Young Reviewers Rave Over Summer Reading

By Sarah Ferris

Only four weeks into summer vacation, Greta Straubly has already read more than 50 books. The rising fourth grader at Hawley School goes to the library with her family at least once a week during the summer to pick up new books.

“It was her goal to learn how to read in kindergarten,” said Lisa Straubly, Greta’s mother. “She has not stopped reading since.”

Greta said that she likes to read instead of watching TV or playing games on the computer. “I like to read in a lot of places, like outside in the shade or in my room on my bed,” said Greta.

Her mother said Greta usually reads by herself, but sometimes the two of them will take turns reading a chapter or two aloud.

“Greta reads whenever she can,” Ms Straubly said. “All the time.”

Greta’s favorite book is Thea Stilton and the Dragon Code, which is part of her favorite series called Geronimo Stilton, by an author of the same name.

“I’ve read it probably five times,” said Greta excitedly.

Daniel Dicker, a rising sixth grader at Reed Intermediate School, has also recently visited the C.H. Booth Library to bring home books to read this summer.

“I usually pick my books out by reading the back or looking at the picture on the cover to see if it’s interesting,” said Daniel. His list of books to read this summer include Funerals & Fly Fishing by Mary Bartek and The Elevator Family by Douglas Evans.

Daniel says he likes to read funny books; his favorite is Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney. “I don’t usually like to reread books, but this one I would read again,” said Daniel.

He also recently read Holes by Louis Sachar, which he said he would recommend to his classmates.

Margaret Brown, young adult librarian at the C.H. Booth Library, said that many of the same books that were popular several years ago, such as Holes, are still being read by younger readers. Other examples, she said, include the Alex Rider series by Anthony Horowitz, including Stormbreaker, and The Maximum Ride series by James Patterson, including The Angel Experiment.

“One of the more popular new series this summer is Warriors [by Erin Hunter],” said Ms Brown. “A lot of kids are into this kind of fantasy fiction.”

Ms Brown’s young adult section includes books for grades 6 through 12, and even more books for teens are located in the adult section of the library, she explained. In the young adult section, there is a binder with reading suggestions from Newtown High School, Newtown Middle School, Reed Intermediate School, and St Rose that Ms Brown advises readers to check out.

Elizabeth Sabin, a 2009 graduate of Newtown High School and a frequent visitor of the C.H. Booth Library, also has plenty of book recommendations for young adults.

“I got a friend who didn’t like to read to try a book I recommended and now he reads all the time,” said Elizabeth. The book was City of Glass by Cassandra Clare, one of Elizabeth’s all-time favorites.

She said her favorite kind of books to read are sci-fi and fantasy, but she also likes fiction books like A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini, which she read for school.

“It shows what life is really like for women in Afghanistan,” Elizabeth explained. “It’s a very important book.”

For younger readers, she recommends The Sight and Firebringer by Daniel Clement-Davies, the first three books of the Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling, and The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman.

“Don’t rely just on summer reading lists from your school,” said Elizabeth. “Go explore your library and pick up a random book. It just might be good.”