Summer Reading List: Engaging Books for All Ages
- jeffreylukeherman
- Jul 3
- 4 min read
Updated: Aug 4
Make reading this summer fun and entertaining for your young learner! Below, we have a list of books that we feel your elementary, middle, and high school students won't be able to put down!
Exciting Reads for Elementary School Students
1. Many Luscious Lollipops | By Ruth Heller
Explore language and discover how to identify and create many different types of adjectives, from demonstratives to articles to proper adjectives.
2. Captain Snout and the Superpower Questions | By Daniel G. Amen, M.D.
Don't let ANTS steal your happiness! That is what Captain Snout says loud and clear in this playful and encouraging book about living a positive life without the stress of negativity. What exactly are these ANTs? Automatic Negative Thoughts … and Captain Snout says we can use his superpower questions to be mindful of our thoughts and be heroic too.
3. Mr. Lemoncello's Library Books | By Chris Grabenstein
When Kyle Keeley learns that the world’s most famous game maker, Luigi Lemoncello, has designed the town’s new library and is having an invitation-only lock-in on opening night, he’s determined to be there! But the tricky part isn’t getting into the library—it’s getting out. Because when morning comes, the doors stay locked. Kyle and the other kids must catch every clue and solve every puzzle to find the hidden escape route!
Captivating Middle School Adventures
1. The Lightning Thief | By Rick Riordan
Percy Jackson is about to be kicked out of boarding school again—he can't seem to stay out of trouble. Is he supposed to stand by while a bully picks on his scrawny best friend? Or not defend himself when his teacher turns into a monster and tries to kill him?
2. The Last Kids on Earth | By Max Brallier
Ever since the monster apocalypse hit town, average thirteen-year-old Jack Sullivan has been living in his tree house, which he's armed to the teeth with catapults and a moat, not to mention video games and an endless supply of Oreos and Mountain Dew scavenged from abandoned stores. But Jack alone is no match for the hordes of Zombies and Winged Wretches and Vine Thingies, and especially not for the eerily intelligent monster known only as Blarg. So Jack builds a team: his dorky best friend, Quint; the reformed middle school bully, Dirk; Jack's loyal pet monster, Rover; and the fiercest girl Jack knows, June. With their help, Jack is going to slay Blarg, achieve the ultimate Feat of Apocalyptic Success, and be average no longer! Can he do it?
3. The Invention of Hugo Cabret | By Brian Selznick
Orphan, clock keeper, and thief, Hugo lives in the walls of a busy Paris train station, where his survival depends on secrets and anonymity. But when his world suddenly interlocks with an eccentric, bookish girl and a bitter old man who runs a toy booth in the station, Hugo's undercover life, and his most precious secret, are put in jeopardy. A cryptic drawing, a treasured notebook, a stolen key, a mechanical man, and a hidden message from Hugo's dead father form the backbone of this intricate, tender, and spellbinding mystery.
Thrilling Reads for High School Students
1. The Lord of the Rings | By J. R. R. Tolkien
In ancient times, the Rings of Power were crafted by the Elven-smiths, and Sauron, the Dark Lord, forged the One Ring, filling it with his own power so that he could rule all others. But the One Ring was taken from him, and though he sought it throughout Middle-earth, it remained lost to him. After many ages, it fell by chance into the hands of the hobbit Bilbo Baggins.
2. The Hunger Games | By Suzanne Collins
In the ruins of a place once known as North America lies the nation of Panem, a shining Capitol surrounded by twelve outlying districts. Long ago, the districts waged war on the Capitol and were defeated. As part of the surrender terms, each district agreed to send one boy and one girl to appear in an annual televised event called, "The Hunger Games," a fight to the death on live TV. Sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen, who lives alone with her mother and younger sister, regards it as a death sentence when she is forced to represent her district in the Games. The terrain, rules, and level of audience participation may change, but one thing is constant: kill or be killed.
3. Murder on the Orient Express | By Agatha Christie
Just after midnight, the famous Orient Express is stopped in its tracks by a snowdrift. By morning, the millionaire Samuel Edward Ratchett lies dead in his compartment, stabbed a dozen times, his door locked from the inside. Without a shred of doubt, one of his fellow passengers is the murderer. Isolated by the storm, detective Hercule Poirot must find the killer among a dozen of the dead man’s enemies before the murderer decides to strike again.
Conclusion: The Importance of Summer Reading
Reading during the summer is essential for maintaining and improving literacy skills. It keeps young minds engaged and fosters a love for literature. Encourage your children to explore these captivating books. They will not only enjoy the stories but also gain valuable knowledge and insights. Happy reading!
