It’s time for a few quick and light book recommendations! Today I’m creating a virtual stack of books, each starting with a letter to spell out June. Each of these is a book that I have read, enjoyed, and gotten something meaningful out of, and I hope that one might catch your eye! This month’s list unintentionally ended up filled mostly with classics.
#SpellTheMonthInBooks is a meme/hashtag I see a lot on Instagram, and decided to adapt to a full post here on my blog. To participate, take a picture (or make a list – or both) of books that line up to spell the current month. As far as I know no one hosts a linkup for this, so I do it whichever day of the month works best – not necessarily the same day each month. If you do a similar post, I would be thrilled for you to leave your link in the comments!
J – Jack and Jill by Louisa May Alcott
When best friends, Jack and Jill, tumble off their sled, their injuries cause them to be bedridden for many months. Their parents fill their days with the joys of Christmas preparations, a theatrical production and many other imaginative events.
One of Alcott’s somewhat lesser-known works, this is a fun book that I enjoyed reading as a preteen/early teen. In it, two best friends are injured in a sledding accident, and face the tedious months of healing with the help of their families and imaginations.
My Rating: ⭐⭐⭐
U – Urban Gardening by Kevin Espiritu
If you think it’s impossible to grow your own food because you don’t have a large yard or you live in the city…think again. There is a plethora of urban gardening options to create beautiful, productive edible gardens no matter where you live. The key to succeeding as an urban gardener is to choose the method(s) that make sense for your unique living situation and then give your plants what they need to thrive. Kevin helps you do just that. But he doesn’t stop there. He also provides in-depth garden plans, from upcycled DIY projects and intensive hydroponic systems to beautiful and functional raised beds. Urban gardening is a real, growing, and important movement in today’s world. This fact-packed book is your roadmap to get growing today.
This is a deviation from the fiction I usually discuss, but I have read so few books that start with the letter U! It is filled with ideas about planning gardens in small spaces and how to get the most out of crops grown in the city.
My Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
N – Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen
Jane Austen's first novel—published posthumously in 1818—tells the story of Catherine Morland and her dangerously sweet nature, innocence, and sometime self-delusion. Though Austen's fallible heroine is repeatedly drawn into scrapes while vacationing at Bath and during her subsequent visit to Northanger Abbey, Catherine eventually triumphs, blossoming into a discerning woman who learns truths about love, life, and the heady power of literature. The satirical novel pokes fun at the gothic novel while earnestly emphasizing caution to the female sex.
Since I started with a classic, I might as well throw in another and make it a trend! Last year I read Northanger Abbey and it easily became my favorite Jane Austen book. It’s not as long as Pride and Predjudice, much more interesting than Persuasion, and for some reason (I’m really not sure why) I can actually remember more of it than Emma.
My Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
E – Ender’s Game (Ender’s Saga #1) by Orson Scott Card
Andrew "Ender" Wiggin thinks he is playing computer simulated war games; he is, in fact, engaged in something far more desperate. The result of genetic experimentation, Ender may be the military genius Earth desperately needs in a war against an alien enemy seeking to destroy all human life. The only way to find out is to throw Ender into ever harsher training, to chip away and find the diamond inside, or destroy him utterly. Ender Wiggin is six years old when it begins. He will grow up fast.
Finishing off this list with a classic from a different vein! This science fiction staple earns its keep with its combination of adventure, philosophy (I promise it isn’t dull), and futuristic gadgets.
My Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
When I started writing this post, I did not realize it would end up containing mostly classics! I can definitely vouch for all of the books on this list, which is the real priority.
What are you reading this summer? Share about it in the comments!
Until the next chapter,
Jana
Reviews From the Stacks 
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