Summer is a time for relaxed reading, preferably in the backyard hammock or on a blanket at the beach. What’s more fun for the whole family than an array of books written by local authors? Here are five choices from local authors for toddlers and teens, Mom, Dad and the rest!
By Lisa Cavanaugh
What Do Cape Cod Colors Say? by Linda Connelly
A visual and aural treat for little ones, this charming and wonderfully illustrated picture book encourages young readers to “hear” the many colors of Cape Cod’s beaches, animals and activities. Connelly, whose maiden name is Nickerson, spent her youth in Dennis and Mashpee, and returns regularly with her husband to enjoy the many delights of Cape Cod. Self-published by Linda Connelly, 24 pages
Wolf Hollow, by Lauren Wolk
This debut young adult novel, from the assistant director of the Cultural Center of Cape Cod, is a lovely and haunting tale. Set in rural Pennsylvania in 1943, this novel is about a girl living with the burdens of both the World War abroad and the smaller wars of childhood. Wolk, who lives in Centerville, has written a poignant and suspenseful novel that explores the boundaries and pitfalls of learning to tell the truth in the face of injustice. Dutton Books for Young Readers, 304 pages.
Two if By Sea, by Jacquelyn Mitchard
Mitchard is a Brewster-based author of over 20 books, including the best-selling novel “The Deep End of the Ocean.” In “Two if By Sea,” she has written an epic story about a man recovering from tragic loss. After her protagonist loses his wife and her entire family during a Christmas Eve tsunami in Australia, he daringly rescues a young and potentially telepathic young orphan. Bringing the boy back home to America seems the only choice—but it could be a risky one. Simon & Schuster, 416 pages.
Left Brains for the Right Stuff: Computers, Space and History, by Hugh Blair-Smith
Retired engineer and Dennis resident, Hugh Blair-Smith, shares his account of creating the computers that sent Americans into space using both scientific facts and entertaining anecdotes. This memoir about a fascinating time in our nation’s recent history shares the inside scoop on the development of the Apollo missions and Blair-Smith’s role in the space race. SDP Publishing, 474 pages.
Here’s to Us, by Elin Hilderbrand
It’s no secret that New York Times best-selling author Elin Hilderbrand loves Nantucket; it’s not only her home, but also her favorite setting for her engrossing works. Hilderbrand’s 17th novel, “Here’s to Us,” begins with the shocking death of a celebrity chef in a ramshackle Nantucket summer cottage. The chef’s children, and past and present wives, are all affected and brought together in grief, for better or worse. This is an emotional tale involving love, loss and the forming of improbable bonds. The island of Nantucket, true to Hilderbrand’s style, doubles as a character in its own right. Little, Brown and Company, 416 pages.
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