| Summer reading is a great way to ensure your child maintains the skills they learned in the previous school year. Whether they’re in elementary, middle, or high school there’s something for everyone, including parents. So prep your amazon cart and get ready for a great list of must reads everyone will enjoy.
| Elementary:
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| Jabari Jumps
by: Gaia Cornwall
Jabari has finished swim class and is finally allowed to jump off the diving board. But when the time comes to climb the ladder there are lots of thoughts swimming through his head. Come along on the journey of Jabari and his father as they discover that all it takes is a little courage to conquer your fears.
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| | You Matter by: Christian Robinson
A colorful picture book, examining all walks of life to show kids how everyone is connected.
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| | Fins
by Randy Wayne White
A group of marine biologists, working to save the world’s shark population, set out on an assignment to tag sharks. The book follows their adventure as they help the sharks and run into danger that tests their wits and teamwork, while teaching about the importance of protecting our environment.
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| Middle School:
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Blended by Sharon M. Draper
Eleven year old Isabella’s family is divided more than they’ve ever been, and she’s in the middle. It seems like nothing can fix the problem until the worst thing imaginable happens, she and her step brother are pulled over and shots are fired. Can this trauma reunite them, or will rip them further and further apart ?
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| Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer
The perfect accompaniment to one of this summer’s big movies, follows Artemis Fowl, a 12 year old criminal mastermind on his journey underground. Here he finds a new world filled with dangerous creatures and mythical fairies, and decides to kidnap one. Could his acts cause a cross-species war or will Artemis change for the better ?
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| Greystone Secrets: The Strangers by Margaret Peterson Haddix
In the first book of this thrilling series three children begin questioning their identities when 3 missing children have the exact same names, features, and interests as them. Before they can question their mother she leaves on a mysterious business trip, but puzzles and clues are left in her wake. Follow along as the Greystone kids discover the truth about their identities as well as the importance of family and perception.
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| High School:
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| Swing
by Kwame Alexander
Noah and his best friend Walt have always wanted to become cool, be on the baseball team, and find love. When they discover old love letters, Noah believes it to be a sign that he can go for the girl he’s loved forever, Sam. But as his love life amps up, so does Walt's baseball career, and soon new factors are changing everything.
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| | Yes No Maybe So by Becky Albertalli & Aisha Saeed
When Jamie and Maya get paired up to canvas for Jamie’s cousin’s campaign neither are thrilled. Jamies was always up to help, but only behind the scenes, and Maya was only doing so on the premise of a new car. The unlikely pair soon realizes that though canvasing isn’t the coolest thing in the world, making a difference for something they’re passionate about is.
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| | Not So Pure and Simple
by Lamar Giles
Del has been pinning after Kiera Westing since she played Dorothy in the kindergarten play. It’s 10 years later and now’s finally his chance, she’s single and participating in something at the church. Del decides to join too and when he finds out it’s a purity pledge it’s too late to quit. This is way out of his zone so he makes a deal with Jameer, a fellow pledger, to help him with the pledge in exchange for answering his questions about sex ed. Things aren’t playing out as he hoped, but if he gets the girl everything will turn out ok, right? Come along as Del discovers societal pressures, toxic masculinity and what being a “real man” means.
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| Adult Reads:
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| This is How it Always is
Laurie Frankel
Claude is 5 years old and the youngest of 5 brothers, and he loves lots of things including wearing a dress. His parents want him to be whoever he wants even if that’s a girl. Over the years as Claude’s secret becomes bigger it’s harder and harder to keep until one day it explodes. Growing up never goes according to plan, especially when there is no plan to parenting.
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| | The Two The Two Lives of Lydia Bird
Josie Silver
On her 28th birthday Lydia’s fiance, Freddie, dies in a car accident. Now all she wants is to be alone, but she knows that Freddy wouldn't like that. Soon something unexplainable happens and she’s given the chance to see Freddie again, where nothing bad ever happened. Lydia is living these two lives simultaneously, and though she wants to go there so badly every night there’s someone in her life who wants her to stay.
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