All Summer Long - Young Adult Novels Set in Summer

From far away travels to scavenger hunts, these books have all you need to get you in the mood for some summer fun! Summaries are from Goodreads.

I See London, I See France by Sarah Mlynowski

Nineteen-year-old Sydney has the perfect summer mapped out. She’s spending the next four and half weeks traveling through Europe with her childhood best friend, Leela. Their plans include Eiffel-Tower selfies, eating cocco gelato, and making out with très hot strangers. Her plans do not include Leela’s cheating ex-boyfriend showing up on the flight to London, falling for the cheating ex-boyfriend’s très hot friend, monitoring her mother’s spiraling mental health via texts, or feeling like the rope in a friendship tug-of-war. As Sydney zigzags through Amsterdam, Switzerland, Italy, and France, she must learn when to hold on, when to keep moving, and when to jump into the Riviera…wearing only her polka-dot underpants.

Since You've Been Gone by Morgan Matson

It was Sloane who yanked Emily out of her shell and made life 100% interesting. But right before what should have been the most epic summer, Sloane just…disappears. All she leaves behind is a to-do list. On it, thirteen Sloane-inspired tasks that Emily would normally never try. But what if they could bring her best friend back?

- Apple picking at night? Okay, easy enough.

- Dance until dawn? Sure. Why not?

- Kiss a stranger? Um...

- Go skinny-dipping? Wait...what?

Emily now has this unexpected summer, and the help of Frank Porter (totally unexpected), to check things off Sloane's list. Who knows what she’ll find?

99 Days by Katie Cotugno

Molly Barlow is facing one long, hot summer—99 days—with the boy whose heart she broke and the boy she broke it for . . . his brother.

Day 1: Julia Donnelly eggs my house my first night back in Star Lake, and that’s how I know everyone still remembers everything. She has every right to hate me, of course: I broke Patrick Donnelly’s heart the night everything happened with his brother, Gabe. Now I’m serving out my summer like a jail sentence: Just ninety-nine days till I can leave for college and be done.

Day 4: A nasty note on my windshield makes it clear Julia isn’t finished. I’m expecting a fight when someone taps me on the shoulder, but it’s just Gabe, home from college and actually happy to see me. “For what it’s worth, Molly Barlow,” he says, “I’m really glad you’re back.”

We Were Liars by E. Lockhart

A beautiful and distinguished family.
A private island.
A brilliant, damaged girl; a passionate, political boy.
A group of four friends—the Liars—whose friendship turns destructive.
A revolution. An accident. A secret.
Lies upon lies.
True love.
The truth.

This Is What Happy Looks Like by Jennifer E. Smith

When teenage movie star Graham Larkin accidentally sends small town girl Ellie O'Neill an email about his pet pig, the two seventeen-year-olds strike up a witty and unforgettable correspondence, discussing everything under the sun, except for their names or backgrounds.

Then Graham finds out that Ellie's Maine hometown is the perfect location for his latest film, and he decides to take their relationship from online to in-person. But can a star as famous as Graham really start a relationship with an ordinary girl like Ellie? And why does Ellie want to avoid the media's spotlight at all costs?

Book Discussion Kits: Part 4, grades 4 and up

Posted by Staff

Each of our new youth book kits contains 10 copies of a book, a series of discussion questions and a box in which to carry everything.  The kits can be checked out for three weeks with two renewals. The person checking out the kit is responsible for all items and they must be returned together. Although the kits were prepared with educators in mind, they are a perfect fit for bookclubs and family book discussions ... and summer reading projects.  

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl Age 9 and up.  Willy Wonka's famous chocolate factory is opening at last!  Each of five children lucky enough to discover an entry ticket into Mr. Willy Wonka's mysterious chocolate factory takes advantage of the situation in his own way. One of them is Charlie Bucket, Our Hero, a boy who is honest and kind, brave and true, and good and ready for the wildest time of his life!

The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart   Age 9 and up.  "Are you a gifted child looking for special opportunities?" ad attracts dozens for mind-bending tests readers may try. Only two boys and two girls succeed for a secret mission, undercover and underground into hidden tunnels. At the Learning Institute for the Very Enlightened, the only rule is - there are no rules.

Frindle by Andrew Clements  Age 9 and up.  He really just likes to liven things up at school -- and he's always had plenty of great ideas. When Nick learns some interesting information about how words are created, suddenly he's got the inspiration for his best plan ever...the frindle. Who says a pen has to be called a pen? Why not call it a frindle? Things begin innocently enough as Nick gets his friends to use the new word. Then other people in town start saying frindle.

The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin  Age 12 and up.  A bizarre chain of events begins when sixteen unlikely people gather for the reading of Samuel W. Westing's will. And though no one knows why the eccentric, game-loving millionaire has chosen a virtual stranger - and a possible murderer - to inherit his vast fortune, one things' for sure: Sam Westing may be dead... but that won't stop him from playing one last game!

Among the Hidden by Margaret Peterson Haddix  Age 12 and up.  In a future where the Population Police enforce the law limiting a family to only two children, Luke has lived all his life in isolation and fear on his family's farm, until another "third" convinces him that the government is wrong.  A great sci-fi story with themes of population control, friendship and ethics. 

Steampunk: Part 3, Graphic Novels

Alphonse de Neuville, Captain Nemo from 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, 1863

Posted by Alana T.

Perhaps some of the most interesting Steampunk inspired works have been created as graphic novels.  Not only do you get the basic ideas behind the genre (view post #1 and #2), but you get fantastic illustrations as well.  Many titles are geared (pun intended) toward the young adult audience, but the themes are often quite serious.  Try any of the following for a visual and intellectual feast.

Flight (The Amulet Series) by Kazu Kibuishi.  Two children move to an ancestral house that has a door to another dimension; beautifully illustrated.

Lovelace and Babbage by Sydney Padua.  Originating as a Web comic (and still available as such ) this series takes an irreverent look at the lives of Ada Lovelace (Lord Byron's daughter & a mathematician) and Charles Babbage (mathematician/inventor).

The Amazing Screw on Head and Hellboy by Mike Mignola.  The author describes his work as "Crazy people...involving some crazy thing, working themselves into a frenzy over it."

League of Extraordinary Gentlemen by Alan Moore and Kevin O'Neill.  If you hated the movie, try the originals - much better!

Grandville by Bryan Talbot.  Imagine Sherlock Holmes with animal characters and robots everywhere... dark and fun!

And the Winners Are..

Posted by Staff

The ALA announced the winners for this year's awards for children's literature.  You may be familiar with the Caldecott and Newberry, but there are a number of others; all celebrate the diverse world of children's books.  There are too many awards and books to list here; please follow the links to learn more. Whether you have kids at home, or are just young at heart, all of these books deserve a read.  Request one today.

The Caldecott Medal was named in honor of 19th century illustrator Randolph Caldecott and is awarded annually to the artist of the most distinguished American picture book (former winners). The 2012 winner is A Ball for Daisy, written and illustrated by Chris Raschka.  Honor Winners are Blackout, written and illustrated by John Rocco, and Grandpa Green, written and illustrated by Lane Smith.

The Geisel Medal is given annually to the author(s) and illustrator(s) of the most distinguished American book for beginning readers published in English in the U.S. during the preceding year (former winners). The 2012 winner isTales for Very Picky Eaters, written and illustrated by Josh Schneider.  Honor winners are I Broke My Trunk, written and illustrated by Mo Willems, I Want My Hat Back, written and illustrated by Jon Klassen and See Me Run, written and illustrated by Paul Meisel. 

The Newbery Medal is awarded annually to the author of the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children (former winners).  The 2012 winner is Dead End in Norvelt by Jack Gantos.  Honor winners are Inside Out & Back Again by Thanhha Lai and Breaking Stalin's Nose by Eugene Yelchin.  The Newbery Medal was named for eighteenth-century British bookseller John Newbery.

The Sibert Medal is awarded annually to the most distinguished informational book published in the U.S. in English during the preceding year (former winners).  The 2012 winner is Balloons over Broadway:  The True Story of the Puppeteer of Macy’s Parade by Melissa Sweet.  Honor winners are Drawing from Memory, written and illustrated by Allen Say, Black & White:  The Confrontation between Reverend Fred L. Shuttlesworth and Eugene ‘Bull’ Connor, written by Larry Dane Brimne, The Elephant Scientist, written by Caitlin O’Connell and Donna M. Jackson, photographs byCaitlin O’Connell and Timothy Rodwelland and Witches!:  The Absolutely True Tale of Disaster in Salem written and illustrated by Rosalyn Schanzerand.

Other awards include the Batchelder Award, the Belpré Medal, the Carnegie Medal, the Odyssey Award and the Wilder Award.

10 Must Reads for Adults From the Children's Library

Posted by Dani G.

If you are an adult without children, you may often forget that the library has a downstairs as well! We come across so many amazing stories down here that we want to share and remind others that you really can enjoy these books at any age. So each month we will do a spotlight on a section of the children's library with recommended books. Go on now and pick one up! I bet you will be pleasantly surprised. 

May:Teen Literature

From edgy to exciting and everywhere in-between.

Anne W.: Life as We Knew It by Susan by Beth Pfeffer: Tells the story of what would happen if a major natural disaster affected the entire planet.

Zach H.: Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins:Dystopian fiction at its best. Flows well. 

Katherine R.: The Book Thief by Martin Zusak: Facinating book. Narrated by Death!

Deanne H.: Dicey's Song by Cynthia Voigt: Wonderful book about troubled family relationships and finding love in unexpected places.

Dani G.: What it is by Lynda Barry: This book explores the idea of stifling creativity once we feel we are not talented. It encourages expressing yourself, even through doodling!

Ike D.: Yay, you! by Sandra Boynton: Great gift for anyone transitioning to a new time in their life.

Alana T.: Feed by M.T. Anderson: In the not so distant future we'll all have the internet streaming directly into our brains. In this book, the main character ponders what this "feed" is doing to us when his girlfriends' connection goes bad.

Dani G.: How I Live Now by Meg Rosoff: The Narrator's voice is what makes this book. Her serious sense of humor and observations in the middle of a war put the story in whole new perspective.

Katherine R.: The Goose Girl by Shannon Hale: Very interesting Fantasy. The characters are wonderful.

Dani G.: 500 Great Books for Teens by Anity Silvey: This book lays it out simple. 500 great teen books that are nicely categorized and summed up for you.