Hot town, summer reading in the city

Grab your sunscreen and sweet iced tea, because these sizzling reads are fresh off the press! Whether it’s a psychological thriller, action-adventure, or a compelling love story, the Richland College Library is your place to grab this summer’s hottest reads.

The Trials of Apollo: the Dark Prophesy. Let the sun shine on this brand new series from Rick Riordan! Apollo, god of the sun and music, is cast down to Earth as an awkward teenage boy, charged with the task of restoring the Oracles that have gone dark. He’ll have to enlist the help of a dragon, a sorceress, and the son of Hephaestus to defeat the evil Triumvirate. With a marvelous mix of action, pop culture, and droll humor, the Dark Prophesy expands Riordan’s singular twist on classic mythology.

Dragon Teeth. While you’re waiting in mild agony for the new season of Westworld, check out this new novel by its creator, Michael Crichton. Nothing gets as hot as Texas in the summer…unless it’s the Wild West during the days of the gold rush. Two paleontologists pillage, deceive, and sabotage each other in the hunt for dinosaur fossils. Filled with Old West villains, lost treasure, and historic discoveries, this adventure will leave you wanting to pick up a fossil hunter’s hammer and sieve.

Into the Water. Cool down by going Into the Water. Paula Hawkins, whose debut The Girl on the Train exploded onto the literary scene, delivers another captivating thriller. When two women are found dead in the river that runs through the sleepy English town, the water isn’t the only thing that is disturbed by their deaths. Secrets, suspense, and darkness drip down into the reader’s imagination as only Hawkins can eerily achieve.

Crazy is My Superpower. AJ Mendez Brooks didn’t become a WWE superstar overnight. Labeled a “nerdy, loud, crazy, freak,” this unconventional girl with unconventional heart and drive pushed through labels and expectations of what a girl wrestler “should” be. With humor and wit, AJ opens up in this inspiring autobiography about embracing her weaknesses and transforming them into her greatest strengths.

The Sun is Also a Star. A dazzling story of love, the universe, and fate that brings people together. Set in New York, two teens fall in love amidst familial expectations, the looming threat of deportation, and the illogical nature of life. Bittersweet, yet hopeful, Nicola Yoon’s new novel will have you believe in the power of possibility.

Those with current DCCCD employee and student I.D. numbers may link through the titles above and log in to request items be taken to their favorite college libraries for pick up. Ask at the reference desk.

-Ariel Slick

Reading the classics, reimagined

Born June 5, 1964, Rick Riordan has made his mark on the young adult literary scene and helped bring classical mythology to a new generation.

It all started as a bedtime story.

What would spawn a multi-million dollar franchise, including books, movies, and graphic novels, first came to Rick Riordan as an idea to entertain his son. Now the Percy Jackson & the Olympians series has been translated into 42 languages and sold more than 30 million copies. With a background in teaching Greek mythology to middle schoolers, Riordan has brought the classic stories of monsters, gods, and heroes to a young, modern audience.

When Haley (his son) asked him to create a new Greek myth, Riordan spun a tale over the course of three nights about gods and their descendants living in modern times. Originally inspired by his son who was diagnosed with ADHD and dyslexia, Riordan wrote the titular character as ADHD/dyslexic to recognize children with similar conditions and to remind them that being different is not bad.

The wild popularity of his books caught Riordan off guard. While word-of-mouth recommendations helped grow the series’ recognition, Riordan credits librarians with helping to spread the news of a series based in Greek mythology. “I owe a special debt to the librarians of Texas, who embraced the books early on and did a huge amount of book-talking with their kids. Without them, I doubt the momentum would've built nearly as much or as quickly.” (Rick Riordan.com)

Riordan has since branched out and written other series of books based on Norse and Egyptian mythology, Magnus Chase and the Kane Chronicles, respectively.

Start your summer reading with The Lightning Thief, book one in the Percy Jackson & the Olympians series.

-Ariel Slick