7 Books For The Summer Season
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Sweet summertime. It’s ideally a time of rest and recreation, filled with balmy, serene evenings sprinkled with blinking fireflies, memorable road trips, and leisurely days. Nowadays, summer can be almost as busy as the rest of the year, but hopefully, a somewhat slower pace of living is still the norm, and activities such as pleasure reading can be indulged.
Whether you’re a student on summer break, a member of the workforce on vacation, or parents looking for worthwhile reads for your kids, here are 7 books of different genres to add to your summer reading list.
For a classic read…
A Midsummer Night’s Dream by William Shakespeare
This is the play that gave us the immortal lines: “The course of true love never did run smooth,” and “Though she be but little, she is fierce.”
Though Shakespeare’s archaic language sometimes can be daunting, on the whole, I’ve found that this light-hearted comedy of errors, involving human folly and mischievous fairies, is relatively easy to grasp and is laugh-out-loud funny. Shakespeare’s portrayal of love and human nature is as relatable and relevant today as in the 1500s, when this play was penned.
I’ve been fortunate to both watch and be part of professional ballet productions of A Midsummer Night’s Dream. These performances were collaborations with a professional symphony playing Mendelssohn’s playful score, opera singers, as well as actors who read excerpts from the play. They were truly magical productions.
If you have the chance, don’t miss out on seeing Shakespeare’s words come to life through a live performance of the ballet or the play. It will only enhance your appreciation and enjoyment of this delightful work.
For fictional & coming-of-age books…
Summer of the Monkeys by Wilson Rawls
In the same thematic vein as Rawls’ arguably more famous novel (Where the Red Fern Grows), Summer of the Monkeys is a heartwarming, adventurous coming-of-age tale of a young boy living with his family in the Ozark Mountains.
One day, Jay Berry Lee stumbles upon a band of monkeys escaped from a traveling circus and he’s determined to trap the animals and collect the reward money. Through numerous mishaps and escapades, he learns important life lessons about family, sacrifice, and faith. This novel would be a fun choice for a summer family read-aloud.
A Ring of Endless Light by Madeleine L’Engle
This is the fourth book in L’Engle’s five-book Austin Family series, and it’s one of my favorites. During a summer visit to her ill grandfather, fifteen-year-old Vicky Austin grapples with profound questions of life, death, and love.
In this midst of confusion and heartache, she also nurtures a blossoming talent for writing poetry and discovers a wondrous, extraordinary relationship with dolphins. The natural beauty of sea and sand, the joys and pains of growing up, the grace and gift of family, the relationship between science and faith, and the mystery of eternity are threads and themes in the lovely novel.
For history & historical fiction…
Born and raised in Virginia, I’ve often felt spoiled by the fact that my home state was also the home of several of America’s founding fathers (George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, and James Monroe) and witnessed so much crucial American history.
Come summertime with its patriotic holidays, Memorial Day in late May, Flag Day on June 14th, and Independence Day on July 4th, I frequently feel drawn to read a bit of history. Therefore, to wrap up this summer reading list, here are 4 books of history or historical fiction that are both educational and entertaining.
1776 by David McCullough
If you haven’t read this book, seize these summer weeks to do so! It’s not at all a dry history book. Rather, McCullough utilizes letters and first-person sources in such a way that it almost reads as dialogue. He depicts George Washington and the Americans as well as the British not as symbols nor as distant historical figures but as human beings with faults, virtues, and idiosyncrasies. This book proffers the reader a glimpse into the people themselves in addition to the causes for which they fought.
Hamilton & Peggy!: A Revolutionary Friendship by L. M. Elliott
Elliott is one of my favorite historical fiction writers for young adults. She’s stated that the idea for this story was sparked after she saw the hit Broadway musical Hamilton!
However, Elliott’s tale swirls around Peggy Schuyler and her friendship with her future brother-in-law, Alexander Hamilton, as well as her eagerness to assist her father, General Schuyler, and contribute to the Revolutionary cause. The novel’s vibrant detail and interspersion of historic letters, written by key Revolutionary figures, beckons this history into life for the reader.
Annie, Between the States, also by L. M. Elliott
Elliott deftly illustrates the complexities of the Civil War period in American history in this young adult novel of a Southern teenage girl named Annie who finds herself in love with a Northern officer and being jailed as a Southern spy.
While never diminishing the abhorrent evil of slavery, Elliott demonstrates the complicated and, at times, conflicting allegiances and motives animating both Northern and Southern people at this fateful time. In this way, the novel rebukes the tidy boxes into which people of the 21st century too often place our forebears. It’s an entertaining and informative read for youth and adults.
Lone Survivor: The Eyewitness Account of Operation Redwing and the Lost Heroes of SEAL Team 10 by former Navy Seal Marcus Lutrell
This is a gripping recounting of Lutrell’s struggle for survival in the unforgiving environment of Afghanistan after a mission goes horrifically wrong. This book, which was also made into a film starring Mark Wahlberg in 2013, puts into perspective the magnitude of the sacrifice of those fighting to defend freedom. Reader warning: strong language and graphic violence throughout.
In short…
If you find yourself with some free time on your hands this summer, do yourself a favor and crack open one of these remarkable books. You won’t regret the decision.
