Three Cheers for Summer Reading

Posted by Diane Laney Fitzpatrick May 22, 2008

What do you think of when you hear the words "summer reading?"

I'll tell you what I think: High school, summer of 1976; it's a week before the first day of school and I'm looking at The Greek Way, The Grapes of Wrath and Romeo and Juliet sitting on my nightstand, still shiny and uncracked (I think Grapes of Wrath was still in the bag from the book store) and wondering where the summer went.

And here's the thing: I loved to read. I read probably eight books that summer, including Gone With the Wind, but three of the best pieces of literature sat untouched until I was faced with an Incomplete in English.

I did get them all read. I'm proud to say I went all through high school and college without ever using Cliffs Notes.

But what is it about summer reading that puts fear and dread in our hearts and yawns on our faces?

While writing The Joy of Summer Reading this week, I started to imagine a student's ideal summer. One in which the required summer reading books were all read over the span of June through August and completed well before the first day of school. And a summer in which many evenings were spent curled up on the couch with a good book and many sunny days were spent lounging in the back yard with an even better book.

Summer is a good time to set some reading goals with your children. The school year is too busy to get caught up on the Harry Potter series or start in on the Magic Treehouse books. But the summer, with its long days and relaxed schedule, is just the right time.