Summer Reading Suggestions From My 8 & 13 Year Old Kids

My girls as... Masterpiece Theater hosts? Not sure, but they're obviously ready to do some reading!

This summer we've been making weekly trips to the library, and my darling daughters have really racked up the frequent reader pages (so to speak). This is par for the course for my 13 year old, who has always been an avid reader, but it's the first time that my 8 year old seems to be getting as excited about reading!

I always let them roam the library and choose books on their own. (Although I'm not totally hands-off, I will make suggestions from time to time.) I've been pleased with what my 13 year old has been reading (which includes some old favorites she's re-reading as well as some new discoveries and challenges) and completely thrilled with what my 8 year old is reading--especially since her choices this summer have inspired her to stay up late reading in bed, and to check out more and more books by the same author or in the same series.

Here's what my girls have been enjoying this summer:

The Little Acorn Girl

Once upon a time there was a girl who collected acorns and left them in a basket on the porch. 

The birds came to eat the acorns while the girl sat and watched. Soon she found she could understand the birds' whistles and songs; and so she watched and listened until the birds came to love her and visited for herself, and not just the acorns. Eventually the birds loved her so much that they each gave her a feather from their own wings until she had enough for wings of her own. 

Then, the little acorn girl put on the wings, spread her arms, and flew.

Book Review: "The Age of Miracles" by Karen Thompson Walker

 

In A Nutshell

Adolescence or the Apocalypse, it’s hard to say which experience is more traumatic; but The Age of Miracles handles them both with a deft—if somewhat emotionally distant—talent.

The Whole Enchilada

Something about adolescence begs to be compared to the end of the world as we know it. In fact, when it comes to coming-of-age novels they seem to fall into one of two categories: disturbing dystopian post-apocalyptic, or sentimentally earnest and understanding true-to-life renditions. It’s easy to understand why this is; after all, it’s hard to look back on adolescence with any kind of objectivity. What with the raging hormones, the parade of first discoveries, the fear of/struggle for independence, and the cutthroat social wrangling, comparing adolescence to an apocalypse actually seems generous. 

The Busy Parent’s Guide to Finding More Time to Read

The end of the year is very hard for me as a reader: My calendar suddenly gets full, I’m trying to finish up projects I’ve had going for too many months, there’s shopping to do, etc. As if all this wasn’t bad enough, this is the time of year when everyone publishes their “Best Books of the Year” lists. The Millions’ Year in Reading 2011 has been particularly devastating to my TBR list this year, not to mention to my self-confidence as a reader. How did I miss all these great books? What have I been doing with all that time I could have spent reading?

I know I’m not the only one feeling this way, and it’s time to take some action. Let’s take back the book! Who’s with me?! 

I have to warn you that it won’t be easy. I know this sounds antithetical, but making time to read requires some sacrifice. You’re going to have to be disciplined. You’re going to have to enlist the help of your family. But most of all, you’re going to have to give yourself permission.  Here we go...