Five books to read this summer that are set in Chicago

Summer is a perfect time of year to catch up on great books that you've been meaning to read. The longer days provide more sun and better weather for reading in the backyard, lack of school means more time for students to read, and a good book will make enduring the heat on the beach a little easier. All the books on this list are available at local bookstores as well as Borders.com and Amazon.com.

1. Richard Peck's Fair Weather- Written by Peck, a well-known and loved author for young adults, this book is perfect for junior high school readers. The novel tells a story of three young farm kids that go to visit their elusive aunt in Chicago during the 1893 World's Fair. With a lovable set of characters and a sneak-peek into the 19th century, this book is a fast read and certainly recommended for those who love Peck's other works such as A Year Down Yonder or A Long Way From Chicago.

2. Sandra Cisneros's The House on Mango Street- This novel is perfect for high school students as well as all readers with a multilingual background.  The story is told in first person by Esperanza, an adolescent Latina, through lyrical prose that appears simple on the surface but contains a tapestry of serious situations and problematic themes. A wonderful bildungsroman with a unique style of writing will keep readers entertained.

3. Audrey Niffenegger's The Time Traveler's Wife- Written in 2003, it is Niffenegger's debut novel about a man with a genetic disorder that causes him to jump through time without control and how this effects the woman who loves him. A touching tale that asks not only what would happen if one could time-travel, but what would happen to the ones we love. Perfect to read and then watch in theaters as it has recently been adapted to film and will be released in theaters in August this year.

4. Daniel Pinkwater's The Education of Robert Nifkin- Another novel for the high school reader, it is set in 1950's Chicago and written in the format of a college applications essay. Robert, the protagonist and essay's writer, has an increasing hatred of school and his truancy causes his school to expel him and his parents to enroll him at Wheaton, a private school. Through his new schools relaxed policies, Robert begin to learn for pleasure instead of being forced to do so. With many comedic elements, this novel has readers that can remember their college admittance essays as well as those who are still dreading them, caught in Robert's high school world.

5. Upton Sinclair's- The Jungle- Well-read by many high schools as well as the general public, this book is highly recommended for any serious reader. Written in 1906, Sinclair was a socialist journalist wanting to investigate the corruption of the meatpacking industry. The novel examines not only poverty and social classes but brought to light food safety and the terrible conditions that both workers and food endured. The novel is both significant and influential, though certainly not for those with a weak stomach. The Jungle, much as the film " Super-size Me," will have you examining your food a bit closer and labor laws with more gratitude.

The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros