Summer Reading Guide

by Nina Goldman

This summer, between volunteer work in a third world country, SAT prep courses, internships at your dad’s office, and other resume-building activities, you may need to take a break. When you get bored with summer reruns on TV and your mom tells you to turn off the computer, why not try reading? Be it by the beach or in a quiet room in your house, reading can be done anywhere and by anyone. Here is a list of some ideas for your summer reading list.

How the Garcia Girls Lost Their Accents: by Julia Alvarez. This book tells the story of four girls’ move from the Dominican Republic to America, and their subsequent assimilation there. It begins in the 1980's, when one of the sisters makes a return trip to the island of her birth, and travels back in time to the sisters’ childhood in the 1950's. It is beautifully written, and gives a full picture of the experiences of these girls.

Sleeping Arrangements: by Laura Shaine Cunningham. This memoir of a girl’s growing up in the Bronx in the 1950's reads like a novel. A young girl named Lily tells of her life living with her eccentric uncles and, later, her insane grandmother in a fresh and lively voice. It gets strange at points, as many coming-of-age stories do, but it is entertaining and a great read for most high school age girls.

The Great Gatsby: By F. Scott Fitzgerald. This book is a classic, but don’t let that turn you off. It is a short, sweet account of society in and around New York City in the Jazz Age. Despite the tragic events that mar the happy façade of the story’s parties and general frolicking, and give it a more unhappy undertone, the book still seems to have a sugary coating that makes it perfect for summer reading.

Stranger in a Strange Land: By Robert A. Heinlein. This science fiction story of a boy coming to earth and experiencing the planet for the first time is recommended especially for High School age boys. Martians raised Michael, the only survivor of the first manned mission to Mars. This thought provoking novel from the early sixties is definitely worth checking out.

The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy: by Douglas Adams. For more approachable science fiction, try this book. Clever and random, this book is highly entertaining, a painless read. Everyone can relate to it and enjoy it, from the biggest sci-fi geeks to those who normally can’t stand the genre. Though the next four books in the trilogy (a five-book trilogy? Yeah, that’s Douglas Adams) are far more complicated, this one is relatively easy to understand and everyone should read it.

Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time: by Mark Haddon. This story is told from the point of view of a boy with an extreme case of Aspergers syndrome, a form of autism. Christopher Boone, the narrator, despite being extremely intelligent, is obsessed with and repulsed by certain colors, can’t stand physical contact, and when faced with a social situation he dislikes will curl up in a ball and shriek. A fascinating yet quick read, this book is great for everyone.

Calvin and Hobbes: By Bill Watterson. Yes, these are comic books. That still shouldn’t make you disregard them as acceptable summer reading. The title characters are not only funny, but also clever and philosophical. All of the collections are good, but my favorite is Attack of the Deranged Mutant Killer Monster Snow Goons.

Poetry: If going through a whole book seems like too much for you, try starting with a few poems. In a few lines, poets can encapsulate a perfect moment. Try the poems of Pablo Neruda; his “Oda a la Sandía” (“Ode to a Watermelon”) is especially refreshing.