Summer gives kids a chance to stay up late, play in the sun and catch up on their leisure reading -- or maybe not.

A survey of Y-Press members found that some look at summer as a chance to read as much as they can, while others are just as happy not to crack a book at all.

But for those who like to read, there are many worlds to explore, from the American South in the 1950s to the infinite universe to the fictional world of Harry Potter.

Here, some Y-Press members explain what was memorable and moving in books they read this summer. As they return to classes for a new school year, they know their reading lists will include subjects not of their choosing.

Katie Bolinger, 15

I am the definition of bookworm. I carry a book around with me everywhere.

But this summer of reading was different than the past.

At the end of this school year -- eighth-grade for me -- I was handed the traditional welcome-to-high-school book report rubric. Our assignment was to read "Watership Down," by Richard Adams.

Now, this is a very long adventure story about a group of rabbits that start a new life and the trials they face on their way. The first three pages are filled with rave reviews from everyone from The New York Times to Playboy. In 1978, it became an animated movie. So why did I find it so hard to read?

Maybe it was because of the length. Maybe it was because it was a forced read. Maybe the book simply takes awhile to get moving. But, for whatever reason, I didn't find any enjoyment in this book until Page 352 out of 475. Then a strange thing happened. I couldn't stop reading.

So, after almost two months of struggling, I finished "Watership Down." I also managed to squeeze in a few other books, including "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" and "The Rule of Four," by Ian Caldwell and Dustin Thomason.

I must say that "Watership Down" is a very good book. And although I scared myself a bit when I found myself repeatedly referring to my "warren," this classic good vs. evil story captivated me -- at least at the end. Even so, I'm just about sick of rabbits.

Justin Byers, 12

The book I enjoyed most this summer was "Bridge to Terabithia," by Katherine Patterson. It was on my school's suggested reading list. I like a book that is different but has a message.

This book was memorable because of the close friendship between the main characters, Jess Aarons and Leslie Burke. The characters are so intriguing you want to know more about them. And when one of them dies, it is painful.

Because it deals with death and losing a loved one, this book deeply affected me. I felt grief and sadness and a real connection with the characters.

I don't read constantly, but I'll read whenever there is a good book and I have a good amount of free time. I see summer as a chance to do reading for fun and for school. Reading will help you come back to school refreshed and maybe with a little knowledge to share. Reading also helps you increase your vocabulary skills and concentration.

Zo{euml} Hayes, 16

Every year, like thousands of kids across Indianapolis, I participate in the Indianapolis-Mar ion County Public Library's Summer Reading Program.

I have two main objectives: accumulate many, many points so that I can get lots of cheap key chains and temporary tattoos, and get my mom off my back about my "frivolous reading" and online habits.

In a typical summer, I usually read two serious books, which I often don't finish, and five to 10 forgettable fantasy novels. This year I was thrown off by the new Harry Potter book, which, while good, is rather generic compared to other great fantasy novels such as "The Golden Compass," "A Wrinkle in Time" and "The Mists of Avalon."

This year, I enjoyed my ser ious books more than any of my fiction. I found them by accident, as I was running around the science section when my mother came to collect me from the library. I hurriedly grabbed "The End of Time" and "The Elegant Universe" off the shelf so I wouldn't leave empty-handed.

The beauty of physics is that it's real-life fantasy fiction. "The End of Time," by Julian Barbour, simply backs up a point I've been making to my mother for some time -- time is a human concept, does not actually exist, and therefore, cannot possibly have any bearing on my life. "The Elegant Universe," by Brian Greene, details the growth of superstring theory, a fascinating and complex subject that has, in simplified forms, appeared in hundreds of sci-fi novels as parallel universes and the butterfly effect. Since I think about things like chance, probability and parallel universes a lot, string theory speaks to me as a theory of everything.

While a little dry, books on actual science are, ultimately, more filling than the usual fluff -- a roast beef sandwich as opposed to angel food cake. So, while I've always spent my summers reading for fun, I have seen the light and will spend future summers both entertaining and illuminating myself. Whether the Zo{euml}s in alternative universes make the same resolution, however, is beyond the bounds of human knowledge!

Gabrielle Bibeau, 16

Unlike many teenagers, I do not get burned out on reading during the school year. I look forward to summer because I can read whenever I want to and not have homework or extracurricular activities get in the way.

I have read about 10 books this summer, all of them from different genres and authors. One of my favorites was "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince," by J.K. Rowling. I liked the sixth book, but being a longtime Harry Potter fan, I love the creativity in the entire series. Rowling creates an ingenious world filled with magic and strange creatures. I also enjoy the exciting story lines, as well as the smart and well-developed characters.

"The Secret Life of Bees," by Sue Monk Kidd, was another summer favorite. It takes place in the South during the '50s or '60s, so a majority of the book involves racism and personal identity. The main character is Lily, a 10-year-old girl who runs away from home so she can learn about her dead mother's past. Instead, she stumbles upon a large pink house occupied by three African-American sisters who harvest honey. Lily moves in and is astonished by the close relationship between the three women. However, as the only white person living in the house, she can't help feeling out of place at times.

Since I have always been interested in this period of American history, this book appealed to me. With a witty, personal narrative, I learned much about life at that time, all through the eyes of a young person. For example, life in the '50s was often absent the usual hustle and bustle seen in today's world. The life depicted in this book is even simpler, since it is set in the rural South.

My life is not so simple. Soon, I will be back to the old routine of school, sports, homework and, of course, reading whenever I can squeeze it in.

Rajpreet Heir, 15

This summer, I spent most of my time with my nose in a book. After a busy first year of high school and no ability to drive, I decided to relax. Some books I enjoyed were "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince," "Hearts in Atlantis," "Swallowing Grandma" and my driver's ed manual. However, none came close to "The Year of Pleasures," by Elizabeth Berg.

Berg is my favorite author because she writes vividly and from the heart. In "The Year of Pleasures," 55-year-old Betta Nolan loses her husband and takes a year off from life to find pleasure in her simple routine. She gets help from a young neighbor boy; a 20-year-old who is struggling to find his place in the world; and three women friends from college.

After reading this book, life appeared more beautiful and less intimidating to me.

I appreciated simple joys, such as hearing my favorite song on the radio or a smile from a stranger.

Despite our age differences, I could relate to Betta because we share many of the same pastimes, such as taking care of others, spending time thinking and reflecting, and photography.

Joi Officer, 11

My favorite book this summer was "The New Girl" (Young Mandie Mystery #2). I choose books based on the picture on the cover and what the story is about. I like mysteries, and I also enjoyed "Bad Day for Ballet," a Nancy Drew book.

"The New Girl," by Lois Gladys Leppard, is a story about a new girl in the area who is mean to Mandie, but Mandie is nice to her. It stands out because it teaches good manners. Also, Mandie is sort of like me. She doesn't let anyone tell her that she can't achieve something she wants to achieve.

I read a lot. I have read about 15 chapter books and a few short-story books this summer.

Jessika Officer, 13

I've read 15 books this summer. My favorites were "The Password to Larkspur Lane" (Nancy Drew Mystery Stories, No. 10), by Carolyn Keene, and "Walk Two Moons" by Sharon Creech.

I usually choose books in a series. In particular, I like mysteries.

I liked "Password to Larkspur Lane" because when Nancy would solve one clue, another clue always came up.

"Walk Two Moons" was memorable because it was about a girl who was mourning her mother's death and wondering if it was her fault. I could feel some kind of connection to the character, Salamanca.

We're home-schooled, and we pick out a lot of our books. During the school year we choose books on geography, history, poetry and science, as well as biographies. But in the summer, it's all about something we'll enjoy.

Joe Morgan, 16

This summer, I've read several nonfiction books involving race in America. Two that stand out are by Alex Kotlowitz -- "There Are No Children Here," about two brothers growing up in a housing project in Chicago, and "The Other Side of the River," about the death of a black teenager in the predominantly white town of St. Joseph, Mich.

Both books had an effect on me.

In "There Are No Children Here," I saw myself in the older brother, Lafayette, who feels that he must constantly watch over his younger sibling. I have a younger brother, and I could identify with the stress Lafayette felt in trying to set an example.

I found "The Other Side of the River" similarly compelling. Kotlowitz investigates the 1992 drowning of Eric McGinnis, who was last seen in St. Joseph. Kotlowitz also examines the racial tensions in the area and contrasts St. Joseph, a pleasant, predominantly white beach town, with poverty-stricken Benton Harbor, its overwhelmingly black neighbor across the St. Joseph River. My family visits St. Joseph nearly every summer, and the people there have always seemed nice. But after reading about the racism that was alive in that town not so long ago, I wonder how well we would be treated if we weren't white.

I prefer reading in the summer because I can read at my own pace without worrying about taking notes or completing homework. It gives you the opportunity to explore in depth the issues and authors you never touch on in school.