Your End-of-Summer Reading List

Mona Eendra

There’s still time to read the biggest books of the summer

Well, that’s it, folks. Summer is wrapping up. Vacations are ending. The stores are filling with back-to-school supplies, and the neighbors are starting to talk about the promise of cooler weather. Yes, autumn is coming, but since it’s not here yet, you still have plenty of time to get in a few good summer reads before the leaves start to fall from the trees.

Of course, you could choose any of the latest books from familiar mega-authors like Danielle Steele, Nora Roberts or Nicholas Sparks for an amazing beach read. However, if you are looking for something a little off the beaten path, then today is the day to find your missing library card, charge up your Kindle or head over to your local bookstore and grab one of these top picks for summer:

“The President is Missing,” by Bill Clinton and James Patterson

“‘The President is Missing’ seems to be the book everyone is wanting to read this summer,” says Stephanie Weidenbenner, adult services coordinator at the Cape Girardeau Public Library. According to the e-book waitlist at the Adult Circulation Desk, it’s at the very top. Just released on June 4, 2018, this is a collaborative effort of Clinton and Patterson to tell the story of a United States president who goes missing from the White House. Filled with mystery and suspense, this book will be like stepping into the Oval Office and getting an inside peek into the intricacies of presidency during a time of world crisis.

According to Amazon’s website, where “The President is Missing” remains a best-seller, “This is the thriller of the decade, confronting the darkest threats that face the world today, with the highest stakes conceivable.” If you love audiobooks, this one is narrated by Dennis Quaid, which sounds like a good reason to start listening. You’re not going to want to miss this one.

“Before We Were Yours,”by Lisa Wingate

This best-seller was released in 2017 but still remains on the top 20 most-read books on Amazon each week. “Before We Were Yours” is the emotional story of two families, two generations apart who discover their lives are more connected than they once thought. Though this book is fiction, it is based on the real-life 1930s and 1940s scandal in which Georgia Tann, director of a Memphis-based adoption organization, kidnapped and sold poor children to wealthy families all over the country. This novel will leave you feeling angry, sad, nostalgic and hopeful as you read about Rill, the oldest of the Foss children, and her efforts to keep her family together during their time in the orphanage.

Angel Hillman of Scott City read “Before We Were Yours” in a book club.

“I fell in love with the Foss kids and was rooting for them to reunite,” she says. “You know a book is good when you can’t stand the thought that it is going to end. I still wanted to know more and began researching this dark piece of history.”

And dark it is. So read this one alone if you want to, but this emotional roller coaster may pair better with a friend.

“13 Days in Ferguson,”by Ron Johnson

Set for release on August 7, 2018, this memoir is a must-read for all Missourians. Told by Captain Ron Johnson of the Missouri Highway Patrol, this is a true account of his experience trying to restore peace between the African-American community and the local police department following the race riots that occurred after the 2014 fatal shooting of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri.

Local author and blogger Sarah Geringer read a pre-released copy of “13 Days in Ferguson.”

“If you’re looking for a book to challenge your assumptions and help you reconsider your stance on our cultural issues, this may be the most important book you read in 2018,” she says.

To pre-order a copy, visit amazon.com, and for more information and a full review of this book from Geringer, check out sarahgeringer.com/review-13-days-in-ferguson.

No matter what you choose to read this month, make sure to stay cool, hydrated and involved in your local libraries. From basic computer classes to individual tech tutoring, there is a little something for everyone. Want to stretch your body and your mind? Try Tai chi or yoga, both offered at Riverside Regional Library in Jackson. Want to try the relaxing benefits of adult coloring, or join a book club? There are classes offered at Cape Girardeau Public Library.

And of course, there are books — lots and lots of books. And since you’re never too old for a dose of Dr. Seuss, just remember: “The more you read, the more you will know, the more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.”