What We’re Reading This Summer

At Page Ahead, we spend our days thinking about how to get great books into kids’ hands. So, we asked the people who make that work possible to share a book that’s on their own nightstands this summer.

Kids learn to love reading by watching the adults around them do it. These selections are what we’re enjoying as readers, because modeling that love of reading is part of how we build a culture of literacy too.

Nicole (board member) has been reading the Dungeon Crawler Carl series by Matt Dinniman. She says, “The story follows an ordinary man named Carl and his ex-girlfriend’s cat, Princess Donut, who are forced to survive a deadly, intergalactic game show after Earth is destroyed and transformed into a massive dungeon. It’s an incredibly engaging series I’ve really enjoyed diving into this summer.”

Laura (staff) just finished The Fortunes of Jaded Women by Carolyn Huynh. It’s a family dramedy about a Vietnamese family that was cursed to never find love, happiness, and to never have a son in their lineage. The story is about them trying to reconcile with each other and all the drama that comes with it after receiving news from a fortune teller that the curse will be broken this year.

Annabel (volunteer) is reading Kaho’olawe: The True Story of an Island and Her People, written by Kamalani Hurley and illustrated by Harinani Orme. This gorgeously illustrated picture book tells the story of one of the main Hawaiian Islands, Kaho’olawe, which was inhabited by Polynesian peoples for more than 1,000 years. Once World War II began, the U.S. Navy used the island as a training and test bombing site. The bombings continued until the 1990s, when Native Hawaiians and their allies convinced Congress to stop and begin a long cleanup and restoration process. Today, Kaho’olawe serves as a site for traditional Hawaiian ceremonies and a training ground for Aloha ʻĀina — the Hawaiian term for “love of the land” and environmental stewardship.

Debra (staff) read Klara and the Sun by Kazuo Ishiguro for her book group this month. She says, “Set in a not-too-distant dystopian future, this story about Klara, an Artificial Friend, and her friendship with her owner Josie, a sick teenager, is thought provoking, emotional, and a bit disconcerting. I’m excited to see this novel set as a movie this Fall!”

Lisa (staff) is currently reading The Paris Apartment by Lucy Foley, a fast-paced thriller mystery about a woman’s missing brother and the secrets of the other residents.

Darren (volunteer) has been enjoying The Plunge by Chris Ballard. He says, “It’s a recently released deep dive (pardon the pun) on cold water plunging. The author explores the physiology, health benefits, community building, and science involved in this health craze. Whether you love cold water plunging or not (and I do), you’ll see what makes these folks tick and why they swear by it. Highly recommend!”

And proof the love of reading is contagious: Darren’s daughter, Hazel, age 10, just wrapped up I Am Rebel by Ross Montgomery. She says, “It’s about a farm dog in the 1700s who goes on a thrilling adventure to find his boy, who left to join the Reds in the American Revolution. Rebel makes new friends, explores new environments, and finds his true self, all while searching for his best friend. It is sooooo good!”

Fellow young reader Annie, age 10, has been busy this summer — working her way through the Hunger Games and Selection series, Twilight, Little Women, and Anne of Green Gables. Of the Hunger Games, she says: “It is very emotional but I can’t put it down. There are really sad parts but she writes so well that I just want to keep reading. It is so good!”

A Community Pick: The Correspondent by Virginia Evans

When three members of our Page Ahead community — staff member Debra, board member Christine, and volunteer Nance — all independently recommend the same book, it’s worth paying attention. Debra describes it as a bittersweet and emotional story of a woman who has spent her life communicating through letters. “It made me think and reflect on my own life, and I highly recommend. It also motivated me to send more mail to those I love.”

Join Our Summer Reading Challenge!

We’re not the only ones reading this summer, and we want to hear from you too. Read 12 books between now and September 2, and fill out our summer reading form for a chance to win a fun prize. Whether you’re working through a stack of mysteries, rereading old favorites, or finally getting to that book on your nightstand, every title counts.