Books to Read This Summer

I am on a GREAT reading run. You know the kind where you're reading book after book after book and every one of them is a winner? I love that!

So I thought I'd share - I'd love to hear if you've read any of these, your thoughts about them, what you're enjoying, what you're enjoying, what you're hoping to read this summer, etc.

Wonder by R.J. Palacio is one of the best books I've read since Harry Potter. The story is nothing like Harry Potter, but it is powerful, captivating, wonderful book. I wrote an entire dedicated review of it a couple of months ago. Since that time, multiple friends of mine have read the book and all of them have raved about it. This is one I do not risk overselling or overhyping. Get it. Read it with your kids. You will laugh. You will cry. It will move and forever affect you, in a very, very good way. Wonder has over 1300 5-star reviews on Amazon. That is well deserved. Only twice have I ever written an author to rave about her book. This was one of those times. I feel lucky she wrote back, because she has been inundated with praise and correspondence.

Where'd You Go, Bernadette? is a hilarious, fun, and smart book. It is written by Maria Semple, who has also written for TV shows like "Arrested Development" and "Mad About You!" She is snarky and sarcastic and I laughed out loud reading this book. It is the story of Bernadette Fox, a woman who moves to Seattle with her Microsoft guru husband, and becomes so agoraphobic that a virtual assistant in India runs her most basic errands. She disappears and her 15-year-old daughter Bee pieces together clues from emails and faxes to figure out what happened. Great, fun read. I just checked and it has over 1,000 reviews and a 4.3 star rating.

I wasn't going to read this book, because when I saw the topic, I thought it would be too sad. Oh, don't get me wrong. I cried in public as I read it, but I'm so glad I read it anyway (and for the record, I laughed out loud, too). I have discovered an incredible writing talent in John Green. He writes YA (young adult) fiction and I was so impressed with his style and voice and talent that I bought another book by him before I'd even finished this one. I want more John Green! I have a feeling he's the biggest new thing in the YA genre, because many other books have him front and center as endorsing their own. He's a gem - get something by him and read it. This one in particular is being made into a film (get your tissues). He had me from page 1. Get this book and fall in love with Hazel and Augustus. Even I had a bit of a crush on Augustus by the time I'd read less than half this book. Beautiful book, phenomenal writing.

Please Ignore Vera Dietz isn't as much of a favorite of mine as the others listed so far, but it is another YA book that I just finished yesterday, and I'm glad I did. I discovered this local author in an indie book shop in a nearby town - the title and cover caught my eye, and the worker in the book store told me all about her and he was clearly impressed. When I looked her up, I was impressed with what I saw - she looks interesting, fun, and dynamic. She does a lot of workshops and multiple speaking engagements. Her books and topics all look so intriguing. I chose this one in particular because she'd won a Printz Honor for it, so I figured it would be a good place to start. It was fun to see all the local references scattered throughout the book. She covered some pretty heavy topics, and did it pretty well. I would be interested to read something else by her. I hear Ask the Passengers is a good one.

Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell is what I'm currently reading. I am a visual person, so often a book cover will grab me before I even read what the book is about. This cover is one such example (I'm a sucker for cartoon-y drawings). I had seen this book, months ago, listed as one of the top books to read this year and wrote it on my list of book ideas (the one to which I refer when I'm in a reading slump) and from then on, I saw it listed on several different lists, in Amazon emails, and online. I've read multiple reviews of it and have been intrigued by every one. I keep checking our library system and they don't have it. I knew I wanted to read it anyway and figured I'd just wait for our library to get it, but Nevillegirl's review pushed me to break down and buy it (in hardback!) and get started. I was hooked from the first page on this one, too. I am really enjoying this read. Bonus: it's set in the 80s and the music and movie/TV references are plentiful and fun!

So, my next reads are as follows (in no particular order, other than I probably will go straight to John Green, because I think he's supremely talented and it's calling to me):

An Abundance of Katherines by John Green - how great of a title is that?

Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes - because I haven't ever read it.

Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli - because I'm seeing Spinelli's name everywhere and want to see what all the fuss is about!

 The Unexpected Mrs. Pollifax by Dorothy Gilman - because I've wanted to read that for years now, so it's in the pile!

The Fantasya Treasury - because my daughter wrote it and it's one of her absolute favorite creations; I've read the first book and now would like to read part two. This is the book/manuscript she is currently shopping around to various agents.

So apparently I'm on a (great) YA kick. How about you?  

Have you read any of these?
 Are you curious to try any of them?

What are you reading this summer?