Summer Reading holds a special place in my heart, because from the year I was born I was always the first kid signed up for it at my neighborhood library. As an adult, that same holds true. Working at the Library and being surrounded by so many wonderful titles, I’m often asked what’s on my reading list. While whittling down the list is difficult, here are five books I loved the most this summer.
Check out these books and more with your library card! If you don’t have one, you can sign up at your local library or online at carnegielibrary.org/services/get-a-library-card. If you can’t visit the Library, check out Libby and Hoopla for eBooks and audio you can access from home or choose to have us build you a personalized list of recommendations at carnegielibrary.org/match.
It is also not too late to sign up for Summer Reading. Children, teens, and adults can participate in our Summer Reading program by signing up online at carnegielibrary.org/summer, or by visiting a CLP location. Reading as little as five books over the summer months helps kids and teens beat the “summer slide” and retain the skills they learned during the school year. Sign up today!
It may be a cliché to refer to Hilderbrand as the ultimate beach read, and if so, what’s wrong with that? Count me among those who look forward to her annual escapist summer fiction and this year’s delivers with mystery, history, beautiful beach sunsets, and a ghost. You can also check out this title as an eBook on OverDrive/Libby or as eAudio on OverDrive/Libby.
This travelogue will intrigue and satisfy explorers, whether global or local; dreamers young or old; lovers of big cities, small towns, and every place in between; and aviation buffs that are either already frequent flyers or yet to leave the ground. You can also check out this title as an eBook on OverDrive/Libby.
When I heard the author of this Newbery Medal winning book give her acceptance speech earlier this summer I was incredibly moved by her storyteller’s skill, imagination, and passion, and immediately began re-reading this beautiful blending of science fiction and folklore. You can also check out this title as an eBook on OverDrive/Libby, as eAudio on OverDrive/Libby, as an eBook on Hoopla, or as eAudio on Hoopla.
This is one of the most powerful and personal memoirs I’ve ever read, uniquely crafted and eternally affecting, with local roots and a phenomenal addition to this year’s Battle of the Books. This title is also available for checkout as an eBook on OverDrive/Libby, as eAudio on OverDrive/Libby, as an eBook on Hoopla, or as eAudio on Hoopla.
Sometimes judging a book by its cover works out wonderfully. I was initially drawn to this title because my favorite singer of all time, Lena Horne, is on the cover, and it did not disappoint as I loved both the writing and learning about not only the powerful impact Pittsburgh had on her life and work, but also the influence of our area on so many other Black artists, athletes, journalists, and beyond. You can also check out this title as an eBook on OverDrive/Libby or as eAudio on OverDrive/Libby.