Summer ReReads P6

Because of Mr. Terupt trilogy by Rob Buyea

This is an absolutely heartwarming trilogy focused on a group of fith graders over the three amazing years they spend with a life changing teacher, the titular Mr. Terupt. Each have their own worries, flaws and fears from missing dads to mean girls to a class clown nature that backfires spectacularly on the boy. But with Mr. Terupt’s understanding and compassion, they all grow and start becoming friends. But can they do the same for him when the time comes for it? I highly suggest reading it. 5 stars.

Prydian Chronicles by Lloyd Alexander

Don’t watch the Disney movie is my first suggestion. They butchered and sanitized it, plain and simple. Alexander’s work here in using Welsh mythology to carve a classic hero’s tale has to be experienced wih clear eyes. He has a compelling voice as it follows Tarem, a boy who wishes to be more than a pig-sitter even if its a magical ocular pig. With his ragtag group of a sorceress scullery maid, a bumbling bard, a dwarf and said pig, they go against fearsome foes and find their true destinies. A similar book to this series is Pat O’Shea’s The Hounds of Morrigan using Celtic myths.

Bras and Broomsticks by Sarah Myslowski

This is a light fun series for teens featuring Rachel, a completely average girl. Whose mom and little sister are witches. Apparently the magic skipped her. Not that she cares. . . too much. She has more important things going on her life right now like getting her sister to use that witchy magic not to overburden herself with world peace. But help her with her untamable hair, and find a date for the spring fling. However, magic sometimes cause more mishaps than it’s worth. . . A good choice for fans of Sabrina the Teenage Witch.

Geektastic: Stories from the Nerd Herd

This anathology from various authors like Libba Bray, Garth Nix, Wendy Mass and more tackle Dnd to Rocky Horror to Buffy. All things geek that fellow nerds and fringe-interests can relate to as these heroes and heroines navigate cons and conquests.

Seaglass Summer by

This sweet summer read follows as she stays with her beloved grandfather to help out at his vet work. But soon finds that she is considered a nosy little kid by his co-workers and that you can’t help every animal that comes her way.

Bat 6 by Virginia Euwer Wolf

This book heads back to the year 1949 to the annual baseball game where tow girls baseball teams compete as they have done since it’s inception in WWI when the men were off at war. However, this game ends in bloodshed than prizes. Told from alternating perspectives from both teams to best capture the old-time feelings of post war racis, patriotism and trauma and small town divide, this worthwhile book should be read at least once.

The Candymakers by Wendy Mass

For fans of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, this tale ends a bit more happy without maimed children. Well, one maimed child but that’s part of the mystery. Four kids are selected in a candy-making contest, however each have secrets that unexpectedly tie them together. Secrets that must be revealed if they’re going to save the factory.

Remembering Raquel by Viviane Vande Velde

This book goes into an interesting topic. What happens when someone you know unepexectedly dies. Raquel was an average girl and one night after accidentally stepping (or pushed) off the curb, she gets hit by a car. Dead. It’s sudden and tragic and everyone around her struggles with the events of it from the woman who hit her to classmates who barely knew her name. It realistically deals with how we all react when confronted with mortality.

Cloaked in Red by Vivian Vande Velde

This humerous book encourages the imagination to take flight as Velde crafts ten short stories based on the famous story, making unique twists to the characters and the concept each time from focusin on the cape’s point of view to how the Brothers Grimm stumbled upon the story. It’s a lovely exercise in storytelling.

Save the Date by Morgan Matson

As well know, family occassions have a tendency to bring out the worst, the best and the choatic in people. Especially weddings. For Charlie, this big event of her beloved sister’s wedding coincides with the wedding planner being arrested for embezzlement, her fears of choosing colleges (stay home or go farther away as her friend keeps suggesting), her mom’s ending her famous comic-strip Grant Family Station (blantantly inspired by her own family’s exploits. Something one of her son does not appreciate) with news crews interviewing them all, and her brother’s best friend finally noticing her. This is a great book about family especially as Charlie’s eyes are opened to the flaws of those that she put on a pedestal and those she had long derided. Filled with fun scenes, wedding planning mishaps and lots of moving parts, this is a great read.

A similar one that I reread is Levithan/Cohn’s Sam and Ilsa’s Last Hurrah

Where Sam and Ilsa’s celebrate their graduation by using their eccentric Grandmere’s apartment for a Liberace-themed party. The guest list is blind, they each pick three guests without telling the other. Some involve exes, some involve matchmaking and everything spills over including insecurities, secrets, regrets and the bonds of family.