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Summer Reading Lists for Middle School Kids

Summer Reading Lists for Middle School Kids

Inside: Encourage your child to keep reading during school break! Here are the best middle school summer reading lists sure to get kids reading.

Best Middle School Summer Reading Lists

Please click on any title heading to see the complete post which includes book reviews. You can also click on any book to purchase at Amazon. I compiled all the book lists I have made for Middle School.

I hope these middle school summer reading lists help you find some great books to keep your child reading happily this summer and all year long. Moreover, these books can be a source for an argumentative essay writer who is improving his research skills.

My Son’s 6th Grade Recommended Reading List

My Son’s 7th Grade Recommended Reading List

Books Like Twilight and Hunger Games

My oldest (12-year-old girl) loved Hunger Games so much that she read the series 5 times. She liked Twilight also but was less devoted. When she ran out of “good books to read,” I thought it would be easy to find a similar series for her.

Alas, no. It turns out that she has very specific requirements. The vampires have to be in a MODERN SETTING was a big one. C. C. Hunter’s Born at Midnight series fits the bill perfectly and it skews a tad younger than Twilight.

Born at Midnight series by C. C. Hunter is the winner!

Picks from Our Middle School Librarian (by Genre)

Our middle school librarian created a wonderful book list by genre including Adventure/Mystery, Realistic Fiction, Humorous, Historical Fiction, Graphic Novels, Fantasy, Horror/ Supernatural, Science Fiction, Biographies and non-fiction, and Poetry.

Summer Reading List for Ages 8 and Up

Great New-ish Books for Middle School

This great list is from the Newton Free Library system. It has great detailed book reviews if you click on the title. I found many of our favorite new books there that are middle school-approved by my daughter and her friends.

My Favorite Book from 90 6th Graders

When wandering the halls of my daughter’s middle school at Parent Visiting Day, I spotted two bulletin boards with a first-day assignment each new 6th grader did in which they listed their favorite book or books. I wrote them all down on my iPhone and posted them here. It’s from the horse’s mouth!

YA Dystopian Like THE GIVER

Best Graphic Novels for Middle School 

I have become a great fan of graphic novels and these are some new favorites of ours. I could use more ideas. What graphic novels do you like?

Best Historical Fiction from The Fourth Musketeer

The Fourth Musketeer is a bloggy friend of mine who is a librarian with a great blog focusing on Historical Fiction for kids and teens. I asked her to guest post for me on her favorite books of the year — she only posts on newly published books — and this is her list.

Top 10 Best Historical Fiction

Another Top 10 Best Historical Fiction List

Top 10 Middle School Picks by My 6th Grade Daughter

This post got tons of traffic and complimentary comments. My oldest, then in 5th grade, blogs on her favorite chapter books of the year.

Best YA Titles with Boy Appeal

There seems to be a real scarcity of great Young Adult books for boys which is a real shame because research shows that reading drops off for boys starting in 7th grade! Try these books if you are noticing your son is reading less.

Top 10 Diversity Chapter Books Like Percy Jackson

Thought Provoking and Downright Scary Book Recs from a Middle School Boy Wunderkind

My mother’s helper said that there was a Go To boy at her summer camp who read EVERYTHING and anyone who wanted a great book recommendation went to him. He posted this list in her summer camp newsletter and I copied it.

5 Amazing Novels in Verse

Best Multicultural Middle Grade Books

5 Books to Get Your Gamer Reading

One strategy to get kids — tweens and teens included — to read more is to match books with things they are interested in. These were the sports chapter books that stood out. What are your favorites I’ll add them to the list. Not every sport is covered so please give your suggestions!

Great March Madness YA Novel, Basketball

The Final Four is perfect for March Madness and skews young such that it’s fine for middle school.

Basketball Books for March Madness

Soccer

I would hand this chapter book to any kid who worries about making the cut.

Baseball Chapter Books

Mudville is a new classic to me. And anything about Fenway Park is popular here in Boston!

Children’s Choice Awards

If children, teens, and tweens could pick their own books to confer an award, it would be these books because KIDS are actually the judges and vote for their favorites. I’d start with this list for summer reading fun!

 Maximum Ride + Hunger Games = This Book

I’m always on the lookout for new series and these two remind me of two other favorites with both interesting character development and fast-paced adventure.

Tweens Who Read 2 to 3 Grades Below

A bloggy friend who is also a teacher requested this list and it took me several iterations to get it right, at least in terms of my kid’s approving. In finding books for 12-15-year-olds who read two to three grades below, I thought that the book is interesting for that age group but also fun and easy to read.

Text broken up by graphics, shorter pages, and larger font were all carefully considered. And of course, the book has to grab the reader by the first chapter.

Books for Reluctant Middle School Readers

8th Grade Diverse Picture Books

Diverse Picture Books for 7th Grade

Diverse Picture Books for 6th Grade

Josh in 6th Grade Shares His Favorite Books

Recommendations from peers are another great way to “sell” a book to a kid. Josh in 6th grade shares two posts of his favorite books and he has great taste!

Josh in 6th Grade Shares His Ten Favorite Books

Massachusetts Book Awards

Our 5th graders are challenged to read the entire list.

Historical Fiction of Brit Amelia Earhart

Her life reads like an action adventure book but it’s all the more fascinating because she is a real person! And she actually makes Amelia Earhart look like a girly-girl wimp.

Middle School Chapter Books from Books4YourKids

Books4YourKids knows her stuff as an indy bookstore owner. She reviews a pile of newly published books and presents her favorites here.

Books for the Middle Grade Reluctant Reader

Some ideas for middle school readers who may be good at reading but just don’t like to read.

Multicultural Books for Middle School

If kids need to read about someone like them, try these multicultural books.

6th Grade Recommended Books

PickyKidPix 7th Grade Recommended Books

PickyKidPix 8th Grade Recommended Books

Top 10 Chapter Book Series Because They Are So Awesome

My 12-year-old posted on her favorite chapter book action-adventure series and it’s a very popular post for me.

p.s. This website has a great list of school holiday dates, make sure to stock up on some good reads for your son or daughter so they are ready for the holidays!

 

best books for middle school, 7th grade reading lists, 8th grade summer reading lists, 6th grade reading lists

This Pinterest board has great book lists and book reviews from KidLit Bloggers. Search here for more ideas of what to read with your kids.

Follow PragmaticMom’s board Multicultural Books for Kids on Pinterest.

My books:

We Sing From the Heart picture book cover reveal of The Slants Simon Tam

We Sing from the Heart: How the Slants®  Took Their Fight for Free Speech to the Supreme Court

  • Junior Library Guild Gold selection

 Amazon / Signed or Inscribed by Me

Cover Reveal: Boxer Baby Battles Bedtime!Amazon / Signed or Inscribed by Me

Food for the Future: Sustainable Farms Around the World by Mia Wenjen, illustrated by Robert Sae-Heng

Food for the Future: Sustainable Farms Around the World

  • ⭐ Starred review from School Library Journal!
  • Junior Library Guild Gold selection
  • Massachusetts Book Award Long List
  • dPICTUS 100 Outstanding Picture Books of 2023
  • Chicago Library’s Best of the Best
  • 2023 INDIES Book of the Year Awards Finalist
  • Green Earth Book Award Long List
  • Nautilus Silver Winner, Nonfiction Children’s Picture Book
  • Imagination Soup’s 35 Best Nonfiction Books of 2023 for Kids

 Amazon / Barefoot Books / Signed or Inscribed by Me

cover for Sumo JoeChanging the Game: Asian Pacific American Female Athletes by Mia WenjenAmazon / Scholastic / Signed or Inscribed by Me

The Elusive Full Ride Scholarship: An Insider’s Guide

How To Coach Girls by Mia Wenjen and Alison FoleyAsian Pacific American Heroes

21 thoughts on “Summer Reading Lists for Middle School Kids”

  1. Mrs Brown says:
    June 12, 2013 at 1:32 pm

    What a fantastic, comprehensive list! I’m sharing this on FB now for all my friends with older children. Thanks!

    Reply
    1. Pragmatic Mom says:
      June 14, 2013 at 2:02 pm

      Thanks Mrs. Brown! I really appreciate the share!

      Reply
  2. Ramona says:
    July 11, 2013 at 9:32 pm

    I included a link to your Possible Newbery Medal 2013 Winners on my 6th grade classroom website this past year when we participated in Mock Newbery book clubs. Today I’m updating links for my students in search of a great summer read. I’m so excited to link to this post. Thanks!

    Reply
    1. Pragmatic Mom says:
      July 12, 2013 at 8:23 am

      Hi Ramona,
      Thanks so much for the link to your classroom blog! It’s fun to try to guess the Newbery winners for next year! I hope I have some winners on the list. I’m betting on The Center of Everything.

      Reply
  3. Maria Galloway says:
    December 22, 2013 at 12:53 am

    Super helpful! Thank you so much 🙂

    Reply
    1. Pragmatic Mom says:
      December 23, 2013 at 9:12 am

      Thanks so much Maria for stopping by with such a kind comment!! I really appreciate it!

      Reply
  4. Caleb says:
    April 17, 2014 at 4:18 pm

    You have some great books on this list, thanks for sharing. Kids need to read as much as they can. It is important to find out what your kids like and introduce them to literature in that area.

    Reply
    1. Pragmatic Mom says:
      April 21, 2014 at 7:57 am

      Hi Caleb,
      That is such a great point! I totally agree that matching up interests with books is the key to getting kids of any age to read!! And series are great for that. I always cringe when my kids finish a series and say that “there’s nothing good to read!” Then we scramble to find books as close as possible to the ones they liked.

      Another trick I used with success is to read the first few chapters aloud — even to my middle schooler! — just to get them invested in the book until they want to know how the story turns out. Sometimes one chapter will do the trick; other times we have to read at least half way through. It is hard to get kids reading. I think there are more distractions and forms of entertainment than ever for kids compared to when I was in middle school!

      Reply
  5. Tori says:
    September 28, 2014 at 6:21 pm

    Hi I love that you put this list up! It is very helpful to me; I love the diary of a wimpy kid, dork diaries, and between shades of gray books.Thx for the help! 2001 (13)

    Reply
    1. Pragmatic Mom says:
      October 10, 2014 at 8:13 pm

      Hi Tori,
      I’m so glad that you like the lists!!

      Reply
  6. Lorraine Burnham says:
    May 28, 2015 at 11:10 am

    My 7th grade students created a list of best graphic novels:

    1. Robot Dreams

    2. Bone

    3. The Kane Chronicles

    4. Percy Jackson

    5. Maximum Ride

    6. Boxers

    7. Saints

    8. Adventure Time

    9. Pokemon Manga(there’s so many books that I’ll just say that instead of a specific obscure one)

    10. Amulet Series

    The Adventures of Tintin

    Tintin and Alph-Art

    The Amazing Spiderman

    The Man of Steel

    Marvel Civil War

    The Justice League

    Uglies: Cutters

    Spider-man

    Guardians of the Galaxy

    Iron Man

    Avengers

    Bone

    Hulk

    Reply
    1. Pragmatic Mom says:
      May 30, 2015 at 10:01 am

      Hi Lorraine,
      I’m going to use this for a post if that is OK with you and your class. What a GREAT list! Thank you!

      Reply
  7. elena turner says:
    June 18, 2015 at 2:07 pm

    lovvvvvve so many books.
    most of all the romantic scenes in my fav book
    GLITCH’
    luv romance!!!!

    Reply
    1. Pragmatic Mom says:
      July 7, 2015 at 10:24 am

      Hi Elena,
      I will have to add Glitch to my list! Thanks for your great book rec!

      Reply
  8. Robin says:
    August 19, 2015 at 8:42 am

    Not sure if your daughter has read these two series, but my kids devoured these! I read them with my boys as well, I love reading the same books as them because we get to have great conversations!!

    Under the Never Sky trilogy by Veronica Rossi, and then the Shatter Me (trilogy) by Tahereh Mafi. Both are modern dystopian series and are attention gripping for sure!

    Reply
    1. Pragmatic Mom says:
      September 11, 2015 at 9:39 pm

      Thanks Robin!! I’ll let my dystopian loving daughter know about your great recommendation!!

      Reply
  9. Google says:
    February 18, 2016 at 1:19 am

    Thanks for sharing info about Summer Reading Lists.

    Reply
    1. Pragmatic Mom says:
      March 15, 2016 at 2:00 pm

      I’m glad you like them!

      Reply
  10. dissertation writing help says:
    March 19, 2016 at 5:04 am

    I can’t thank you enough for giving us the list that the middle school kids need during summer, its great

    Reply
    1. Pragmatic Mom says:
      April 4, 2016 at 8:37 pm

      Thanks so much for your kind words Dissertation Writing!

      Reply
  11. Roger Jamison says:
    November 20, 2019 at 11:11 am

    Thank you so much for this helpful article.

    Reply

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