Librarians (and their kids) recommend great reads for summer

(Editor’s note: Concluding our summer reading recommendations’ series, we are excited to share this guest column penned by Lori and Gabe Skinner of Hamilton and Lee and Marlee Frix of Haleyville. Thank you all!)
When summer arrives, many of us are ready for the pace of our lives to slow down just a bit so we can spend some well-earned downtime relaxing. Two of Northwest-Shoals Community College Library’s librarians – and their kids – offer their picks for perfect summer reads.
As librarians, we are always excited to talk about books with our kids in the hopes of helping them find their next great read. This conversation was a lot of fun for each of us to find out our kiddos' current favorites and what qualities make a great read in their opinions.

Lee Frix
NWSCC librarian
Health, PE teacher &
bus driver
Haleyville High School
Suspense and thrillers are always a solid pick when it comes to a great summer read. I highly recommend anything by John Grisham. He was the author who ignited my personal interest in reading due to his strong depictions of the South. If you are unfamiliar with his writing, start with “A Time to Kill,” Grisham’s first novel.
Featuring rich atmospheric writing, this courtroom drama is an introduction to fearless attorney Jake Brigance as he defends a black Vietnam War hero who kills the white men who assaulted his daughter in a case that has the nation spellbound in Ford County, Miss.  Here is a fun fact about Grisham: he is great for younger readers as well, with his “Theodore Boone: Kid Lawyer” series.
Another author I highly recommend for psychological suspense is Freida McFadden. After hearing the recommendation from an avid and well-versed book aficionado, I picked up “The Housemaid” and have been hooked. Her most recent thrilling release is “Dear Debbie.” Debbie writes a wholesome advice column, think of Dear Abby, but privately compiles unreleased drafts with, sometimes, violent “eye-for-an-eye” advice. When she loses her job, catches her teenage daughters acting strange and suspects her husband Cooper is having an affair, she snaps.
I also have a few favorites I would recommend to anyone. “The Help” by Kathryn Stockett is an engrossing read about three women, two Black maids and a recent White college graduate, who collaborate on a secret project that challenges racial boundaries and social culture.
Another standout read is “The Terminal List” by Jack Carr. When Navy SEAL James Reece discovers a plot is behind the deaths of his team and his family, he applies every lesson he learned in warfare toward vengeance. You won’t be able to put this one down. I couldn’t and have read the entire James Reece series—eight books!
One of my favorite reads for children is “Officer Buckle and Gloria” by Peggy Rathmann, because Officer Buckle thinks he’s the main attraction at a school speech. But behind him, Gloria the dog, is the main character. I’m a dog person, so this is why I really love this whimsical read! If you enjoy this one, be sure to check out any book by Doreen Cronin. They are packed full of fun and sure to make you and your little reader laugh.
 
Marlee Frix
9-year-old reader
Daughter of Lee
& Elaine Frix
Some of my favorite authors are David A. Adler because he writes nonfiction books about important people from history. I really like learning about history, so his books are fun for me to read.
I also enjoy reading books by Ellen Miles, especially her “Puppy Place” series. I love dogs, and I even have a Yorkie of my own.
Another favorite series is “The Diary of a Pug” by Kyla May. The main character is a pug named Bud, and he goes on lots of fun adventures with his owner, Bella.
I also love “The Adventures of Sophie Mouse” series by Poppy Green.  Sophie is a little mouse who has exciting adventures with her forest friends.
Another series I enjoy is “The Critter Club” by Callie Barkley. The books are about four friends - Amy, Ellie, Liz and Marion - who help take care of and rescue animals in their small town. These stories are fun, exciting and perfect for animal lovers like me!
 
Lori Skinner
NWSCC head
librarian
Be sure to check out “Yesteryear” by Caro Claire Burke if you are looking for a psychological thriller with an enthralling change of premise.  
Natalie Heller Mills is a “tradwife” (traditional wife) influencer with over six million followers, building an empire from the perfect life she presents for her followers. When she wakes one morning to find her life is devoid of modern luxuries and she is trapped in a brutal, historical reality, she determines she must escape at any cost.
If you are a true crime aficionado, pick up “The Housewives Underground: The Untold Story of the Women Who Made the JFK Assassination Our Most Enduring Mystery” by Kaitlyn Tiffany. Painstakingly researched, this introduces us to a group of women, often referred to as “scavengers” by politicians and reporters, who asked the first, and hardest, questions about this transformative event during the turbulent 1960s.
For frothy trope-filled fun, read “The Bodyguard” by Katherine Center before the film version hits the screen. Bodyguard Hannah Brooks is hired to protect Hollywood leading man Jack Stapleton from his middle-aged, corgi-breeding stalker while he is in Texas visiting family.
To prevent his family from learning about his stalker and to protect the fragile health of his mom, he convinces Hannah to pose as his girlfriend. Full of fun and laugh-out-loud moments, this one delivers emotion, as both characters overcome personal issues and catch real feelings for each other.
 
Gabe Skinner
13-year-old reader
Son of Eric
& Lori Skinner
I enjoy humor when I’m reading, and that’s something most of my recommendations share. “A Whole Nother Story” by Dr. Cuthbert Soup is a fun read because it is in-depth as the story unfolds, but also silly while still being serious.
The Chessman family is on the run, along with their psychic dog, because the dad’s invention has attracted the wrong kind of attention. They are being chased by super spies, government agents and a genius monkey. It’s the first in a series, and I’m looking forward to reading them all this summer.
One of the series I would recommend for kids is “Diary of a Wimpy Kid” by Jeff Kinney. Young kids will enjoy the drawings and the way Greg Hefley winds up in situations. They are funny and nonsensical, but there is usually a lesson for Greg in the story.
I like to play video games, and another series I have enjoyed is a graphic novel adaptation of the Plants versus Zombies game. The first one in the series is “Lawnmageddon” by Paul Tobin.
Patrice and Nate get help fending off funny zombies from a confusing – but brilliant – inventor known as Crazy Dave. Each of the books follows the three of them as they continue to battle the zombies. They are hilarious and might tempt someone who doesn’t like to read to get hooked on them.
Sticking with zombies, but for an audience that is a little older, I recommend “The Last Kids on Earth” by Max Brallier. It has some illustrations and tells the story of Jack Sullivan, a 13-year-old who lives in his tree house since the monster apocalypse hit town. He teams up with his best friend Quint and a few others to develop a plan to slay Blarg, a crazy-smart monster. While it is really funny, the characters have to work through some serious things, which makes it a good read if you want something a little more serious.
My favorite book on this list is “The Wild Robot” by Peter Brown.  I’ve always liked robots, and this book is about a robot named Roz who has to learn to exist in the wilderness with animals. It has short chapters, but is really impactful as Roz develops emotions for the animals she shares the island with. I think this book is a good emotional series that explores concepts about learning to love.