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Summer’s almost over, but reading doesn’t have to be
 
The Bookworm Sez By Terri Schlichenmeyer 
 
This time of year always does it to you; you start seeing places to clean. Any other time, there can be a whole warren of dust bunnies living with you, but that restless last part of summer?
Nope, have to clean – which leads you to this year’s big discovery: A Christmas bookstore gift certificate you forgot about. So what to do with it? You could send it to me.
No, just kidding. Why not use it on any of these great reads?
Non-fiction
Are you hooked on leaving your status? Can’t get enough of the memes your friends are posting? Then you’ll enjoy Fakebook: A True Story. Based on Actual Lies by Dave Cicirelli, a book about a Facebook experiment and what happens when a virtual life separates from the real one.
And if that quirky book piques your interest, then you should also look for A People’s History of the Peculiar by Nick Belardes. It’s filled with quick-to-read entries about the weird, freaky and unusual among us.
World War II buffs will surely want to read Under the Eagle by Samuel Holiday, Navajo Code Talker and Robert S. McPherson. It’s the story of Holiday’s life, his childhood, his culture and his service in the war.
Are you a Michael Perry fan yet? You will be after you’ve read From the Top: Brief Transmissions from Tent Show Radio. This is a book filled with essays on this and that, a bit about something else and comments that may make you nod your head in agreement.
If you dream of a different life and are constantly searching for a way to have it, Ancient Treasures by Brian Haughton will help you dream. This fascinating book takes a look at riches found by treasure hunters, above ground, underwater and under the sod.
Readers who love treasure-hunting may also want to find Defending Your Castle by William Gurstelle. It’s about how you can make your own catapults, moats, bulletproof shields and other things you might need to protect the treasure you’ll find.
If you’re an animal lover – the wild kind or the wild-at-heart ones – you’ll enjoy Why Dogs Hump and Bees Get Depressed by Marc Bekoff. This anthology of quick-to-read chapters takes a look at the emotional lives, friendships and intelligence that animals possess, and what you can do to observe and preserve it.
Another interesting book by an author you won’t expect: Myths of Love by Dr. Ruth K. Westheimer and Jerome E. Singerman. It’s a book about ancient mythology and what it has to do with love and romance today.
So your baby is heading for college in about a year’s time or so. That makes it a great time to check out The Perfect Score Project by Debbie Stier, a book about the SATs. How can you up those numbers? Is there a right way to study for them? Find out by reading this book by a mom who’s been there, done that.
And for the student who’s going into sales after graduation (or even before!), Ditch the Pitch by Steve Yastrow is a book that might help him (or her). It’s about a new way of selling, which could be the start of an awesome career.
If you’re itching for hunting season to start (or you mourn that it’s over), then look for Wingbeats and Heartbeats by Dave Books. This is a meditation in short bits on life, prey, prayer and dogs. It’s also a book you’ll want to remember for gift-giving in a few months.
Little kids’ books
For children who like to help others, Ferry Tail by Katharine Kenah, illustrated by Nicole Wong, is a cute book about a dog who gets lost and an unlikely hero who helps him get home.
I think all kids – but particularly children who are differently-abled – will love Walking Eagle, the Little Comanche Boy by Ana Eulate and Nivola Uya. It’s the story of an Indian chief who is born with club feet and without the gift of speech. Still, he makes a big difference with his people – a story that will charm children and adults alike.
I also liked The Little Eskimo by Davide Cali and Maurizio A.C. Quarello. It’s the story of a little boy who likewise found a special gift.
The child who loves to pretend will also love The Box of Holes by Carmen Gil and Monica Carretero. When a little girl buys an empty box, her mother is not very happy. But is the box really empty? Likewise, if “what if” is a game in your house, then Jonathan James and the Whatif Monster by Michelle Nelson-Schmidt is a must-have.
If you are a biography fanatic, then get your preschooler on the same path with Thomas Jefferson: Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Everything by Maira Kalman. This is a small-child-friendly introduction to our third President, his life and his work. It also offers a basic introduction to the Declaration of Independence.
You know what it’s like when that favorite stuffed toy goes missing. In Budaniel by Susan Kapanke, illustrated by JP Roberts. a young boy loses his lion while staying at Grandma and Grandpa’s house. Will his beloved Simba ever come home?
And for slightly older girls, Real Mermaids Don’t Sell Sea Shells by Hélène Boudreau is a great whodunit that doesn’t have drama. Okay, yes, it does.
9/11/2014