Rectory Summer Reading 2024

Maus I and II by Art Spiegelman - Graphic Novel Memoir Non-Fiction: “[A] masterful graphic novel… a two-volume Holocaust narrative that portrays Jews as mice and Nazis as cats, telling the story of his parents’ survival as Polish Jews in the Nazi death camps and of their troubled lives in America after the war.” (National Book Foundation, 2024): 

The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd - Historical Fiction: “After her "stand-in mother," a bold black woman named Rosaleen, insults the three biggest racists in town, Lily Owens, whose life has been defined by the tragic death of her mother, joins Rosaleen on a journey to Tiburon, South Carolina, where they are taken in by three black, bee-keeping sisters who show them the true meaning of love and family.” (Follett Destiny’s Titlepeek, 2024)

Skyward by Brandon Sanderson - Science Fiction: “Eager to prove herself, the daughter of a flier disgraced for cowardice hurls herself into fighter pilot training to join a losing war against aliens. Spensa "Spin" Nightshade leaves her previous occupation—spearing rats in the caverns of the colony planet Detritus for her widowed mother's food stand—to wangle a coveted spot in the Defiant Defense Force's flight school. Opportunities to exercise wild recklessness and growing skill begin at once, as the class is soon in the air, battling the mysterious Krell raiders who have driven people underground. Spensa, who is assumed white, interacts with reasonably diverse human classmates with varying ethnic markers…Sanderson plainly had a ball with this nonstop, highflying opener, and readers will too.” (Kirkus Review, 2018)

Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes Science Fiction: “Charlie Gordon is about to embark upon an unprecedented journey. Born with an unusually low IQ, he has been chosen as the perfect subject for an experimental surgery that researchers hope will increase his intelligence-a procedure that has already been highly successful when tested on a lab mouse named Algernon.” (Follett Destiny, 2024)

Girl in Pieces by Kathleen Glasgow - Realistic Fiction: “After surviving a suicide attempt…seventeen-year-old Charlie Davis, a white girl living on the margins, thinks she has little reason to live: her father drowned himself; her bereft and abusive mother kicked her out; her best friend, Ellis, is nearly brain dead after cutting too deeply; and she's gone through unspeakable experiences living on the street…Through intense, diarylike chapters chronicling Charlie's journey, the author captures the brutal and heartbreaking way "girls who write their pain on their bodies" scar and mar themselves, either succumbing or surviving…it's poignant and transcendent as Charlie breaks more and more before piecing herself back together.” (Kirkus Review, 2016)

Weeping Under the Same Moon by Jana Laiz - Fictional Memoir: “Mei is a Boat Person who flees Vietnam. Hannah is an angry American high school student who learns of the plight of the refugees and is moved to action. Destiny brings Mei and Hannah together in a celebration of cultures and the ultimate rescue of both young women from their own despair.” (Follett Destiny, 2024)

The Princess Diaries by Meg Cabot - Epistolary (Journal entries) Fiction: "... written in diary format...hilarious story about a gawky 14-year-old New Yorker who learns she's a princess. Mia spends every available moment pouring her feelings into the journal her mother gave her...She writes down her thoughts on everything--from algebra and her mother's love life to her jet-setting father's announcement that she's the heir to the throne of the principality of Genovia...Reading her journal is like reading a note from your best friend" (Kirkus Review, 2000).

(Note: Releases July 30th, 2024) Such Charming Liars by Karen McManus - Mystery Thriller Fiction: "Family secrets make for dangerous dealings in the latest from acclaimed mystery/thriller writer McManus. At the tender ages of 4 and 5, Kat and Liam were thrown together during their parents' ill-conceived whirlwind Vegas marriage. After the divorce just two days later, neither expected to see the other again. Twelve years later, Kat's living with her mom, Jamie, and her jewel thief grandmother figure, Gem... Meanwhile, Liam has been stuck living with his con artist father, Luke, since his mother's death six months prior... But when the party turns deadly, Liam and Kat, along with their new friend Augustus (Ross' grandson), find themselves entangled in a game of cat-and-mouse with a ruthless killer. Everyone seems to be hiding something—but which of these secrets are lethal? The dual-narrative structure adds important context and perspective to Kat's and Liam's struggles, both past and present." (Kirkus Reviews, 2024)

Dairy Queen by Catherine Gilbert Murdock - Sports Romance Fiction: “After spending her summer running the family farm and training the quarterback for her school's rival football team, sixteen-year-old D.J. decides to go out for the sport herself, not anticipating the reactions of those around her.” (Follett Destiny, 2024)

 

The Day The World Came to Town: 9/11 in Gander Newfoundland by Jim DeFede - Non-Fiction: “Tells the story of how the citizens of Gander, Newfoundland and its surrounding communities opened their hearts and homes to passengers on airliners bound for the United States that were forced to land in Gander when U.S. airspace was closed on September 11, 2001.” (Follett Destiny, 2024) 

One Life by Megan Rapinoe - Memoir: “This engaging and unapologetic memoir from soccer superstar Megan Rapinoe, adapted from her adult book of the same name, begins with a letter she wrote to her 13-year-old self, saying that "Failure and adversity will challenge and strengthen you. That success will embolden you, and that sometimes being brave will absolutely be called for." Rapinoe's obsession with and talent at soccer at the early age of six ultimately led to her being invited, as a teenager, to play for the FIFA Under-19 Women's World Championship and, later, to join the U.S. Women's National Soccer Team…Readers will be inspired by her belief that "we have to love more, hate less, listen more, talk less" and be empowered to follow her lead.” (Booklist Review, 2021) 

Maizy Chen’s Last Chance by Lisa Yee - Realistic Fiction: “Maizy has never been to Last Chance, Minnesota . . . until now. Her mom’s plan is just to stay for a couple weeks, until her grandfather gets better. But plans change, and as Maizy spends more time in Last Chance (where she and her family are the only Asian Americans) and at the Golden Palace—the restaurant that’s been in her family for generations—she makes some discoveries. For instance: you can tell a LOT about someone by the way they order food and people can surprise you. Sometimes in good ways, sometimes in disappointing ways. And the Golden Palace has secrets…” (Penguin Random House, 2023)

Posted by John David Anderson - Realistic Fiction: "When online bullying crosses over into real life, Eric and his friends do their best to stay out of the cloud of meanness, but it’s a big one" (Kirkus Reviews, 2017). 

 

 

We Are Family by LeBron James and Andrea Williams - Sports Fiction: “An unlikely team of middle-school b-ballers proves that anything is possible in this collaborative novel by basketball phenom James and talented writer Williams. Jayden, Tamika, Chris, Anthony, and Dex come from different but connected backgrounds that involve dealing with illness, financial instability, bullying, and more. In spite of what could be obstacles and differing definitions of team, this "Hoop Group" ultimately comes together on the court..." (Booklist Review, 2021)

Mexikid by Pedro Martin - Graphic Novel Memoir/ Humor: "Living in California's Central Coast as a first-generation Mexican American, Pedro (or the "American-style" Peter) struggles to find his place. As an American kid growing up in the 1970s, he loves Star Wars and Happy Days but dislikes the way his five oldest siblings, who were born in Mexico, make him feel less Mexican just because he and the three other younger siblings were born after his parents immigrated to the U.S. to work picking strawberries. A family trip to Jalisco to bring their abuelito back to California to live with them presents Pedro with an opportunity to get in touch with his roots and learn more about the places his family calls home. Told from Pedro's perspective, the panels read as a stream-of-consciousness travelogue as he regales readers with his adventures from the road. Along the way, Pedro has fresh encounters with Mexican culture and experiences some unexpected side quests..." (Kirkus Review, 2023).

Never Quit (Young Reader’s Edition) by Jimmy Settle and Don Rearden - Memoir: "The young adult adaptation of the epic memoir of an Alaskan pararescue jumper, Special Forces Operator, and decorated war hero. "That Others May Live" is a mantra that defines the fearless men of Alaska's 212th Pararescue Unit, the PJs, one of the most elite military forces on the planet. Whether they are rescuing citizens injured and freezing in the Alaskan wilderness or saving wounded Rangers and SEALS in blazing firefights at war, the PJs are some of the least known and most highly trained of America's warriors. Never Quit is the true story of how Jimmy Settle, an Alaskan shoe store clerk, became a Special Forces Operator and war hero…" (Follett Destiny)

The Silver Arrow by Lev Grossman - Fantasy Adventure Fiction: “Eleven-year-old Kate longs for something more than her normal-kid existence, and it arrives in the form of her eccentric Uncle Herbert, who has a birthday present in tow: a life-sized steam engine, the splendid Silver Arrow. When Kate and her brother notice a glow coming from the engine, they climb aboard, and the train lurches to life. Thus the bewildered siblings are sent on the mission of a lifetime, collecting ticketed animals at each stop and transporting them safely to their destinations... As the train puffs on, however, it becomes clear these are desperate trips for the passengers, who are relocating from endangered habitats to keep their species alive... This gentle introduction to the complexities of life on this planet is a critical reminder not to despair over the enormity of human responsibility but to face it with joy and marvel at the magic that the world holds" (Booklist Review, 2020). 

The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan - Fantasy Fiction: “Edgar Award-winning Riordan leaves the adult world of mystery to begin a fantasy series for younger readers. Twelve-year-old Percy (full name, Perseus) Jackson has attended six schools in six years. Officially diagnosed with ADHD, his lack of self-control gets him in trouble again and again. What if it isn't his fault? What if all the outrageous incidents that get him kicked out of school are the result of his being a "half-blood," the product of a relationship between a human and a Greek god?...One need not be an expert in Greek mythology to enjoy Percy's journey to retrieve Zeus's master bolt from the Underworld, but those who are familiar with the deities and demi-gods will have many an ah-ha moment…” (Kirkus Review, 2005).

Furthermore by Tahereh Mafi  - Fantasy Fiction: “A 12-year-old girl who doesn't fit into her own world embarks on a harrowing quest with a boy she doesn't trust to find her missing father. With white hair and skin, quirky Alice Queensmeadow's an oddity in colorful, magical Ferenwood. Since her father's mysterious disappearance "unzipped her from top to bottom," Alice finds life full of "unspoken hurts." Alice hopes to prove herself in the annual Surrender, when 12-year-olds demonstrate their unique magical talents…Alice's remarkable adventure transports her across bizarre landscapes where she eventually realizes how wonderful it is to be herself and to have a friend she can trust. An original new Alice confronts her own wonderland in this smashing fantasy” (Kirkus Review, 2016).

Full Cicada Moon by Marilyn Hilton - Book in Verse; Historical Fiction: “Mimi Yoshiko Oliver and her family just moved from Berkeley, California, to Hillsborough, Vermont, where she immediately encounters barrier after barrier to overcome. Mimi's goal is to become an astronaut; however, it's 1969, a time when young girls are encouraged to become mothers, secretaries, teachers, or nurses. She also wants to fit in at school. That was easy at her school in Berkeley, where there were kids from every background, but in white-populated Vermont, she stands out as the only half-black, half-Japanese student. Mimi also goes against the grain by entering the science fair and protesting (via courteous civil disobedience) not being allowed to take the shop class instead of home economics…” (Booklist Reviews, 2014).

Pick one: Heroes, Ground Zero, Refugee, OR Two Degrees by Alan Gratz - Historical Fiction: Heroes: “December 6, 1941: Best friends Frank and Stanley have it good. Their dads are Navy pilots stationed at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii, and the boys get a front-row view of the huge battleships and the sparkling water. Yes, World War II is raging in Europe and in Asia, but the US isn't involved in the war, and the boys are free to dream about becoming comic book creators…December 7th, 1941: Everything explodes…Frank and Stanley realize what's happening: Japan is attacking America! The war has come to them. As the boys fight to make their way home amidst the carnage, it's clear that everything has changed. Stanley's mother is Japanese American and he is suddenly facing a terrible prejudice that he's never known before--he's now seen as the 'enemy,' and Frank, who's white, cannot begin to understand what Stanley will now face. Can their friendship--and their dreams--survive this watershed moment in history?” (Follett Destiny, 2024).

Ground Zero: “Brandon is visiting his dad on the 107th floor of the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001 when the attack comes; Reshmina is a girl in Afghanistan who has grown up in the aftermath of that attack but dreams of peace, becoming a teacher and escaping her village and the narrow role that the Taliban believes is appropriate for women--both are struggling to survive, both changed forever by the events of 9/11" (Follett Destiny, 2024).

Refugee: “Although separated by continents and decades, Josef, a Jewish boy livng in 1930s Nazi Germany; Isabel, a Cuban girl trying to escape the riots and unrest plaguing her country in 1994; and Mahmoud, a Syrian boy in 2015 whose homeland is torn apart by violence and destruction, embark on harrowing journeys in search of refuge, discovering shocking connections that tie their stories together” (Follett Destiny, 2024).

 

Two Degrees: “When three children endure separate climate change disasters--a wildfire in the California woods, a close encounter with a hungry polar bear in Canada, and a massive hurricane in Florid--they emerge from their experiences committed to changing the world" (Follett Destiny, 2024).

 

Lions of Little Rock by Kristin Levine - Historical Fiction: “The remarkable story of the Little Rock Nine is familiar to many, but what happened next? In this quietly powerful page-turner, Levine focuses her attention on the events that unfolded in Little Rock the year after the integration of the city's public schools. Readers meet quiet, 12-year-old Marlee and her outgoing and warm-hearted best friend, Liz, who is instrumental in Marlee's burgeoning ability to speak her mind to anyone outside of her family. To Marlee's dismay, Liz suddenly vanishes from school, and the rumor is that she has been passing for white. Marlee initially feels betrayed by her friend, but her understanding of the complicated nature of race relations and politics matures… When Marlee's father, a schoolteacher, is fired because of his pro-integration stance, the entire family becomes involved in the Stop This Outrageous Purge (STOP) campaign in an attempt to have all of the teachers rehired and the public schools reopened…” (Booklist Review, 2012).

Pick One: Lifeboat 12 by Susan Hood - Historical Book in Verse Fiction OR Alias Anna by Susan Hood with Greg Dawson - Biography Book in Verse Non-Fiction : Lifeboat 12: “An escape from war-torn Britain becomes a struggle for survival when a ship is torpedoed off the coast of England. In June 1940, Great Britain formed the Children's Overseas Reception Board to transfer Britain's children away from the encroaching war to safe harbors around the world. Over 200,000 children between the ages of 5 and 15 applied for just 20,000 spots. Thirteen-year-old Kenneth Sparks is chosen to travel on the City of Benares, a luxury ocean liner, to Canada, where he will live with his aunt in Edmonton. The children are distracted by rich food, new toys, and soft beds, but the accompanying convoy of war ships is a constant reminder that while the blitzkrieg might be behind them, German torpedoes are a very present threat…the story of Lifeboat 12 is lyrical, terrifying, and even at times funny.” (Kirkus Revew, 2018)

Alias Anna: “This biography in verse recounts the Holocaust experiences of musical prodigies Zhanna and Frina Arshanskaya, who were among the few to escape the 1941 killing fields of Drobitsky Yar. Using a variety of poetic forms, the text recounts the sisters' early years as poor, secular Jews in Stalinist Ukraine; their move to Kharkov to study music at the conservatory; their flight from Nazis and procurement of false papers and aliases; and their "discovery" by German officers that led to their becoming a part of a traveling troop that entertained Nazi officers…” (Booklist Review, 2022)