Shabeeba recommends these stories to fill your summer days. In addition to reviewing books for us, Shabeeba volunteers with the Islamic Circle of Noth American Austin Chapter Food Pantry.
Recommended for kids age 9-12, and young adults
Holes by Louis Sachar
Louis Sachar’s Holes is an intricate and satisfying novel that fluently spins a rich story that bounces from the past and present as it recounts the full puzzle of Stanley Yelnats’ story. This humorous, emotive novel follows a young teenage boy who is sentenced to a detention center, where he unearths the buried history that has been manifesting his life since he was arrested for stealing the pair of shoes. The captivating recollections and riveting moments create a voluminous jigsaw that pieces together a heartfelt, humorous, and well-delivered story that will engross any reader.
Recommended for kids age 9-12 and young adults
Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Patterson
Bridge to Terabithia is a timeless novel that explores the innocence of childhood, power of friendship, the tenor of courage, and the puissance of imagination. As two unlikely kids become friends over a common desire to escape the real world, they create an entire mystical Kingdom that serves as a safe haven for the two best friends. When a horrific tragedy destroys this imaginative world, two young children must decide how to deal with the loss and move on, while keeping the remnants of their imagination and their childhood in place. Katherine Patterson’s poignant novel is a must-read for children and adults alike, with its intimate moments and heart-breaking candor.
Recommended for teens and young adults
The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas
The novel “The Hate U Give” is an essential read that sheds light on the systematic racism that impacts the life of a relatively ordinary teenage girl. The true to life characters and undistorted themes give voice to the misrepresented and marginalized matters that are pivotal in today’s society. Ms. Angie Thomas’s “The Hate U Give” hands over the microphone to the underrepresented youth, and inspires an entire generation to use their voices to stand above the pain, hate, and inequity that has scarred the innocent.