Spring Break Beach (or Snow!) Reads - Fluff-free

Whether you’re relaxing in the sunshine or skiing in Vermont, these books will help you take your mind off schoolwork and prepare you for the coming spring and summer months. Set in the sunshine of the Dominican Republic, Mexico, Florida, southern Appalachia, and California, these novels will keep you turning pages and give you some of the metaphorical Vitamin D you’ve been craving. Whether you’re looking for something to make you laugh or a book that gets you thinking, these selections are perfect for a mid-semester break.

Caramelo by Sandra Cisneros

Tales of the Reyes family keep readers laughing as Cisneros moves the story from 1920s Mexico City and Acapulco to 1950s Chicago as the family, with Lala at the center, travels across the U.S. – Mexico border. Cisneros incorporates historical and cultural information about Mexico as she gives spunk and character to conversations between the family members.

Skinny Dip by Carl Hiaasen

This hilarious novel begins with Joey Peronne being tossed overboard a cruise ship by her husband, Chaz. Joey is rescued by a lonely ex-cop, and the two attempt to catch Chaz in the act as he falsifies water pollution levels in the Everglades, part of a deal with a ruthless tycoon. Hiaasen combines villains, the “good guys,” humor, and wit with sunny Florida wilderness.

In the Time of the Butterflies by Julia Alvarez

Though heavy with the tale of the Trujillo dictatorship in the Dominican Republic, this novel is sometimes lightened by tropical flowers, sunshine, and the energetic personalities of the Mirabal sisters, committed to overthrowing Trujillo’s regime. Told from the perspectives of each of the four sisters, Alvarez weaves together tales of politics, passion, suffering, love, sisterly loyalty, and tragedy.

Turtle Moon by Alice Hoffman

Set in Florida sunshine, this novel tells the tale of Lucy, a recently divorced woman, and her son Keith. The two move to Florida for a change of scenery, but after a nearby murder and a missing baby, Keith also disappears. Hoffman’s telling of the Florida climate is filled with hot sun, turtles, rattlesnakes, and dragonflies with their wings on fire: a perfect read for hot weather. Hoffman creates a feverish feeling as Lucy searches for her son and a policeman aims to solve the mystery of the murder.

Prodigal Summer by Barbara Kingsolver

Kingsolver’s characters explore the natural world in the forests and mountains of southern Appalachia in this novel. Three intertwining stories—“Predator,” “Moth Love,” and “Old Chestnuts”—tell tales of love. The love that Kingsolver creates is between lovers, family, and friends. Kingsolver’s characters suffer loneliness and loss, but they find comfort in the relationships they form and the beautiful landscapes of the farms and forests Kingsolver describes.

Crooked Little Heart by Anne Lamott

This novel describes the coming-of-age of two adolescent girls, best friends and tennis partners in Northern California. Thirteen-year-old Rosie struggles as her best friend loses her virginity and seems to “grow up” much faster. Rosie, filled with self-doubt, begins to cheat on the courts. Lamott handles this teenage-angst with grace and humor, allowing the adults in the novel to be understanding while simultaneously struggling with their own problems.