Do you need some inspiration to continue your summer reading adventures? You’ve got these SRP challenges, Yakima Valley! We’re here to provide you with some interesting reads to fuel your next literary expeditions. Our Assistant Collection Development Librarian, Julie, put together special book lists under the versatile theme of ‘Adventure’. She even provided brief descriptions and recommendations on the titles (scroll to the end of this post). Peruse the categories below and pick up your next read today!
Adults
Teens
Kids
Babies/Toddlers
Adult Reads
“Four Lost Cities: A Secret History of the Urban Age” by Annalee Newitz (nonfiction) – The journalist and author visits and speaks with many archaeologists and researchers who currently study the areas of Cahokia, Angkor, Pompeii, and Çatalhöyük. The ancient urban spaces glowingly brought to life in these pages weren’t lost, but rather declined or were abandoned, becoming stories and odd landmarks – and Newitz draws parallels and lessons for cities today. I love this book a ridiculous amount. Globetrotting armchair archeology for the win!
“Brave the wild river: the untold story of two women who mapped the botany of the Grand Canyon” by Melissa L Sevigny – “The story of two pioneering female botanists, Elzada Clover and Lois Jotter, and their historic 1938 boat trip down the Colorado River which led them to be the first to survey and catalog the plant life of the Grand Canyon.”
“Feeding Ghosts: A Graphic Memoir” by Tessa Hulls – Hulls, whose mother and grandmother fled Mao’s China after years of persecution to Hong Kong and eventually immigrated to Northern California, explores the trauma of that experience and her grandmother’s mental illness and how three generations of the family are affected. Powerful.
“Spirit Run: A 6,000-Mile Marathon Through North America’s Stolen Land” by Noé Álvarez – Memoir by a young man who grew up in Yakima trying to figure himself out by taking part in a thousands of miles long marathon organized by a Native American / First Nations movement called Peace and Dignity Journeys. Thoughtful and inspiring.
“The Blonde Identity” by Ally Carter – A woman wakes up in a Paris street with no memory. The very hot and very grumpy guy standing over her says to run – a whole bunch of people are after her (well, actually her secret agent identical twin sister) and they don’t necessarily care if she’s alive. Soon they’re lying their way across Europe as fake honeymooners, trying to uncover the truth. This story is a hoot!
“How to Become the Dark Lord and Die Trying” by Django Wexler – Davi, an exile from the human world, has tried to be the hero and take down the Dark Lord more than 200 times, always waking up at a remote spring each time she’s defeated and dies. Now she’s tired of this nonsense. Maybe it’s time to use all her accumulated knowledge and become the Dark Lord. This savvy action-packed fantasy novel is a rush to read.
“Vera Wong’s Unsolicited Advice for Murderers” by Jesse Q. Sutanto – A suspicious Chinese-American mother with time on her hands decides the police are not doing a proper job of investigating the dead body in her tea shop and takes matters into her own hands. The characters and the relationships they form in this cozy mystery are just a delight.
“Lone Women” by Victor LaValle – In 1915, Adelaide Henry, after her secret sin killed her parents, sets out for Montana, dragging an enormous steamer trunk that’s locked at all times, to become one of the “lone women” taking advantage of the government’s offer of free land where she hopes to bury her past. Historical horror.
“The Excitements” by C.J. Wray – A brilliant and witty drama about two brave female World War II veterans who survived the unthinkable without ever losing their killer instinct … or their joie de vivre.
“The Marsh King’s Daughter” by Karen Dionne – “A woman whose birth occurred as a result of her teen mother’s abduction and imprisonment in an isolated marshland cabin risks the adult family that does not know her past when she uses survival skills honed in childhood to track down her murderous father.” (This is “I Hunt Serial Killers” crossed with “Louis L’Amour’s Ride the River”.)
“Life of Pi” by Yann Martel – Possessing encyclopedia-like intelligence, unusual zookeeper’s son Pi Patel sets sail for America, but when the ship sinks, he escapes on a lifeboat and is lost at sea with a dwindling number of animals until only he and a hungry Bengal tiger remain.
“The Martian” by Andy Weir – Through a tragic series of events, astronaut Mark Watney is believed dead and left behind when his science team has to emergency evacuate, and must figure out to how to survive, alert NASA and ideally get rescued. Science fiction that geeks about science, has a wise-cracking narrator, and reads like a thriller. Robinson Crusoe on Mars and just excellent. (Don’t forget the movie adaptation!)
“The Elusive Truth of Lily Temple” by Joanna Davidson Politano – Lively and charming silent movie actress Lily Temple is everything private investigator Peter Driscoll is not. It makes sense, then, that combining forces would mean more cases solved and secrets revealed. Except for Lily’s own–why a legendary missing sapphire is within her possession and on her person at all times.
Teen Reads
“The Prince & the Coyote” by David Bowles, illustrated by Amanda Mijangos – “A stunning historical epic set in pre-Columbian Mexico based on the life of Nezahualcoyotl. Not only are there beautiful illustrations from Amanda Mijangos, but David Bowles incorporates Nezahualcoyotl’s surviving poetry into the novel as well. The Prince and the Coyote is a rich and layered story about one of the Americas’ greatest heroes. I was mesmerized from beginning to end!” —Jen Steele, Boswell Book Company
“Salt to the Sea” by Ruta Sepetys – A multi-POV novel of four young Germans racing to escape the oncoming Soviet Army near the close of World War II, but the ship they board has a target on it. Tense and haunting.
“Mark of the Thief” by Jennifer Nielsen – Forced to enter a sealed cavern that reputedly holds the lost treasures of Caesar, slave boy Nic discovers an amulet imbued with divine power and finds himself at the center of a conspiracy to overthrow the emperor and spark the Praetor. Fast-paced historical fantasy.
“The Brightwood Code” by Monica Hesse – A cryptic message forces eighteen-year-old American Edda to investigate what secrets followed her across the ocean, even as she tries to make sense of her time as a telephone operator on the French front lines of World War I.
“The Apothecary Diaries” by Natsu Hyuna, translation by Julie Gonwich (manga series) – Maomao, a young woman trained in the art of herbal medicine, is forced to work as a lowly servant in the inner palace. Though she yearns for life outside its perfumed halls, she isn’t long for a life of drudgery! Using her wits to break a “curse” afflicting the imperial heirs, Maomao attracts the attentions of the handsome eunuch Jinshi and is promoted to attendant food taster. But Jinshi has other plans for the erstwhile apothecary, and soon Maomao is back to brewing potions and…solving mysteries?
“Solo Leveling” by Dubu (Redice Studio); original story, Chugong; translation, Hye Young Im; rewrite, J. Torres (Korean webtoon series) – A poorly skilled monster hunter, Jinwoo Sung mostly tries not to get himself killed. But faced with his mother’s hospital bills, his sister’s tuition and lack of other job prospects, when an opportunity arises for a bigger payout, he takes it… only to come face-to-face with a being whose power outranks anything he’s ever seen!
“The Rosewood Hunt” by MacKenzie Reed – When her grandmother, the chair of their family’s luxury coat business, dies suddenly and her fortune goes missing, Lily Rosewood and three other seemingly random teens are sent on a treasure hunt around Rosetown that becomes more dangerous than she ever could have imagined.
“What Stalks Among Us” by Sarah Hollowell – Two best friends skipping a class trip become trapped in an overgrown corn maze with corpses that look just like them in this time loop horror novel.
“The Sunbearer Trials” by Aiden Thomas – Chosen to participate in the Sunbearer Trials, where the loser is sacrificed to refuel the Sun Stones, Teo, the 17-year-old trans son of the goddess of birds, must compete against more powerful and better trained opponents for fame, glory and his own survival.
“Foul Lady Fortune” by Chloe Gong – As a series of murders cause unrest in Shanghai, Rosalind, aka Fortune, must team up with a spy—who has his own agenda—and attempt to unravel a conspiracy that is more horrifying than they could have ever imagined.
“Dread Nation” by Justina Ireland – fantasy / horror alternate history. “America is changed forever when the dead begin to prowl battlefields during the Civil War. The horror births a new nation and a different type of slavery, in which laws force Native and Negro children to attend combat schools and receive training to put down the dead.” —Booklist magazine review
“A Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue” by Mackenzi Lee – Two friends on a Grand Tour of 18th-century Europe stumble across a magical artifact that leads them from Paris to Venice in a dangerous manhunt shaped by pirates, highwaymen and their growing attraction to one another.
“Codex Black, vol. 1: A Fire Among Clouds” by Camilo Moncada Lozano – Navigate through monsters, mysteries, and the will of the gods with two young extraordinary adventurers in fifteenth-century Mesoamerica as they search for a missing father. (graphic novel)
“Danger and Other Unknown Risks” by Ryan North & Erica Henderson – Follows Marguerite de Pruitt and her canine pal, Daisy, as they embark on a journey to save the world. (graphic novel by the team from Unbeatable Squirrel Girl!)
Children’s Reads
“Awe-Samosas!” by Marzieh Abbas, illustrated by Bhagya Madanasinghe – A warm and joyful picture book blends family tradition and creativity as Noor puts an awesome spin on her Dadijaan’s yummy but ingredient-specific samosa recipe.
“Mr. Wuffles” by David Wiesner – Mr. Wuffles ignores all his cat toys but one, which turns out to be a spaceship piloted by small green aliens, and when Mr. Wuffles plays a little too roughly with the toy ship, the aliens must venture into the cat’s territory to make emergency repairs.
“Off To See the Sea” by Nikki Grimes, illustrated by Elizabeth Zunon – “The faucet flows like a waterfall, the bathroom floor is a distant shore, toy boats sail against the waves. An imagination-fueled adventure on the high seas is just what it takes to get little one clean.”
“The Universe in You: A Microscopic Journey by Jason Chin” – “A book exploring the world of the very small, delving deep into the microscopic spaces just beneath our skin.” (pairs with Jason’s Chin’s “Your Place in the Universe”)
“Hike” by Peter Oswald – In a nearly wordless picture book, a father and child take a hike through the mountains, where they experience the joys of nature, overcome challenges together, and play a small role in the survival of the forest.
“Sam and Dave Dig a Hole” by Mac Barnett, illustrated by Jon Klassen – Sam and Dave are sure they will discover something exciting if they just keep digging their hole.
“There Are No Dragons in This Book” by Donna Lambo-Weidner & Carla Haslbauer – Encouraging observation and discovery, this delightfully clever picture book will keep kids laughing as they search for the dragons hiding in the story.
“¡Vamos!: Let’s go read” by Raúl the Third, colors by Elaine Bay – Little Lobo and his friends are excited for the out-of-this-world book festival the Guadalupian Library hosts every year! Everyone has a special book they’re looking for, but there’s so much to see and do first. From cookbook demonstrations and comics workshops to mask making and language classes, this library has something for everyone.
“Endlessly Ever After: Pick Your Path to Countless Fairy Tale Endings!” by Laurel Snyder, illustrated by Dan Santat – In this rhyming mash-up of many fairy tales, the reader is invited to follow Rosie down the many possible paths which may lead to a sleeping maiden, a hungry wolf, a girl locked in a tower, or a goose that lays golden eggs–but with some luck, and some smart choices, Rosie may save herself and her fellow fairy tale characters.
“Ty’s Travels: Camp-Out!” by Kelly Starling Lyons & Niña Mata – Nonstop rain dampens the family’s plans to go camping. But with a boost from Ty, the Camp-Out comes out just fine! Rhythmic text, vibrant art, family love, and Black boy joy shine on every page of this camping adventure. (comic)
“Let’s Go for a Drive” by Mo Willems – In another delightful installment of the Elephant and Piggy series, Gerald and Piggy excitedly prepare for a drive – sunglasses! maps! umbrellas! suitcases! – until they realize they’re missing one very important component.
“Magic Tree House” series by Mary Pope Osborne – Two siblings, Jack and Annie, are sent on adventures and missions around the world and through time via a magical tree house.
“Mexikid: A Graphic Memoir” by Pedro Martin – Pedro Martín has grown up hearing stories about his abuelito—his legendary crime-fighting grandfather who was once a part of the Mexican Revolution! But that doesn’t mean Pedro is excited at the news that Abuelito is coming to live with their family. After all, Pedro has 8 brothers and sisters and the house is crowded enough! Still, Pedro piles into the Winnebago with his family for a road trip to Mexico to bring Abuelito home, and what follows is the trip of a lifetime, one filled with laughs and heartache. Along the way, Pedro finally connects with his abuelito and learns what it means to grow up and find his grito.
“Bea Wolf” by Zach Weinersmith; art by Boulet – A graphic novel retelling of Beowulf, adapted into a contemporary(ish) story of kids. “Somewhere in a generic suburb stands Treeheart, a kid-forged sanctuary where generations of tireless tykes have spent their youths making merry, spilling soda, and staving off the shadow of adulthood. One day, these brave warriors find their fun cut short by their nefarious neighbor Grindle, who can no longer tolerate the sounds of mirth seeping into his joyless adult life.”
“A Wolf Called Wander” by Rosanne Parry – “A young wolf cub, separated from his pack, journeys 1000 miles across the Pacific Northwest, dealing with forest fires, hunters, highways, and hunger before finding a new home. Based on the true story of a wolf called OR-7.”
“I Survived…” series by Lauren Tarshis – “Each book in this fast-paced, exciting historical fiction series tells the story of a young person living during a dangerous time. Events span the destruction of Pompeii to 9-11 and include some of the world’s worst disasters and deadliest wars.”
“Alone” by Megan E Freeman – A survival story in verse based on Island of the Blue Dolphins
“Daughters of the Lamp” by Nedda Lewers – While in Egypt for her uncle’s wedding, Sahara Rashad, who lives by logic and has never believed in magic, embarks on an adventure of a lifetime when her late mother’s necklace leads her to Ali Baba’s magical treasure and the discovery of her true legacy.
“Alebrijes” by Donna Barba Higuera – When thirteen-year-old Leandro takes the fall for his sister and is exiled into an ancient drone, he embarks on a perilous journey beyond the city’s walls where he encounters mutant monsters, wasteland pirates, and fellow outcasts as he tries to save his sister and fellow Cascabeles from the oppressive regime.
“Treasure Island: Runaway Gold” by Jewell Parker Rhodes – Entrusted with a real treasure map, Zane, along with his friends Kiko and Jack and his dog, Hip-Hop, arrives in Manhattan where he learns about the buried history of Black New Yorkers of centuries past, and the gold hidden in those stories, while eluding a vicious rival skateboard crew.
Babies/Toddlers’ Reads
“Not a Box” by Antionette Portis – An offscreen voice asks “what are you doing with that box?” but to an imaginative little bunny, a box is never just a box. Simple line drawings, mind-expanding play. Extremely delightful.
“Hello Day” by Charlie Mylie – A child and their parent go out on an outing, and the child’s whimsical interactions with the world around them reminds their parent the value of embracing the journey itself.
“This Baby, That Baby” by Cari Best, illustrated by Rashin Kheiriyeh – Somewhere in the big, big city, two happy babies look out their morning windows at the very same time. In this bouncy, playful picture book for very young listeners, follow two baby friends who live in facing buildings through their day — playing, singing, and napping — till they meet in the park!
“Inside Cat” by Brendan Wenzel – Told in rhyming text, Inside Cat views the world through many windows, watching the birds, squirrels, and people go by–but when the door opens it discovers a whole new view.
“Roar! I’m a Dinosaur” by Merrill Rainey – Transform into epic dinosaurs with this interactive board book! What is it like to be a T. rex or pterodactyl? Hold this book up and look through the eyeholes to find out!
“Flashlight” by Lizi Boyd – In this story without words, a boy explores the woods after dark with a flashlight. (The illustrations are so gorgeous)
“Jump!” by Tatsuhide Matsuoka – A frog jumps. Boing! A kitten jumps. Boi-ing! A dog jumps. Boiyyyyyyoiingg! A grasshopper jumps, a rabbit jumps, then a snail…uhm, maybe not. Mother and chick jump together, a fish jumps out of the water, and last comes a little girl to join the fun… I jump too-BOING!
“A Bear, A Bee, and A Honey Tree” by Daniel Bernstrom, illustrated by Brandon James Scott – A hungry bear? An angry bee? Only one will taste sweet victory! Who will it be?
“Little Owl Lost” by Chris Haughton – Friendly forest animals help a newborn owl find his mother.
“The Red Fruit” by Lee Gee Eun – When he gets hit in the head by a delicious red fruit, Baby Bear searches for more of this elusive treat until he finds the biggest red fruit of all, in this delightful story about first discoveries and always landing in a safe place. “Economically drawn and narrated, this translated work from Korea spotlights a bear cub’s naivete and determination…” – Kirkus