Around the Year in 52 Books discussion

JUNE

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. Love Everlasting
b. Read a book published in June, July, or August. Bridge of Gold
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. Let Us Dream
b. Read a science fiction book.
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. Raising Them: Our Adventure in Gender Creative Parenting
b. Read a book featuring an LGBTQIA+ protagonist (not side character). Honey Girl
c. Read a book written by an author who was nominated for the Lambda Award.

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

JULY

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. Sixteen Scandals
b. Read a book that is divided into multiple parts (rather than, or in addition to, chapters). We Keep the Dead Close: A Murder at Harvard and a Half Century of Silence
c. Read a book featuring twin characters.

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. Ink and Shadows
b. Read a retelling of a myth, fable, or fairytale.
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. The Widow of Rose House
b. Read a book with snow on the cover.
c. Read a book whose title starts with a letter in FROSTY THE SNOWMAN.

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. Etiquette & Espionage
b. Read a book whose author initials can be found in TAKE A DIP. The Book of Candlelight
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

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 Dictionary of Lost Words
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. The Secret, Book & Scone Society
b. Read a stand-alone novel (not part of a series).
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.
b. Read the next book in a series you've already started. The Whispered Word
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. The Worst Best Man (Barbados)
c. Read a book featuring a character that travels to multiple countries.

Round 1:

June

1. Start of Summer
a. Read a happy book.
Love Everlasting by Tracey Alvarez

2. June Birthday: Octavia E. Butler
a. Read book whose main character is a Black woman.
Let Us Dream by Alyssa Cole

3. Pride Month
a. Read a book with at least 5 different colors of the rainbow on the cover.
Raising Them: Our Adventure in Gender Creative Parenting by Kyl Myers


4. Set Sail
a. Read a book that starts with a letter in SAILING.
Soulless by Gail Carriger

July

1. Halfway there!
b. Read a book that is divided into multiple parts (rather than, or in addition to, chapters).
We Keep the Dead Close: A Murder at Harvard and a Half Century of Silence by Becky Cooper

2. July Birthday: Madeline Miller
a. Read a book whose author's initials are found in MADELINE MILLER.
Ink and Shadows by Ellery Adams

3. It's Winter Down South
a. Read a romance book.
The Widow of Rose House by Diana Biller

4. Take a Dip
a. Read a book whose title starts with a letter in OCEAN.
Etiquette & Espionage by Gail Carriger

August

1. Back to School
a. Read a book by an author that is new-to-you.
The Dictionary of Lost Words by Pip Williams

2. August Birthday: John Green
a. Read a contemporary book.
The Secret, Book & Scone Society by Ellery Adams

3. Summer Reading
b. Read the next book in a series you've already started.
The Whispered Word by Ellery Adams

4. Jump on a Plane
b. Read a book set in a country you've never visited.
The Worst Best Man by Lucy Score
Barbados

Round 2:

June:

1. Start of Summer
b. Read a book published in June, July, or August
Bridge of Gold by Kimberley Woodhouse (June 2021)

2. June Birthday: Octavia E. Butler

3. Pride Month
b. Read a book featuring an LGBTQIA+ protagonist (not side character).
Honey Girl by Morgan Rogers

4. Set Sail

July:

1. Halfway There!
a. Read a book with a number in the title
Sixteen Scandals by Sophie Jordan

2. July Birthday: Madeline Miller

3. It's Winter Down South

4. Take a Dip
b. Read a book whose author initials can be found in TAKE A DIP.
The Book of Candlelight by Ellery Adams

August

1. Back to School

2. August Birthday: John Green

3. Summer Reading

4. Jump on a Plane