A Summer Fun Reading List

Because Sometimes its okay to just read "good books" instead of "Great Books"

Study The Great Books in the midst of a Summer Sale and Giveaway! Check out the details here!

Obviously (as our name implies) we are all about the “Great Books,” those books which have endured for generations, centuries, or even millenia, and influenced millions upon millions of readers to think great thoughts, and enter into the great conversation, but that doesn’t mean we don’t also really appreciate some other books which may not quite make the “Great Books” list. Sometimes it’s fun to read something that’s just a bit…lighter, but still of quality. Allow us to introduce you to some books (or series of books) that are an absolute blast to read and worth your time. I’ll break it up a bit by age range, but I’ll note that nothing on this list is something you’ll grow out of. As Lewis once said, and I paraphrase, if it was ever worth reading as a child it is still worth reading as an adult. Some of the recommendations for adults, however, might be a bit much for younger or more sensitive readers (FYI).

I am kind of shooting from the hip here, but these are some fun summer reading recommendations for adults, teens, and younger children that come to the top of my mind!

Summer “Just For Fun” Reading for Adults

1. The Code of the Woosters, by P. G. Wodehouse: Never have I ever laughed so hard while reading a book than I did when I first read this book. P. G. Wodehouse is a master of literary comedy and there is really nothing quite like him. In sooth, I would recommend anything by Wodehouse to you for your summer fun, but you gotta start somewhere. The way Wodehouse writes he intentionally fills you in on anything you might need to know from previous hijinks in the series, so you can’t fail no matter where you hop in. This book is easily my favorite in the wonderful series featuring Bertram (Bertie) Wooster and his impeccable valet, Jeeves. Wodehouse, however, gave us many riotously funny stand-alone stories such as Frozen Assets or Love Among the Chickens as well as other fun series involving the folks at Blandings Castle or the delightfully looney communist Rupert Psmith. Start anywhere, thank me later.

2. The Red House Mystery, by A. A. Milne: Yes, that A. A. Milne. The man of Winnie the Pooh fame also wrote one murder mystery novel…and it’s delightful. Antony Gillingham is not a sleuth by trade, but then he’s done a little bit of everything else there is to do, why not solve a murder to? He’s read Sherlock…it can’t be that hard!

3. The Arsene Lupin Series, by Maurice Leblanc: Arsene is a witty gentleman thief who is hotly pursued by detective Ganimard (and sometimes even the great Herlock Sholmes, haha). He’s fun, he’s clever, he’s always at least one step ahead.

4. The Scarlet Pimpernel series, by Baroness Emmuska Orczy: in the time of the French revolution when the nobility of France are quite literally losing their heads one mysterious English hero comes to their aid, the elusive Scarlet Pimpernel…but who is he really?

5. The Moving Toyshop, by Edmund Crispin: When Richard Cadogan, while looking for his boarding house, accidentally enters a toyshop he stumbles upon a dead body only to be mysteriously knocked unconscious. When he wakes up, he’s not in a toyshop, but a grocery store and the body is gone. What in the world has happened?

6. Ender’s Game, by Orson Scott Card: If you are in need of a sci-fi fix, this should do you. Earth is threatened and fears for its very survival, waiting for what seems the inevitable return of an alien enemy, the Formics. They survived them once, they may not be able to survive them again. Humanity looks for a savior amidst the brightest human children on earth. Will Ender Wiggin be able to do what humanity needs him to do?

7. The Will of the Many, by James Islington: I haven’t read this yet, but my daughter (whose literary judgment I trust) says it is her new favorite book. I also had another person recommend it to me recently who is no mean reader himself. So it is on my list now…why not put it on yours? Here is the Amazon blurb:

   “The Catenan Republic—the Hierarchy—may rule the world now, but they do not know everything.
   
   I tell them my name is Vis Telimus. I tell them I was orphaned after a tragic accident three years ago, and that good fortune alone has led to my acceptance into their most prestigious school. I tell them that once I graduate, I will gladly join the rest of civilized society in allowing my strength, my drive, and my focus—what they call Will—to be leeched away and added to the power of those above me, as millions already do. As all must eventually do.
   
   I tell them that I belong, and they believe me.
   
   But the truth is that I have been sent to the Academy to find answers. To solve a murder. To search for an ancient weapon. To uncover secrets that may tear the Republic apart.

Summer “Just For Fun” Reading for Teens

1. The Wingfeather Saga, by Andrew Peterson: a fantasy world with magic, dragons, and swashbuckling adventure. The series is full of laughter, courage, and redemptive self-sacrifice. Brimming with light in the midst of impending and overwhelming darkness, follow the Igiby children as they learn the truth about who they really are and their family’s secret past. Also, run away from some toothy cows, avoid the scaly fangs all over the place, and keep an eye on crazy Peet the Sock Man (who knows what he’ll do?).

2. 100 Cupboards series, by N. D. Wilson: A little bit like a darker Narnia story, you’ll meet Henry who has grown up in a bubble of over-protection, but now is staying with his free-range parenting Aunt and Uncle in Kansas. Prepared for a boring summer in the middle of nowhere, everything changes when he discovers many little “cupboard” doors behind the plastering of his attic room…but these are no ordinary doors…each of them leads to another world…and not all of them are friendly.

3. The Mysterious Benedict Society, by Trenton Lee Stewart: when a strange advertisement appears in the paper looking for uniquely gifted children, many apply to for…well no one knows quite what, but they apply all the same. Little do any of them know that Mr. Benedict is trying to recruit a team that can help save the world from a dangerous threat.

4. The Rangers Apprentice series, by John Flanagan: a wonderful mix of Robinhood-like adventure in a medieval sort of time, loosely based on real places in our own world. You will love old gruff Halt, the loner, who takes on young Will, an oft over looked scrawny boy, as an apprentice to become an elite member of the King’s Ranger. Together they’ll face many dangerous foes and go undercover with their specially designed stealthy cloaks to keep the kingdom safe. They talk an awful lot to their horses too!

5. The Giver series, by Lois Lowry: a powerful series with a bit of mysticism and dystopia all wrapped together. Each book in the series is significantly different in tone and setting, making one wonder about how they connect together (at first), but each teaches us about the value of life itself and what we should live for. I can’t recommend them highly enough.

6. The Eagle of the Ninth, by Rosemary Sutcliff: Historical fiction for teens at its finest. Enjoy a tale from Roman occupied Britain and follow Marcus, a young centurion, who has to find out what happened to his father’s legion who mysteriously disappeared in Britain some years before. Did his father die with honor, was he a traitor, and who is Marcus supposed to be once he is injured and can no longer be a Centurion?

Summer “Just For Fun” Reading for Younger Children

1. The Green Ember series, by S. D. Smith: Rabbits. With swords. What else do you need to know? It’s a bit like The Lord of The Rings meets the talking animals of Narnia and it’s great fun! Heather and Picket Longtreader’s lives are about to be turned upside down as these sheltered young rabbits are forced to run for their lives from ravenous wolves. In the process of their escape they begin to realize that they are a part of something much larger and that their family’s history is interwoven with a tragic story. Hope, however, always shines brightest in the darkness. “My place beside you! My blood for yours! Until the Green Ember rises, or the end of the world!”

2. Once on a Time, by A. A. Milne: Lesser known than his Winnie The Pooh series, but just as witty and fun! Meet Princess Hyacinth whose kingdom is filled with whimsical and zany characters, magical items of great power, and dastardly villains!

3. The Penderwicks series, by Jeanne Birdsall: imagine if Little Women were written for our day and someone actually managed to do pretty well with that goal! Grow up with the Penderwick sisters over their many childhood adventures and into early adulthood across this delightful little series.

4. The Paddington series, by Michael Bond: Okay, you likely already know about this one, but my children are insisting that I add this here. They loved them (so did I) as they were growing up and if you haven’t read these wonderful stories with your kids then you are really missing out. He’s a bear, from darkest Peru, who moves to London and is taken in by the Brown family, he loves marmalade sandwiches, and he always gets into all kinds of humorous mischief. Just beware of catching one of his hard stares.

Of course there are many more funny, exciting, adventurous, mysterious, and heartwarming books that would be worth adding to the summer fun reading list… so what do you want to add? Put them in the comments so the fun can continue!