Reading is an escape we all need these days. So I was thrilled to connect with local mom, Hannah Harlow, new owner of the beloved Book Shop of Beverly Farms. Hannah is a mom to two boys (ages 8 and 11) and a former executive with Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, so she knows books! I asked Hannah to share some great choices for several different age groups (including parents). Keep reading to see what she recommends in today’s guest post.
Summer is in full swing and whether you’ve run through your stack already or just need a jolt of energy to get you (and the kids) going, we’ve got some ideas for you!
Early Readers
For early readers, there are a bunch of great new books with animal themes. FOX & RABBIT and OUR FRIEND HEDGEHOG are both sweet stories of friendship with full color illustrations to keep young readers engaged. The Jasmine Green series about an aspiring veterinarian who saves an animal in each installment is catnip for early chapter book readers.
Middle Grades
These four books are all middle grade magic – WAYS TO MAKE SUNSHINE introduces a Ramona Quimby-like star; PRAIRIE LOTUS takes us back to frontier life in 1880; THE LIST OF THINGS THAT WILL NOT CHANGE beautifully handles a 10-year-old’s anxiety; and MALAMANDER is a fast-paced, quirky, fantastical seaside adventure.
Young Adult
For young adult fantasy readers, A PECULIAR FANTASY is page-turning, brilliant fun and A SONG BELOW WATER is a mermaid friendship tale that addresses current issues of racism and sexism. If realism is more your thing, BLACK ENOUGH is a terrific collection of short stories of the teen experience by black authors. THE PAPER GIRL OF PARIS is an historical fiction debut for fans of Code Name Verity.
Adults
Parents need summer reads, too! We’ve got you covered, no matter your genre. Kevin Kwan is back with more over-the-top fun in SEX & VANITY. Maggie O’Farrell writes like a dream and brings to life the story behind Shakespeare’s most famous play in HAMNET. In Jasmine Guillory’s latest romance, PARTY OF TWO, a lawyer starts dating a hotshot junior senator. Horror readers should not miss Max Brooks’s Bigfoot thriller DEVOLUTION! And it’s impossible not to get hooked on Louise Penny’s Inspector Gamache series – A BETTER MAN, just out in paperback and you have a few weeks to read it before the newest installment ALL THE DEVILS ARE HERE comes out on September!
All of these titles are available at The Book Shop at Beverly Farms, located at 40 West Street in Beverly. The shop is open for business weekdays from 10-4 and Saturdays from 10-1. Entrance to the shop is first-come, first-served, max two customers at a time. You can also call to set-up an appointment to shop on your own, or order online for shipping, curbside pick up or home delivery if you live in Beverly, Hamilton, Wenham, Manchester, Essex, or Ipswich. Follow along with Hannah on Instagram @bookshopofbeverlyfarms or on Facebook @BeverlyFarmsBookShop.