Percy Jackson completes his first quest. (June 21)

For an American equivalent to Harry Potter that relies more on magical powers than on political drama and reading newspapers, try the Percy Jackson books.  Percy learns that the ancient Greek gods (and the monsters that go with them) are alive and well in the modern world, and he must find his place as a demigod in that world by completing his first quest--to retrieve Zeus’s stolen Master Bolt.

This book utterly rocks its ability to place ancient creatures in modern settings Auntie M’s Garden Emporium, anyone?

How to Commemorate:

• Go swimming.
• Learn some Greek. (Try Mango Languages form your local library.)
• Play capture-the-flag. 
• Visit the Empire State Building (or another building of Greek design in your city).

*Share your photos and celebrations on our Facebook or twitter pages.

Works Cited

The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan

*Note: Read the book. Do not watch the movie.

Amazon     Barnes and Noble     Public Libraries

Thorin & Co. Arrive in Rivendell (June 20)

On their quest to reclaim the Lonely Mountain as their ancestral home, a party of dwarves led by Thorin Oakenshield (and accompanied by hobbit Bilbo Baggins) stops for rest at Rivendell.

How to Commemorate: 

• Read in moonlight.
• Make a secret map.
• Have feast that totally ignores vegetables.

Works Cited

The Hobbit by JRR Tolkien

Fictional Fathers

In honor of Father's Day throughout the US, here are some of our contributors' favorite fictional dads from TV, film, and literature.

• Pa Ingalls (Little House on the Prairie)
• Rory Williams (Doctor Who)
• Dre Johnson (Black-ish)
• Dr Murray (A Wrinkle in Time)
• Atticus Finch (To Kill a Mockingbird)
• Cam and Mitch (Modern Family)
• Hikaru Sulu (Star Trek)
• T'Chaka (Black Panther)
• Mo (Inkheart)
• Arthur Weasley (Harry Potter)
• Henry Jones (Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade)
• Mr. Han (Jackie Chan in the Karate Kid remake)
• John McClane and Sgt Al Powell (Die Hard) 

Honorable Mention

One librarian asked us to note that Pride and Prejudice covertly hinges on father figures. We meet Darcy not long after the passing of his father, putting Fitzgerald into a role of authority, and Eliza's dad is at least partly responsible for her viewing people as a source of amusement, hence her tendency toward prejudice. Also, Wickham seems to go bad not long after his “excellent father” passes away, causing him to be raised by the elder Darcy.

Another librarian holds that Speed Racer is all about fatherhood. He suggested a viewing of the movie while noting all the things Pops Racer says. The movie was not popular, but we can't say he's wrong.

Lastly, a bunch of us here just love the words of Pa Tuck in Tuck Everlasting about what life is.

Bloomsday (16 June)

Ulysses Dublin Map

The events of Ulysses by James Joyce take place on 16 June 1904 and they are commemorated annually in cities around the world (though primarily Dublin--where performers and fans retrace the steps of Leopold Bloom throughout his day).  This is the ultimate Today in Fiction event, so learn about the traditions and find an event near you.  

Hint: if your city has a Saint Patrick’s Day Parade, you probably have a Bloomsday event too.

How to Commemorate:

• Walk ALL around town.
• Fall in love.
• Speak out your inner stream of consciousness. 

*Share your photos and celebrations on our Facebook or twitter pages.

Works Cited

Ulysses by James Joyce

Amazon Barnes and Noble Public Libraries

Amanda and Leo turn 11. A lot. (June 6)

Think Groundhog Day with a pair of cool pre-teens instead of cranky Bill Murray. Amanda and Leo are best friends from birth… or they were until they had a falling out, especially noticeable now that they don’t celebrate their birthdays together like they used to (even though they were born on the same exact day!). But on their 11th birthday, something weird happens. Namely, the birthday. Every time the day ends, the birthday begins again. Now these former besties have to find out what’s going on with the town or their lives or the universe and set things right.

How to Commemorate:

• Repeat yourself.
• Forgive someone.
• Visit a local history museum (just so you know where it is in case you ever need to solve your own temporal loop).

*Share your photos and celebrations on our Facebook or twitter pages.

Works Cited

11 Birthdays by Wendy Mass

Amazon Barnes and Noble Public Libraries

Don’t buy a blue car. (June)

2016 was the official year that the father of Thursday Next gave her some advice (see our previous post), namely to stay away from Oxford, but he also gave a few other notes.

Never buy a blue car

Never buy a paddling pool

Stay away from oysters and circular saws.

He also very clearly warned against being near Oxford in June 2016. It’s past that now, but with the nature of time travel being inherently prone to risks… do you really want to chance it?

*Share your photos and celebrations on our Facebook or twitter pages.

Works Cited

The Eyre Affair by Jasper Fforde.

Amazon Barnes and Noble     Public Libraries