Random House Books Selected for Summer Reading Lists

In her recent piece "Sands Shift in Summer Reading" (Boston Globe, June 28, 2009), journalist Lisa Kocian examines how teachers, in an effort to encourage their students to read more, are adding new and unconventional books to their summer reading lists. Many of these new books explore today's world from unique perspectives and within different genres, such as humor, thriller or memoir.

Books and authors mentioned in the article include: Mitch Albom, Dan Brown, Bill Bryson's A Walk in the Woods, Michael Crichton, Dave Eggers' A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius, Homer Hickam's Rocket Boys, and Deborah Rodriguez's Kabul Beauty School.

To view Random House's Summer Reading List for 2009, which includes other new and unique books, click here.

Win a FREE trip to Antarctica with author and environmentalist, Robert Swan

This November, join Robert Swan on his International Antarctic Treaty Expedition (IATE). On the trip, 80 teachers, students, corporate leaders and experts will gain first-hand knowledge and observe Antarctica's fragile ecosystems. Robert Swan is the author of the forthcoming book, Antarctica 2041: My Quest to Save the Earth's Last Wilderness, available October 2009.

ONE GRAND PRIZE WINNER will win passage for one on IATE November 16-30, 2009 with Robert Swan, roundtrip airfare to Ushuaia, Argentina, a signed copy of Antarctica 2041, and Carbon Offsets to cover the winner's trip related emissions provided by NativeEnergy, plus a personal carbon footprint consolation. Approximate Retail Value is $28,000.

Click here for complete trip details and to enter today! Entries valid through September 4, 2009. Winners alerted by October 1, 2009. Expedition begins on November 16, 2009.

• New teacher's guides are now available for the following: I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou, A Time to Kill by John Grisham, Look Me in the Eye by John Elder Robison, Snow Flower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See, The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows, and Outcasts United by Warren St. John.