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12 Amazing Books I Read in Summer 2021

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12 Amazing Books I Read Summer 2021

12 Amazing Books I Read in Summer 2021

Summer is one of my favorite times to read. The more relaxed schedule makes me feel like I’m not so pressed for time, and I usually manage to fit in a few backlist titles I’ve been excited about reading.

This year was better and worse for me reading-wise. I have no shortage of books thanks to my early-pandemic massive orders to indie bookstores near me, as if somehow I alone could save their businesses. (Hopefully I did help, though!)

But I also had a lot of other stuff going on. Some physical. Some just the accumulated exhaustion from an overwhelming school year with my girls. In any case, it was more of a relief to hit summer than it usually is, but also not as much of a respite either.

In any case, I did get to read a number of really great titles, books that totally made my week. I also got to pass on some of my favorites to another reading friend and her daughter, so hopefully those books will be much read and loved there, and that makes me happy, too.

Anyway, without further ado, here’s the list of my favorite reads in summer 2021.

5 Awesome Middle Grade Books I Read in Summer 2021

I’ve only been reviewing middle grade books for a few years, but I can’t believe I overlooked them for so long. Often I find middle grade titles say things I didn’t know I needed to hear in a way that I never thought to put them. These are the best middle grade books I read this summer, and every one of them will stick with me a long time.

The Most Perfect Thing in the Universe by Tricia Springstubb

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

What you need to know: One of the quirkiest, most delightful friendship stories I’ve ever read!

Published June 1, 2021 | My Review

The Firebird Song by Arnée Flores

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

What you need to know: I feel like this book hit me straight in the center of my heart. It said so many things I needed to hear, and at exactly the right time. It centers on hope and the life-saving quality of unexpected friendships.

Published June 8, 2021 | My Review

The Other Side of Luck by Ginger Johnson

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

What you need to know: I love the way the author used senses of hearing and smell in this book. It’s packed with lyrical prose and an incredible story world. Loved it!

Published August 10, 2021 | My Review

Everywhere Blue by Joanne Rossmassler Fritz

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

What you need to know: Heartbreaking in all the best ways. A sister(and oboe player!!)’s search for her missing brother written in poetry. Moving and heartfelt.

Available June 1, 2021 | My Review

4 Fantastic Young Adult Books I Read in Summer 2021

When I first started blogging, I only reviewed young adult fiction. In the years since, I’ve branched out into middle grade and nonfiction, and I love both of those, too, but YA will always hold a special place in my heart. These books were the best in YA that I read this past summer.

We Can’t Keep Meeting Like This by Rachel Lynn Solomon

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

What you need to know: You probably know how I feel about Rachel Lynn Solomon, so there’s no surprise to her latest being in this list. This is another perfect, delightful rom-com featuring a baker and a harpist! So much to love.

Available June 8, 2021 | My Review

Don’t Hate the Player by Alexis Nedd

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

What you need to know: Fun and gripping. A must-read for online gaming fans and fans of star-crossed romance. I need everything by Alexis Nedd forever.

Available June 15, 2021 | My Review

Broken Web by Lori Lee

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

What you need to know: Sequel to Forest of Souls. It’s still got the creepiest trees I’ve ever read! Love that. The characters strike my heart and the story keeps me guessing. I’m in to the end with this series.

Available June 15, 2021 | My Review

Cazadora by Romina Garber

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

What you need to know: The sequel to Lobizona. Another wild, fast-paced adventure following a group of teens determined to make a place in their world for themselves. Inspiring and action-packed.

Available August 17, 2021 | My Review

4 Incredible Nonfiction Books I Read in Summer 2021

I guess I could have lumped these in above, but it felt more right to give these nonfiction titles their own place to shine. These were so much fun to read. I found myself searching online for more information about the topics mentioned and eagerly turning pages in every single one. Several are backlist titles, but I couldn’t leave them out because they were such great books.

Stolen Science by Ella Schwartz

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

What you need to know: Thirteen amazing stories of inventers and scientists who did not get the credit they deserved during their lifetimes. I could not stop reading this one.

Available August 31, 2021 | My Review

She Came to Slay: The Life and Times of Harriet Tubman by Erica Armstrong Dunbar

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

What you need to know: All the things about Harriet Tubman that you never knew. Wowza! The writing is so accessible and the biographical information about Tubman is truly amazing.

Available November 5, 2019 | My Review

Undecided by Genevieve Morgan

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

What you need to know: This is another backlist title. This book totally breaks down options for high school graduates from internships to charitable programs to military to college and gives tips for how to apply to or prepare for all of them. So much great information.

Available October 6, 2020 | My Review

The Magic and Mystery of Trees by Jen Green

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

What you need to know: This is a backlist title, but I did read it over the summer, and it’s AMAZING. Tells all kinds of incredible facts about trees, their lives, and how they interact with plants and animals around them. Beautifully illustrated. So much information on each page.

Available March 5, 2019 | My Review

Review: Limerick Comics by Robert Hoyman and Steve Feldman

Book Review and Content, Graphic Novel or Adaptation, Middle Grade 8-12, Poetry, , , , , , ,

Limerick Comics
Robert Hoyman
Illustrated by Steve Feldman
Published March 2, 2019

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository | Indiebound | Goodreads

About Limerick Comics

Limerick Comics offers original limericks on a wide range of history and science topics, each with an informational panel of surprising facts, presented in entertaining comics.

Young readers age 8 and up are invited to linger on each page to enjoy the humor, ponder inferences, and view the evocative details of each illustrated panel.

Topics include bats, an Egyptian king, a famous trapeze artist, and more.

“For young readers and parents alike, this collection of factoid limericks will be a great introduction to poetry while delivering interesting knowledge and good laughs.”–Booklife

“Both amusing and instructive, with broad appeal and excellent illustrations.”–Kirkus Reviews

My Review

This book is only about 35 pages or so, which means it’s a pretty quick read. I like that it pairs a silly or fun limerick with a short informative note about the topic of the poem. For example, there’s a poem about bats followed by a few sentences giving some information about different types of bats.

The poems are placed on graphic panels, one line per image, so that it sort of shows a mini-comic-story. The informative paragraph immediately follows, printed over a colored background. I think I might have preferred to have the informative part as black text on a plain white page so that it would be easier to read, but I was able to read everything okay as it was printed.

This seems like it’d make a nice choice for reluctant readers, or those who tend to avoid nonfiction. The poem kind of sparks interest in a topic and then the facts about the topic give a few key bits of information, making it a bit more educational.

All in all, I thought this was a pretty fun book and a very quick read.

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 8 to 10.

Representation
Poems cover various topics and people. One talks about the Native American Mohawk tribe. Another covers an Egyptian ruler.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
None.

Romance/Sexual Content
None.

Spiritual Content
None.

Violent Content
None.

Drug Content
None.

Note: I received a free copy of LIMERICK COMICS in exchange for my honest review. This post contains affiliate links, which do not cost you anything to use, but which help support running this blog.

Review: This Book is Anti-Racist by Tiffany Jewell

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This Book is Anti-Racist
Tiffany Jewell
Frances Lincoln Children’s Books
Published January 7, 2020

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository | Indiebound | Goodreads

About This Book is Anti-Racist

Learn about identities, true histories, and anti-racism work in 20 carefully laid out chapters. Written by anti-bias, anti-racist, educator and activist, Tiffany Jewell, and illustrated by French illustrator Aurélia Durand in kaleidoscopic vibrancy.

This book is written for the young person who doesn’t know how to speak up to the racist adults in their life. For the 14 year old who sees injustice at school and isn’t able to understand the role racism plays in separating them from their friends. For the kid who spends years trying to fit into the dominant culture and loses themselves for a little while. It’s for all of the Black and Brown children who have been harmed (physically and emotionally) because no one stood up for them or they couldn’t stand up for themselves; because the colour of their skin, the texture of their hair, their names made white folx feel scared and threatened.

It is written so children and young adults will feel empowered to stand up to the adults who continue to close doors in their faces. This book will give them the language and ability to understand racism and a drive to undo it. In short, it is for everyone.

My Review

It took me about an hour to read this book, so it’s a pretty quick, very straightforward read. It begins with asking readers to consider some facts about themselves– their race or their gender, for instance– and to think about how those things place them within our culture. Are you a member of the majority in that category? If so, how can you use that strength to empower others?

One of the most helpful things for me in reading the book were the practical tips for how to respond when someone says something racist or prejudiced in front of you. As with each chapter, the author breaks it down into simple, practical steps.

In the past, I’ve really struggled when someone says something inappropriate in this way. I tend to freeze up and feel panicked and then later wish I’d done something more proactive. Reading this book left me feeling as though I now have the tools to gently but firmly confront friends, family members, or coworkers when I need to. That feels pretty huge for me.

I would recommend this book especially for teens interested in this topic, but I think adults can stand to gain a lot from it, too. As I mentioned, it was a super quick, very practical read. I think it’d make a great place to dip your toes into learning about social justice and how you help.

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 10 up.

Representation
The author is Black Biracial. The book is really aimed at any reader of any race or sexual orientation.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
None.

Romance/Sexual Content
None.

Spiritual Content
References to faiths.

Violent Content
Offers tips for what you can legally do if you witness police brutality.

Drug Content
None.

Review: Be Affected by Riley Choquette

Book Review and Content, Nonfiction, , , , ,

Be Affected
Riley Choquette
Published on June 6, 2018

Amazon | Goodreads

About Be Affected
Be Affected charges young men, especially in the Church, to embrace the value of dating as an aspect of divine image-bearing and offers practical advice on how to do it well. Written from the perspective of a young, single Christian man, this books offers a theological explanation of the importance and goodness of dating, highly-practical advice on asking for and planning effective dates, and honest encouragement for when things don’t go as planned.

From the Introduction:
Books about dating all face one of two problems: either the author is married, or the author is single. In the first case, it’s too easy to think ‘Well sure, that approach worked for you, but that’s just one story.’ What if the married author has fallen out of touch, and he or she doesn’t understand how things are these days? In the case of a single author, even more doubts arise: ‘How can I be sure whether any of this works, if it hasn’t worked out for you?’

That kind of thinking assumes that the goal of dating is finding a spouse, which is true. However, even though the ultimate indicator of success in dating is marriage, there are plenty of ways to be successful without yet having found a spouse. This book will detail some of those ways.

My Review
I really like that this book gives practical advice for early stages of dating. It’s easy to follow, quick to read, and has a lighthearted, approachable tone. I thought the section with ideas for first dates was great, and so was the checklist of things to do before going on a date. (I kind of wish I could go back in time and give that list to a few of the boys I dated, but that’s a whole other story!)

Another really helpful part was the section that talked about how to ask a girl for a date in the first place. I think the simple, direct, no-pressure approach is a perfect model for people as they approach someone they want to date. The emphasis on community– having friends and family to cheer you on and back you up or listen to you process how the date went– as so important really resonated with me, too. Having a good community around you makes a huge difference.

All in all, this book makes a great resource for young Christian men looking to begin dating relationships. I think most if not all of the counsel could apply to girls as well, though it’s addressed specifically to guys. I enjoyed reading Be Affected, and especially enjoyed the part of the book the title comes from, in which the author talks about the importance of being sincere and vulnerable, actually letting others get to know the real you in relationships. Great stuff.

Recommended for Ages 12 up.

Cultural Elements
No racial details given. The author is speaking most directly to young Christian men looking to date women.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
None.

Romance/Sexual Content
References to kissing. Vague references to sex.

Spiritual Content
The author quotes a couple of verses, one about the how finding a wife is a good thing, according to Proverbs. He encourages readers to pray about any anxiety over upcoming dates or asking someone on a date. More than one section discusses abstinence as the best way to prepare for a marriage relationship and the basis for this lifestyle in the Bible.

Violent Content
None.

Drug Content
None.

Note: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Review: Prom by Jill S. Zimmerman Rutledge

Book Review and Content, Nonfiction, Young Adult/Teen 12-18, , , ,

Prom
Jill S. Zimmerman Rutledge
Twenty-First Century Books
Published January 1, 2017

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads

Prom serves as an important tradition for youth in America today. This book explores the history of the social event as well as its evolving trends while giving a spotlight to students and community members who worked hard to create integrated proms which protect and encourage LGBT student participation. Adults reflect on their prom experiences, some dating back to the Great Depression, and share tips and memories for today’s Prom attendees. Current trends like “promposals” and dress registries get a nod as well as some creative prom dress-making challenges and programs to provide dresses for girls who couldn’t otherwise afford to attend the dance.

While the history of Prom contains a lot of fascinating details, the book feels low on other elements. The section containing tips and memories from former attendees is organized so that each responder gets a section. This made the section more personal, but also sort of muddied the information. A clear bulleted list or chapter detailing safety tips, ideas for saving money, or clever ways to make the dance more fun might have made this section more dynamic. Overall, though, it makes a nice overview. This book will probably be most useful to middle school and early high school students who are curious about what they have to look forward to when they have a chance to attend Prom.

Recommended for Ages 12 to 16.

Cultural Elements
The book discusses battles fought by African American and Caucasian students to have integrated proms.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
None.

Romance/Sexual Content
The author encourages attendees not to feel sexual pressure on prom night. Other contributors reflect back on prom experiences, one describing a friend who ended up in a scary situation. Her date treated her like he expected her to have sex with him, and she ended up needing help and protection from others to stay safe.

Spiritual Content
There are a couple of references to Christian schools which would not allow students to bring same gender dates, and a girl who wanted to bring a transgender boy as her date.

Violent Content
None.

Drug Content
The author and contributors also encourage teens not to feel pressure to drink alcohol or use drugs on prom night. One contributor states that it’s a smaller group of people who actually drink than you think it is. One girl recalls being sent home after drug paraphernalia was found in her boyfriend’s bag.

Note: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.