Are you looking for that last great book for summer?  Here is a list of some of the best books recently published that kids nine through adult will love.  All of these books would be terrific to read aloud to the entire family to enjoy as nighttime settles in and you want to read a book that everyone will beg you not to stop!

Let’s begin with a book full of short stories that seems at first glance to be far-fetched.  But, as the story progresses, you begin to become immersed in the story-line. Tales From Outer Suburbia,by Shaun Tan, has 15 illustrated stories that include an alien ending up in a neighbor’s yard and becoming part of the household and a water buffalo who sits on a vacant lot and offers directions for kids seeking help.  Each story is so unique that it would be a great step-off into creative writing for young authors.

Jack Bolt and the Highwaymen’s Hideout, by Richard Hamilton, and illustrated by Sam Hearn, is a fast-moving book about a boy, Jack, who wakes up in the middle of the night to find a gang of highwaymen from the 18th century breaking into his room.  Jack discovers that he’s about to become involved in an adventure that crosses through time. 

Wild River, by P. J. Petersen, is a wild adventure that takes the reader on the river trip of a lifetime when the younger brother, Ryan, is faced with a life-and-death dilemma of attempting to save his older brother from drowning.  This short, 120-page book will be hard to put down!

If you’ve not read any of the “Percy Jackson & The Olympians” books, you’re missing out on some of the best fantasy books of today!  Rick Riordan’s latest book, The Demigod Files,includes three short stories about the son of Poseidon and how he barely escapes dying along with interviews with other main characters of the author’s popular series.  The Mythology Handbook:  A Course in Ancient Greek Myths,published by Candlewick, is one of the best quick glance books to give you an overview of the gods the author writes about.

And here’s another series of books in this same category of “must read”:  “The 39 Clues.”  I’ve already reviewed the first three books in this series because each one is so good and is written by a different outstanding author.  Numbers four and five have recently been published and once again match well with the rest. Jude Watson wrote #4, Beyond the Grave, and Patrick Carman wrote #5, The Black Circle.Both books involve intrigue, adventure and even the most reluctant reader will not put these books down!

Midnight Magic,by Avi, is an historical fiction set in 1491 that weaves a mystery throughout that involves a magician and his servant who are taken to the castle to help the king with his ten-year-old daughter.  She claims that a ghost visits her nightly and the king wants to be rid of it.  Could the ghost be real?  I’m betting you’ll not put this book down until its conclusion.

Notes From The Dog,by Gary Paulsen, is a wonderful story about fifteen-year-old Finn and his great dog and his new neighbor who just moved in and who becomes his great friend and help-mate.  This new neighbor also has breast cancer and teaches Finn about life, healthy food and gardening.  This book is very uplifting.

Toby Alone, by Timothee de Fombelle, and illustrated by Francois Place, is unique with an interesting storyline that’s eloquently written, as well as containing creative pictures sprinkled throughout.  The tiny people who live on the Tree make up a complete mass of tiny societies that include conflict, discoveries and heroes.  There’s even a large fold-out of the locations of the villages on the Tree inside the cover.

The Bronze Pen,by Zilpha Keatley Snyder, celebrates writing and authorship.  Twelve-year-old Audrey is led to discover a magic pen and because of her love of writing discovers that everything she writes with the pen becomes true.  But she also finds that there are repercussions in these results.

Once Upon a Marigold and Twice Upon a Marigold,both by Jean Ferris, are two fairy tales that connect with each other and are filled with magic and mystery as well as being written with the adeptness of good versus evil.  The first book is about a young man, Christian, who falls in love with a princess, making this difficult because of his station in life.  The sequel has Christian discovering that his princess is about to be thrown off the throne by a diabolical queen. Both books are well-written and are a delight to read!
 
Attack of the Growling Eyeballs and Escape of the Mini-Mummy,bothby Lin Oliver, and illustrated by Stephen Gilpin, are hilarious and geared for upper-elementary age boys.  This series deals with Daniel, who lives in a family full of girls.  But he’s about to discover that he has a tiny twin brother the size of his toe.  Both books are full of humor and adventure.