Well, it’s summer time again. I can’t believe how fast this year is going…wasn’t it just LAST summer? We’ve been homeschooling for a year, and it has been…really good, actually. It’s funny because so many people have said that this past year has been hard, schooling-wise.

But…we’ve been really lucky.

My kids like to learn. That’s a bonus. They don’t have any learning difficulties. Blessing number two. My dear, wonderful ‘other-mother’ (a strong, brilliant woman who has filled the mother role for me many times over the past 27 years and is now filling in as my daughters’ beloved auntie/other-grandmother) has been teaching them French. My awesome mom has been teaching them art. Karl has stepped in for a computer lesson or two and I’ve been handling everything else (with the love and support of lots of fabulous people in my life — including their auntie, one of my chosen sisters, who happens to be an elementary school admin with knowledge of great curriculum suggestions).

This summer, after the official ‘schooling’ is over, we’re going to focus on reading a LOT. My girls love books (hooray!) and they’re stoked. Without further ado, this is our Summer Reading List, 2021:

For Vivi:

Matilda – Roald Dahl
Another Word for Home – Jasmine Warga
Wonder – R. J. Palacio
Allergic – Megan Lloyd
Dumplin’ – Julie Murphy
Dear Sweet Pea – Julie Murphy
Fly on the Wall – Remy Lai
Small Mercies – Bridget Krone
Before the Ever After – Jaqueline Woodson
Something to Say – Lisa Moore Ramee
Martin McLean, Middle School Queen – Alyssa Zaczek
Front Desk – Kelly Yang
The Whispers – Greg Howard
The Night Diary – Veera Hiranandani
The Jumbies – Tracey Baptiste
I Can Make This Promise – Christine Day
The Phantom Tollbooth – Norton Juster
Weird Little Robots – Carolyn Crimi
The Wild Robot – Peter Brown
Savvy – Ingrid Law
11 Birthdays – Wendy Mass
Holes – Louis Sachar
My Last Best Friend – Julie Bowe
Out of My Mind – Sharon M. Draper
Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants – Ann Brashares
Anyone But Ivy Pocket – Caleb Krisp
Fortunately, The Milk – Neil Gaiman
Summer of the Gypsy Moths – Sara Pennypacker

For Lily:
Bink & Gollie – Kate DiCamillo
Just Grace – Charise Mericle Harper
Heartword Hotel – Kallie George
Olga – Elise Gravel
Dory Fantasmagory – Abby Hanlon
Ruby Lu, Brave and True – Lenore Look
My Life in Pictures – Deborah Zemke
Princess Posey – Stephanie Greene
Babysitters Little Sister – Ann M. Martin
Absolutely Alfie – Sally Warner
Heidi Heckelbeck – Wanda Coven
Judy Moody – Megan McDonald
Frankly, Frannie – A.J. Stern
Gooney Bird Greene – Lois Lowry
Daisy Dawson – Steve Voake
Stella Batts – Courtney Sheinmel
Violet Mackerel – Anna Branford

Will we get through ALLLL those books in eight weeks? Well, I hope so. Heck, I’ll be happy if we get through half of them. I can’t wait to review most/all of them! Now, if you’ll excuse me…I’ve got some books to reserve at the library.

Happy summer!