Welcome to the 2021 Middle School Summer Reading Guide!
Before you dive in, a few things to note:
- I’ve included the publication date and recommended age (based on my opinion), but of course, every child is different. If you have a voracious 8-year-old reader, it’s likely, they can handle the books for 9-year-olds. However, if I’ve rated a book as being for ages 10 and up, I’d advise some research before handing it to your 8-year-old. If in doubt, please read my review of the book.
- There are several graphic novels in this guide (which I’m thrilled about) because I believe that graphic novels are books too. Please let your kids read the kinds of books they enjoy.
- I’ve read every single book on this list from start to finish and I’d be happy to answer any questions you have about them! Just email me at [email protected]!
- I HIGHLY recommend the printable PDF of this list as it includes bonus content like readalikes for each recommended book, one extra category, and the number of pages in each book. Plus, it’s just beautiful to look at! Download it by popping your email in the box at the bottom of this page.
- Creating this guide was a labor of love and I’ve chosen to make it available to everyone at no cost. If you appreciate my work and would love to contribute to the costs of running Reading Middle Grade, you can do so here.
I truly hope you find books to love and cherish on this list. And, if you do, I’d love to hear your favorites!
Download the 16-Page Full Color Printable Guide
2021 Middle Grade Summer Reading Guide (Ages 8+)
A New Kind of Adventure
A fast-paced sci-fi adventure set in a futuristic Ethiopian city, complete with holovids, floating markets, and a pet bionic lioness. 12-year-old Yared Haywat discovers secrets about his identity as a virtual reality game quickly becomes a real-life battle to save his home.
Last Gate of the Emperor
- Published: May 4, 2021
- Recommended for: Ages 8+
- What you need to know: A fast-paced sci-fi adventure set in a futuristic Ethiopian city, complete with holovids, floating markets, and a pet bionic lioness. 12-year-old Yared Haywat discovers secrets about his identity as a virtual reality game quickly becomes a real-life battle to save his home.
The Road to Wherever
- Published: May 11, 2021
- Recommended for: Ages 9+
- What you need to know: 11-year-old June (short for Junior) goes on a life-changing road trip with his second cousins after his father disappears. Along the way, they fix Ford trucks, meet some Ford owners with unforgettable stories, and maybe help June find himself? Moving and heartwarming.
Alone
- Published: January 12, 2021
- Recommended for: Ages 10+
- What you need to know: 12-year-old Maddie is left behind in a strange turn of events when an impending attack leads to her entire town being evacuated. In this dystopian middle grade verse novel, Maddie has to fend for herself with a dog as her sole companion. Immersive and educational.
Squad Goals
- Published: April 6, 2021
- Recommended for: Ages 9+
- What you need to know: Awkward tween Magic Poindexter wants to follow in her athletic family’s footsteps by attending summer cheer camp. But when her bestie joins the popular crew in camp, Magic has to figure it out on her own. Funny, relatable, and entertaining.
Not All Heroes
- Published: May 18, 2021
- Recommended for: Ages 8+
- What you need to know: After the death of her little brother, 11-year-old Zinnia joins a team of Real Life Superheroes, along with her 19-year-old aunt. However, Zinnia quickly learns that being a hero is not always easy. Quirky, heartfelt, and inspiring.
Books to Hug
Ever finished a book and just had a strong urge to hug it? Couldn’t wipe a grin off your face? Or maybe some happy tears? These kids are making their dreams come true and (hopefully) winning your heart in one fell swoop.
The Chance to Fly
- Published: April 13, 2021
- Recommended for: 9+
- What you need to know: A big-hearted story about a girl in a wheelchair with musical theater dreams. Nat Beacon moves to a new city and finds her tribe in this #OwnVoices middle grade book.
Pawcasso
- Published: May 25, 2021
- Recommended for: Ages 8+
- What you need to know: After she lies about being the owner of basket-wielding adorable dog shopping in town, lonely 11-year-old Jo is accepted and befriended by the other kids. But what happens when the secret is out? Find out in this surprising, compulsively readable graphic novel.
A Place to Hang the Moon
- Published: February 2, 2021
- Recommended for: Ages 8+
- What you need to know: Three orphaned kids in 1940’s England are looking for their forever home in the English countryside where they’ve been evacuated. Through a series of awful foster home experiences, the kids keep up their spirits by means of books, the town library, and holding on to each other. A cozy, unforgettable story.
Allergic
- Published: March 2, 2021
- Recommended for: Ages 8+
- What you need to know: Feeling a bit lost as her parents are expecting a new baby and her little brothers already have each other, Maggie is determined to find a pet she can love. But she’s crushed when she discovers that she’s allergic to fur. A sweet, poignant graphic novel.
Amina’s Song
- Published: March 9, 2021
- Recommended for: Ages 8+
- What you need to know: In this sequel to Khan’s Amina’s Voice, Amina has returned from a summer in Karachi ready to share her culture with everyone… but she’s stuck. A new school project and a new music producer friend may just be the starters she needs. Heartwarming and family-centered.
Girls Figuring It Out
Coming-of-age stories are my favorite. The girls in these books are brave, creative, smart, and sometimes emotionally messy. They don’t always make the right choices, but they sure make for complex, riveting stories.
Starfish
- Published: March 9, 2021
- Recommended for: Ages 9+
- What you need to know: A powerful novel in verse about a girl taunted for her weight. Ellie finds allies in her father, a therapist, and a new best friend as she learns to starfish and take up space.
Taking Up Space
- Published: May 18, 2021
- Recommended for: 9+
- What you need to know: Sarah’s changing pubescent body means she’s hungrier and a little clumsy on the court. Her desire to remain useful to her team, combined with her mother’s issues with food lead Sarah into disordered eating patterns. Timely, with an important message for tweens and adults alike.
The Kate in Between
- Published: May 18, 2021
- Recommended for: Ages 9+
- What you need to know: Kate gets caught on camera saving her best friend Haddie’s life. But what all the news crews and celebrities who interview her don’t know is that she was among the bullies who put Haddie’s life in danger too. Complex, absolutely riveting, and brilliantly written.
These Unlucky Stars
- Published: March 2, 2021
- Recommended for: Ages 8+
- What you need to know: Annie is convinced that she is unlucky and the reason her mom left. After a prank gone wrong, she’s stuck running errands for a grouchy old woman named Gloria. With Gloria’s help and the town’s float parade, Annie learns that life is often what you make of it.
All You Knead Is Love
- Published: March 30, 2021
- Recommended for: Ages 10+
- What you need to know: When Alba’s mother sends her off to Barcelona to live with her Abuela and escape her violent father. Alba is withdrawn at first, but Barcelona is full of loving friends who become family and a bakery where Alba learns to make sourdough bread. That is, until the bakery is threatened with closure.
Family is… Complicated
Mothers and their daughters, blended families, a missing sibling, a surprise stepbrother, and family secrets take center stage in the stories in this category.
Red, White and Whole
- Published: February 2, 2021
- Recommended for: Ages 9+
- What you need to know: it’s the 1980’s and 13-year-old Reha is caught between her Indian immigrant parents’ cultures and her American culture. In the midst of all that, her mother is diagnosed with leukemia. A searing, heartbreaking, and heart-mending verse novel about family, community, and the 80’s.
Rule of Threes
- Published: May 11, 2021
- Recommended for: Ages 10+
- What you need to know: Maggie’s life is changing fast. One of her best friends is withdrawing from her and her dad’s son from an extramarital affair moves in with them after his mother goes to rehab for opioid addiction — and he’s attending her school. A unique look at a family facing real, tough issues.
Forever This Summer
- Published: July 6, 2021
- Recommended for: Ages 8+
- What you need to know: This follow-up to Love Like Sky sees Georgie and her mama in Louisiana helping out Great Aunt Vie. When Georgie meets Markie, a foster kid with a limb difference, her summer takes flight. Between helping Markie find her real mom, setting up a charity talent show, and learning family secrets, Georgie is booked and busy.
Bea Is for Blended
- Published: May 4, 2021
- Recommended for: Ages 8+
- What you need to know: Bea’s mom has married her archnemesis’s father. She’s gone from a family of two to a family of six with one on the way. She’s also new to middle school, trying to start a girls soccer team and maybe make new friends? This heartfelt novel tackles bullying, family dynamics, and identity.
Everywhere Blue
- Published: June 1, 2021
- Recommended for: Ages 9+
- What you need to know: Maddie’s musical family loses their harmony when her older brother disappears from his college campus. Her parents leave town, her sister is angry all the time, and Maddie feels lost. Music, climate change, and family are at the heart of this arresting verse novel.
Put the B in BFF Stories
Good friendships are a balm for the soul, and the kids in this category find friends that make them the best versions of themselves. These are some of the best stories about fighting for a bond that’s worth the effort.
The Best Worst Summer
- Published: May 4, 2021
- Recommended for: Ages 8+
- What you need to know: A charming story about two sets of best friends and the time capsule that connects them. Alternately narrated by two girls: Melissa in the summer of 1989 and Peyton in the present. Don’t miss this engaging summer mystery.
Clues to the Universe
- Published: January 12, 2021
- Recommended for: Ages 9+
- What you need to know: Ro and Benji form an unlikely friendship to reach their goals. His: Find his famous comic book author who also happens to be his dad. Hers: Build and launch the rocket she planned with her dad before he died. A classic BFF story with plenty of heart and science.
The Shape of Thunder
- Published: May 11, 2021
- Recommended for: Ages 9+
- What you need to know: Cora and Quinn were besties before Quinn’s brother killed Cora’s sister in a school shooting. Quinn is sure that if they can figure out a way to time travel, she and Cora can be friends again. Achingly beautiful, full of grief, but also hope.
It All Begins with Jellybeans
- Published: June 8, 2021
- Recommended for: Ages 8+
- What you need to know: Meg and Riley meet in the Nurse’s office; Meg is there for anxiety, Riley for a diabetes sugar drop. The girls bond over jelly beans and help each other figure out who they want to be. An utterly enjoyable friendship story.
The Magical Imperfect
- Published: June 15, 2021
- Recommended for: Ages 9+
- What you need to know: 1989, San Francisco. Etan has selective mutism and spends most of his time with his grandfather. But when he meets Malia, a girl with severe eczema, both kids find healing in their friendship and in their close-knit community. A satisfying, heartwarming verse novel.
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