We at Reading Rock were delighted that July was our busiest month so far this year (thank you!). Between increased traffic at the store and the summer activities that come along with July weekends, I squeezed in three books I’ve been putting off for years, all aimed at 9 to 12-year-old readers.

So many people have recommended The Invention of Hugo Cabret to me over the past few years that I’ve lost count. It is a perfectly lovely book, but, in all honesty, it suffered from being hyped up too much. Brian Selznick’s illustrations are charming, as is the story of orphaned Hugo Cabret finding his way through life and solving a mystery left behind by his father. The most enjoyable aspect for me though were the details and atmosphere of the Parisian train station where Hugo lives. Even though it didn’t quite wow me as I’d expected, I did enjoy it and will definitely recommend it in the future. The book itself is beautiful and would make a great gift.

The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane by Kate DiCamillo is another title that has been recommended to me by practically everyone. Oddly enough, this one never sounded that great to me for some reason, so it easily surpassed my expectations. It really is a wonderful book and I really wished I’d read it years ago. The tale of Edward Tulane, a narcissistic china rabbit who is separated from his owner and starts a long, hapless journey while learning about the meaning of love, has an old-fashioned fairytale quality about it. I plan on getting a hardcover copy to keep for my son to enjoy when he’s older.

 May Bird and the Ever After is the first book in the May Bird series by Jodi Lynn Anderson. Right away I was impressed with Anderson’s accessible but sophisticated writing style. As this summer has been an education on young adult literature for me, this style of writing is an improvement. Whimsical in story, but realistic in characterization, this first May Bird book held my attention as well as, if not better than, Harry Potter. May Bird and her cat, Somber Kitty, go on an unexpected adventure in the Ever After, or the after life, that involves various ghosts, specters, knaves, and ghouls, but is ultimately about the importance of good friends–whatever their form. I am going to put off reading the rest of the series until after I’ve read more from the YA list I’ve started for the summer, but the wait will not be easy.

As I stated in my earlier YA post, I’m spending much of my pleasure reading this summer catching up on young adult novels. I didn’t finish as many as I’d planned in June (my advance copy of Per Petterson’s new book arrived mid-month and continues to taunt me, as it keeps getting pushed aside for my YA list and book club obligations), but I’m still making good time to reach my very meager goal of 10 young adult novels by the end of August.

 Rick Riordan’s Percy Jackson series has gotten tons of attention, especially since the release of a movie based on the first book, and has become our bestselling series for the 9-12 age range. The Lightning Thief  is the first book in the series and it lives up to the hype. Percy is a likable hero and the cross-country adventure full of hellhounds, furies, and angry gods introduces a little U.S. geography into this Greek mythology lesson. Riordan’s steady pace and inventiveness pull Percy along on a thoroughly entertaining adventure.

Weetzie Bat, by Francesca Lia Block, was recommended to me countless times when I lived in Los Angeles. It is, in part, a love letter to LA, with references to the Formosa Cafe, Canter’s Deli, and countless other LA institutions.  The wonder and magic that is the stuff of living minutes away from the Hollywood sign or Sunset Blvd. is perfectly captured here.  Having said that, I feel I must warn those who shop for younger readers, Weetzie Bat has mature themes and is best suited for older teenagers and adults. It is a modern fairytale that illustrates the joy of a family of close friends, but is still grounded in reality, with references to AIDS and the many ways in which love is a “dangerous angel.”

The edition I read contains all five of the books in the Weetzie Bat series and is called Dangerous Angels. I only read the first book, but I was very tempted to read straight through.