CWA Middle School Library

Summer Reading Resources - Updated for 2024!

If you are looking for book inspiration, here are some booklists from around the web. All have been curated by librarians, educators, authors, and other experts in the field of literature for young people.

General Lists

• Books in the CWA Middle School Library for categories people frequently ask about: Inspiration List

• ALSC (Association for Library Services to Children) Summer Reading Lists 

• We are Kid Lit Collective (scroll down to see Middle Grade and Young Adult options)

• Brightly has recommendations for readers ages 9-12 and 13+

• The Horn Book 2023 Summer Reading - check out the Intermediate, Middle School, and High School lists depending on your age and interests)

Awards

• The YALSA awards finder and School Library Journal’s awards page are great resources for identifying award-winning books in a variety of categories and for a variety of ages. Awards to look out for include:

  1. 1. 1. • Pura Belpré Award, given to outstanding Latino/Latina authors 

           • Coretta Scott King Award, given to outstanding African-American authors

           • Stonewall Award, given to books that reflect the LGBTQ+ experience

           • Asian/Pacific American Award for Literature

           • American Indian Youth Literature Awards

           • The Newbery Medal, given to the author of the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children

Local public library systems (Pierce County, Tacoma, Timberland, King County, and more) also publish curated lists of popular books by topic, genre, and more on their websites or in the Libby e-book app.

Additional Searching Tips

If you are still stuck on a particular category, you can ask the staff at your local library or bookstore, or search online using specific categories and keywords. Be sure to include some keywords to specify what age group you're searching for, to avoid picture books or adult fiction. "Middle grade," "middle school," or a specific grade level are all good choices. For example:

• • •  "middle grade novels in verse" 

    • "middle school books by Asian-American authors" 

    • "6th grade books published in 2023"

Finally, you can email Ms. Everill (severill@charleswright.org) for additional help or check out these lists of books that count for some of the trickier categories. Please note that this is not an exhaustive list, nor are these "required" book choices! Families may want to read summaries or reviews to help find the best fit for each reader.