Summer is finally upon us and in celebration I have compiled mini reading lists. You may notice an absence of series books (Hunger Games, 39 Clues, Harry Potter, etc). This was intentional, as the summer is the perfect time to dig up hidden stand alone gems. Some of these books in fact ARE in series (Looking at the Moon, A Wrinkle in Time, The Billionaire’s Curse), but they are either lesser known or work equally alone as stand alone novels.
The following selections are fun, fast-paced, and interesting reads to pick up and put down as kids go about their busy summer lives. Remember that the categories (age and gender) are just suggestions, and I invite you to try them all!
Family Readalouds
Zorgamazoo (Robert Paul Weston)
The Incredible Journey (Sheila Burnford)
Mrs Frisby and the Rats of NIMH (Robert C. O’Brien)
The Saturdays (Elizabeth Enright)
A Wrinkle in Time (Madeline l’Engle)
Middle Grade For the Ladies (Grades 4-6)
Real Mermaids Don’t Wear Toe Rings (Helene Boudreau)
Looking at the Moon (Kit Pearson)
Olive’s Ocean (Kevin Henkes)
All Alone in the Universe (Lynn Rae Perkins)
After All You’re Callie Boone (Winnie Mack)
Middle Grade for the Gents (Grades 4-6)
The Toilet Paper Tigers (Gordon Korman)
The Strange Case of the Origami Yoda (Tom Angleberger)
Sir Fartsalot Hunts the Booger (Kevin Bolger)
The Billionaire’s Curse (Richard Newsome)
Devil’s Bridge (Cynthia DeFelice)
Upper Middle Grade for the Ladies (Grades 7-8)
A Little Love Song (Michelle Magorian)
Shadowed Summer (Saundra Mitchell)
Adoration of Jenna Fox (Mary E. Pearson)
The Summer I Turned Pretty (Jenny Han)
Audrey, Wait! (Robin Benway)
Upper Middle Grade for the Gents (Grades 7-8)
Spud (John van de Ruit)
Elephant Run (Roland Smith)
I am the Messenger (Markus Zusak)
The Wednesday Wars (Gary Scmidt)
Maze Runner (James Dashner)
Girl Teen
Beauty Queens (Libba Bray)
Stay (Deb Caletti)
Revolution (Jennifer Donnelly)
The Sky is Everywhere (Jandy Nelson)
Suite Scarlett (Maureen Johnson)
Boy Teen
Finnikin of the Rock (Melina Marchetta)
White Cat (Holly Black)
Tamar (Mal Peet)
Paper Towns (John Green)
Reality Check (Peter Abrahams)
Vikki VanSickle 
Great Summer List, Thanks!
My pleasure! You can take a bookseller out of the store, but you can’t take the bookseller out of the girl…
Thanks Vikki – so appreciate that you are still there for us.
My pleasure. Happy reading!
CAN YOU PLEASE TELL ME HOW I CAN ADD A BOOK ON TO THE HAVE BOOK,WILL TRAVEL I THINK THIS SITE IS GREAT I HAVE A CHILDRENS BOOK ALSO
Hi Tara- if you have a suggestion for the list, leave it here in the comments!