Tag: YA

The summer is winding down (thank goodness), and it’s that time where parents and kids alike are ready to head back to school. Like many of you, I grew up reading boarding school books, and would wistfully imagine returning to ivy-laden dorms tucked under stone walkways, where teachers wore robes instead of cardigans and we ate in great halls instead of cafeteria.

Since most of us will probably never attend a boarding school (until college that is), I offer instead some fantastic teen and middle grade books to help scratch that ivy-itch.

Collapsing nations. Corrupted governments. Ruthless leaders. Separation. The worst part about all of these things? They usually occur in societies that seem nearly perfect. Some of the greatest books today center around different utopias, places that are flawless, and dystopias, their opposites. They are widely available, full of all of the brainwashing, international secrets, and weather phenomenona that lead to chaos in our world. Sound interesting? Here are five great books about future societies that will leave you wondering what utopia really looks like.

Summer has finally arrived and school is almost out. We all know what this means... more reading time! With that said, it's always nice to have a To-Be-Read (TBR) pile nearby so that you never run out of reads when they are desperately needed. Summer is notorious for having the perfect weather for cute contemporaries. I've compiled a list of my favorite contemporary books that I recommend for anyone who wants a light, fun summer read.

Did you grow up with Harry Potter and cry when you read the last page of the last book? I certainly shed some tears, more because it was the last book than because the ending was sad. Ever since I have been on the hunt for books that could help fill the void left by Harry and his friends. Admittedly most of these series do not involve midnight release parties and have yet to make it to Hollywood, but they do have fast friends, intriguing school-time shenanigans, and elements out of the ordinary. Do you have other books to add to this list?