Summer Reading List for Kids (book suggestions for ages 9 to 13)
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Summer is halfway over, have your kids run out of books to read? If you’re needing a few new book suggestions, this summer reading list has a few tried and true summer reading book ideas for kids, perfect for middle grades. (4th – 8th grades)
Middle Grade Summer Reading Lists
Young readers have so many amazing book options right now, making summer the perfect time for your child to dive into a selection of great stories. Whether your kid is searching for a tale of friendship and love or an adventure of the ages, they’re sure to find something to add to their middle grade summer reading list.
Summer Reading for Girls:
Winner of the Newberry Medal, this engaging story follows a pair of middle-school friendships and the trials and tribulations that come along with those complicated relationships.
After rescuing an abandoned puppy, Ben Coffin is led to a new friend that changes his life in this heartfelt, award-winning middle grade novel.
In the 1st book of this much-loved series, Serafina and her friends must battle a supernatural power aimed at destroying their home. (We read and enjoyed the entire series.)
After living her entire life with her adopted family on a small island, Crow begins to become curious about the world around her in this award-winning tale of exploration and family love.
The best friends in this inspiring middle grade summer read have been inseparable for years, but when one friend is forced to grow up to quickly the girls struggle to rekindle their relationship.
The nine books in the timeless Little House series tell the story of Laura’s real childhood as an American pioneer, and are cherished by readers of all generations. They offer a unique glimpse into life on the American frontier, and tell the heartwarming, unforgettable story of a loving family.
These have all been read and re-read by both my kids. Set includes The Witches, The BFG, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Matilda, etc… If you just want to start with a few, my missy says she liked them all, but The Witches and Matilda were her favorites. (The full set is only $37 – I highly recommend these.)
Epic adventures. Fierce warrior cats. A thrilling fantasy world. It all begins here.
The warriors series has 6 sets of 6 books each. (I linked to the 1st set <as of today’s writing, it is $23.97 for 6 paperbacks.) My daughter has become addicted to his series! (She even started a “Warriors Club” at school.) We are already on book 1 of the last set. There are also “super aeditions and “bonus stories.”
Summer Reading Suggestions for Boys:
Follow Tristan as he copes with moving from the big city to a small town in this heartwarming and funny tale of friendship and family.
The third and final book in the Moon Base Alpha series takes detective Dash Gibson on the hunt for an attempted murder suspect on the moon colony.
The ghosts of the island of Nantucket have chosen a few special kids to protect the island from the adults who want to do it harm in this spooky tale from popular storyteller Blue Balliett.
When a terrible accident takes his father’s life, Charlie is forced to settle his parents’ debt with the terrible Cap’n Buck in this crowd-pleasing tale set in 1858 that’s perfect for middle grade summer reading.
Heaven was ready to welcome good dog Brodie, but he can’t move on until he saves the boy who loved him in this heartwarming summer read.
Book 1 of the Percy Jackson Series. Percy Jackson is a good kid, but he can’t seem to focus on his schoolwork or control his temper. And lately, being away at boarding school is only getting worse-Percy could have sworn his pre-algebra teacher turned into a monster and tried to kill him.
Book 1 in the Trials of Apollo series. How do you punish an immortal? By making him human. After angering his father Zeus, the god Apollo is cast down from Olympus. Weak and disoriented, he lands in New York City as a regular teenage boy. Now, without his godly powers, the four-thousand-year-old deity must learn to survive in the modern world until he can somehow find a way to regain Zeus’s favor. (We picked this one up on a camping trip and I started to read it… Super cute story!)
Now it’s your turn! We have read most of these on this list and are always looking for something new. Share your kids favorites in the comments below.
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kim says
Jamie;
Thank you for providing the reading list. You are spot on! My daughter has read the entire “Warriors” series and we too own all of the books (they take up quite a bit of room). We are absolutely tickled to buy books any time she finds a new one. The only problem (if it is a problem), is when she gets in trouble for reading so much! I wish that our daughters went to the same school. She would LOVE to be in the Warriors club. Keep up the good work.
Regards, Kim
Jamie says
Nothing tickles me more than listening to my daughter and her younger cousin get together and talk about Warriors! They get so excited and into it, it’s cute to listen in.