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Summer Reading That Stays With You

by Amy Nathan, Director of Student Services

Summer is one of the best times for students to rediscover the joy of reading. Without the pressure of quizzes, homework, or deadlines, books become an opportunity to explore new ideas, strengthen reading skills, and simply enjoy a great story.

As you review this summer reading list, you may notice that some of these titles are books students may encounter later in school. That’s a wonderful thing. Great books reveal something new each time they are read. A student’s experience with a book changes depending on their age, maturity, life experiences, and whether they are reading independently, discussing it with classmates, or analyzing it in a classroom setting.

Summer reading offers students the chance to engage with literature simply for the love of reading. It builds confidence, deepens comprehension, expands vocabulary, and encourages curiosity—while creating positive reading habits that can last a lifetime.

Whether your child is diving into an adventure, solving a mystery, or connecting with unforgettable characters, every book is an opportunity to grow. My hope is that this list helps families find stories that inspire meaningful conversations and foster a lifelong love of reading.

Amy’s Summer Reading Picks

Grade 1

  • Magic Tree House: Dinosaurs Before Dark — Mary Pope Osborne
  • Henry and Mudge: The First Book — Cynthia Rylant

Grade 2

  • Mercy Watson to the Rescue — Kate DiCamillo
  • The Mouse and the Motorcycle — Beverly Cleary

Grade 3

  • Because of Winn-Dixie — Kate DiCamillo
  • The Wild Robot — Peter Brown

Grade 4

  • Holes — Louis Sachar
  • The Lightning Thief — Rick Riordan

Grade 5

  • Travel Team — Mike Lupica
  • Hatchet — Gary Paulsen

Grade 6

  • Restart — Gordon Korman
  • The Giver — Lois Lowry

Grade 7

  • Heat — Mike Lupica
  • Refugee — Alan Gratz

Grade 8

  • The Westing Game — Ellen Raskin
  • Ungifted — Gordon Korman

Grade 9

  • The Hobbit — J.R.R. Tolkien
  • Fahrenheit 451 — Ray Bradbury

Grade 10

  • The Book Thief — Markus Zusak
  • A Separate Peace — John Knowles

Grade 11

  • The Boys in the Boat (Young Readers Edition) — Daniel James Brown
  • Into the Wild — Jon Krakauer

Grade 12

  • Educated — Tara Westover
  • The Alchemist — Paulo Coelho

Happy reading, and enjoy the adventure that every great book has to offer!


Looking for more expert voices to support your education journey?

Listen to Be Evolved, our podcast for busy families with big education goals.

Find it here, or your preferred streaming app.

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