It’s about time to hand out those summer reading lists for teens, and what better way to get them excited about this assignment than to introduce titles with book trailers? After all, kids do like their videos! Plus, if you’ve read the title, you can add your own book-talk commentary.
Each summer reading list includes links to book trailers (for student viewing) and Amazon (found on the images, for more detailed summaries). Just visit the links during class and have your students list their top three titles on an index card. They’ll have a book chosen for their summer reading by the end of class!
One more note–I’ve read all of these titles, and these recommendations are student-approved (through small-group, whole-class, independent, or summer reading).
Summer Reading List for Teens Entering Sixth Grade
Among the Hidden by Margaret Peterson Haddix
In Among the Hidden, Luke’s society only allows families to have two children. Since he is a third child, a shadow child, he must stay hidden to protect himself and his family from the Population Police. It appears he is destined to live in hiding forever, but then he spots another third child, one who won’t be silenced.
The City of Ember by Jeanne DuPrau
Next, we have The City of Ember. In this novel, Lina and Doon live in Ember, an underground city whose only source of light comes from lamps, flickering lamps, ones that go dark and won’t light their world much longer. Lina discovers a set of instructions that could lead them out of their dark world and into the light, but they must find a way out before their city is doomed to darkness.
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone by J.K. Rowling (A Top Favorite from the Summer Reading List for Teens)
Listen up, muggles! You’ve heard of Harry Potter, the orphan who discovers he’s a wizard and is whisked away to Hogwarts. Now it’s time to join him and his loyal friends, Ron and Hermione, on their magical adventures as they face dangerous obstacles, including battling a troll and facing a three-headed dog.
Holes by Louis Sachar (A Top Favorite from the Summer Reading List for Teens)
In Holes, Stanley Yelnats, although innocent, is sent to a detention center for stealing sneakers. As punishment, he and the other juveniles are forced to dig holes in the desert. While Stanley serves his time, he uncovers the truth about the mysterious history of the detention center and more.
Running Out of Time by Margaret Peterson Haddix
Think of reality TV with a twist. Jessie, the protagonist, believes she’s living in a village in the 1800s. However, her village is actually a tourist site, and the year is 1996. She and the other children of Clifton are being watched, but they don’t know it! As if that’s not bad enough, there’s a diphtheria outbreak, and cures for the deadly disease aren’t available in 1840.
A Tale Dark and Grimm by Adam Gidwitz (A Top Favorite from the Summer Reading List for Teens)
If you like tales by the Brothers Grimm, then this book is for you! Hansel and Gretel’s story continues as they visit other Grimm-inspired tales told by the most amusing narrator you’ll ever encounter.
Wait Till Helen Comes: A Ghost Story by Mary Downing Hahn
Wait Till Helen Comes is for ghost story fans. Brother and sister, Molly and Michael, have much to deal with: a blended family, a house with a backyard cemetery, and threats of “Wait till Helen comes.” By the way, Helen is a ghost.
Summer Reading List for Teens Entering Seventh Grade
The Giver by Lois Lowry
In this novel, Jonas lives in a seemingly perfect society where there is no war, no pain, and no suffering. Everything is controlled and organized. However, when Jonas is chosen as the new Receiver of Memory, he discovers secrets about his community that challenge everything he’s ever learned.
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins (A Top Favorite from the Summer Reading List for Teens)
In this summer reading favorite, the Capitol organizes a yearly event called “The Hunger Games.” In these “games,” twelve boys and twelve girls are selected to fight until death. When they visit Panem, the district Katniss Everdeen lives in, her younger sister’s name is drawn. As a result, Katniss volunteers as tribute for the deadly, televised competition.
The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan (A Top Favorite from the Summer Reading List for Teens)
Students who like Greek mythology will love this book! Percy Jackson is a half-blood, half-human and half-god. Pretty cool, but he’s been accused of stealing Zeus’s lightning bolt. You’ll want to join him as he embarks on an epic quest to clear his name and find the real culprit.
The Maze Runner by James Dashner (A Top Favorite from the Summer Reading List for Teens)
The Maze Runner follows Thomas, a teenager who wakes up in the Glade, a strange place surrounded by a maze of towering walls. Although he is unable to remember his past, he quickly discovers that he and the other boys are trapped in this mysterious place and a deadly game.
Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs
This imaginative book combines fiction with photography as it takes readers into a world of peculiar children with unique abilities (e.g., levitating, controlling fire, manipulating time). It’s a perfect read for teens who love fantasy and mystery.
Twilight by Stephenie Meyer
This title is for vampire lovers! Bella Swan moves to Forks, Washington, where she meets Edward Cullen, a pale but handsome vampire who captures her heart. As their relationship progresses, Bella is drawn into a dangerous world of vampires and werewolves. She must confront challenges posed by other vampires who seek to feed on humans and end her life. (By the way, I’m on Team Edward, but it was actually the vampire fights, not the love story, that grabbed my attention.)
Summer Reading List for Teens Entering Eighth Grade
City of Bones by Cassandra Clare (A Top Favorite from the Summer Reading List for Teens)
The story begins in New York City with Clary Fray witnessing a murder at a club called Pandemonium, a murder she can’t report because the body disappears. Soon after, she enters a world with witches, vampires, and shadowhunters. She and her newfound allies must fight to save both the human and magical worlds from destruction.
Divergent by Veronica Roth (A Top Favorite from the Summer Reading List for Teens)
In Divergent, Beatrice’s dystopian world is divided into five factions based on virtues: Abnegation for the selfless, Dauntless for the brave, Erudite for the intelligent, Candor for the honest, and Amity for the peaceful. The story follows Beatrice as she chooses her faction and discovers a conspiracy that threatens to tear apart the society she knows.
Eragon by Christopher Paolini
Think of The Hobbit but with a good dragon instead of a bad one. This fantasy follows the story of a young farm boy named Eragon who discovers a mysterious stone while hunting in the forest. This ultimately leads him on a quest to save his kingdom from tyranny. Guided by his wise mentor Brom and assisted by his loyal dragon Saphira, Eragon must navigate dangerous battles, unexpected allies, and unforeseen challenges as he strives to fulfill his destiny as a legendary Dragon Rider.
I Am Number Four by Pittacus Lore
In this science-fiction novel, John Smith is one of nine alien teenagers from the planet Lorien who are hiding on Earth from their deadly enemies, the Mogadorians. John has just discovered his true identity as a powerful warrior and must prepare for battle against the ruthless Mogadorians. He is number four, and numbers one through three have been killed, so he is next.
Matched by Ally Condie
Imagine living in a perfect society where your match is chosen for you. Cassia Reyes lives in this world, a highly controlled society where every aspect of her life is determined, including who she will marry. When Cassia’s perfect match is revealed to be her lifelong friend, Xander, she feels content knowing her future is set. However, a moment later, another person’s face appears on her screen as a potential match, and Cassia begins to question everything she knows.
Related Links for Summer Reading Lists
Read blog post #21, “Summer Reading Assignments: How to Make Them Fun and Engaging,” for activity and assessment ideas.
Visit “17 End-of-Year English Activities to Engage Your Classes” for a plethora of activities for those last days of school.
Check out any of the following links for more summer reading lists for teens:
The Texas Library Association includes a Lone Star Reading List with titles and handouts with annotations for middle school students.
The Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC) provides summer reading lists for all children up to eighth grade.
The American Library Association publishes list for teens and preteens from twelve to eighteen years old. (There’s also a tab for children and adult book recommendations at this link.)
A Little More Info on These Summer Reading Lists for Teens
- I’ve placed these titles in the grade levels I think work best based on the books’ content and difficulty, but they can be moved around. For example, a lower-level reader can enjoy a title from the sixth-grade list and a higher-level reader from the eighth-grade list.
- You also may notice that the images with excerpts from the text include the number of page numbers in the book and the number of books in the series. (Some students will be interested in knowing these details).
- Stay tuned for my next blog post where I’ll discuss ways to assess summer reading!
- Finally, feel free to comment with titles you’d like to add to these summer reading lists for teens. 🌞
