Mad Hatter Sunnies and YA Reading List

School is out and it’s time to plan for summer vacation! Whether you’re going poolside or seaside to get some sun, here are some book recommendations to introduce your teens to the joy of reading. Styled with fashionable hats, sunglasses and swimsuit, they could erase any thoughts that reading makes you look nerdy.

1. INVICTUS 

Book: Invictus by Ryan Graudin
Hat: Honey by Eugenia Kim
Sunglasses: MYKITA Studio 6.2 in silver and blossom
Swimsuit: Nicki Reversible Bralette Swim Top by Rebecca Minkoff

MY TAKE:
With its time travel theme and fast-paced action, “Invictus” will be a fun read while lazing under the sun. It is longer than your usual YA novel, but it will keep your teen interested thanks to Ryan Graudin’s superb storytelling. It is a love story, so be ready for a slow burn romance (it’s YA! Duh!)

When reading Invictus under the sun, protect your face (and your tablet) by perusing it while wearing Eugenia Kim’s medium brimmed straw sunhat Honey with detachable multi-colored tie.

Complement it with the Nicki Reversible Bralette Swim Top by Rebecca Minkoff. It’s two-for-one fun. Wider straps and supportive shell fabric make the Nicki bralette top a pretty great sport.

Finish off the look with the MYKITA Studio 6.2 in silver and blossom. It might be hard to believe but the STUDIO 6 sunglass models were actually inspired by latest advancements in surface treatment technology though it evokes optical illusion art from the 1960s.

Go to Invictus Description to read the synopsis of Invictus.

2. MASK OF SHADOWS

Book: Mask of Shadows by Linsey Miller
Hat: Courtney by Eugenia Kim
Sunglasses: Mykita STUDIO 6.1
Swimsuit: Lily Bandeau Swim Top by Rebecca Minkoff

MY TAKE:
With gender fluidity as a trending topic and June as Pride Month, “Mask of Shadows” is a relevant read, albeit fictional and in the sci-fi Fantasy genre at that. Sal, the main character who has been born a female is gender fluid. The love interest is Elise, female born and bisexual.

That as the romantic subplot can make you think twice if you will allow your teen to read this book. Just remember, this is YA, so it is a slow burn and not at all explicit.

That said, the main plot is actually interesting. Sal, whose people were victims of genocide seek revenge to those who committed the crime. To do that, Sal has to be at the center of power and the first step to gain it is to be a member of The Left Hand, the Queen’s band of assassins.

Violence and betrayal became Sal’s constant companion. With cunning and a little bit of luck, Sal was able to survive and get to the next level. This book is not for the faint of heart. But, if you love dark fantasy, then, this will be a good read for you.

With the book in your hand, grab Eugenia Kim’s Courtney hat, a natural vented hemp fedora with black boucle ribbon band and cream boucle knot. Poolside or beachside, the Courtney can hold court. If you choose to wear Rebecca Minkoff’s Lily bikini top and bottom, the ultra-feminine ruffles which undulate all the way around this bandeau silhouette announce to everyone that you are a girly girl.

Finish off the look with the Mykita STUDIO 6.1 sunglasses in shiny black & white. Combining metallic tones with matt solid colors emphasize the psychedelic effect that is evocative of the 1960s yet it remains very modern.

Go to Mask of Shadows Description to read the description of the book.

3. A JOT OF BLOOD

Book: A Jot of Blood The Coventry Years – Book One by Katherine Bayless
Hat: Sunny by Eugenia Kim
Sunglasses: Mykita STUDIO 6.4
Swimwear: Piper One Piece Swimsuit by Rebecca Minkoff

MY TAKE:
First, this is NOT Hogwarts. “A Jot of Blood” might have a school of magic in it, but it is still its own story and has its own share of fascinating characters. And we have the usual suspects of werewolves, vampires and other magical beings.

Second, it is really a fun read. High school is high school whether you are in East Valley High or in a magical kingdom. Unfortunately, the kids, magical as they were still had to go through the usual high school issues beleaguering our youth like bullying, among others. Still, this is one of the reasons why the book is relatable.

And don’t worry. “A Jot of Blood” might contain some real world issues, but the fantasy part remains dominant and makes it a very good read.

So, grab your ivory/black striped toyo straw SUNNY sunhat from Eugenia Kim, don your Piper One Piece swimsuit by Rebecca Minkoff and take your Mykita Studio 6.4 sunglasses then curl up in your favorite sunbathing spot for a lazy day under the sun enjoying “A Jot of Blood.”

Go toA Jot of Blood Description to read the book’s synopsis.

Description: Invictus  by Ryan Graudin

Time flies when you’re plundering history.

Farway Gaius McCarthy was born outside of time. The son of a time-traveling Recorder from 2354 AD and a gladiator living in Rome in 95 AD, Far’s birth defies the laws of nature. Exploring history himself is all he’s ever wanted, and after failing his final time-traveling exam, Far takes a position commanding a ship with a crew of his friends as part of a black market operation to steal valuables from the past.

But during a heist on the sinking Titanic, Far meets a mysterious girl who always seems to be one step ahead of him. Armed with knowledge that will bring Far’s very existence into question, she will lead Far and his team on a race through time to discover a frightening truth: History is not as steady as it seems.
In this heart-stopping adventure, Ryan Graudin has created a fast-paced world that defies time and space.

Description Mask of Shadows by Linsey Miller

Perfect for fantasy fans of Sarah J. Maas and Leigh Bardugo, the first book in this new duology features a compelling gender fluid main character, impressive worldbuilding, and fast-paced action.
Sallot Leon is a thief, and a good one at that. But gender fluid Sal wants nothing more than to escape the drudgery of life as a highway robber and get closer to the upper-class—and the nobles who destroyed their home.

When Sal steals a flyer for an audition to become a member of The Left Hand—the Queen’s personal assassins, named after the rings she wears—Sal jumps at the chance to infiltrate the court and get revenge.

But the audition is a fight to the death filled with clever circus acrobats, lethal apothecaries, and vicious ex-soldiers. A childhood as a common criminal hardly prepared Sal for the trials. And as Sal succeeds in the competition, and wins the heart of Elise, an intriguing scribe at court, they start to dream of a new life and a different future, but one that Sal can have only if they survive.

Description: A Jot of Blood The Coventry Years – Book One by Katherine Bayless

Even at Coventry Academy, one of the best schools in the world for the magically inclined, some talents are more curse than gift. What do you do when anything—your clothes, your food, the accidental brush of a fingertip—can instantly reveal the darkest secrets of your closest friend … or, worse, a mortal enemy?

Coventry has been Lire Devon’s haven since her magic innocently outed her mother’s infidelity at the age of three but, even here, her rare clairvoyant power is despised and feared. Now, after years of simmering resentment, Lire’s nemesis, a sorceress with beauty, status, and dangerous connections, has thrown down the gauntlet. The challenge will push Lire’s resourcefulness to its limits and beyond—to a place where arcane dangers lurk and the price of power is knowledge too excruciating to bear.

Warning: The contents of this book include one surly werewolf, a snarky invisible prankster, and enough indelicate language to make a succubus blush.