Except for the People You Meet in Books

Gary sent me a request last week for my summer reading list. I told him it would take me a few days to comprise one (sorry!), but it's so hard to choose from all the books I've read that are different from last year's list. (See June of last summer...)

Anyway, here we go.

1. Escape! The Story of the Great Houdini by Sid Fleischman. Harry Houdini (not his real name) was a famous escape artist back at the turn of the century (no, not that century, the one before--you know, the 1900's). The one thing about this book which sets it apart from other biographies is that it does a great, and funny, job of showing Houdini's brash, smiling, and cocky personality. You can't help but dislike him for it, but he's the guy you love to hate.

2. Time Bike by Jane Langton. When I first saw this book, I assumed it was dumb. A bike that you can hop on and ride around through time. How "unique". But what I got instead was a really good book with a lot of heart. Yes, it is about a bicycle that you can ride through time, but it's about so much more than that. It's got a nice family feel to it without getting hokey, and I found out later that this book is actually a continuation (but not a sequel, per se) to the story of the family in the book The Yearling. I had never read that book, but I know a lot of other people have. This book is self-contained enough to think that it's just about the same family. A lot like how you can read most of the DOLs from this year and they're a story by themselves, while remaining tied to the rest of them. Anyway, great book! Seriously.

3. My Side of the Mountain by Jean Craighead George. This one has similar themes to Hatchet, which of course the boys read this year. This book is a little older (but not too much) and I would say a bit more optimistic from the get-go instead of having to achieve it through the character's hardship. Sam Gribley is a scrappy little guy who just wants to get out of the city, and so that's what he does. I've been told a few times before, including Brock this year, that this book is actually better than Hatchet, and can see why people would say that.

4. The Tent by Gary Paulsen. This is one of my favorite books of the late 90's. A boy and his con-artist father go around preaching in tent revivals in small towns all across America. As the people are encouraged to give more and more, the man and his son enjoy a better and better lifestyle. The son and eventually his dad, who in his way is trying to give his son a better life, have to deal with their consciences and eventually make a decision. This book does delve into some religious issues, much more than other Paulsen books, so be warned. But it comes out on the positive side.

5. Tadpole by Ruth White. This is such a good book. The bluegrass music loving part of me cannot sing the praises of this book loudly (nor flatly) enough. A widow and her daughters are living in 1950's Kentucky when an orphan boy enters their life, having run away from his new parents. He brings spunk and fun into their house, and the story gets started there. Before this spring, I would have recommended this book to the girls. Now, after having read The Seven Wonders of Sassafras Springs with four boys and seeing them enjoy it, I would now recommend this book to boys and girls. This is kind of similar in theme to Maniac Magee, except more folksy. Love that book.


Okay, so this is the first half of my summer reading list. The second half will come tomorrow. Start up your neighborhood summer reading book clubs now!