Summer Radar Reading List

#1 Paper Towns by John Green

All his life, Quentin Jacobsen has been lusting for the unpredictable Margo Roth Spiegelman from afar. But never would he have imagined that one night she would climb into his window in a ninja get up with a proposition for revenge. After their all-nighter of hilarious pranks and heart-to-hearts, a new day breaks and they separate. Hours later Quentin arrives at school to discover that Margo has disappeared. He soon learns that Margo has left clues for him to find her only the more he travels the more disconnected he becomes to the girl he thought he knew.

With the movie adaptation rolling into theaters on July 24, it’s no surprise that another John Green novel will land in readers’ hands this summer. Debuted #5 on The New York Times best seller list and 2009 Edgar award winner for Best Young Adult book, John Green shows another side of reading fiction. We begin to contemplate and grow fond of its characters in the most unique and intimate way and draw a simple conclusion…the world is much more complicated than we believe.

#2 Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson

Melinda Sordino is now the most hated girl in school after busting an end of summer party by calling the cops. Now she is shunned by everyone including her closest friends. The only place she can seek solace is in her head and even that is dangerous. If she gives in to her thoughts, all the memories of that night will blow her carefully built walls and mute disguise into oblivion. If that happens she would have to face the truth and speak.

Speak explores the depth of the teenage mind and their means of psychological survival. It is emotionally captivating and at times devastating for the reader. It is an extremely powerful read and definitely leaves you feeling inspired.

#3 The Mara Dyer trilogy by Michelle Hodkin

In this psychological thriller, Mara Dyer wakes up in the hospital, completely disoriented without any recollection of how she got there to find out that she has survived an accident that killed her friends. As she tries to recuperate and find out more about the person she was she meets Noah and the two travel down a road that gradually leads to Mara losing bits of her sanity.

This novel is unlike any other fiction novel, it flows perfectly but leaves the reader on edge. The novel puts such a heavy emphasis on the events that take place in Mara’s mind that the line between reality and illusion becomes blurred. There are three books in the series and with every book comes more mysteries and loose ties. It is a teasing read that will leave a tingling feeling from the pad of your fingers to your toes.

#4 Great by Sara Benincasa

Even though she does it every summer, Naomi Rye dreads having to spend her summer with her socialite mother in East Hampton. She’s never been able to connect with any of the other teens that were spending their summer in the rich sun every year. That was until she met her next door neighbor Jacinta who wants Naomi to help her meet Delilah Fairweather who is already in a relationship with a man.

Character lines become twisted as the summer progresses, and the relationships get steamier. In a retelling of the beloved American classic, The Great Gatsby, Sara Benincasa uses her funny wit and charm to tell the story of a teenage girl who gets herself tangled in the Hampton’s elite circle. The tension of the plot is built up as the characters’ decisions of alcohol, drugs, feelings and deceit deters the plot line from a cliché ending and engross the reader.

#5 Looking for Alaska by John Green

Miles “Pudge” Halter, who has a relentless obsession with famous last words and The Great Perhaps (Francois Rabelais) is a new student at the eccentric Culver Creek boarding school. In the wake of events he meets Alaska Young, an alluring free-spirited, independent, self-destructive yet fascinating young girl who takes a liking to Pudge and unknowingly steals his heart in the most unconventional way.

Despite its title, this book is definitely a novel that cannot be missed. Yes, another John Green book to conclude on your list. This novel is an amazing read in ways that cannot be fathomed into words. All I can say is that it is a must read that is so good, you will be in tears. Literally.