Summer reading and the living is easy… My kids will attest to the fact that there is nothing like a Middle School Summer Reading Book List.
I plan months in advance what our summer reading is going to be, figuring out which ones my middle schooler should consider reading on his own and which ones I’m going to read out loud to my two boys, ages 9 and 11.
Sounds a little crazy?
Maybe. But that’s just how I roll.
So let’s gear up for another fun summer of reading!
You can find the books on this middle school summer reading book list at your local library or purchase through the affiliate links provided for your convenience.
And a special thanks to the Association for Library Service for the wonderful summer reading inspiration.
Middle School Summer Reading Book List
Three of the books we absolutely loved this year that I believe should go at the top of your list are Fish in a Tree, The Girl Who Drank the Moon and The Inquisitor’s Tale.
Summer Middle School Reading
Fish in a Tree
The author of the beloved One for the Murphys gives readers an emotionally-charged, uplifting novel that will speak to anyone who’s ever thought there was something wrong with them because they didn’t fit in.
The Girl Who Drank the Moon
Winner of the 2017 Newbery Medal. The New York Times Bestseller. 2017 Booklist Youth Editors’ Choice. And more!
A young girl raised by a witch, a swamp monster, and a Perfectly Tiny Dragon must unlock the dangerous magic buried deep inside her in this epic coming-of-age fairy tale from the highly acclaimed author of The Witch’s Boy.
The Inquisitor’s Tale: Or, The Three Magical Children and Their Holy Dog
A 2017 Newbery Honor Book. A New York Times Notable Children’s Book. A Wall Street Journal Best Children’s Book. A School Library Journal Best Book. And More!
The best-selling author of A Tale Dark and Grimm takes on medieval times in an exciting and hilarious new adventure about history, religion, and farting dragons.
As Brave As You
Kirkus Award Finalist. Coretta Scott King Author Honor Book. And More!
When two brothers decide to prove how brave they are, everything backfires – literally – in this piercing middle grade novel by the winner of the Coretta Scott King – Johnson Steptoe Award.
Piecing Me Together
2018 Newbery Honor. Coretta Scott King Author Award Winner. NPR’s Best Books of 2017. A 2017 New York Public Library Best Teen Book of the Year. Chicago Public Library’s Best Books of 2017. A School Library Journal Best Book of 2017. Kirkus Reviews‘ Best Teen Books of 2017. And More!
Acclaimed author Renee Watson offers a powerful story about a girl striving for success in a world that too often seems like it’s trying to break her.
Beyond the Bright Sea
2018 Scott O’Dell Award for Historical Fiction. An NPR Best Book of the Year. A Parents’ Magazine Best Book of the Year. A Kirkus Best Book of the Year. A School Library Journal Best Book of the Year. A New York Public Library Best Book of the Year. And More!
Vivid and heart-wrenching, Lauren Wolk’s Beyond the Bright Sea is a gorgeously crafted and tensely paced tale that explores questions of identity, belonging, and the true meaning of family.
Listen, Slowly
New York Times Book Review Notable Book. Publishers Weekly Best Book of the Year.
Perfect for fans of Rita Williams-Garcia and Linda Sue Park, Listen, Slowly is an irresistibly charming and emotionally poignant tale about a girl who discovers that home and culture, family and friends, can all mean different things.
Amina’s Voice
A Washington Post Best Children’s Book of 2017.
Amina’s Voice brings to life the joys and challenges of a young Pakistani-American and highlights the many ways in which one girl’s voice can help bring a diverse community together to love and support each other.
The Epic Fail of Arturo Zamora
A 2018 Pura Belpré Author Honor Book.
Funny and poignant, The Epic Fail of Arturo Zamora is the vibrant story of a family, a striking portrait of a town, and one boy’s quest to save both, perfect for fans of Rita Williams-Garcia.
Save the restaurant. Save the town. Get the girl. Make Abuela proud. Can thirteen-year-old Arturo Zamora do it all or is he in for a BIG, EPIC FAIL?
Booked (The Crossover Series)
National Book Award Long List. New York Times Bestseller.
This electric and heartfelt novel-in-verse by poet Kwame Alexander bends and breaks as it captures all the thrills and setbacks, action and emotion of a World Cup match!
Soccer, family, love, and friendship, take center stage as twelve-year-old Nick learns the power of words as he wrestles with problems at home, stands up to a bully, and tries to impress the girl of his dreams.
Norse Myths: Tales of Odin, Thor and Loki
Long-recognized master of Norse mythology Kevin Crossley-Holland pairs with award-winning artist Jeffrey Alan Love for an exceptional look at the Viking gods.
With its well-researched, lyrical prose and its dramatic and powerful artwork, this wonderful gift edition makes the perfect book for both the staunchest fans of mythology and newcomers with no knowledge of Viking folklore.
The First Rule of Punk
A 2018 Pura Belpré Author Honor Book.
The First Rule of Punk is a wry and heartfelt exploration of friendship, finding your place, and learning to rock out like no one’s watching.
Black and white illustrations and collage art throughout make The First Rule of Punk a perfect pick for fans of books like Roller Girl and online magazines like Rookie.
The War That Saved My Life
2016 Newbery Honor book. Winner of the 2016 Schneider Family Book Award. #1 New York Times bestseller.
In this exceptionally moving story of triumph against all odds set during World War II, ten-year-old Ada has never left her one-room apartment. From the acclaimed author of Jefferson’s Sons and for fans of Number the Stars.
Samurai Rising: The Epic Life of Minamoto Yoshitsune
Minamoto Yoshitsune should not have been a samurai. But his story is legend in this real-life saga.
This epic warrior tale reads like a novel, but this is the true story of the greatest samurai in Japanese history.
All’s Faire in Middle School
The Newbery Honor-winning author of Roller Girl is back with a heartwarming graphic novel about starting middle school, surviving your embarrassing family, and the Renaissance Faire.
As she did in Roller Girl, Victoria Jamieson perfectly—and authentically—captures the bittersweetness of middle school life with humor, warmth, and understanding.
Greetings from Witness Protection!
Jake Burt’s debut middle-grade novel Greetings from Witness Protection! is as funny as it is poignant.
Nicki Demere is an orphan and a pickpocket. She also happens to be the U.S. Marshals’ best bet to keep a family alive…
It All Comes Down to This
A powerful middle grade coming-of-age novel set in a slowly integrating upper middle class Los Angeles neighborhood in the summer of 1965, from a Coretta Scott King Honor Award-winning author.
Perfect for fans of Rita Williams-Garcia and Rita Williams-Garcia.
Rhythm Ride: A Road Trip Through the Motown Sound
From award-winning author Andrea Davis Pinkney comes the story of the music that defined a generation and a movement that changed the world.
In the Footsteps of Crazy Horse
American Indian Youth Literature Award.
Drawing references and inspiration from the oral stories of the Lakota tradition, celebrated author Joseph Marshall III juxtaposes the contemporary story of Jimmy with an insider’s perspective on the life of Tasunke Witko, better known as Crazy Horse
Love, Ish
In Karen Rivers’s riveting new novel, Ish’s dreams for a future on Mars go heartbreakingly awry when an unexpected diagnosis threatens to rewrite her whole future.
In this story perfect for fans of Fish in a Tree and The Thing About Jellyfish, Karen Rivers has once again created an unforgettable narrator who will pull listeners into her orbit and keep them riveted until the very last minute.
Ashes to Asheville
A heartrending story of family torn apart and put back together again, Ashes to Asheville is an important, timely tale.
Two sisters take off on a wild road trip in this poignant tale for fans of Counting by 7s and Fish in a Tree.
Lucky Broken Girl
Winner of the 2018 Pura Belpre Award.
In this unforgettable multicultural coming-of-age narrative – based on the author’s childhood in the 1960s – a young Cuban-Jewish immigrant girl is adjusting to her new life in New York City when her American dream is suddenly derailed.
Ruthie’s plight will intrigue listeners, and her powerful story of strength and resilience, full of color, light, and poignancy, will stay with them for a long time.
Blood, Bullets, and Bones: The Story of Forensic Science from Sherlock Holmes to DNA
Blood, Bullets, and Bones provides young readers with a fresh and fascinating look at the ever-evolving science of forensics.
In this book, acclaimed author Bridget Heos uses real-life cases to tell the history of modern forensic science, from the first test for arsenic poisoning to fingerprinting, firearm and blood spatter analysis, DNA evidence, and all the important milestones in between.
By turns captivating and shocking, Blood, Bullets, and Bones demonstrates the essential role forensic science has played in our criminal justice system.
Eyes of the World: Robert Capa, Gerda Taro, and the Invention of Modern Photojournalism
Robert Capa and Gerda Taro were young Jewish refugees, idealistic and in love.
With a cast of characters ranging from Langston Hughes and George Orwell to Pablo Picasso and Ernest Hemingway, and packed with dramatic photos, posters, and cinematic magazine layouts, here is Capa and Taro’s riveting, tragic, and ultimately inspiring story.
Grounded: The Adventures of Rapunzel (Tyme)
The fairy-tale charm and emotional depth of Ella Enchanted meets the fully developed fantasy world of Harry Potter in this wonderful older middle-grade retelling of Rapunzel.
Small misunderstandings lead to big laughs, and alternating perspectives fuel this exciting, swiftly-paced story. And beneath the humor, every attempt to win Miranda’s favor becomes a compelling look at the larger world of each guy’s life.
Me and Miranda Mullaly is perfect for fans of Flipped and The Swap.
Like this middle school summer reading book list? Don’t miss out on other age-appropriate summer reading lists for all the kiddos – from Kindergarten all the way through 8th grade!
SO many great suggestions! My middle son loved All’s Faire in Middle school. Thanks for the ideas. Pinned.
Woodson’s award-winning memoir (National Book Award, Newbery Honor, Coretta Scott King Author Award) is funny and sad and everything in between. The intimate and engaging poems will teach middle schoolers about a complicated time in American history, but it’s also a universal story about coming of age, changing family dynamics, and learning what makes you uniquely talented.
some of those books sound wonderful to read.