Since I launched the 2013 summer reading guide, I’ve had lots of requests for the archived 2012 edition. I don’t want to flood your inboxes, but I also don’t want to leave you hanging if you’re looking for good stuff to read. So for the rest of the summer, one week at a time, I’m sharing a category from the 2012 guide.
If you haven’t yet, head here to snag your copy of this year’s summer reading guide.
3 Kid Lit picks for your summer reading list
Holes, Louis Sachar
Stanley Yelnats is a boy with a history of bad luck–all brought on by his “no-good-dirty-rotten-pig-stealing-great-great-grandfather.” Yelnats ends up at Camp Green Lake–a juvenile detention center, where there is no lake–and has to dig a giant hole every day in the hot sun. The boys soon discover there may be more to this hole-digging business than punishment.
The Search for Delicious, Natalie Babbit
Twelve-year-old Gaylen sets off to poll the kingdom about which food should stand for “delicious” in the new dictionary, but his simple quest soon reveals civil war is brewing. This is a sweet tale of a boy, his father-figure, a mermaid and a dictionary, full of magic and mystery.
The Phantom Tollbooth, Norton Juster
10-year-old Milo comes home from school one day to find a tollbooth sitting in his bedroom. Since he doesn’t have anything better to do, he pays the toll and drives through–and embarks on a strange journey into a fanciful world where he encounters all sorts of strange characters. The Phantom Tollbooth is rife with satire and word play: it’s a satisfying book that will engage both kids and adults, albeit on different levels.
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15 comments
I LOVED _The Phantom Tollbooth_ as a kids. I remember that it was one of my required summer reading books one year. I think that reading it a young kid prepared me to read books like _Catch 22_ as a high schooler! I definitely need to revisit it.
My son loved Holes…the book and the movie!
Good to know–we haven’t seen the movie yet.
We listened to the audio of Holes as a family a couple years ago. We were on a long road trip. When we made it to our hotel, we sat in the car for an extra 30 minutes to hear the end! Loads of fun for the whole family…and then you have to watch the movie.
We have a trip coming up–thanks for the tip! We could all use a break from the Little House books. They’re terrific, but a little variety wouldn’t hurt. 🙂
I love Holes! I’ve been meaning to read Phantom Tollbooth forever, and I loved Tuck Everlasting, so that Babbit book looks awesome. Keep the book recommendations coming!
Love both Search for Delicious and The Phantom Tollbooth! I am so happy when I see that we are on the “same page” about books, it is easier then for me to take a chance on one’s I don’t know.
I know what you mean–glad you’re liking the recs!
loved all of those! I read “Search for Delicious” at your recommendation this February and loved it. 🙂
I’m so glad! Thanks for letting me know. 🙂
I love Holes and Phantom Tollbooth. Looking forward to reading the Search for Delicious. Thanks for the rec!
Let me know what you think!