Summer Learning

Recommended Books from the Class of 2026

Who Sank the Boat by Pamela Allen. Suggested by Caylie. I love this book because the mouse sinks the boat instead of the other animals.

The Dogist Puppies by Elias Weiss Friedman. Suggested by Clare. I love this book because there are a ton of puppies that are cute.

Wacky Wednesday by Dr. Seuss. Suggested by Olivia. I love this book because it is simple and good.

Missing Puppy and other tales by Holly Web. Suggested by Molly. I love this book because it’s really fun and i like it.

Why do Cats Meow by Joan Holub. Suggested by Noelle. I love this book because there are lots of pictures.

I Broke My Trunk! by Mo Willems. Suggested by Ashley. I love this book because it’s a children's book about an elephant’s trunk.

The Happiness Tree by Andrea Alban Gosline. Suggested by Maria. I love this book because there a poems I like.

Gerald and the Piggy by Mo Williams Suggested by Teddy. I love this book because it’s a good book for beginner readers.

The Case of the Stinky Stench by Josh Funk & Brendan Kearny. Suggested by Mateo. I love this book because there is a kid who is stinky and they find out where he is because of his smell.

Elephants Cannot Dance! By Mo Williams. Suggested by Nora. I love this book because it’s funny.

How to Catch a Snow Man by Adam Wallace. Suggested by Cole. I love this book because they all try to catch a snowman.

Waiting by Kevin Henkes. Suggested by Grace. I love this book because it’s about toys waiting for their favorite things.

Which is Worse? By Lee Taylor. Suggested by Enzo. I love this book because you get to pick which thing is worse and you can read it with other people.

Puppy Love by Lisa M. Gerry. Suggested by Ellie. I love this book because when you see the dogs they each have a bubble that says something.

Book Recommendations from Class of 2024

Roller Girl by Victoria Jamieson. Genre: fiction graphic novel. Recommended by Harper Valentine and Claire Gunning. Why you’ll love it: Harper says: Roller Girl is about friendship, kindness, and dealing with mean people. The main character, Astrid, joins a roller derby camp. My favorite part is when the characters have weird hair and creepy make-up. I think you will enjoy it. Claire says: This is a great book because the character tries something new and makes new friends and starts to like new things.

Wonder by R.J. Palacio. Genre: realistic fiction. Recommended by Luke Wraga. Why you’ll love it: The main character, Auggie, does not look like everyone else. People make fun of him for this. Auggie is going to school for the first time as a fifth grader. He is not perfect, but he is very smart, funny, and kind. I like this book because it is about friendship.

Auggie and Me by R.J. Palacio. Genre: realistic fiction. Recommended by Jack Pacula. Why you’ll love it: This is a great book about the lives of three middle school kids. They are the same characters as in Wonder.

The Big Game. Genre: realistic fiction. Recommended by Tripp Larson. Why you’ll love it: This book is about a kid named Danny, who plays football. His dad played for the Steelers and won three Super Bowls. My favorite part is when Danny scores six touchdowns in a championship game.

Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney. Genre: Realistic fiction. Recommended by Tripp Larson. Why you’ll love it: This book series is super funny. It is about a boy named Greg and his two brothers. They are typical kids, so you can relate to them.

The Hardy Boys: The Tower of Treasure by Franklin W. Dixon. Genre: mystery. Recommended by Bradley Kaiser. Why you’ll love it: You will love this book because it is an exciting mystery. Two brothers, Frank and Joe Hardy, have many adventures while they solve a mystery.

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (and the series) by J.K. Rowling. Genre: fantasy. Recommended by Claire Gunning, Olivia Duarte, and Brianna Hollub. Why you’ll love it: This book has magic and battles and great characters. If you like this book, the good news is that there are seven more in the series.

The Hardy Boys Clue Book by Franklin W. Dixon. Genre: mystery. Recommended by Jack Viera-Ducey. Why you’ll love it: This is a four-in-one book of great detective stories.

The Magic Misfits. Genre: realistic fiction. Recommended by Claire Gunning. Why you’ll love it: The book contains magic tricks and funny things to learn.

Heroes Don’t Run by Harry Mazer. Genre: historical fiction. Recommended by Charlie Syme. Why you’ll love it: Adam, the main character in the book, wants to join the Marines to fight in World War II. His mother doesn’t want him to. Will he be able to get in to the Marine Corps? Read and find out.

Alex Rider by Anthony Horowitz. Genre: realistic fiction. Recommended by Matheos Papazian. Why you’ll love it: This book is about a 15-year-old kid whose dad was killed while driving a car. The kid, Alex, becomes a spy and stops many bad guys.

Just As Long As We’re Together by Judy Blume. Genre: realistic fiction. Recommended by Samantha Gilbert and Shalom Estifanos. Why you’ll love it: This book shows great friendship and will teach you to be a better friend. You will like reading about all the things three good friends go through together.

Spy School by Stuart Gibbs.. Genre: realistic fiction. Recommended by Nick Lundgren. Why you’ll love it: In this book the main character gets accepted to Spy School and has a thrilling adventure. He tries to find a double again. This book is both serious and funny, and there are many other books in the series.

Otherwise Known as Sheila the Great by Judy Blume. Genre: realistic fiction. Recommended by Temperly Taisch. Why you’ll love it: This is about a girl who thinks she is going to have a great vacation, but things go a little downhill. If you enjoy this book, there is a whole series to look forward to.

Spy Camp by Stuart Gibbs. Genre: realistic fiction. Recommended by Giacomo Stone. Why you’ll love it: This book is exciting, thrilling, and interesting. It is about a junior CIA operative who is trying to bring down an organization that is causing chaos and mayhem.

Warriors (the series) by Erin Hunter. Genre: fantasy. Recommended by Ella Kummer, Violet Daters, Bronwyn Rahn, Timmy Farrelly, and Brianna Hollub. Why you’ll love it: These are stories about clans of cats who fight for their territory and work together: When you’re finished, you’ll remember every character.Only one housecat can save the whole clan. B This book is full of epic adventures and prophesies for saving the forest.

Land of stories (the series) by Chris Colfer. Genre: fantasy. Recommended by Ava Lindner and Stella Cowell. Why you’ll love it: This is a book filled with adventures, based on classic fairy tales, just changed in delightful ways

Blubber by Judy Blume. Genre: realistic fiction. Recommended by Shalom Estifanos. Why you’ll love it: This book shows what life with a sibling is like, and how famiy members learn to compromise.

Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing by Judy Blume. Genre: realistic fiction. Recommended by Chloe Schwing. Why you’ll love it: When Peter gets a pet turtle, Farley Drexel (“Fudge”,) Peter’s two-and-a-half-year-old brother, gets his hands on it and eats it! Fudge is a funny character that you should keep your eye on, because he always gets into trouble. Peter, who is in fourth grade, is very cautious around his little brother. This is a funny and exciting book.

Love That Dog by Sharon Creech. Recommended by Stella Brilliant. Genre: poetry. Why you’ll love it: This book has beautiful poetry that inspired me to love poetry even more. I hope you will get inspired, too. There are many varieties of poems to read.

Recommended Books from the Class of 2022

The Penderwicks, by Jeanne Birdsall. Genre: fiction. Recommended by Grace Kaplan. Why you'll love it: This book is full of kindness, fun, and exciting adventure. There are twists and turns that guarantee you'll love it!

Wonder, by RJ Palacio. Genre: fiction. Recommended by Grace Alonso. Why you'll love it: Throughout the story, one can read about true friendship and how to not judge a book by its cover. This moving novel will keep you turning the page until the end.

Kid Owner, by Tim Green. Genre: sports fiction. Recommended by Paul Carmignani. Why you'll love it: It is fun, interesting, and mysterious. I think this is a good book to read about a fun story.

Out of my Mind, by Sharon M. Draper. Genre: fiction. Recommended by Colby Heaton. Why you'll love it: This book will make you want to read every night, morning, and afternoon! Sometimes, you might find yourself on the floor.

No Talking, by Andrew Clements. Genre: Fiction. Recommended by Layla Venchiarutti. Why you'll love it: It is about friendship and doing a competition. You get so into the book, you'll want to read it again when you finish the book.

Beyond the Kingdoms (The Land of Stories), by Chris Colfer. Genre: fantasy. Recommended by Finn Kaplan. Why you'll love it: This book is full of suspense and leaves a cliffhanger after every chapter. The main characters meet friends, enemies, and relatives along the way.

Refugee, by Alan Gratz. Genre: historical fiction. Recommended by Sebi Huerta. Why you'll love it: This book is about escaping their country to live a new life where they will be free. All three kids in this book go on harrowing journeys and face unimaginable dangers. The kids in this book are separated by continents and decades. Shocking connections will tie their stories together in the end.

A Wrinkle in Time, by Madeleine L'Engle. Genre: science fiction. Recommended by Lauren Alonso. Why you'll love it: It's about the journey through space and time to reunite a family. Through obstacles and challenges, the true power of love and believing in yourself, shine through to overcome darkness and evil.

I Survived 9/11, by Lauren Tarshis. Genre: realistic fiction. Recommended by TJ Hurley. Why you'll love it: It is cool when Lucas gets to play football again.

The Maze Runner, by James Dasher. Genre: fiction. Recommended by Fiona Kenny. Why you'll love it: This book is an outstanding book. Its adventures pull you into the book. When times get harder, they learn to trust each other. Come read this book!

Spy School, by Stuart Gibbs. Genre: mystery. Recommended by Jeremy Hornik. Why you'll love it: This book is full of mysteries because when you read it, you'll be excited to read the next chapter right away.

The Wishing Spell (The Land of Stories), by Chris Colfer. Genre: fantasy. Recommended by Claire Bessette. Why you'll love it: This book is full of fun adventures that you will never imagine. When you read this book, it will always keep you on the edge of your seat. It will teach you many lessons as you read along.

The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane, by Kate DiCamillo. Genre: fantasy. Recommended by Natalie Bessette. Why you'll love it: This book has many fun adventures for Edward Tulane. He gets to fall in love with new people in each chapter. Very happy ending!

The Meanest Doll in the World, by Ann M. Martin and Laura Godwin. Genre: fiction. Recommended by Bella Levantini. Why you'll love it: It is so creative, and I think you'll like it if you really like dolls.

Spy School, by Stuart Gibbs. Genre: mystery. Recommended by: Luca Avila. Why you'll love it: Because of all the twists, the outcome is always in doubt and exciting. Along with the mystery, Benjamin Ripley, learns how to be a spy.

Wings of Fire: The Dragonet Prophecy, by Tui T. Sutherland. Genre: fantasy/mystery. Recommended by Sean Kummer. Why you'll love it: This book is about a war that has lasted twenty years. While the five main characters are trying to stop the war, there is excitement all around. As they escape all the kingdoms, they face many challenges along the way. This is my favorite book.

The Wishing Spell (The Land of Stories), by Chris Colfer. Genre: fantasy. Recommended by: Bryce Pacula. Why you'll love it: Everything that happens ends up making sense at one point. It also connects real world life to a fantasy world.

A Wrinkle in Time, by Madeleine L'Engle. Genre: science fiction. Recommended by: Julia McKinnon. Why you'll love it: It is very mysterious. You won't be able to stop reading it.

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, by J.K. Rowling. Genre: fantasy. Recommended by: Graydon Gambino. Why you'll love it: This book will suck you into what's happening. It is full of mystery and has unexpected surprises. It will keep you entertained for hours.

A Wrinkle in Time, by Madeleine L' Engle. Genre: science fiction. Recommended by Isabella Truchan. Why you'll love it: It puts you on the edge of your seat while you're reading nonstop and can't get enough of the book. It also has very descriptive writing, which allows you to picture exactly where and what is going on and how it looks. I assume you will totally love this book, just like I do.

The Witches, by Roald Dahl. Genre: fiction. Recommended by: Brennan Muscio. Why you'll love it: This book is full of stuff that will chill your bones. This book will also make you laugh your head off. I could be wrong, but you will LOVE this book!

The School for Good and Evil, by Soman Chainani. Genre: fiction. Recommended by Sophie Penwell. Why you'll love it: It's a great book to teach you about people's differences and how to find who you truly are. This book takes you off your seat while you find out about two girls who try to escape the high schools between good and evil.

Wonder, by R.J. Palacio. Genre: fiction. Recommended by Carter Wraga. Why you'll love it: It's a great way to learn not to judge a book by its cover. Except with humans. It's a cheesy way to let out your tears and be kind to others.

Miracle at the Plate, by Matt Christopher. Genre: fiction. Recommended by Charlie Binstadt. Why you'll love it: It is about a boy who loves baseball and goes on vacation and watches his cousin play on a baseball team.

Ready Player One, by Ernest Cline. Genre: fiction. Recommended by Chelsea Blair. Why you'll love it: It's filled with amazing characters and technology. Wade is in the OASIS trying to find Haidally's egg. This book is filled with action and fun.

The Mystery at Disney World, by Carole Marsh. Genre: historical fiction. Recommended by Daniella Carmignani. Why you'll love it: It's a fun mystery and a little scary. Every chapter ends in a cliffhanger!

Wonder, by R.J. Palacio. Genre: fiction. Recommended by Gilli Stephens. Why you'll love it: It's like you're one of the characters in the story. This book is so real and fun, but it can also be a little bit sad. The author describes all the characters' emotions very well. At the beginning of each chapter it says a nice sentence that will make you feel really good. This book will make you want to keep on reading because it leaves off with a cliffhanger on some of the chapters.

Because of Mr. Terupt, by Rob Buyeu. Genre: fiction. Recommended by Sylas Taisch. Why you'll love it: This is a great book because it has lots of moments that get you thinking and lots of cliff hangers.

The Mysterious Benedict Society #1, by Trenton Lee Stewart. Genre: mystery. Recommended by Donovan Shinn. Why you'll love it: It's exciting and all the kids are really smart. It shows friendship while determining who is bad and good.

The Mysterious Benedict Society, by Trenton Lee Stewart. Genre: mystery/fiction. Recommended by McCann Stephanie O'Brien. Why you'll love it: It is a fun mystery book with lots of surprise. You learn something new with every chapter and you'll want to keep reading it every day.

The Mysterious Benedict Society, by Trenton Lee Stewart. Genre: mystery. Recommended by Finley Farmer. Why you'll love it: This mystery story can get you hooked every day on it. With its intimidating cliffhangers, to its relieving, happy moments, you'll want to read this book right away.

The Lightning Thief, by Rick Riordan. Genre: fiction, adventure. Recommended by Charlotte Dickman. Why you'll love it: This book is full of magic and swords. This book teaches you about Greek mythology and has so much friendship.

Percy Jackson and the Olympians, by Rick Riordan. Genre: fantasy. Recommended by Luke Van de Braak. Why you'll love it: It is filled with adventures that will keep you squirming for hours, not wanting to stop reading. It is about friendship and teamwork.

My Secret Guide to Paris, by Lisa Schroeder. Genre: fiction. Recommended by Emily Alvarez. Why you'll love it: It feels like you are in Paris when the character, Nora, visits seen different places. Once you read this book, you will ask your parents to go to Paris. Having been there, it feels like you're with Nora.

Pirate and the Princess, by Mio Chizuru. Genre: fiction. Recommended by Caty Kunz. Why you'll love it: It's about a pirate who saves children who are captured by other pirates. It's dramatic, thrilling, very adventurous, and super mysterious.

Recommended Books from the Class of 2020

The Fault in Our Stars, by John Green. Genre: fiction. Recommended by Sofia Andronaco. Why you'll love it: It’s a very emotional story that will leave you on the edge of your seat with a sad and shocking ending.

On the Come Up, by Angie Thomas. Genre: fiction. Recommended by Liliana Arguello. Why you'll love it: I loved this novel because it keeps you on your toes. The story never gets slow as Bri, the protagonist, is always thinking and taking action on what she believes in. If you enjoy books about social justice, rapping, and the Black Lives Matter movement, this book is definitely for you.

Joyland, by Stephen King. Genre: Mystery. Recommended by Ava Lucia Barbagelata. Why you'll love it: This murder mystery is about a young boy, Devin, who moves to South Carolina to work at a carnival named Joyland. Many murders take place; you’ll be hooked if you like suspense.

Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children, by Ransom Riggs. Recommended by Sam Bessette. Why you'll love it: You will love this very strange book that helps the reader create a strong bond with all the characters. This fantasy book portrays the real struggles of people with disabilities.

A Wrinkle in Time, by Madeleine L’Engle. Genre: science fiction/fantasy. Recommended by Bay Brandon. Why you'll love it: You will really love this book if you like science fiction books. This book is a fantasy and is really intriguing; it allows your imagination to run wild.

A Wolf Called Romeo, by Nick Jans. Genre: nonfiction. Recommended by Arianna Candido. Why you'll love it: This is a true story about a wolf in Juneau, Alaska, who tries to bond with humans in the same manner as dogs. The book makes you feel as if you are there experiencing everything yourself.

The Trails of Apollo: The Burning Maze, by Rick Riordan. Genre: action/Greek mythology. Recommended by Brianna Carmignani. Why you'll love it: Three characters are in the labyrinth trying to find one of the four oracles. There is a drought throughout western America, and they need to stop it and the emperors in charge.

Unbroken, by Laura Hillenbrand. Genre: narrative nonfiction. Recommended by Marco Esposto. Why you’ll love it: This book tells the incredible true story of a B-24 bomber pilot who crashes in the Pacific Ocean in the midst of WWII. His story of survival is action packed and filled with new struggles and unexpected outcomes on every page.

More Than This, by Patrick Ness. Genre: science fiction. Recommended by Maggie Fannon. Why you'll love it: I really like this book because it was filled with a lot of unexpected turns. I never wanted to put the book down to see what decisions the characters would make next. The perspective the story is told in is thought provoking as well.

The Kill Order, by James Dashner. Genre: science fiction. Recommended by Sebastian Gonzalez- Moore. Why you'll love it: I would 100% recommend this book if you love action. This book always has you on the edge of your seat. The constant plot twists and connections will make it hard to put down. This is a prequel to my favorite series ever The Maze Runner.

Out of My Mind, by Sharon Draper. Genre: realistic fiction. Recommended by Sophie Hagan. Why you'll love it: I think you’ll love this book if you like stories about someone’s inside frustrations. If you like books where the main character has a disability yet stays strong, then you’ll like this book. I like books where someone falls and then gets back up again. If you do too, you will love this book.

The Secret Life of Bees, by Sue Monk Kidd. Genre: fiction. Recommended by McCoy Heaton. Why you’ll love it: I loved this book because it was very descriptive, and it flowed beautifully. It had snippets of action, and it’s easy to connect to the main character. The meaning and power of this book will stick with you for a long time to come.

Grenade, by Allan Gratz. Genre: historical fiction. Recommended by Travis Hurley. Why you'll love it: This book is about an American soldier and a Japanese soldier who have to survive on their own and protect themselves to the death. This action-packed book is one of my favorites.

One of Us Is Lying, by Karen M. McManus. Genre: fiction/mystery. Recommended by Deirdre Kenny. Why you'll love it: The story of what happens when five strangers walk into detention and only four walk out alive. This book will make you suspect everyone as the killer at different points. If you pay close attention, you may be able to solve the mystery.

The Death Cure, by James Dashner. Genre: science fiction. Recommended by Aidan Klingelhoffer. Why you'll love it: This book is action-packed. As the conflict rises, you really won’t be able to stop reading to find out what happens next in this third book of the Maze Runner series.

Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe, by Benjamin Alive Saenz. Genre: YA fiction/romance. Recommended by Hadley Leventini. Why you'll love it: You’ll love this book because it has amazing characters that you’ll love. The overall story doesn’t have a single dull point, and you will always want to continue reading, so it will definitely be a fast read. The end is surprising, but I loved it.

I Am Malala, by Malala Yousafsai. Genre: autobiography. Recommended by Ava Mac Namara. Why you'll love it: I loved this book because it is really empowering. This is a true story about a young girl’s fight for the right to education. The subject was interesting and made me think about my own privilege and the basic rights people in other places lack.

I Am Number 4, by Pittacus Lore. Genre: science fiction. Recommended by Jonas Morelli. Why you'll love it: If you like books with adventure and action, you’ll like this book series. I never want to put this series down, and I would read this book every day. The story will stick with you.

Nightmares by Jason Segel and Kirsten Miller. Genre: fiction/horror. Recommended by Joey McLaughlin. Why you'll love it: This is a great story that connects our world to a nightmarish reality. I was never bored and never wanted to put the book down. If you like creepy and scary creatures and a thrilling story, read Nightmares.

The Boy in the Striped Pajamas, by John Boyne. Genre: historical fiction. Recommended by Cece O’Brien. Why you'll love it: This book gives you a deep understanding of what people felt living through the Holocaust and opens your eyes to how this influences our children. Warning: very sad.

The Martian, by Andy Weir. Genre: science fiction. Recommended by Graham O’Brien. Why you'll love it: I enjoyed this book because it is filled with real science, despite being fictional. There is never a dull moment, and there is always a challenge for the protagonist. The book is also very descriptive, so the reader can easily visualize the story that unfolds.

Farenheit 451, by Ray Bradbury Genre: science fiction. Recommended by Spencer Phillips. Why you'll love it: I love this book because of its storyline. The story of Guy Montag and his adventure is simply incredible. The parallels to the current state of our world coming from a 50-year-old novel are uncanny. It’s a must-read for everyone.

Hatchet, by Gary Paulsen. Genre: Fiction. Recommended by Cameron Schwing. Why you'll love it: If you like reading survival stories, this one is intense. It is about a boy whose plane crashes in the middle of the woods who needs to figure out how to survive all on his own.

Wings of Fire: Moon Rising, by Tui T. Sutherland. Genre: fiction. Recommended by Cyrus Skomra. Why you'll love it: The pages of this book are filled with engrossing mysteries and lots of fun. On every page you will find an interesting new twist of the plot in this book.

The Memory of Things, by Gae Polisner. Genre: historical fiction. Recommended by Logan Stern. Why you'll love it: This story shares someone’s personal experience of 9/11. Thought provoking and enticing, this book makes you want to keep reading. If you like learning about the stories of others, this will be an enjoyable read for you.

Girl in the Blue Coat, by Monica Hesse. Genre: historical fiction/mystery. Recommended by Talia Venchiarutti. Why you'll love it: Hanneke is the protagonist living in Amsterdam during World War II who tries to find a missing Jewish girl who was in hiding. This book is amazing because you never know what’s coming, and it keeps you on the edge of your seat. If you love a good mystery and are interested in World War II, this book will be great for you.

The Hunger Games, by Suzanne Collins. Genre: science fiction/romance/survival. Recommended by Kit Vernon. Why you'll love it: This is the first in a whole trilogy of amazing survival novels. Each character is unique and multi-faceted. If you enjoy suspense, this is a good book for you.

United as One, by Pittacus Lore. Genre: science fiction/realistic fiction. Recommended by Hansen Whipps. Why you'll love it: This book is the seventh in a series, and each book will keep you on the edge of your seat. The characters are funny, and the plot is interesting and fascinating. This book will never cease to captivate your imagination.

Internment, by Samira Ahmed. Genre: dystopian fiction. Recommend by Brynn Slattery. Why you’ll love it: This book is about a girl named Layla Amin who gets taken to an internment camp. She always stands up for what she believes in and never gives up. If you like books about the Holocaust, it’s similar but not as gruesome. Ahmed also does an amazing job of bringing all the characters to life and making hooks that pull you in.

Everything Everything, by Nicola Yoon. Genre: romance/drama. Recommended by Quinn Whipps. Why you'll love it: This book is about a girl who has a deadly disease where she is basically allergic to life itself. When a new boy moves into town, everything changes. This book has drama and a little suspense, leaving you always wanting to read more.

Children of Blood and Bone, by Tomi Adeyemi. Genre: fantasy. Recommended by Dylan Whisenant. Why you'll love it: This is a thrilling novel that you won’t want to put down. It follows four relatable yet fascinating characters on their journey to restore the kingdom of Orisha. It also explores real world topics of racism and discrimination in communities. Once you start, you will not be able to put this book down.