After all those long hours spent in exam halls and then the boring last weeks of term where you just sit in class and watch films, then move on to the next lesson and start another one, I am so glad that summer is finally here . Although yesterday the weather was beautiful and you almost couldn't move in the heat, I woke up this morning and was greeted by miserable black clouds and the familiar sound of rain hitting the windows. I find summer a great time to catch up on any books that you haven't read during the year but have wanted to or even to reread some of those excellent books. I love to use summer as an excuse to go to the park and sit under a tree with a good book and a cool ice-cream. But if like in London its raining and miserable and raining at the moment good books are just the thing to take your mind off the weather. Here are some great reads to try out and get you into the Summery mood!
Lock and Key By Sarah Dessen or any of her other books for that matter...
I have just finished reading Lock and Key, which just like her other books, failed to disappoint me. It follows the story of 17 year old Ruby, who, after her mum abandoned her, moved in with her 27 year old sister, Cora, who she hasn't seen for 10 years. The book is great as it shows the change in Ruby's character from a quiet, reserved girl to a mature individual who has friends who adore her. I highly recommend it for anyone who has ever felt a little bit isolated and small.The books are based in America as Sarah Dessen is American,but that still makes them great reads.
Wings by Aprilynne Pike
Wings is the first one in the faerie series by Aprilynne Pike, and a great start. Again it is set in America, like most books these days, and follows the story of Laurel a young girl who has, after years of home schooling, started school for the first time. All seems to be going smoothly when a mysterious lump appears on her back. Laurel and her friend David, a gorgeous science geek who Laurel has a big crush on, experiment on Laurel that Laurel is not an animal but in fact a plant. As the story unfolds we discover that Laurel is a faerie sent into the human world as a young child to inherit land that the fey treasure. The book is filled with trolls, faeries and that all important love triangle. A perfect book to get you into summer.
The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd
If fantasy just isn't your bag then try The Secret Life Of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd. set in the 50's and 60's is a story about love, relationships and guilt. The book also covers the issue of segregation in America during the 60's particularly in the southern states. 14-year-old Lily was brought up to believe that when she was four she accidentally shot and killed her mother. Stuck on peach farm with her short-tempered father and only one friend Rosaleen her black servant. When Rosaleen is badly beaten, Lily decides to free her and they travel together. Lily meets three bee-keeping sisters who help her unravel the mystery of her mother and her mothers death. This is an amazing book which will make you feel angry and want to cry, but I truly recommend it.
I hope that you enjoy the books above. Happy Reading!
