Five Happy Things

Books to Read with Kids (or all by yourself)

School is out (or almost out) in most of the country, and summer, to me, has always been about reading.

Back when I was a bookseller, I used to create a table every summer that paired a grown-up book with a children’s book that had similar vibes, with the suggestion that the grown-ups might like to read some of these books with their favorite kids, or even on their own.

It was always a big hit, so I thought I’d do something similar today. 🙂

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1. Projekt 1065 by Alan Gratz - Full disclosure: Alan is my husband. 😁 But this is possibly my favorite book he’s written so far! If you like classic WWII thrillers (think The Key to Rebecca by Ken Follett or Where Eagles Dare by Alistair MacLean) then you’ll probably like this. The main character is the son of the Irish Ambassador to Nazi Germany. His parents are spies for the Allies, and so is he - passing along info he gathers as a member of the Hitler Youth. It’s a fast-paced thriller, but also explores deep questions about friendship, bullying, family, sacrifice, standing up for what’s right, life under an authoritarian government, and more. (Bookshop link, Amazon link)

2. The War that Saved My Life by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley - Speaking of WWII, if you like historical fiction, give this one a try. Ada has a twisted foot - and a mother who refuses to let her leave their one-bedroom apartment in London because she’s ashamed of her. When her brother gets sent to the country with other London kids, Ada sneaks out to join him. This won a ton of awards, for excellent reason. Don’t be put off by the cartoony new cover. Grown-ups will love this one just as much as kids do. (Bookshop link, Amazon link)

3. Sammy Keyes and the Hotel Thief by Wendelin Van Draanen - I’ve always thought of Sammy Keyes as a young Kinsey Milhone, so if you like the Sue Grafton mysteries, give Sammy a try. If you (or your kid, ahem) like Sammy, there are eighteen books in the series. 📚 (Bookshop link, Amazon link)

4. The Book of Three by Lloyd Alexander - If high fantasy is more your thing and you’ve never read The Chronicles of Prydain, get to it! This was my favorite fantasy series as a kid, more than Narnia and more than Lord of the Rings (both of which I also loved). The books move at a brisk pace, and they have loads of humor. Fflewddur Fflam - a bard who carries a magical harp whose strings break whenever he stretches the truth - is one of my favorite characters. And Eilonwy the princess - who uses the weirdest similes and metaphors I’ve ever read - is wonderfully stubborn and brave. (Bookshop link, Amazon link)

5. Here in the Real World by Sara Pennypacker - If you lean towards literary fiction, try this one. It’s about an unlikely friendship between a misfit dreamer and a tough, secretive girl who together build a beautiful world in an empty lot in their neighborhood. This is one of my favorite books (all books - not just children’s books) of the last five years. (Bookshop link, Amazon link)

Time for your suggestions. What are your favorite books for kids that adults might also like?

You can find past newsletters with book recommendations here.

Enjoy!

Best,
Wendi
❤️

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A note about links. . .

Both the Bookshop and Amazon links are affiliate links. That means I earn a small commission if you purchase from those links, at no extra cost to you. Bookshop’s profits are shared among a large group of independent bookstores. If you have an indie bookstore in your area, please shop from them. They’re awesome!

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