1. Start of Summer Summer means the best reading months for so many of us. New releases have bright and shiny colors, and the warm weather makes for great picnics and reading in the sun.
a. Read a happy book. b. Read a book published in June, July, or August. The Sound of a Wild Snail Eating by Elizabeth Tova Bailey. Published 8/24/2010. c. Read a book from one of the following lists: - Beach Read Royalty Recommends Summer Books - Readers' Hottest Books of Summer - Armchair Traveling: Books Set in Every U.S. State
2. June Birthday: Octavia E. Butler Octavia Estelle Butler was an American science fiction author. A multiple recipient of both the Hugo and Nebula awards, she became in 1995 the first science-fiction writer to receive a MacArthur Fellowship. Born in Pasadena, California, Butler was raised by her widowed mother. Octavia Butler was born June 22, 1947.
a. Read book whose main character is a Black woman. Instructions For Dancing by Nicola Yoon b. Read a science fiction book. c. Read a winner of the Hugo Award.
3. Pride Month The majority of Pride events are held in June to commemorate the anniversary of the Stonewall Rebellion in New York City on June 28, 1969, which most historians consider to be the birth of the modern LGBT movement. At the time, police raids on bars catering to LGBT patrons were common, but that night, the patrons of the Stonewall Inn fought back. While historical accounts of the night vary, the violent response ignited a national firestorm of activism that brought new visibility to the struggle for LGBT equality.
a. Read a book with at least 5 different colors of the rainbow on the cover. b. Read a book featuring an LGBTQIA+ protagonist (not side character). The Deviant's War: The Homosexual vs. the United States of America by Eric Cervini. c. Read a book written by an author who was nominated for the Lambda Award.
4. Set Sail One summer activity is to hop on a boat and go for a ride on the water. Whether you're fishing off of a kayak, sailing the open seas, or sunbathing on a yacht, floating on the water is guaranteed to bring peace and relaxation.
a. Read a book that starts with a letter in SAILING. b. Read a book with a boat on the cover. c. Read a book that takes place completely on an island. Queen Bee (Lowcountry Tales #12) by Dorothea Benton Frank, Sullivan's Island, South Carolina.
JULY
1. Halfway there! July 1st marks the halfway point of the year, and that means 2021 is drawing to a close!
a. Read a book with a number in the title. b. Read a book that is divided into multiple parts (rather than, or in addition to, chapters). c. Read a book featuring twin characters. American Spy by Lauren Wilkinson
2. July Birthday: Madeline Miller Madeline Miller is an American novelist, author of The Song of Achilles and Circe. Miller spent ten years writing The Song of Achilles while she worked as a Latin and Greek teacher. Madeline Miller was born on July 24, 1978.
a. Read a book whose author's initials are found in MADELINE MILLER. Pachinko by Min Jin Lee b. Read a retelling of a myth, fable, or fairytale. c. Read a book nominated for the Women's Prize for Fiction.
3. It's Winter Down South While those of us in the northern hemisphere are enjoying the warm temperatures and the sunshine, our neighbors in the southern hemisphere are cozying up around the fire and drinking hot cocoa.
a. Read a romance book. Big Summer by Jennifer Weiner b. Read a book with snow on the cover. c. Read a book whose title starts with a letter in FROSTY THE SNOWMAN.
4. Take a Dip Summer is hot, hot, hot, so jump in a pool, lake, or ocean to cool off and get some exercise swimming.
a. Read a book whose title starts with a letter in OCEAN. The Cold Dish by Craig Johnson b. Read a book whose author initials can be found in TAKE A DIP. c. Read a book featured on one of these lists: - 34 of the Best Beach Reads to Help You Escape - 2021 Summer Reading List: 48 of the Best Books for Adults, Teens, and Kids - The Best Beach Reads of Summer 2021
AUGUST
1. Back to School Many students and teachers are heading back to the classrooms this month. Celebrate that back-to-school feeling with a bit of smart summer reading.
a. Read a book by an author that is new-to-you. b. Read a YA book. Starfish by Lisa Fipps c. Read a book often tested on the AP Literature exam, as found on this list.
2. August Birthday: John Green John Michael Green is an American author and YouTube content creator. He won the 2006 Printz Award for his debut novel, Looking for Alaska, and his fourth solo novel, The Fault in Our Stars, debuted at number one on The New York Times Best Seller list in January 2012. He was born on August 24, 1977.
a. Read a contemporary book. Red,White& Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston b. Read a stand-alone novel (not part of a series). c. Read a book nominated for the Printz Award.
3. Summer Reading Summer is a great time to catch up on your backlist TBR or read the newest releases that you haven't got around to reading yet.
a. Read the newest book by a favorite author. b. Read the next book in a series you've already started. The Art of Theft (Lady Sherlock #4) by Sherry Thomas c. Read a book published in 2021 that you've been looking forward to.
4. Jump on a Plane With the world reopening, now is a great time to jump on a plane to new countries (literally or, in the case of reading, metaphorically).
a. Read an adventure book. b. Read a book set in a country you've never visited. c. Read a book featuring a character that travels to multiple countries. Captains and the Kings by Taylor Caldwell
1. Start of Summer
Summer means the best reading months for so many of us. New releases have bright and shiny colors, and the warm weather makes for great picnics and reading in the sun.
a. Read a happy book.
b. Read a book published in June, July, or August. The Sound of a Wild Snail Eating by Elizabeth Tova Bailey. Published 8/24/2010.
c. Read a book from one of the following lists:
- Beach Read Royalty Recommends Summer Books
- Readers' Hottest Books of Summer
- Armchair Traveling: Books Set in Every U.S. State
2. June Birthday: Octavia E. Butler
Octavia Estelle Butler was an American science fiction author. A multiple recipient of both the Hugo and Nebula awards, she became in 1995 the first science-fiction writer to receive a MacArthur Fellowship. Born in Pasadena, California, Butler was raised by her widowed mother. Octavia Butler was born June 22, 1947.
a. Read book whose main character is a Black woman. Instructions For Dancing by Nicola Yoon
b. Read a science fiction book.
c. Read a winner of the Hugo Award.
3. Pride Month
The majority of Pride events are held in June to commemorate the anniversary of the Stonewall Rebellion in New York City on June 28, 1969, which most historians consider to be the birth of the modern LGBT movement. At the time, police raids on bars catering to LGBT patrons were common, but that night, the patrons of the Stonewall Inn fought back. While historical accounts of the night vary, the violent response ignited a national firestorm of activism that brought new visibility to the struggle for LGBT equality.
a. Read a book with at least 5 different colors of the rainbow on the cover.
b. Read a book featuring an LGBTQIA+ protagonist (not side character). The Deviant's War: The Homosexual vs. the United States of America by Eric Cervini.
c. Read a book written by an author who was nominated for the Lambda Award.
4. Set Sail
One summer activity is to hop on a boat and go for a ride on the water. Whether you're fishing off of a kayak, sailing the open seas, or sunbathing on a yacht, floating on the water is guaranteed to bring peace and relaxation.
a. Read a book that starts with a letter in SAILING.
b. Read a book with a boat on the cover.
c. Read a book that takes place completely on an island. Queen Bee (Lowcountry Tales #12) by Dorothea Benton Frank, Sullivan's Island, South Carolina.
JULY
1. Halfway there!
July 1st marks the halfway point of the year, and that means 2021 is drawing to a close!
a. Read a book with a number in the title.
b. Read a book that is divided into multiple parts (rather than, or in addition to, chapters).
c. Read a book featuring twin characters. American Spy by Lauren Wilkinson
2. July Birthday: Madeline Miller
Madeline Miller is an American novelist, author of The Song of Achilles and Circe. Miller spent ten years writing The Song of Achilles while she worked as a Latin and Greek teacher. Madeline Miller was born on July 24, 1978.
a. Read a book whose author's initials are found in MADELINE MILLER. Pachinko by Min Jin Lee
b. Read a retelling of a myth, fable, or fairytale.
c. Read a book nominated for the Women's Prize for Fiction.
3. It's Winter Down South
While those of us in the northern hemisphere are enjoying the warm temperatures and the sunshine, our neighbors in the southern hemisphere are cozying up around the fire and drinking hot cocoa.
a. Read a romance book. Big Summer by Jennifer Weiner
b. Read a book with snow on the cover.
c. Read a book whose title starts with a letter in FROSTY THE SNOWMAN.
4. Take a Dip
Summer is hot, hot, hot, so jump in a pool, lake, or ocean to cool off and get some exercise swimming.
a. Read a book whose title starts with a letter in OCEAN. The Cold Dish by Craig Johnson
b. Read a book whose author initials can be found in TAKE A DIP.
c. Read a book featured on one of these lists:
- 34 of the Best Beach Reads to Help You Escape
- 2021 Summer Reading List: 48 of the Best Books for Adults, Teens, and Kids
- The Best Beach Reads of Summer 2021
AUGUST
1. Back to School
Many students and teachers are heading back to the classrooms this month. Celebrate that back-to-school feeling with a bit of smart summer reading.
a. Read a book by an author that is new-to-you.
b. Read a YA book. Starfish by Lisa Fipps
c. Read a book often tested on the AP Literature exam, as found on this list.
2. August Birthday: John Green
John Michael Green is an American author and YouTube content creator. He won the 2006 Printz Award for his debut novel, Looking for Alaska, and his fourth solo novel, The Fault in Our Stars, debuted at number one on The New York Times Best Seller list in January 2012. He was born on August 24, 1977.
a. Read a contemporary book. Red,White& Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston
b. Read a stand-alone novel (not part of a series).
c. Read a book nominated for the Printz Award.
3. Summer Reading
Summer is a great time to catch up on your backlist TBR or read the newest releases that you haven't got around to reading yet.
a. Read the newest book by a favorite author.
b. Read the next book in a series you've already started. The Art of Theft (Lady Sherlock #4) by Sherry Thomas
c. Read a book published in 2021 that you've been looking forward to.
4. Jump on a Plane
With the world reopening, now is a great time to jump on a plane to new countries (literally or, in the case of reading, metaphorically).
a. Read an adventure book.
b. Read a book set in a country you've never visited.
c. Read a book featuring a character that travels to multiple countries. Captains and the Kings by Taylor Caldwell