Around the Year in 52 Books discussion

THE TASKS
Below are the tasks and books I am going to attempt to read this summer. At a minimum my goal is to read 1 prompt from each task (12 total). If I have time, I might go through a second time with a different prompt for each task. If these books overlap with other challenges, great!!


JUNE
Completed 4/4

1. Start of Summer
Summer means the best reading months for so many of us. New releases have bright and shiny colors, and the warm weather makes for great picnics and reading in the sun.

a. Read a happy book.

b. Read a book published in June, July, or August. Complete 6/23/21
The Princess Fugitive: A Reimagining of Little Red Riding Hood by Melanie Cellier (Published June 30, 2016)

c. Read a book from one of the following lists:
- Beach Read Royalty Recommends Summer Books
- Readers' Hottest Books of Summer
- Armchair Traveling: Books Set in Every U.S. State

2. June Birthday: Octavia E. Butler
Octavia Estelle Butler was an American science fiction author. A multiple recipient of both the Hugo and Nebula awards, she became in 1995 the first science-fiction writer to receive a MacArthur Fellowship. Born in Pasadena, California, Butler was raised by her widowed mother. Octavia Butler was born June 22, 1947.

a. Read book whose main character is a Black woman.

b. Read a science fiction book. Complete 6/11/21
Here and Now and Then by Mike Chen

c. Read a winner of the Hugo Award.

3. Pride Month
The majority of Pride events are held in June to commemorate the anniversary of the Stonewall Rebellion in New York City on June 28, 1969, which most historians consider to be the birth of the modern LGBT movement. At the time, police raids on bars catering to LGBT patrons were common, but that night, the patrons of the Stonewall Inn fought back. While historical accounts of the night vary, the violent response ignited a national firestorm of activism that brought new visibility to the struggle for LGBT equality.

a. Read a book with at least 5 different colors of the rainbow on the cover.
b. Read a book featuring an LGBTQIA+ protagonist (not side character).

c. Read a book written by an author who was nominated for the Lambda Award. Complete 6/25/21
You Should See Me in a Crown byLeah Johnson

4. Set Sail
One summer activity is to hop on a boat and go for a ride on the water. Whether you're fishing off of a kayak, sailing the open seas, or sunbathing on a yacht, floating on the water is guaranteed to bring peace and relaxation.

a. Read a book that starts with a letter in SAILING. Complete 6/30/21
The Legend of Luke by Brian Jacques

b. Read a book with a boat on the cover.
c. Read a book that takes place completely on an island.

JULY
Completed 4/4

1. Halfway there!
July 1st marks the halfway point of the year, and that means 2021 is drawing to a close!

a. Read a book with a number in the title.
b. Read a book that is divided into multiple parts (rather than, or in addition to, chapters).

c. Read a book featuring twin characters. Completed 6/15/21
The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett

2. July Birthday: Madeline Miller
Madeline Miller is an American novelist, author of The Song of Achilles and Circe. Miller spent ten years writing The Song of Achilles while she worked as a Latin and Greek teacher. Madeline Miller was born on July 24, 1978.

a. Read a book whose author's initials are found in MADELINE MILLER.

b. Read a retelling of a myth, fable, or fairytale. Complete 6/28/21
The Goose Girl by Shannon Hale

c. Read a book nominated for the Women's Prize for Fiction.

3. It's Winter Down South
While those of us in the northern hemisphere are enjoying the warm temperatures and the sunshine, our neighbors in the southern hemisphere are cozying up around the fire and drinking hot cocoa.

a. Read a romance book.
b. Read a book with snow on the cover.

c. Read a book whose title starts with a letter in FROSTY THE SNOWMAN. Complete 7/17/21
The Wicked King by Holly Black

4. Take a Dip
Summer is hot, hot, hot, so jump in a pool, lake, or ocean to cool off and get some exercise swimming.

a. Read a book whose title starts with a letter in OCEAN. Complete 7/6/21
Entwined by Heather Dixon Wallwork

b. Read a book whose author initials can be found in TAKE A DIP.
c. Read a book featured on one of these lists:
- 34 of the Best Beach Reads to Help You Escape
- 2021 Summer Reading List: 48 of the Best Books for Adults, Teens, and Kids
- The Best Beach Reads of Summer 2021

AUGUST
Completed 4/4

1. Back to School
Many students and teachers are heading back to the classrooms this month. Celebrate that back-to-school feeling with a bit of smart summer reading.

a. Read a book by an author that is new-to-you.
The Midnight Library by Matt Haig

b. Read a YA book.
c. Read a book often tested on the AP Literature exam, as found on this list.

2. August Birthday: John Green
John Michael Green is an American author and YouTube content creator. He won the 2006 Printz Award for his debut novel, Looking for Alaska, and his fourth solo novel, The Fault in Our Stars, debuted at number one on The New York Times Best Seller list in January 2012. He was born on August 24, 1977.

a. Read a contemporary book.

b. Read a stand-alone novel (not part of a series). Complete 7/19/21
The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame

c. Read a book nominated for the Printz Award.

3. Summer Reading
Summer is a great time to catch up on your backlist TBR or read the newest releases that you haven't got around to reading yet.

a. Read the newest book by a favorite author. complete 7/23/21
Castle of Refuge by Melanie Dickerson
b. Read the next book in a series you've already started.
c. Read a book published in 2021 that you've been looking forward to.

4. Jump on a Plane
With the world reopening, now is a great time to jump on a plane to new countries (literally or, in the case of reading, metaphorically).

a. Read an adventure book.

b. Read a book set in a country you've never visited. complete 7/17/2021
Our Man in Belize: A Memoir by Richard Timothy Conroy

c. Read a book featuring a character that travels to multiple countries.