Ah, summer — the weather is warmer, the days are longer, and a sense of adventure and fun fills the air. Pair these stories with beach outings, relaxing vacations or simply lounging around the house.
All of these titles are available through the OC Public Libraries’ physical collection. They can also be borrowed digitally through Libby, an app where you can access eBooks, eAudiobooks and magazines for free with a library card.
The Mostly True Story of Tanner & Louise by Colleen Oakley follows Tanner, a 21-year-old who becomes a caretaker for 84-year-old Louise in exchange for a place to live. Tanner soon realizes Louise is a suspect in a 1975 jewelry robbery. The two go on the run with the FBI and a mobster on their trail. Choose this one for the laughs.
Dandelion Wine by Ray Bradbury is a novel structured like a collection of interconnected short stories. Set in a small Illinois town during the summer of 1928, it captures a whimsical and magical season through the eyes of 12-year-old Douglas, a character based on Bradbury’s own childhood.
Barbarian Days: A Surfing Life
by William Finnegan is a Pulitzer Prize-winning memoir chronicling Finnegan’s surfing adventures around the world, from Hawaii to Bali to Madeira. Interspersed with his vivid surfing tales are reflections on life and journalism in the places he visited. For a summer that never ends, dive into this book.
The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi
by Shannon Chakraborty is set in the 12th century along the Indian Ocean, where retired pirate Amina is drawn back into action after agreeing to find her former crewmate’s daughter. This action-packed adventure features magical artifacts, demons, and sorcerers.