Author: Patricia R. Chadwick patti@parentsandteens.com
Parents and Teens http://www.parentsandteens.com
Though summer can be very hectic and busy with camps, vacations, and a host of
other activities, I encourage you to take the time to relax and catch up on your reading -
and encourage your teenagers to do the same. When my kids were younger, every summer we
had a reading chart. As they would finish the required hours of reading they'd mark it off
on the chart and collect their prize from mom. If they finished the entire chart, they got
a special "Grand Prize." Even though they are teenagers now, I still use a
reading chart to encourage reading in my kids. For every 4 hours of reading I give them a
small prize like an ice cream sundae, a ticket to the local minor league baseball game
($2.00), a tube of lipstick or other make up, candy bars, etc. You get the idea. Something
that costs a dollar or two. If they finish the entire chart, ( I usually set it around 35
hours of reading) I give them something special. They pick the prize before we start, and
it usually costs about $10.00. I encourage you to start your own reading program with your
teen. Mine may not work for you. Be creative and come up with something that will work for
your family. Set goals for all of you and plan on achieving them this summer! When you get
tired of the frantic pace that summer can bring, steal away and curl up with a good book.
Below are some titles I think you and your family will enjoy. They are published
by Bethany House Publishers and are great books for teens.
-Choice Summer Shirley Brinkerhoff Life for Nikki Sheridan has always been the
same-no surprises, no scrapes, no crises, no escapes. This summer will change all that.
Presented by Focus on the Family
-Summer Promise Robin Jones Gunn From a Wisconsin farm to a California beach...
From a measly allowance to unlimited shopping sprees... From an uncomplicated life to a
highly sophisticated one...these are the head-spinning changes that lead to Christy
Miller's...Summer Promise. Available in paperback
-Once Upon a Summer Janette Oke This book is about a boy and his special
family. Sure, his family isn't typical-Josh knows that. But when Grandpa and Uncle Charlie
begin to make plans to find Auntie Lou a husband-and take away the only mother Josh has
ever known-he knows something has to be done. How can he find his way when his whole world
threatens to come apart? This was one of my absolute FAVORITE books by Janette Oke. There
are four books in the series which follows Josh from a boy to a man. This is great for
teens and adults alike. Available in paperback
-The Bridge Over Flatwillow Creek Lance Wubbels Here is one for the adults. An
Enthralling Turn-of-the-century, Small-town Love Story! It is the summer of 1901 in the
rural Minnesota town of Bradford. A terrible accident has just taken place and young
Stuart Gray is the first one on the scene. There, with amazingly natural skill, he saves
the lives of two people. Afterward, the local doctor challenges him to study medicine, but
what of his plans to follow? Available in paperback
-Accidental Detective Series Sigmund Brouwer Great Adventures for Reluctant
Readers! Great for Boys. "The Volcano of Doom" On a Vacation in Paradise, What
Can Go Wrong? Ricky Kidd's family and his friends are in Hawaii for Easter break, and it
promises to be the vacation of a lifetime. But when a shark-fishing trip turns into a
hair-raising experience, Ricky isn't sure whom to trust. Mike's discovery of an ancient
Japanese statue causes even more confusion. And then there is that white-haired guy who
keeps showing up.... "The Disappearing Jewel of Madagascar" Friends Become
Strangers, and Strangers Become Friends.... When Ricky Kidd first hears about the curse of
the Jewel of Madagascar, he is pretty sure he doesn't believe in it. But almost
immediately, strange things start happening. First he knocks over a statue that crushes
part of Mrs. McEwan's antique jewelry collection. Ricky is convinced his life is
over-paying off the debt will take years!
-Between Two Flags Series Lee Roddy Another great series for boys. Experience
the Civil War through the eyes of thirteen-year-old Gideon, a poor Virginia farm boy;
Emily, an orphaned Northerner who's come south to live on her uncle's plantation; and Nat,
a secretly educated slave boy who hopes to escape. Beloved by children, educators, and
homeschoolers, this series makes learning history fun! For ages 11 - 14 and another series
great for boys.
-Young Underground Series Robert Elmer Peter Anderson and his twin sister,
Elise, live in the harbor city of Helsingor, Denmark during the Nazi occupation. Through
their hold-your-breath adventures with the Danish Underground, middle readers are provided
a great way to learn history and develop a love of reading. For ages 8 and up.
** Patti Chadwick is the author of the book Mission Possible: Raising
Great Teens! She’s also the creator of the website Parents & Teens. Visit her at http://www.parentsandteens.com and
sign up for her FREE newsletter. This article provided by the Family Content Archives at: http://www.Family-Content.com
