Summer has arrived, the kids are out of school and everyone is waiting for vacation! Here are three great summer reads to enjoy on vacation or stay-cation.

1. The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel series by Michael Scott. Many will recognize this name as mentioned in the Harry Potter series. In many ways the series is reminiscent of the acclaimed books about the boy magician. But this series takes place in the present day and features 15 year-old twins Josh and Sophie. The twins are unaware that they are about to have their lives changed forever when they learn that they are “the twins of legend” whose mission is to save humankind. This series of six books is a gripping, fast-paced read with twists and turns to keep any reader interested. I would recommend this series for adults and teens/tweens who love an action-packed magical read.

2. The Kane Chronicles series by Rick Riordan. This series follows another set of brother and sister twins, Carter and Sadie Kane, who are the descendants of Egyptian pharaohs. Their mission to save the world is a classic battle of good versus evil. This series takes place in the magical ancient Egyptian realms more than the present day but the story’s narrative style allows the reader to suspend disbelief and go along for the ride with the twins. The third book in the series was released in May 2012 and promises to be another great adventure. If you are interested in Ancient Egypt or the Egyptian gods, this series is for you. If you prefer Roman or Greek gods, check out Riordan’s other series’ Percy Jackson and the Olympians or The Heroes of Olympus. Riordan taught middle-school social studies for 15 years so his details are very accurate and sneak in some learning while reading. All are fun and perfect for summer. The series is aimed at tweens/teens, but adults who enjoy young adult fantasy/adventure novels will enjoy them.

3. Artemis Fowl series by Eoin Colfer. The sci-fi series is named for its protagonist, Artemis Fowl II, a twelve-year old criminal mastermind. It chronicles the adventures of Fowl and his adventures with creatures of fantasy and horror. The author refers to it as “Die Hard with fairies.” I would recommend this series for tweens and teens although it may be enjoyed by boys more than girls.

Try one or try them all. There are enough in each series to keep you entertained well past summer. In addition, they are available in audiobook form. Great for taking on those long trips whether by car, airplane, train or boat.

Enjoy!