Top Summer Reads in Garden City

Did you know a librarian is technically defined as someone who has his/her masters in library science? Reading is an enjoyable way to learn facts like that, or to simply relax after a long day. Particularly in the summer, people love to curl up with a mystery in their favorite chair or sit outside with a glass of lemonade while flipping through the pages of a romance.

Garden City librarians Laura Flanagan and Ann Garnett as well as some book-lovers weighed in on the most popular books and their favorite summer reads.

10. Perfect for a stormy night, Fallen by Lauren Kate is a darker read, but with all the passion and spirit that summer brings. A major fan of this particular genre, Claire Kelty says, "Any Twilight fan would love this book about fallen angels and love!"

9. A popular favorite at summer camps, day cares and show-and-tells is Melinda Long's How I Became a Pirate. Children join Jeremy Jacobs as he explores both the perils and adventures of being a pirate at sea, while learning how to save the day. Additionally, little Jeremy Jacobs also learns about the joys and comforts of being at home.

8. Finding a medium between a challenging read and a light, casual story can be difficult; however, Mark Haddon's The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time accomplishes the task. Nicole Leone raves about the book: "It's about Christopher John Francis Boone, a teen with Asperger syndrome who is compelled to solve a mystery. The novel is written from Christopher's point-of-view, which is sometimes convoluted and obsessive compulsive because of his Aspergers." Leone adds, "The author had worked with children on the autism spectrum, giving him an understanding of the thought process of children with Aspergers. This helps to give Christopher a voice that is believable to the reader. It's a bildungsroman type story about discovery of self worth, overcoming obstacles and gaining knowledge that wasn't previously understood. It's a quick read and inspiring!"

7.  Nancy Thayer's Beachcombers is an emotional read about the reunion of three sisters during summertime in Nantucket. While keeping with the theme of summer, Thayer still keeps the reader infused with bittersweet feelings throughout the novel. As Garnett notes, "Women love the beach" whether reading about it or reading on it.

6. At the Garden City Library, guests will note the "Lazy, Crazy, Summer reads" section set up next to two cozy chairs. Flanagan states that people are requesting "very light" books over the summer, such as Adriana Trigiani's Lucia Lucia, which presents the life-changing tale of a young woman infused with elements from Trigiani's Italian background.

5. A recent winner of the Edgar Award, Kim Maccarrone says that The Last Child by John Hart is one of her favorite summer reads because "it tells the story of a 12-year-old boy, Johnny, whose twin sister mysteriously disappeared a year ago, and how he tries to find out what happened to her. I kept trying to predict the twist at the end, but even I was shocked at the person who ultimately turned out to be the criminal!"

4. For children, the Amelia Bedelia series, written by Peggy Parish until her death and then taken over by her nephew, Herman Parish, has always been popular. In addition to their entertainment value, these tales often teach children the value of art through language by word manipulation and rhetorical devices. When asked why she loves the books so much, Kaitlyn responded: "Because they're funny!"

3. According to Flanagan and Garnett, The Little Bee by Chris Cleave is in high demand. Telling the tale of a tragedy on the beach, Cleave follows the journey of a Nigerian orphan who calls herself The Little Bee through the trials and tribulations of her life.

2. Flanagan says that "teachers often use the summer as catch-up time for their reading." This particular type of clientele has requested traditional favorites such as A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith, a coming-of-age story set in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, during the early part of the 20th century.

1. With over 800 reserves, as noted by Garnett, the most popular book of the summer is Stieg Larsson's The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo. At the heart of the novel is the crime fiction tale of the Vanger family, who has five generations of their tribe under suspicion of crime. If you want to know how the novel ends, you'll have to get online now!

The Garden City Library also offers three particularly noteworthy features. During the summer, they stack their travel books right next to their travel videos for travel information ease.

Although over 20 book clubs exist in the area, book lovers are still looking for more, which is why the library offers the "book club in a bag" program. Groups who are looking to start their own club can check out 10 copies of a book, along with a sound recording and a large type copy.

Busy individuals will want to check out the library's "playaways" collection. An iPod sized instrument that contains the audio of a book, the playaways are perfect for those people who have their hands busy with work or chores during the day but want to listen to literature while they work. Simply add earphones, which can be purchased for $1 from the library, and you're good to go.