Tom Sawyer, Boo Radley and Hamlet, oh my!

Reading. A dreaded word for some, a frequent pastime for others. Most students take a break over the summer, only starting to read again once the school year resumes and their English teachers assign reading material.

But there are still a number of students that continue the literary journey over the summer, taking them to faraway places and learning absolutely amazing things. Some students will be reading for the sheer pleasure of it, others will be reading now to get a head start on next year's reading list. This is just fine, according to Central High School librarian Julia Jorgensen.

"I would encourage teens and adults to read a broad spectrum of books, a smattering of best sellers and the 'classics' will make you a better-informed citizen and expand your view of the world," Jorgensen said.

The first book she recommends is "To Kill a Mockingbird" by Harper Lee. The book has been chosen as the 2007 Cape Girardeau: United We Read selection. Jorgensen herself is re-reading it this summer -- as she frequently has since she first read it as a Central High School student in the 1960s -- looking for key points to highlight for discussion leaders.

"The themes of justice and tolerance rejuvenate my spirit," she said.

Every Central student will read the book in ninth grade, so for those entering their freshman year, this would be a great time to get a jump start on school work.

Jorgensen also recommends:

"Night" by Elie Wiesel. This Oprah Book Club Selection traces one young man's Holocaust tale and is also required reading for Central High School upperclassmen.

"The Things They Carried" by Tim O'Brien is another favorite of both Jorgensen's and many student readers.

"The Kite Runner" by Khaled Hossein. Jorgensen recommends this book because it shows the reader a world of customs that are foreign to most American students.

"Dispatches from the Edge: A Memoir of War, Disasters, and Survival" by Anderson Cooper to learn about tragedies, near and far away.

"Terrorist" by John Updike. The age of the main character should make it an appealing book to most high school readers and the internal conflicts of becoming a terrorist are an inviting read.

For those who love a good murder mystery, Jorgensen recommends reading "Judge and Jury" by James Patterson and "At Risk" by Patricia Cornwell.

But don't discount the classics.

According to Jorgensen, "Every Missourian should read Twain. Hemingway and Shakespeare should be on any list along with poetry by Emily Dickinson and Langston Hughes."

So take an afternoon, pull up a chair and pull up one of these recommended books, whether it's just for fun or to get a jump start on required reading before school starts in the fall. Have fun -- get lost in the pages of a fantastic read.

Other recommendations

Southeast Missourian freelance writer and college student Emily Hendricks recommends these books for summer reading:

* "I Dreamed I Married Perry Mason" and its sequel, "Not A Girl Detective" both by Susan Kandel. The main character Cece Caruso is funny, smart and has a tendency to get thrown head first into solving murders.

• "Wives and Sisters" by Natalie R. Collins. This young former Mormon woman's life is still haunted by the childhood disappearance of her friend, Cindy, and she will stop at nothing to figure out what happened and where her friend ended up so many years before.

* "Suzanne's Diary For Nicholas" by James Patterson. This diary is a letter written by a new mother for her baby son, Nicholas. In it, she writes about everything, from her and Nicholas's father's meeting and marriage to her own life struggles.