Summer Dreaming
It’s already hot and humid in Connecticut, so my thoughts are turning to summer. Reading is happily an all-season activity, but here are some stories set during the summer to get you ready for the heat.
Sunny Side Up by Jennifer L. Holm and Matthew Holm (2015)
Instead of getting to vacation as usual with her family, Sunny is sent to spend the summer with her grandfather in Florida. Sunny knows that this has something to do with her brother and the trouble he’s been in lately, whose substance abuse she doesn’t really understand. She and her grandfather find ways to connect in his heartfelt and funny graphic novel.
The Lumberjanes series by Shannon Watters, Grace Ellis, Gus Allen and ND Stevenson (started in 2014)
This amazing graphic novel series (there are also middle grade books) follows five friends as they discover supernatural phenomena at Miss Qiunzella Thiskwin Penniquiqul Thistle Crumpet’s Camp for Hardcore Lady Types. The cast of characters is diverse with LGBTQ representation.
Camp by Kayla Miller (2019)
This graphic novel is part of the Click series. In this volume, Olive and Willow go to summer camp together. While Willow makes friends quickly, Olive struggles to fit in and that tension strains their friendship. Engaging illustrations and spot-on emotional content make this a great pick.
Stand Up, Yumi Chung by Jessica Kim (2020)
Korean-American Yumi dreams of becoming a stand up comedian. She discovers a comedy camp and is thrilled to attend and hone her skills. The only problems are that she’s keeping it a secret from her parents, and everyone at the camp thinks she’s some other kid named Kay Nakamura. A middle-grade novel that is sweet, sharp, and full of laughs.
Amari and the Night Brothers by B.B. Alston (2021)
Amari’s brother is missing and presumed dead. But Amari won’t give up the hope of finding him. She learns that the mysterious job he had before he disappeared was with the Bureau of Supernatural Affairs, and she is given the chance to attend their summer training program. As Amari learns about the hidden supernatural world, she and her new friends search for clues about her brother’s disappearance. Highly recommended. (And the sequel is coming out in August!!)
The Summer of Jordi Perez by Amy Spalding (2018)
A gay, body-positive YA summer romance! This book has the ingredients of a great romance: snarky friend, rivals to lovers, a parent to rebel against. Abby earns an internship at a boutique and is thrilled to follow her fashion design dreams. She has to compete with the other intern, Jordi, for a permanent job, only to find that she’s falling for Jordi.
When Dimple Met Rishi by Sandhya Menon (2017)
Told in alternating perspectives, this YA romance follows two teens with opposing attitudes toward arranged marriage. Rishi embraces the tradition and can’t wait to meet his intended bride, Dimple. Dimple believes that it’s more important to focus on her career goals of being a web developer. But when the two meet at camp, their relationship surprises both of them.