Summer Reading List 2023
A book to read on a long flight. A book to read while lying in the hammock. A book to read while relaxing on the beach. A book to read when you wish you were relaxing on the beach. A guilt-free option for entertaining your children. A new summer read for your book club. A book to complete your summer reading bingo sheet or the summer reading challenge at your library.
Whatever it is you are looking for we listed a few suggestions to get you started.
#1 Back to One, #2 Ambient Light, #3 Cinema Verite
With three books and two companion ebooks, this series will keep you reading through the summer!
“A story of complex relationships, expertly told in a memorable and beautiful read … leaves a desire to know more after the last page has been turned.”—Torey Malatia, journalist and CEO of Rhode Island Public Radio
“Captivating … I’ve never read a novel with such a twist on love.”—Sevim Whitaker, Educational Specialist
“Gavrihel’s words flow effortlessly through her pen. She has a gift and I predict that all her books will be treasures.” —Dr. Lisa Anne Wilson, University of Alabama at Birmingham
Witty and mixed-up high school senior, Rose Moon, suffers from unbridled anxiety as she struggles to cope with an increasingly jaded reality. Sarcasm, marijuana, and her best friend, Gabby Thomas, become Rose’s saving grace while trapped in a cycle of abuse with intoxicatingly handsome Devin Miller … the father of her unborn child.
“A truly great read, perfect for the summer beach bag or to binge-read all night. I could hardly put it down! Five stars!” –5-Star Amazon Review
The Making of Another Major Motion Picture Masterpiece by Tom Hanks
As a self-proclaimed member of the Tom Hanks fan club, I am excited to check out his new book!
Owner of a Lonely Heart: A Memoir by Beth Nguyen
“Owner of a Lonely Heart is a memoir about parenthood, absence, and the condition of being a refugee: the story of Beth’s relationship with her mother. Beth tells a coming-of-age story that spans her own Midwestern childhood, her first meeting with her mother, and becoming a parent herself. Vivid and illuminating, Owner of a Lonely Heart is a deeply personal story of family, connection, and belonging: as a daughter, a mother, and as a Vietnamese refugee in America.”
Wildflower Girl: A Lifelong Journey Beyond the Trail
by Dana Stewart Quinney
2019 Idaho Library Association Book of the Year Award Recipient!
Wildflower Girl is the autobiographical story of Dana Quinney, a girl who grew up in Ketchum, Idaho during the 1950s and became a field biologist.
Born to love the richness and magic of the wilds, Dana rode horses and learned to fly fish from her father, a legendary guide. She learned the names of flowers and trees, and the habits of animals that lived nearby . . . she knew what forces built the landscape she saw from her bedroom window, and grew up to find adventure in the wild places of the world.
by Robert D. Gaines and Andrew Heidelberg
The true story of Andrew Heidelberg, who against incredible barriers, became the first African-American to play previously “white” high school football in the South. The story, as told by Andrew to Robert D. Gaines, covers his childhood in the racist South, the NAACP recruitment of children to integrate the white public schools, integration by The Norfolk 17 in 1959, and Andrew’s impact when he made and ultimately starred for the Norview High School football team.
“Superb … Gaines and Heidelberg dive deeply into a fierce, rich, and soul-stirring chronicle of how a Black teen passed through a gauntlet of jeering whites to eventually become the first to integrate all-white high school football in the South … a relentlessly honest account filled with pain, triumph, inspiration and transformation.”
– Luressa Heidelberg, Andrew’s widow, author of Breaking Silence
Books for Kids (and kids at heart!)
The Chosen One and The Partnership
Facts and fantasy are woven together in this unique series that follows a young mountain goat on a big adventure. Complete scientific info about animals, habitats, and climate change you don’t want to miss this page-turning tale!
Early Reader chapter books. An adorable pup living on a farm with his other animal friends. One of my 6-year-old’s favorites!
Investigators Graphic Novel Series
Graphic novel series that follows alligator detectives as they solve silly mysteries. A new favorite of my 10-year-old!
Reading Challenges, Resources, and Activities:
11 Summer Reading Programs for Kids
10 Weeks of Summer Reading Adventures for You and Your Kids
Award-winning fiction from Hidden Shelf Publishing House
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Top 5 STEM Books For Kids: A Granddad’s Guide to Great Books for the Curious Grandchild
Rachel Wickstrom coordinates marketing at Hidden Shelf Publishing house. She’s an avid reader, master party-planner, craft enthusiast, a mom to two young boys with wildly long hair, and is married to a hospital chaplain. As an Oregon native, Rachel’s childhood memories are scented with juniper berries and the crisp mountain air of Central Oregon. She currently lives in Boise, Idaho where her days are scented with lukewarm coffee, and spilled snacks.
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