The Ultimate Summer Reading List: Curated by Mrs. Tom for Your Best Beach Day Yet!
Books for the Entire Family!
Summer is almost here even though it’s so foggy and grey in Palos Verdes that I had to wear a rain slicker when I walked this morning. No matter what the weather is like right now, sunny days are ahead and that means reading lots of books by the pool, at the beach, and on long roadtrips. Summer is when I actually buy a bunch of books from my ongoing TO BE READ LIST. Then, I pile them up, and select the ones that suit my mood. I’ve never been a fan of required reading lists (because they just feel like homework!), but I love a list that helps me choose the books I want to read. If you want your kids to fall in love with reading this summer, please make sure that CHOICE is part of the equation.
These are the books I’ve collected so far—middle grade on the left and adult on the right. You might notice a few books in the piles that aren’t on the lists below. That’s because I need to finish up some of my current reading before diving into my summer reading!
Right now, the internet is buzzing with all sorts of summer reading lists. I’ve scoured the lists of my favorite podcasters and bloggers to see what titles show up on all their lists. I’m surprised that there isn’t a lot of overlap. I’ve only seen one or two titles that appear on all the lists! I suppose this can be attributed to the fact that reading is such a personal experience. It’s like food preferences. Some of us adore eggplant, while some of us can’t stand that veggie’s slimy texture!
In this blog post, I’m offering two reading lists: one for middle graders (3rd-5th) and one for adults. I have not read any of these books yet, but they are all highly recommended and I can’t wait to dive into many of them! (I’ll let you know what I thought of the books in September when I write the 2023 Summer Reading Report.) While book lists are awesome, I still think the best way to pick a book is by word-of-mouth from friends. I have a few reading kindred spirits. If they love a book, it’s likely I will, too. If you’re trying to find books for your kids, ask their outgoing or incoming teachers this question, “What are a few of the books that all of your students were reading this year?”
Before I get to the lists, I wanted to let you know my sources. If you’re a book lover, I encourage you to spend time reading their blogs and/or listening to their podcasts. All of them are bookish delights.
FOR ADULTS:
{Pages} A Bookstore—This is our local bookstore and their staff will recommend great books if you ask. They will also order any books you desire.
Fabled Bookshop and Cafe—This is in Waco, TX, but they do seasonal book previews on Zoom which are great! I think their Summer Book Preview is coming out very soon. This is my favorite bookshop. Combine a visit to Fabled with a visit to Magnolia and you’ve got a fun trip.
FOR MIDDLE GRADE STUDENTS:
Colby Sharp—He’s an amazing fifth grade teacher and I respect his book suggestions because he really pays attention to what his students love.
Without further ado, let’s get to the lists. Please let me know if you or your kids read any of the books on the list. Also, please add books that SHOULD be on the lists in the comments. Happy reading to all!
Books for kids
(And adults! Middle grade books are gems for all ages!)
Picture Books
My Dad is a Tree by John Agee
Big by Vashti Harrison—The illustrations are so moving. This is a story about loving who YOU are.
Whale Fall by Melissa Stewart—What happens on the ocean floor when a whale dies and falls to the bottom? The answer is extraordinary! I love how a picture book can teach me something I never knew.
Once Upon a Book by Grace Lin and Kate Messner
Graphic Novels
Class Act by Jerry Craft
A First Time for Everything by Dan Santa
New Kid by Jerry Craft
Book in Verse
Alone by Megan Freeman—I just bought this one! I love books in verse!
A Work in Progress by Jarrett Lerner—This is a book that Colby Sharp said his students could not stop reading.
Series
The Land of Stories by Chris Colfer—I think lots of kids have read these, but they are new to me.
Novels
Big Tree by Brian Selznick—This is a BIG book of the season. Wonderstruck might be better, but I want to check this out.
One and Only Bob by Katherine Applegate
One and Only Ruby by Katherine Applegate
A Rover’s Story by Jasmine Warga—This is number one on my list. I love the idea that a Mars Rover is a character.
The War That Saved My Life by Kimberly Brubaker
Two Degrees by Alan Gratz
Death and Life of Benny Brooks by Ethan Long—Colby Sharp said this is one the saddest and most hopeful books he’s read in a long time. His fifth graders were devouring it. A memoir. I’m interested.
Poetry
The Museum on the Moon by Irene Latham (coming August, 2023)—This is coming out later this summer, but this book explores all the things humans have left on the moon. It’s poetry. I love all things MOON, and this might inspire a writing invitation for students: If you visited the moon, what would you leave to represent you?
What I’ll Reach for First
Big Tree by Brian Selznick
A Rover’s Story by Jasmine Warga
Alone by Megan Freeman
A First Time for Everything by Dan Santat
Whale Fall by Melissa Stewart
The Death and Life of Benny Brooks by Ethan Long
Books for Adults
General Fiction
Yellowface by R.F. Kuang—This is the ONE book that seems to pop up on all the summer reading lists.
Hello, Beautiful by Ann Napolitano—This cam out in the spring, but lots of people love it.
Late Bloomers by Deepa Varadarajan—This showed up on a lot of lists.
Secret Book of Flora Lea by Patti Callahan Henry—The plot premise of this one is so good: When one sister discovers a rare book that has connections to her missing sister, secrets about their childhood spent in the English countryside during World War II are revealed. The rare book is the retelling of a story the sisters made up and told each other when they were little kids—no one else should know the story!
No Two Persons by Erica Bauermeister—I bought this one because of the cover. It’s soooooo cool.
Historical Fiction
The Postcard by Anne Berest—Everyone is talking about this one! Just purchased on my Kindle for travel reading this summer!
Crow Mary by Kathleen Grissom
Summer Fun
Romantic Comedy by Curtis Sittenfeld
Saturday Night at the Lakeside Supper Club by Ryan J. Stradal
If We’re Being Honest by Cat Shook
Shark Heart by Emily Habeck—This one sounds like a wild romp!
Nonfiction
Brave The Wild River: The Untold Story of Two Women Who Mapped the Botany of the Grand Canyon by Melissa L. Sevigny—I’m in love with the Grand Canyon so this one might be niche for me, but Ann Bogel loves it. Plus, she said it’s more about the amazing womens’ journey down the canyon so that sparked my interest.
Poetry
Why Fathers Cry at Night: A Memoir in Love Poems, Recipes, Letters, and Remembrances by Kwame Alexander—I buy anything Kwame writes. He wrote the middle grade book in verse, The Crossover, which is an absolute favorite and Newberry Award winner.
Book Everyone Has Already Read But I Haven’t
Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus
Mystery/Thriller
Vera Wongs Unsolicited Advice for Murderers by Jesse Q. Sutanto—I’m seeing this on a lot of lists and it’s supposed to be funny, too!
Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone by Benjamin Stevenson
Girls and Their Horses by Eliza Jane Brazier—Just purchased this on my Kindle for travel reading, but it doesn’t come out until early June. That’s good because I need to save it for a big trip.
Listen on Audio
Deacon King Kong by James McBride
All My Knotted Up Life by Beth Moore
Long Books I Really Want to Read (but will wait to crack open in fall or winter)
Babel by R.F. Kuang—Many people say this will be a modern classic! I’ve got to read it!
The Covenant of Water by Abraham Verghese
What I’ll Reach for First
Yellowface by R.F. Kuang
Brave the Wild River: The Untold Story of Two Women Who Mapped the Botany of the Grand Canyon by Melissa L. Sevigny
Romantic Comedy By Curtis Sittenfeld
Secret Book of Flora Lea by Patti Callahan Henry
