Two weeks ago, I did an article about books I want to read this summer. Of course, there is more where that came from.
Here are some great books I’ve read over the years, either during the summer or they make me think of summer. If you have read any of these books, what did you think of them?
Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein
I don’t know if it’s because I read this during the summer the first time, but Code Name Verity was the first book I thought of when creating this list. It follows two best friends, lady fighter pilots in World War II, and how one crosses the earth to save the other from the Nazis. Both girls have secrets; the story gripped me from the first page. Plus, the book is relatively short and you can fly through it (no pun intended)…And the ending will rip your heart out, and then smash it to the floor.
The Wrath & the Dawn by Renee Ahdieh
This book is long—over 400 pages, as is its sequel The Rose & the Dagger—but once you pick it up, you won’t want to put it down. Set in a magical version of Persia, The Wrath & the Dawn is a retelling of A Thousand and One Nights. A brave young woman volunteers to be the king’s new bride, knowing each bride before her was dead at dawn, to get revenge for her best friend’s death. But the king is not who she thought him to be, and a curse threatens her kingdom.
The book is filled with magic and suspense. You never know what is going to happen next. The setting is in the desert, making it perfect for summer, with the air conditioner running. And the romance in The Wrath & the Dawn is even hotter.
An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir
Another book that takes place in the desert, An Ember in the Ashes is set in a fantasy world much like the Roman Empire. Elias is a solider that hates everything he was taught to believe and Laia is a slave girl determined to save her brother, who has been taken prisoner by the Empire for helping the rebellion. The two join forces as war brews, threatening to tear their world apart.
Like The Wrath & the Dawn, An Ember in the Ashes, as well as its sequel A Torch Against the Night, are over 500 pages but are so fast and action-packed. The characters are some of my favorites I have ever read in books and the world Sabaa Tahir creates rivals Hogwarts in how vivid and intricate it is.
Paper Towns by John Green
John Green as a whole is the kind of author to be read in the summer. His books are fun and easy to read. Of all his works, my personal favorite is Paper Towns. It is a comedy coming-of-age story, with a little drama and mystery thrown in. Quentin is a likeable protagonist I think most people can relate to. He has had a crush on his neighbor, the enigmatic Margo, for as long as he can remember. But when she leaves behind clues for him to follow after she suddenly disappears following a night of pranks, Quentin finally sees the real Margo, the girl he never knew.
Paper Towns goes deep, but not too deep, and it is still a good time reading. I know I read this in the winter, except I think it could be way more fun in the summer.
13 Little Blue Envelopes by Maureen Johnson
Of all the books on this list, 13 Little Blue Envelopes is the ideal book for summer. After the death of her favorite aunt, Ginny is left with 13 little blue envelopes that take her all across Europe—England, Scotland, Italy—in search for something her aunt wanted her to find. But what is it?
If you are like me, filled with wanderlust but totally broke, 13 Little Blue Envelopes is enough to fuel your imagination to make the summer a little more fun. Ginny travels to some of the more major cities in Europe, getting involved in all sorts of shenanigans. But the book is all about finding yourself while being out of your comfort zone. I read this multiple times when I was in middle school, but unfortunately, I had to clean out a lot of books when my family moved houses when I was fourteen. If I have a chance to read 13 Little Blue Envelopes again, I would.
