In Which I Somewhat Conquer Summer Reading

This summer I challenged myself to read ten books. Ten books doesn't seem like much (...it really isn't) but as I have so many things going on this summer, including being in a local play production, going to summer camp, and getting my driver's permit, ten seems like a mountain...one which I am slowly, slowly climbing.

Today I'll give you a brief overview of the books I have read thus far, and what I thought of them...whether good reviews or bad ones. All photo credits go to goodreads.com. :)

#1: The Day the World Came to Town: 9/11 in Gander, Newfoundland by Jim McFede

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I had heard that this book was a comfort read, which may surprise you, because it's centered around one of the most horrific days in U.S. history. The book begins with 38 jets, all of which were flying into the U.S. on the day of the attack, and how they were detoured to Gander, Newfoundland because they weren't allowed back into the States. This is a book not about the horrid events of 9/11, but about the hospitality and kindness of Gander residents; how people opened their homes to complete strangers and gave them everything that they needed, even if it meant a sacrifice of some type.

The reason that I give this book three stars is not for its topic or contents, but for how it was written. The author is very obviously a journalist, not a novel-writer, and the entire thing reads almost like a long magazine article instead of a biography. There were facts sprinkled throughout that were not entirely necessary to the plotline, and a lot of repetitive parts. The editing was also choppy and it was sometimes hard to make out what was being said. But over all, the story was cozy and cute.

#2: The Shape of Thunder by Jasmine Warga

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This was a middle-grade book I picked up to read not only because it sounded interesting, but because I'd read and loved Other Words for Home by the same author. The story is told from two girls' points of view--one whose sister was killed in a school shooting the previous fall, and the other whose brother was the killer. The girls had used to be best friends, but had not spoken to one another since the incident happened. They begin to reluctantly reunite over one common goal: to go back in time and save both of their siblings.

This book, however, is not a book about time travel or fantasy. It's a book about forgiveness, reconciliation, and learning to move on even through vast amounts of grief and confusion. This story tugged at my very heartstrings. But somehow, even though she was dealing with a very rough topic, Warga manages to keep this book completely middle-grade worthy and acceptable for children to read. Really, the only content label that this book holds is the logistic of what it's shaped around: a school shooting. This book was beautiful, and though not fully developed at times, worth the read.

#3: The Last Bookshop in London by Madeline Martin

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This was a great summer read and I cannot recommend enough. It had the read of a modern title, but the soul of a very classic. The story opens when the heroine, Grace, moves to London with her best friend Vivian, hoping to start a new and glamorous life. But soon after they arrive, World War II begins, and Grace's bookshop-keeping life is torn to shambles with the sounds of bombings. Her eyes are opened to the pain around her, but also to the beauty, and this is truly a lovely story filled with both. For a book about war, it's fairly clean, but there are mentions of gore, and there is death woven throughout. I'm fairly sensitive, however, and there was nothing that made me cringe too terribly.

The characters are wonderful, the plot twists are unexpected, and the suspense is bound to keep you chapters past where you expected to stop. Please, if you click on the link, resist clicking on the one-star reviews. I'm tempted to march over to that one lady's house and pull the book out of her wastebasket. This was probably my favorite off of this list; I would love to meet Ms. Martin and tell her so. :D

#4: A Long Way Home by Saroo Brierley

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This is just an extraordinary story. At the age of five, Saroo got lost in a small train station in India. He accidentally travelled to Kolkata, where he was taken to an orphanage and adopted by an Australian family. Twenty-five years later, by the magic of Google Earth, he happened to find his tiny village and travel back to find what had happened to his family and home. It's only then that he realized what a miracle he had lived out as a small child and how much danger he had barely escaped.

The one thing that my heart screamed while reading this was, "Gosh darn it, this should point to Jesus!" This story is truly a miracle in every way, and Saroo tells it as such, but never points to our wonderful God who worked all of it out. It's almost hard to read as a Christian, knowing that such a miraculous journey could have come from nowhere but God's hand. It's a redemption story that's not viewed as such, and it makes me sad. But, if you view it in this light while reading, it's a beautiful story.

#5: Lizzie Bright and the Buckminster Boy by Gary D. Schmidt

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I was excited that my family decided to do a Gary Schmidt read-aloud; not only have I enjoyed his books in the past, but I actually got to go to a writing class by him, and it was really good. But Lizzie Bright was my favorite by him so far! When Turner Buckminster moves to Maine with his parents, he's not sure he'll find anywhere where he truly belongs. But then he meets Lizzie Bright, and the other people of Malaga Island. There's just one problem: they're Negroes, and Turner isn't allowed to have anything to do with them. More than that, the people of Turner's church are planning to turn them out of Malaga. Turner wonders if there's a way to save him.

I didn't expect this book to be so sad! Based on a real historical event, Schmidt brought this story to life with relatable characters and a beautiful plot. I'd read this one over and over again. The plot twists were so spectacular that this book was impossible to predict, and that was something that I really enjoyed. I 100% recommend this one...add it to your own summer reading list!

have you read any of these books? what did you think? what's on your own summer reading list?

Toodeloo, friends!

~Lily May