Three Day Summer by Sarvenaz Tash, and 6 More 1960s-Set YAs

Get ready to rock, Woodstock-style, because today marks the release of Three Day Summer, a coming-of-age romance by Sarvenaz Tash that’s set at the 1969 festival. The past, and its musical backdrop, come alive in vibrant, “feels like you’re there” detail as we follow candy striper Cora and avid concert attendee Michael through the biggest, wildest musical festival the world has ever seen. They may not know what the future holds, but they’re certain their lives will never be the same. Jonesing for more groovy YA books set in the ’60s? Here are some of our favorites, just in time for summer:

The Notorious Pagan Jones, by Nina Berry
In this spy thriller with a noir edge set in 1960 (can you imagine anything better??), Pagan Jones is a famous Hollywood starlet who’s plagued with guilt over the drunk driving accident that killed her family. Rescued from reform school by her film agent, who wants her to fly to Berlin to act in a comedy, Pagan is accompanied by a mysterious, attractive young executive who joins her in Cold War intrigue. Out next week!

Bliss, by Lauren Myracle
Interspersed with squeaky clean quotes from the Andy Griffith Show and updates on the Manson murders, Bliss doesn’t shy away from showcasing the contradictions of life in 1969. Raised on a hippie commune on the west coast, naive, sweet-natured Bliss moves to Atlanta to live with her grandmother and attend the prestigious Crestview Academy. There she falls prey to dangerous friendships and twisted occult spells.

Purple Daze, by Sherry Shahan
Purple Daze delves into the lives of six high school students living in Los Angeles in 1965. Through the use of journal entries, letters, poems, and notes, readers are privy to their disparate views on racism, sex, classic literature, and Vietnam. It’s a swift but deeply emotional read, with a unique format that only adds to the story’s intimate feel.

Fallout, by Todd Strasser
11 years old in the summer of 1962, Scott is the only kid on his block whose family thinks to build a fallout shelter in response to the Cuban Missile Crisis. When the shelter proves to be critical, desperate and violent neighbors force their way inside it, with disastrous results. What was meant to sustain four people must now accommodate 10, and young Scott gets a claustrophobic crash course in adult conflict.

Revolution (The Sixties Trilogy), by Deborah Wyles
A National Book Award finalist, Revolution centers on events from 1964’s Freedom Summer, in which brave volunteers aiding black voter registration bring their fight to the town of Greenwood, Mississippi. As seen through the eyes of Sunny, a white girl, and Raymond, a black boy, the story is both heartbreaking and illuminating.

Summer Scandal (Gloss #2), by Marilyn Kaye
As with Revolution, the backdrop for the Summer Scandal series is 1964 and the civil rights movement. This time, however, the action takes place in NYC, at the heart of the fashion and pop culture industries. In a story described as “The Devil Wears Prada meets Mad Men,” we’re swept up in the love lives and ambitions of four young interns at Gloss magazine.