And one from Mrs. Johns!!

Compiled by Dave Eggers and teen students from his San Francisco writing center, this collection of stories, reporting and alternative comics is a perfect beach/pool/camp/ travel book. My favorites include Al Franken's "Tearaway Burkas and Tinplate Menorahs,"(Franken goes to Iraq) and William T. Vollmann's "They Came Out like Ants!" (Vollmann searches for Chinese tunnels in Mexico.) Pick out your favorite!

Here's one more recommendation....

You probably don't know the critic but I can tell you she has exquisite taste in summer reading!

Joan Acocella, critic, The New Yorker
I actually recommend The Da Vinci Code. I stayed up till 3 in the morning to make sure that the demented, knife-wielding albino monk lurking in the bushes outside the chateau didn't kill Sophie. Or, if the beach is a nice one, take Ian McEwan's Amsterdam or Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials trilogy. The latter is supposedly for "young adults," but it's hair-raising and also quite serious. You get to visit hell.

Summer reading, anyone??

Newton North doesn't have a required summer reading list. But some folks (like me!) collect titles for their summer reading. Here are recommendations from two authors popular at Newton North (From SLATE website: http://www.slate.com/id/2142161/nav/tap1/ Check it out for a full article!)

Jodi Picoult, author, The Tenth Circle
Dirty Blonde, by Lisa Scottoline—I like to take her books on vacation with me. She's a really great writer for that genre, with terrific female characters—the only caveat is that I get so involved in the plot that I forget I'm supposed to be watching my kids Boogie-board in the ocean. Shopaholic & Sister, by Sophie Kinsella—Confession time: I picked this up when I was in the U.K. and jet-lagged, and found myself absolutely charmed. When you don't want to have to think, this is perfect ... and Becky Bloomwood, the main character, makes anyone feel better about their own shopping addictions!

Michael Chabon, author, The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay
I don't change what I read when I go to the beach or on a vacation. I just read more.