Summer Reading 2025

I always have several books that I'm reading at one time, but they're usually some kind of devotional book, Bible study, or something related to either church or teaching. But I've never really considered myself much of an avid reader, partially because I mostly read non-fiction (books that can be read in sections over a long period of time). Gifting myself time to read a novel just for the pleasure of reading isn't something I do often. Somehow I always feel guilty for not being more productive with my time. (Don't ever tell my students I said that since I'm always hounding them to read their library books!)

But now that my summers aren't centered around quality time and experiences with my own children, I don't feel so guilty in making time to pleasure read. I'm also getting better at reading a wider variety of subjects and genres that I haven't explored before. Over this last year, I read my friend's science fiction novels that she wrote. And as soon as school got out, I read two books that taught me quite a bit of history.

So here's what I found the time to read this summer:

• Child of the Dream (a historical novel about Jackie Robinson's daughter)
• Leadership Journeys (a book about the childhoods of four different presidents--Abraham Lincoln, Teddy Roosevelt, Franklin D. Roosevelt, and Lyndon Johnson-- and what personal traits and circumstances led them to the Presidency)
• Elevating Educational Design with AI (a book that I did for a book study with my district over how to use AI as a thought partner to create more choices for student engagement). 
• Pretense (just a fun novel about two sisters who found Christ as young adults and watched him redeem some painful experiences of their lives)
• Dark Clouds, Deep Mercies (a book about the process and purpose of lament that I bought for a friend who recently experienced a tragic loss in her life, so I bought myself a copy to read along with her)
• Good Boundaries and Goodbyes (a book that explains how appropriate boundaries can enhance relationships and keep you from giving up the best of yourself in order to keep people happy)
• When You Pray (a 6 week in-depth Bible study by several authors over the concept of prayer)

Child of the Dream really enlightened me about what it would be like to grow up in the shadow of someone famous, especially if you don't share the same ability that led to their fame. I learned a lot about certain events in history while reading the book, too. A friend gifted it to me during Teacher Appreciation Week, so I wanted to read it before putting it in my classroom library. 

Leadership Journeys  actually fascinated me to learn about each President's childhood and the challenges they had to persevere through as children and as young adults,  though it wasn't quite as quick of a read. I chose it as my free book at the Mobile Book Fair at school after the lady running it told me I should get it for my sixth graders to read. I don't know that many will take the challenge to read such a thick history book, but I will definitely reference it in class now that I've read it. 

Elevating Educational Design with AI gave me a lot to chew on and also became an incredible resource to help me see where I was a bit too stuck in my ways this last year, holding on to my Texas teacher mentality when the midwest education mentality differs so much. It opened my eyes to a lot of things I can do differently just by adding an element of choice so students will take more ownership of their learning. In addition to all that, I'm not so afraid of tapping into AI and using it as a thought partner to create more meaningful choices for students to demonstrate their level of learning. 

Pretense did not disappoint. I thoroughly enjoyed giving myself the gift of time to pleasure read through all 700+ pages of this novel that led two sisters through their childhood up through their late 20's, highlighting their personalities, their educational goals, their careers, their successes and their failures, their heavy losses, their relationship (or lack of relationship) with God, and  their romantic interests. I bought it at Goodwill specifically to have something to read while in Michigan, so I made it my goal to read as much of it on that trip as possible. I may or may not be guilty of closing myself off to my family because I had my nose buried in that book. 

Dark Clouds, Deep Mercy helped me to see how lamenting sets us apart as a Christian during a time of suffering. Everyone complains, but only Christians lament because our lament turns our focus and trust back to God who is in complete control and never abandons us in our pain. It took me back to a dark time in my life and made me see that much of my poetry at that time mimicked psalms of lament even when I didn't know it, which explains why writing poetry always feels so therapeutic to me. It's a wonderful resource to go back to during any time of loss or to guide a friend who is hurting. 

Good Boundaries and Goodbyes gave me permission to use my voice more often to express my own needs rather than constantly trying to make sure the other person is happy (or at least not disappointed). This actually enhances relationships. God gave boundaries to be in fellowship with Him, so it's obviously something He models for us. A friend from my Discipleship group mentioned the book to me several times, and I finally just decided to order it and read it. I'm glad I did. 

When You Pray took me deep into the study of different prayers in the Scriptures and of the purpose of prayer in our lives. I appreciated learning more specifically about the Lord's Prayer, about prayers of lament, and about Jesus' prayer for the disciples (and for us) the very night before He gave His life on our behalf. This study helped me understand how Jesus knows what is coming in our lives and prepares us ahead of time, whether we realize it or not. It taught me to look back at what He was teaching me before hard times came, confirming His hand and His presence especially when I feel abandoned or let down. My Texas' friends had recommended the study to me a year ago when I was in town, so I bought it and then let it sit on my shelf. It made me feel extra close to them again as I went through it this summer. 

So that's my summer reading list for this year. I don't have a lot of time to read in the school year, although I always have a book or two on hand that I'm slowly getting through by reading maybe 5-10 minutes at a time. Wonder what new books I'll hear about or just stumble across over the next year??