WHETHER IT'S BOOKS OR MAGAZINES, GOOD READS HELP KEEP THE SUMMER COOL

DATE: Wednesday, June 21, 1995

BY MATTHEW BRADY
Fort Worth Star Telegram

When temperatures are sizzling and you need to beat the heat, refuge can be found in books and magazines.

Sure to give a chill are the horror tales of R.L. Stine. His `Goosebumps` series remains a favorite among young readers.

Also popular among younger readers are the `Baby-Sitters Club` books by Ann M. Martin and `Ralph the Mouse` and `Ramona` books by Beverly Cleary.

Eboni Warren, an eighth-grader in Fort Worth, Texas, likes stories by Stine and Martin `because they're exciting, and there's always something happening inside the book.`

Older readers' interests range from best-selling authors such as John Grisham and V.C. Andrews to works of nonfiction.

`I've been getting into reading books on ancient civilizations,` David Moss, a high school junior, says. `It seems like fiction, but it really happened.`

Since the 1930s, Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys have entertained teen-agers. The books are written by a group of authors who use the pen names Carolyn Keene and Franklin W. Dixon.

Occasionally, the publisher decides to update the series. This year Nancy Drew is in line for a major makeover.

The teen sleuth is going to college in the `Nancy Drew on Campus` series coming out in September. She'll be majoring in romance, with a minor in investigative reporting for the campus newspaper.

Expect plots that deal with alcohol, sex and drugs and the biggest question of the century: Will Nancy shed Ned Nickerson for a new love?

Look for MTV to make a splash with a new line of books based on its shows. Titles will include Beavis and Butt-Head, MTV Unplugged and The Real World.

Nickelodeon also hits the shelves with a humorous guide to men and romance. Clarissa Explains It All: Boys should arrive in September.

Magazines are an alternative for those short on time. Young & Modern, Sixteen, Seventeen, Sports Illustrated, Slam, Guitar World and newsmagazines, such as Time and Newsweek, rank high with young readers.

Lucas Shaw, a ninth-grader, plays the guitar and likes reading Rolling Stone and Guitar World because `they keep me informed,` he said.

Laura Brock, a sixth-grader, says she enjoys Sixteen magazine because `it always contains juicy stories on superstars' lives.`

Bookstores and libraries are loaded with options and are usually well air-conditioned. So, get the word out and dive into some reading material this summer.