AKJ’s Picks for Summer Reading

Summer is finally upon us and the possibilities for fun are endless!  For students, we can make reading one of those fun possibilities with a selection of engaging titles. Below you’ll find a few of our top picks for summer reading—pair them with our summer reading worksheets for an educator-approved way to prevent summer slide.

 

AWESOME IS EVERWHERE
by Neil Pasricha
Grades K–1

A stunning first picture book from the New York Times bestselling author of The Book of Awesome. Are you ready? With the simple touch of your fingers, go on a stunning interactive journey to see the world as you never have before. Fly through wispy clouds, dive deep into the sparkling ocean, feel wet grains of sand on a hot and sunny beach…You will discover you can fly your mind to anywhere on Earth! And by the time you reach the surprise ending in this unforgettable journey, you’ll learn that awesome truly is everywhere.

 

 

BEATRICE ZINKER, UPSIDE DOWN THINKER
by Shelley Johannes
Grades 2–3

Beatrice does her best thinking upside down. Hanging from trees by her knees, doing handstands…for Beatrice Zinker, upside down works every time. She was definitely upside down when she and her best friend, Lenny, agreed to wear matching ninja suits on the first day of third grade. But when Beatrice shows up at school dressed in black, Lenny arrives with a cool new outfit and a cool new friend. Even worse, she seems to have forgotten all about the top-secret operation they planned! Can Beatrice use her topsy-turvy way of thinking to save the mission, mend their friendship, and flip things sunny-side up?

“I fell in love with the unsinkable Beatrice Zinker—an unflappable, creative, and funny problem-solver with a big heart.” —Ann M. Martin

 

 

RAIN REIGN
by Ann M. Martin
Grades 4–5

Struggling with the challenges of OCD and Asperger’s syndrome, Rose, a homonym enthusiast, shares an inseparable bond with a beloved dog, but when the dog goes missing during a storm, Rose is forced to confront the limits of her comfort levels, even if it means leaving her routines and safe places in order to search for her pet. By the Newbery Honor-winning author of A Corner of the Universe.

“Simplicity, clarity, and emotional resonance are hallmarks of Rose’s first-person narrative, which offers an unflinching view of her world from her perspective…A strong story told in a nuanced, highly accessible way.” —Booklist

 

 

BEYOND THE BRIGHT SEA
By Lauren Wolk
Grades 6–8

The moving story of an orphan, determined to know her own history, who discovers the true meaning of family. Twelve-year-old Crow has lived her entire life on a tiny, isolated piece of the starkly beautiful Elizabeth Islands in Massachusetts. Abandoned and set adrift in a small boat when she was just hours old, Crow’s only companions are Osh, the man who rescued and raised her, and Miss Maggie, their fierce and affectionate neighbor across the sandbar. Crow has always been curious about the world around her, but it isn’t until the night a mysterious fire appears across the water that the unspoken question of her own history forms in her heart. Soon, an unstoppable chain of events is triggered, leading Crow down a path of discovery and danger. Vivid and heart-wrenching, Lauren Wolk’s Beyond the Bright Sea is a gorgeously crafted and tensely paced tale that explores questions of identity, belonging, and the true meaning of family.

“The sight of a campfire on a distant island…proves the catalyst for a series of discoveries and events—some poignant, some frightening—that Ms. Wolk unfolds with uncommon grace.” —The Wall Street Journal

 

PIECING ME TOGETHER
By Renée Watson
Grades 9–12

A powerful story about a girl striving for success in a world that too often seems like it’s trying to break her. Jade believes she must get out of her poor neighborhood if she’s ever going to succeed. Her mother tells her to take advantage of every opportunity that comes her way. And Jade has: every day she rides the bus away from her friends and to the private school where she feels like an outsider, but where she has plenty of opportunities. But some opportunities she doesn’t really welcome, like an invitation to join Women to Women, a mentorship program for “at-risk” girls. Just because her mentor is black and graduated from the same high school doesn’t mean she understands where Jade is coming from. She’s tired of being singled out as someone who needs help, someone people want to fix. Jade wants to speak, to create, to express her joys and sorrows, her pain and her hope. Maybe there are some things she could show other women about understanding the world and finding ways to be real, to make a difference.

“Reminds us that love between elders and youth is worth the work.” —Ebony

 

Want even more great summer reads? Check out our bestsellers or peruse our Summer Reading Pinterest board!