Can you believe it’s already time to start thinking about summer reading lists? Every year, I put together a few different types of lists for different age groups. This year, I decided to focus more heavily on middle-grade kids and adults, since I have a middle-grader and, most days, I am an adult. I’m kicking off the season with this ultimate list of fabulous summer reading books for middle graders.
2016 Summer Reading List for Middle Grade Kids
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I went with books that either came out in the last few months, are coming out before the end of the summer (those are noted with a release date) or older books that have a more recent tie-in (a movie, a new installment, similar to another book on the list, etc). I’m also trying out the Amazon embed feature on some of the books. You can click “preview” to check out the Kindle preview right here without leaving the page.  Let me know how it works for you.
My Seventh-Grade Life in Tights
In My Seventh Grade Life in Tights, Dillon just wants to be a dancer. In order to do that, he feels he needs to win a scholarship to a prestigious dance studio. The problem: his dad wants him to play football instead and his other dance pals think studios are for sellouts. While this book is filled with humor and fun, I chose it because I think it sends a good message about following your own heart and dreams.
The Wild Robot
Find out what happens when nature and tech collides in The Wild Robot, an action-packed survival adventure about a robot named Roz who wakes up in the middle of the wilderness. After a rocky start, she learns she has to rely on her instincts and adapt to her surroundings to make it out, um, alive?
Summerlost
For any child who has ever suffered a loss, Summerlost is there to help get them through. When Cedar loses her father and brother in an accident, she and the rest of her family head back to the town of Iron Creek for the summer. There, Cedar meets a new friend and finds herself embroiled in a mystery that just might help her get past her loss.
More 2016 summer reading books that explore loss and the bonds of friendship:
Once Was a Time
Once Was a Time is part time-travel fantasy, part coming of age and part historical fiction. In a war-ravaged England, Charlotte Bromley is sure of only one thing: Kitty McLaughlin. Kitty is her best friend in the world. Yet when Charlotte’s dad makes a huge discovery that the German’s would, quite literally, kill for, Charlotte has to decide between her best friend and staying safe. Her decision triggers some massive consequences, not just for Charlotte, but for the world.
Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard Book 1: The Sword of Summer
Rick Riordan set the mythological kid-lit world on fire with his Percy Jackson series. Will he do it again, this time with the Norse gods? Magnus Chase is living the life of a street kid after his mom’s mysterious death. Then one day, an uncle he’s never really known comes along and tells him that Magnus is the child of a Norse God. Worse, Ragnorak is imminent, and Magnus needs to track down an ancient weapon to save the world. Â The Sword of Summer is book one in the Norse Mythology series.
More summer reading books for fantasy fans
- The Trials of Apollo, Book One: The Hidden Oracle (another Riordan novel, this one takes place at Camp Half Blood)
- Seven Wonders Book 5: The Legend of the Rift (a fantastic series about the lost continent of Atlantis!)
- The Extincts
- Island of Dragons (The Unwanteds Book 7)
- The City of Ember Complete Boxed Set
The Nest
Fans of books like Coraline will love The Nest, a creepy Gothic tale about a boy named Steve who would do just about anything to save his baby brother, including make deals with mysterious wasp queens who show up in his dreams.
Pax
Pax is the powerful story of a boy and his fox. Yes, his fox. Peter and Pax are inseperable. When Peter’s dad enlists in the military, he insists that Pax be returned to the wild. Yet Peter just doesn’t feel right without his best friend. As he sets out on a journey back to Pax, the fox begins an adventure of his own. Will the two find their way back to each other? I hope so!
More books for kids who love animals:
- The Return (Spirit Animals: Fall of the Beasts, Book 3)
- Warriors: Dawn of the Clans 3-Book Collection: The Sun Trail, Thunder Rising, The First Battle
- The Jungle Book
Big Nate: Thunka, Thunka, Thunka
Jacob recently discovered the Big Nate series, his favorite of which is Big Nate: Thunka, Thunka, Thunka. Fans of Diary of a Wimpy Kids and Captain Underpants will love Big Nate, a 6th grader who has a knack for getting into (and apparently out of) all sorts of crazy trouble. In this particular volume, Nate discovers the cure for all that ails him: an empty soda bottle. I’m kind of wondering if his trick of rhythmically smacking it against his head will work for my stress!
More humorous books for middle-grade kids:
- Big Nate Flips Out
- Stick Cat: A Tail of Two Kitties
- Dog Man – releases at the end of August, by Dav Pilkey.
Book Scavenger
Book Scavenger is the perfect adventure story for kids to start off their own summer reading adventure. Twelve-year-old Emily thinks the best thing about moving to San Francisco is that it’s the home city of her favorite literary genius: Garrison Griswold. Griswold isn’t just any writer, he’s the creator of Book Scavenger (a game where books are hidden in cities all over the country and clues to find them are revealed through puzzles). When she gets to San Francisco, though, Emily finds out her idol is comatose after an attack. Then she and her new friend James discover an odd book, which they come to believe is from Griswold himself, and might contain the only copy of his mysterious new game. They race against time to solve the puzzle before Griswold’s attackers come after them too!
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Red: The True Story of Red Riding Hood
We’ve been seeing a lot of reimagined fairy tales lately, with just about every story getting a makeover. As the title suggests,  Red promises to tell the “true” story of Red Riding Hood. In this version, Red isn’t afraid of the big bad wolf at all. The only thing she fears is magic and losing her grandmother. When Granny gets sick, Red goes on an epic journey to find her a cure, with a little help from a certain blonde girl from another fairy tale (you know, the one that likes to break and enter into bear’s houses).
More fun spins on old tales:
- Return to the Isle of the Lost (Volume 2): A Descendants Novel
- The Land of Stories: Beyond the Kingdom
- Fairy Tale Reform School Series
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child – Parts I & II (releasing July 31st)
I am both nervous and excited about the release of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, a story that takes place when Harry is all grown up and his children are in school. Nervous because the series tied everything up so perfectly at the end of book 7, so I’m worried that continuing it will diminish that perfect ending or worse, not be as good as the original series. Excited because, well, it’s Harry Potter! I guess we’ll just have to see what happens with it! It doesn’t come out until the end of July, so in the meantime, check out these other great Harry Potter books:
- Harry Potter complete book set (it’s a good time to re-read the series!)
- Hogwarts Classics releases Jun 28, 2016
- Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them
Gravity Falls: Journal 3Â
Fans of the show Gravity Falls will love this journal-style book packed full of  monsters and secrets, notes from Dipper and Mabel and the Author’s full story. Jake recently got into this show, so I’ll be picking this one up for him! It comes out on July 26th.
More cool summer reading books based on hit shows & movies:
- Star Wars The Force Awakens: Tales From a Galaxy Far, Far Away: 1
- Designing with Pixar: 45 Activities to Create Your Own Characters, Worlds, and Stories
- Star Wars Character Encyclopedia, Updated and Expanded
The Gutsy Girl: Escapades for Your Life of Epic Adventure
The Gutsy Girl book isn’t exactly a fictional book, but the activities throughout are often accompanied by tales of famous “gutsy girls” who never let anyone tell them that they couldn’t do something just because they were a girl. It’s a fun way to keep your daughter active and laughing this summer.
If my count is right (should be, I counted like four times), that’s 37 fabulous summer reading books for middle-grade kids! Even if your kids only like half the books on this list, that’s still more than enough for a book a week this summer. If you’re looking for ways to really encourage your kids to read, check out my ideas for creating your own summer reading program.
Still need ideas? Browse through last year’s list, which topped out at around 50 books. Chances are there’s still something on it that your kids haven’t read yet. If you need book ideas for younger kids, OurFamilyWorld will be covering the preschool to young elementary school age group, starting with these 11 book ideas to spark kids’ imaginations.
One more thing: If you’re trying to save space in your house (and a little money), I highly recommend grabbing a Kindle Fire. It’s even more worth it if you take advantage of the Amazon Underground apps too. Most of these books (if not all) are available on Kindle.
Check back from now throughout the rest of the summer for more summer reading fun! In the mean time, tell me what’s on YOUR list!
These are all such wonderful books for a great summer read, I don’t even think I have read half of these, So I am sure I will enjoy the stories as much as my grandchildren will,
There are quite a few on the list that I’m looking forward to reading as much as my son is too!
We love to read at our house and this is a great Summer reading list and my kids will be in the reading program at the library this year and we are reading some of these books.
This is a good list of books that should keep children busy reading for awhile.
I want to read some of these!! I think my niece will especially like the new J.K. Rowling book, too. I might grab it for myself, as well!
Makes me almost wish I was back in middle school, almost. It’s nice to see so many amazing books for kids to enjoy this summer.
I love to read and so does my son. Some of these books are right up our alley! It would be a great pastime with summer on our coattails. Great post and thank you for the suggestions!
That HP book is a huge success, both to its fandom and casual fans alike. But then this post got me thinking. Am I thinking that these are recommendations solely for middle-schoolers? I don’t think so, the book bug just bit me hard and here comes my own excitement! Time to grab one of these and read on the road.
Oh I can’t wait for the new Harry Potter books! Some of these others look wonderful for my kids. I think my son might enjoy The Wild Robot.
These are awesome picks. My niece is a big fan of fantasy and sci-fi so I’ll have to pass some of these on to her.
They all sound so awesome, I love encouraging my kids to read. I often look up lists of what people or fellow parents would recommend according to my kids’ age and ask if they’re interested in the books.
Wow, one of my favorite pastime was reading. This list has some pretty good books on it. I sure will be reading with my kids for summer. Keep them busy for a while.
Its so important for kids to keep reading over the summer. Although I have to say Harry Potter is great for a 28 year old too. 😉
These are good, and sounds like an awesome books. I love to read those booksv
Awesome list! Reading is a good habit for kids to learn. Even when school’s out, I believe children must spend some time reading books.
That’s a great list of books. I’m actually excited to read the Harry Potter one. I was so happy when I heard she was writing this book. I can’t wait for it to come out so I can read it.
These are interesting reads. I will share this with my niece.
My niece is in middle school and loves to read. Her birthday is in a couple of months so I will have to order her a few of these books. Thanks for the great suggestions.
I used to get stacks of books in the summer and just read, read, read. 🙂 Those were the day. 🙂
Thanks for this great list! My boys would love to read some of these titles. Big Nate is popular around here, as are Rick Riordan books.
These look like awesome books for middle school aged kiddos! Thanks for sharing
These are some great recommendations. It can sometimes be difficult to keep kids reading and learning once school lets out, so fun books that they can get into are a must.
that’s a great collection of books. I will have to check this out more and share with my niece.
This is such a nice list of books. I’ll send it to my niece who’ll be in 7th grade next year.
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