Post by Elizabeth B.
Hello, friends and library patrons! It's almost the end of summer. Have you checked off everything on your summer list? Been to a beach bonfire? Started a band? Made your own ice cream? Fought off a group of multi-eyed foxes on a late-night hike?
No, you're right. I haven't done any of those things, either.
But fortunately, we live in a world with libraries, where each of those adventures is just a page-turn away! Welcome to Camp Read-a-lot, where I've tracked down reads just as adventurous and interesting as you are. Check out these four books about summer (and two tasty snacks) as you finish your vacation.
"Summer of Salt" by Katrina Leno
One-Sentence Summary: Georgina Fernweh, the only non-magical Fernweh, must clear her family's name when tragedy strikes the island of By-the-Sea.
Why you'll love it: Georgina's sister can fly! Her great-great-great-aunt might be a bird! There's a graveyard where it's always autumn and a goth ice cream shop and a cute romance between Georgina and a visiting girl named Prue. I felt like I could hear the waves and rain while reading.
Essential summer activity checklist: Bird-watching, beach bonfires, solving supernatural mysteries
"The Summer of Jordi Perez (and the Best Burger in Los Angeles)" by Amy Spalding
One-Sentence Summary: Abby's used to being the sidekick in her friends' stories, but a summer full of bests – best internship, best burgers, best dresses, and maybe even best summer romance – is about to propel her into the spotlight.
Why you'll love it: When I finished reading this book, I wanted to dye my hair pink and learn to sew. Abby's funny, cool, creative, and caring: such an amazing main character! The side characters are fun, too, from bro-BFF Jax to Abby's crush Jordi Perez, a photographer girl in all black who just happens to be competing for Abby's internship. This felt like the literary equivalent of sunshine and cotton candy.
Essential summer activity checklist: Rating burgers, wearing cute outfits, working an internship while worrying about eventually making money
"All Summer Long" by Hope Larson
One-Sentence Summary: When Bina's best friend Austin leaves for the summer, Bina has to find other friends to spend time with and other ways to fill her summer.
Why you'll love it: Bina is a musician to the core. Her passion for music takes her on all sorts of adventures: breaking into her best friend's house, going to a concert for the first time, and writing her own songs. Bina's social life is also changing in less fun ways, and she has to adjust, from dealing with cool but condescending older kids to her suddenly distant best friend and distracted parents. This book will be a new favorite for Raina Telgemeier fans.
Essential summer activity checklist: Playing music, going to concerts, waiting for a friend to reply to a text
"Lumberjanes" by Shannon Watters, Grace Ellis, Brooklyn A. Allen and Noelle Stevenson
One-Sentence Summary: A group of girls at a highly unusual summer camp battle mythical monsters and solve mysteries, much to the dismay of their cabin leader.
Why you'll love it: I never went to summer camp, but I'm pretty sure this is what it must have been like. I love all of the Lumberjanes – Mal is my favorite – and I love the weird adventures they manage to find everywhere they go. Plus, I'm curious what's going to happen! This is a good choice if you want to read an ongoing comic book filled with new plot twists on every page.
Essential summer activity checklist: Arm-wrestling, cake-decorating, Friendship to the Max
AND THE SNACKS:
All of these books are fantastic and wonderful, but you can't read on an empty stomach! You've got to get some ice cream to beat this summer heat.
If you want a cooking challenge, you could make some Sea Salt Ice Cream. These nostalgic treats from the Kingdom Hearts series are perfect for anyone who loves ice cream or video games. Plus, I've tested them out and they're delicious.
If you'd like to make them, check out The Geeky Chef Cookbook by Cassandra Reeder or The Nerdy Nummies Cookbook by Rosanna Pansino. Best enjoyed with one or two friends on top of the nearest clock tower.
"But what if I am ALREADY outside on a clock tower, away from fancy kitchen equipment?" you may ask.
Don't worry, friend, I still can help. Do you have two Ziploc bags and some half-and-half? Here's a quick and easy recipe that will have you eating ice cream faster than you can say "library card."
Make Your Own Ice Cream
What You Need
• Two plastic Ziploc bags – one pint-sized and one gallon
• 1/2 cup heavy cream or half-and-half
• 1/4 tsp of vanilla extract
• A spoonful of sugar (or two if you want, I won't judge)
• 3-4 cups of ice
• 8 tablespoons of salt
• And a towel so your hands don't freeze
1. In the smaller bag, combine the cream, vanilla, and sugar.
2. In the big bag, put the ice and salt.
3. Seal up the small bag and put it in the large bag.
4. Wrap the bag in the towel and shake it, juggle it, whatever you like – just keep it moving!
Every website I've seen says that this takes 5 minutes, but it took me about 10.
And ta-da! Ice cream!
(Thanks to How Stuff Works and Genius Kitchen for the recipes I based this on!)
Now, armed with these snacks and reading recommendations, I hope you can have a wonderful end-of-summer vacation.