• Summer Reading Book Lists for Kids Going Into 10th and 11th Grade
• Summer Reading Book Lists for Kids Going Into 8th and 9th Grade
• Summer Reading Book Lists for Kids Going Into 6th and 7th Grade
• Summer Reading Book Lists for Kids Going Into 4th and 5th Grade
• Summer Reading Book Lists for Kids Going Into 2nd and 3rd Grade
• Summer Reading Book Lists for Kids Going Into Kindergarten and 1st Grade

Below is the Summer Reading Book Lists for Kids Going Into 12th Grade and College Students b/c let's be honest it's easy to not read anything fun when you are a Senior in high school or in College.  However, we all know we should, and reading for fun is a lot more enjoyable than textbooks every are.

The books below all range from historical fictions, to thought provoking fictions, fun non-fiction, light but enjoyable realistic fictions, and all around fantastically written books.  Check them out.

For Kids Going Into...

12^th Grade

Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys 

This book may be a tough subject matter, but it is not your typical WWII book.  It's a very good book for boys and girls, but it is sad. 

For my thoughts/review click here. 

What Happened to Goodbye by Sarah Dessen

A great Dessen book with a relatable subject matter for this age group especially.  Light and enjoyable read, but it is a book with depth as well.  Girls will be drawn to this book more than boys. 

For my thoughts/review click here. 

The Book Thief by Marcus Zusak

A movie based on this book came out in December, but the writing in this book is fabulous and it really should be read by boys and girls.  

Outliers by Malcom Gladwell

A fun non-fiction book with plenty of different sociology studies to talk about and discuss.  Fascinating book both boys and girls will enjoy. 

Nineteen Minutes by Jodi Picoult 

A thought provoking book for boys and girls that gives a different perspective we may not always consider in the situation.  However, the subject matter, about a school shooting, may be tough for some people. 

For my thoughts/review click here.

Fast Food Nation by Eric Scholosser

A fabulous eye-opening non-fiction book for both boys and girls. 

Looking for Alaska by John Green 

Green is a great author, and this book won a Printz Award b/c it is a fabulous book.  However, there is some language, drugs, and sex mentioned in the book.  Both boys and girls can enjoy Green's books.  

For Kids Going Into or In...

College

The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon

Fabulous and unique fiction book with a fabulous setting and story line that boys and girls can enjoy.  There is some adult content,  alcohol as well as sex mentioned but not graphic. 

  

Unbroken by Lara Hillenbrand

A great historical fiction book for boys and girls that will most definitely inspire you.  It's also set to have a movie based on it soon.  

The Five People You Meet in Heaven by Mitch Albom

A quick and short read that is just all around interesting.  Both boys and girls will enjoy this one.

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

A classic that girls will enjoy most.  The old English writing style may be hard for some to get into, but it gets easier and it is most definitely worth it.  The story is fabulous!  A great summer reread if you've already read it.  

Bonus for poor college students, this book is a free book on your e-reader b/c it's an older book.  

The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch

A wonderful and inspiring read for everyone.  It's a quick read as well, so you can get it done in a weekend. 

Midwinterblood by Marcus Sedgwick

An interesting book,that won the Printz, that is well written and enjoyable for boys and girls.  It's not what you will expect, but it's well worth a read this summer. 

For my thoughts/review click here. 

A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens

A classic that everyone should read at least once.

Another free book on your e-reader as well!

Happy Reading!  Summertime is a wonderful time to pick up a good book!

MeganRuth