Aaahhhh summertime….when kids (and some of us adults) get to read books purely for pleasure instead of for school assignments. I remember lying on my bed with a warm breeze blowing in the window devouring book after book all summer long. Besides being fun and relaxing, there’s also a correlation between kids reading in the summer and doing better in school when they return in fall.

To help celebrate the start of summer, and summer reading, I’m cleaning out my book shelves for readers of all ages and giving away one book a week from now through the first week of September. Each Monday I’ll feature a book to give away, and on Friday, I’ll choose one lucky winner from those who comment. That’s 14 books between now and then. The only stipulation is that you must comment to win, and you must live in the U.S. or Canada. So come back each week to check out the featured giveaway, then comment to throw your name in the hat.

To begin, I’m giving away a copy of How to Survive Middle School by Donna Gephart. (Giveaway closed.) Read my review of this funny, smart book I recommend for ages 9 to 12, then leave a comment on this post by Friday, June 11 at 12 midnight (PDT).

Other books to be given away include:

• The Adoration of Jenna Fox by Mary E. Pearson
• The Heart of a Shepherd by Rosanne Parry (signed)
• The Hearts of Horses by Molly Gloss
• Shock Point by April Henry (signed)
• The Real Real by Emma McLaughlin and Nicola Kraus
• Poetry Speaks Who I Am edited by Elise Paschen
• The Heretic’s Daughter by Kathleen Kent
• Lips Touch: Three Times written by Laini Taylor, illustrated by Jim Di Bartolo (signed)
• Operation Redwood by S. Terrell French
• Tombstone Tea by Joanne Dahme