Top 20 Summer Reads for You and Your Teens

It’s that time of year again when many families are making a plan for summer learning.  Nothing too strenuous or over the top, but just enough to keep a finger on the “go” button and keep everyone moving forward.  This summer, ASD will have several unique suggestions for amping up the fun with some low-key summer learning.  To get started we’re offering a reading list for those reluctant middle and high school readers.  Below is a my bonafide top 20 student-approved quality reads.

Summer is a great time to spend a little extra time reading with your young people.  Summer reading is different from the reading that takes place during the school year.  It has less to do with what we think they should be reading and more to do with creating a love for reading and life-long reading habits.

However, just because it is “fun summer reading,” doesn’t mean it can’t be quality reading!  These books were given the student thumbs up for well-developed characters, conflict, and entertaining plots.  Many were even given the coveted spot of “most favorite book of all time” or “book I will remember most.”  (I know!  Be still my heart!  Talk about making a teacher’s heart happy!)

There is not a book on this list that I, myself, don’t enjoy which lends itself well to reading and talking about the book together with your summer reader (a great tool for improving comprehension– click the link below to learn more!).  Additionally, many have free audio versions or make fantastic read-alongs if you have one reader in the house who might not be quite ready to tackle one of these by herself.

So, what are you waiting for? Grab your library card and get going! Summer is almost here.

This is just a brief list.  If you would like more recommendations based on a particular subject that interests your student or would like to add your favorite to the list, just leave a comment below!

1. Smells Like A Dog by Suzanne Selfors
2. Secret of the Night Ponies by Joan Hiatt Harlow
3. Moon Over Manifest by Clare Vanderpool
4. The Mostly True Adventures of Homer P. Figg by Rodman Philbrick
5. Where The Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls
6. Bud, Not Buddy by Christopher Paul Curtis
7. Navigating Early by Clare Vanderpool
8. Cassie Woodlawn by Carol Ryrie Brink
9. The Mighty Miss Malone by Christopher Paul Curtis
10. Elijah of Buxton by Christopher Paul Curtis
11. Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry by Mildred Taylor
12. Anne of Green Gables by Lucy Maud Montgomery
13. The Witch of Blackbird Pond by Elizabeth George Speare
14. The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle by Avi
15. To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee
16. Fireflies in December by Jennifer Erin Valent
17. Catching Moondrops by Jennifer Erin Valent
18. Cottonwood Whispers by Jennifer Erin Valent
19. The Dress Maker- Kate Alcott
20. The Painted House- John Gresham

Good Conversation: 2 Methods to Improve Reading Comprehension