June! The days are long and the anticipation of even longer summer days excites the mind. Below are recommendations (which may include spoilers) of some of the books I’ve been reading this month:

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, by J. K. Rowling – The second book in the saga of Harry Potter is darker than the first, but begins to delve more deeply into what the titular character is facing. We watch as the relationship between Harry, Ron, and Hermione grows ever stronger in the midst of magical attacks at Hogwarts. We also get to know Ginny Weasley, meet Dobby the house elf, visit the Weasley home, and learn more about Hagrid’s past.

Two Teaspoons of Rice, by Sida Lei and Monica Boothe – Few stories stir the soul and ignite the mind; Two Teaspoons of Rice is one of those stories. It is with at first laughter, then tears of sadness, and finally tears of joy that I read this autobiographical work of Sida Lei, a woman who grew from child to teenager during the years of the Cambodian genocide of 1975-1979. Her words pull the reader into those dark days of worry, hunger, and loss; yet the emotion that lingers most poignantly is hope.

A Wrinkle in Time, by Madeline L’Engle – A ‘think book’ that is part science fiction, part fantasy, and part physics makes for a fun escape. We are introduced to Meg Murray, her baby brother Charles Wallace, and three extra-terrestrial helpers whose names are Mrs. Whatsit, Mrs. Who, and Mrs. Which. As the oldest and youngest of the four Murray children race against time to find their father, they and their friend Calvin O’Keefe also discover that they are battling a darkness that is spreading across the universe. This is the first book in the Wrinkle in Time Quintet and is a great read aloud.