Summer Reading Recommendations

By Kate Mutch, Public Services Librarian

June 13, 2007

It’s no mystery….summer reading is fun for everyone! Natrona County Public Library provides reading programs for children, teens, and adults during the summer, in addition to our great selection of books, audiobooks, movies, and music available for checkout.  Here are a few titles to add to your summer reading list.

“The Cotton Queen” by Pamela Morsi

Morsi explores the ups and downs of mother/daughter relationships through the empathetic and believable characters of Babs and Laney of McKinney, Texas, as each asserts her will and tries to mold the other. They ultimately must reconcile with each other in order to move forward.

“Shooting Star” by Cynthia Riggs

When 92 year old Victoria Trumbull’s involvement in local Martha’s Vineyard theater includes the death of cast members, she must return to sleuthing to solve the mysteries.

“Dishwasher: One Man’s Quest to Wash Dishes in All Fifty States” by Pete Jordan

Pete Jordan is the first to say he’s not ambitious: he wants to wash dishes because of the lack of customer contact and responsibility and the opportunities for free food and slothfulness. Join him as he “busts suds” in kitchens all over the country in fish canneries, communes and diners.

“How to Hepburn: Lessons on Living by Kate the Great” by Karen Karbo

Karbo takes a look at Hepburn’s unconventional choices and guides readers to “harness their own Hepburn” while capturing the iconic Katherine Hepburn, known for doing things her own way, for a new generation’s benefit.

“Fowl Weather” by Bob Tarte

The book’s subtitle “How thirty nine animals and one sock monkey take over my life” is a good indication of the humorous tales of life with a menagerie of parrots, ducks, turkeys, cats and bunnies. When life’s harder moments hit, the death of his father and his mother’s diagnosis of Alzheimers, he realizes the animals give focus to his life.

And last but not least, my top choice for summer reading is “The Mailbox” by Audrey Shafer

Though written for children, this book is highly recommended for adults. Beautifully defined characters and a story line that grabs the reader from the beginning, make this a “must read” for your summer reading pleasure. At age 9, orphaned Gabe comes to live with his uncle after years of being shuttled among foster homes. After the first day of sixth grade, Gabe comes home to find his uncle dead. Unsure of what to do, he does nothing and returns to school the next day. Arriving home that second day, he finds the body is missing and a note that says “I have a secret” and “Do not be afraid.” Gabe struggles to survive while honoring his uncle’s memory. The library owns this on audio and it would make a good selection for the whole family to enjoy when traveling.

Don’t forget to “Clue In!@Your Library" for the adult summer reading program from June 11 through July 31!

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