Who Wants to Play?

Summer is the best thing in the world. Ask me again about that when the humidity really sets in.

I'm still revising at a decent clip, but I've also been taking advantage of the long days, balmy nights and the holes left behind by The Sopranos and Veronica Mars to read like it's my job. Most recently:

Bloom by Elizabeth Scott-- how lovely a book is this? I enjoyed the way Lauren's central conflict unfolded and was eventually resolved and Evan was a character right up my teenage crush alley - I'm always a sucker for the rough-around-the-edges underdog love interest. Gorgeous cover, too.

Hit the Road by Caroline B. Cooney-- a staple of my youth, I haven't read Cooney in years but something about this book appealed to me. Perhaps it's because I've always been so close to my own 80-something grandparents, one of whom has been put through the Alzheimer's meatgrinder for the past decade. I loved the humanity of this book and the way it forcibly removed Brit from her self-absorbed teenage world and transformed her into a compassionate fighter while still being a fun road trip adventure.

Not a YA title, but I also read Dear Catastrophe Waitress by Brendan Halpin. I discovered this book by doing a random browse of the new release shelf. I'll admit that I was seduced by the cover and didn't even read the description but fortunately I found it to be a quick, absorbing and deeply sexy read. Halpin has that elusive gift of writing the way people really talk, and is funny to boot. I've found out that he's written at least one YA book so you know I'm right on top of that.

In the spirit of summertime fever, what's the childhood read that makes you feel immediately transported to this time of year? Here's mine:

Written material © 2007 Dawn A. Emerman

Comments

[Ronni]

Aw, Sam and the Firefly is a cute book. I just recently read that to my son. :)

[elizabeth]

Wow. (By which I mean, WOW!!) I have to admit, it's been a secret hope of mine that you'd read Bloom, and an even bigger secret hope that you'd enjoy it.

Thank you so much for the kind words.

[amanda]

I read (and reviewed!) Bloom, too, and absolutely loved it. And, you can tell we are around the same age, because when I think of being little in the summertime, I think of endlessly having my mom read The Best Nest by P.D. Eastman to me. Then, as I got older, summertime was all about the Babysitters Club super specials. So fun!