Summer Reading Favorites

Ok--Here are the promised summer reading favorites. Below is a sampling of the books I liked best this summer.


Realistic Fiction


Willow by Julia Hoban--What if you were driving the car when your parents were killed in a car accident? Willow was. To deal with her pain, she cuts herself. When she meets a new boy, he quickly discovers her secret, even though no one else has a clue. Will she be able to stop? Will she ever be able to talk to her brother agian, when she is conviced he hates her for killing their parents and resents having to take care of her now? Read it and find out...




Freeze Frame by Heidi Ayarbe--What if you shot your best friend? Kyle did, and now he has to live with the consequences. He wants desperately to remember exactly what happened, but it is locked away in his mind. He wants to talk to his best friend's family, but he is being frozen out. How will he ever work past his grief?



Road Trip




The Secret Life of Prince Charming by Deb Caletti--Quinn and her sisters embark on a karmic quest to return "love tokens" that her father stole from his former wives and lovers and find our more about their father in the process. Along for the ride is the hunky Jake, who looks like a bad boy, but is he?





Nonfiction




Charles and Emma: the Darwins' Leap of Faith by Deborah Heiligman--Chronicles the journey of Charles Darwin in his studies and his eventual rejection of Creationism. Along side is the story of his marriage to the very religious Emma. This book raises questions and gives an intriguing look at the life of one of history's great scientists.





Distopia



The Carbon Diaries by Saco Lloyd--Thought provoking look at what the future could be like if Carbon points are rationed. What if you could only have 200 Carbon points per month? How would it change the way you live? What if the state of the environment was causing "natural disasters" at the same time? What is really important to you?





Bromance

Perpetual Check by Rich Wallace--Two brother, both very different, are in the same chess tournament, and both have a good chance of advancing, as they are excellent players. The only problem? Their overinvolved father insists on coaching them, driving a wedge between them and possibly ruining their chances in the tournament.