In this new feature, Wanderlust, I want you to have a chance to travel the world without even leaving your couch.  Today, the feature will showcase five books with awesome schools set around the world. Are you ready to go back to school?  If you were a student at these schools, you would gladly do tons of homework.

Books open possibilities for us that we didn't even know possible.  I have starved in the desert, walked through Times Square, and visited temples in Japan-- all without leaving the comfort of my own house.

While you are waiting for those online plane tickets to process, pick up a book and travel:

Lois Lane: Fallout by Gwenda Bond: Set in the fictional but classic city of Metropolis, Lois Lane is on the case that happens pretty close to home--right in her own high school.  With the principal in on the evil plan, Lois will stop at nothing to figure out how to stop these villains and save the world.  Wouldn't it be cool to attend classes with famous Lois Lane in the back row? Sign me up.

Ink by Amanda Sun: Set in Japan, Katie is a foreign student making her way through high school.  Despite the language barrier, she makes some awesome friends and soon finds herself entangled in a long-forgotten legend that turns out to be true.  In class, the boy next to her doodles on his notebook which seems normal enough until she sees the doodles start to move.  Doodling in class has never been so fun; let's go to high school in Japan.

Never Always Sometimes by Adi Alsaid: Faced with the Nevers list and the two friends' quest to complete everything on the list, they do many things they never said they would do.  Building a treehouse on school grounds is one of them.  During lunch, join Never Always Sometimes characters in their California high school and enjoy the view from the treehouse.

Nevermore by Kelly Creagh: Maybe not the best school to consider going but it is along the lines of what dystopian would you want to live in-- because, really, who wants to live in a dystopian? Fellow student, Varen, opens the door to an alternate universe where Edgar Allen Poe's stories come to life.  The only thing: he forgets to shut it and lets Poe's characters cross into our world and right into his high school.

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling: The one everyone knew would be on the list.  Does this one even require an explanation?  I know all of you have been frantically waiting your letter to Hogwarts in the mail. Believe me, the school only ran out of stamps, it'll come in the next postal shipment.

I don't know about you but when I think of summer, I think of vacations.  I think of long walks on the beach (and if there was a beach anywhere near my house, you would know where to find me).  I think of traveling the world.  Stuff like backpacking through Europe.  Riding elephants in India.  Hiking to the highest mountain.  Shopping for exotic fruits.  Part of the reason why we make bucket lists are to put these kinds of things on it.  Will we get to these things?  Someday.

However, in this new feature, Wanderlust, I want you to have a chance to travel the world without even leaving your couch.  This feature will showcase five books set in the country of the post and five places that you could visit within that country (those places may or may not have been mentioned in the books).

Books open possibilities for us that we didn't even know possible.  I have starved in the desert, walked through Times Square, and visited temples in Japan-- all without leaving the comfort of my own house.

While you are waiting for those online plane tickets to process, pick up a book and travel:


Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling: Looking to travel to Europe?  You can't forget the best-selling series that rocked the world with just a boy and a scar.  This book will have you escaping England, into a whole other world meant for wizards and witches.

A Great and Terrible Beauty by Libba Bray: Gemma, the protagonist, is brought up in India but swiftly brings readers to the United Kingdom.  If you want to travel around historical United Kingdom, catching glimpses of boarding school shenanigans, balls, and gypsies, this is definitely the book for you.

Meant to Be by Lauren Morrill: On a school trip, we travel throughout tourist attractions of the United Kingdom.  It is this book that we discover England and I are meant to be.

Falling in Love with English Boys by Melissa Jensen: Hello, London.  Hello, romance.  This one will have you not only falling in love with English boys but with the English setting.

13 Little Blue Envelopes by Maureen Johnson: Following notes around a range of different countries (including the Untied Kingdom), this book will surely satisfy your wanderlust.


Big Ben: I just watched the movie, Tomorrowland, and there seems to be a portal to the land of tomorrow in the Eiffle Tower in France.  By way of naming famous landmarks among countries, I think many people overlook Big Ben, the gorgeous clock that watches over the city of London.  Not me.  This is a must-see for anyone going to London.

London Eye: Even though I am deathly afraid of heights, I will brave the London Eye for the view.  (And play the Sherlock theme song the entire time.)


Stonehenge: After taking many classes that have to do with England, I would love to see some of the sights for myself, including Stonehenge.  It is the mystery that still lies unanswered.  What's the meaning of Stonehenge?

Jack the Ripper tour: Your entire vacation can't consist of only romantic and mysterious sights.  You have to throw some murder in there to make life interesting.

The Globe Theater: A book lovers'-- and Shakespeare lovers'-- wouldn't be complete without visiting where his most famous plays were performed.