Hey FLOC community! Today, we’re kicking off our summer learning academies with the first day of summer reading tutoring. We’ve learned that summer learning and summer reading are incredibly important for our students, but it’s a great time for adults to do some reading, too. Don’t let summer go by without picking up at least a few new good books. Here is a list of interesting reads that are sure to get you through the summer.
[separator type=’transparent’ normal_full_width=’yes’ pattern_full_width=” color=” thickness=” up=’10px’]
In the Unlikely Event by Judy Blume

In the Unlikely Event is iconic author Judy Blume’s highly anticipated first novel for adults in over 15 years. Set in New Jersey where Blume witnessed a bizarre series of plane crashes during her childhood, In the Unlikely Event is an imaginative story spanning three generations of characters, and a charming portrait of the mid-20th century.
[separator type=’transparent’ normal_full_width=’yes’ pattern_full_width=” color=” thickness=” up=’10px’]
Go Set a Watchman by Harper Lee

Go Set a Watchman is Pulitzer Prize-winning author Harper Lee’s follow-up to To Kill a Mockingbird, and one of the most anticipated books this summer. Set in the mid-1950s, Go Set a Watchman follows the beloved characters from To Kill a Mockingbird as they struggle with both personal and political problems two decades later.
[separator type=’transparent’ normal_full_width=’yes’ pattern_full_width=” color=” thickness=” up=’10px’]
The Girl On The Train by Paula Hawkins

A psychological thriller about a girl named Rachel who witnesses a shocking event which inserts her into the lives of strangers. The book is a real page-turner with lots of twists, amplified by the shifting perspectives of the three main characters. Hard to put down!
[separator type=’transparent’ normal_full_width=’yes’ pattern_full_width=” color=” thickness=” up=’10px’]
Mr. Penumbra’s 24–Hour Bookstore, by Robin Sloan

When an ancient mythical fantasy world meets high–tech Google. An eccentric bookstore tucked away in San Francisco proves that magic can still exist in the digital world. For: booklovers who cherish a manual typewriter as much as their iPad
[separator type=’transparent’ normal_full_width=’yes’ pattern_full_width=” color=” thickness=” up=’10px’]
Woman With a Secret’ by Sophie Hannah
If you’re looking for your next addictive thriller, meet Sophie Hannah and her character Nicki Clements. (Guess what: Nicki has a secret!) Skilled suspense-writer Hannah will sweep you into Nicki’s world — and you won’t want to get out until you’ve reached the very last page. Good luck to anyone trying to pry this one from your hands.
[separator type=’transparent’ normal_full_width=’yes’ pattern_full_width=” color=” thickness=” up=’10px’]
Infinite Home by Kathleen Alcott
If you’re away from where you live and the people you love this summer, your required reading is Infinite Home, which gets at the heart of what the word “home” is about — both in terms of the physical place and the feeling. You’ll read about Brooklyn landlord Edith and her tenants, and what they when their home is threatened. Prepare to be moved, because this one will reach deep inside of you.
[separator type=’transparent’ normal_full_width=’yes’ pattern_full_width=” color=” thickness=” up=’10px’]
The Martian by Andy Weir
This is the story of funny, smart, and incredibly resourceful astronaut Mark Watney who gets stranded on Mars. You will not be able to put this book down, which makes it perfect summer reading to me. The movie comes out in November, which is another reason to pick this up this summer.
[separator type=’transparent’ normal_full_width=’yes’ pattern_full_width=” color=” thickness=” up=’10px’]
The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafón

This is a such a unique narrative about a young boy, Daniel, who finds a book he loves and sets out to track down the author. But he soon finds that someone else is also hunting the same books — in order to destroy them. The Shadow of the Wind becomes an adventure that Daniel could never have dreamed of, introducing him to characters both wonderful and terrifying along the way. This book is splendidly written — and incredibly quotable too!

(Queen Travers is the Program Coordinator for the Neighborhood Tutoring Program.)

Scroll to Top