The first book, The Sky is Falling (Lennoxville Library), sets the scene for Norah and Gavin, as they must leave their comfy village cottage for the distant and scary world across the ocean, in order to be safe from the conflict of World War II.

Kit Pearson weaves a complex setting of Second World War English countryside, transatlantic travel, and bustling Canadian city life. These are the kind of stories which one can sit in a good chair all afternoon reading. I recall enjoying it greatly, and reading the subsequent two books in my 6th grade class, and buying them for myself with Christmas money. I read the Guests of War trilogy by the perennially excellent young adult author Kit Pearson for the first time when I was 11, after receiving the first installment as a birthday gift from my Aunt Sue. Every day of summer shouldn’t be chock-a-block full of special activities, because entertaining yourself, and working against boredom is an important life skill.Īfter the screen time has been maxed out, and the play date is done and all the toys become dull, there are always books. I think it vital for kids to get the feeling that vacation can be about exploring and engaging with a great story. We all need time to rest and to curl up with a good book. There is still time to head to your local library and choose some great books to bring a long for the road trip, or to have in your back pocket for the day after the exhausting visit to the zoo or local theme park.

But, we have had our fair share of rainy days this summer and more will surely follow. This leaves an unfortunately small amount of time left for pleasure reading. I try to max out the fun summer day activities our family can enjoy. I love summer and all of its sparking, bustling activity, and I notoriously over-plan my weekends. The lazy hazy days of summer popsicles and BBQs and beach wear.

The beautiful long days of cottage times, of canoe trips, and camping. We have reached that delightful time of the summer when the days seem to stretch out endlessly before us, with the distant call of work and school barely touching our mental state.

Be My Love by Kit Pearson