Last week I shared five reasons I dislike school-assigned summer reading. Today, I wanted to share some recommendations for books your kids or grandkids might enjoy. But I'm an aging Gen Xer, so what do I know about kids these days, right? I went to a better source: my kids. Over a series of dinner conversations, I asked them what books they've most enjoyed over the years. Here's what they told me:
Elementary School
Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs: Published before I was born, but still much loved. Don't let the movies stand in for the much better original book.
The Ruins of Gorlan: An epic quest by a 15-year-old that younger kids can look up to. The good news is that, if they like this one, there are 10 more titles in the same Ranger's Apprentice series.
Middle School
The Cry of the Icemark: The first in a series of four fantasy books.
The Mysterious Benedict Society: A little funny, a little creepy, story about whiz kids on a mission at a special school.
High School
The Book Thief: Original and creative storytelling set in Nazi Germany. You'll want to read this one with your teen just for the conversations it can spark.
Dune: A sci-fi classic. Yes, the recent film-- covering the first half of the book-- is great. But the book is even better.
Please share some favorites of yours or your kids in the comments, for everyone else to enjoy!
Here are some other posts to check out for more book ideas: