The Association for Library Service for Children gets book recommendations from kids. Then, they put together a list of great contemporary books for kids to read in the summer. Summer reading is important for kids to learn about the world that they live in and to continue building their reading skills.

Why should older kids continue to build their reading skills? Reading well makes school easier, since most academics have their basis in reading. Parents need to read with their children, even older children, every night. When parents read to their children every night, they are more likely to become academically proficient. This list has many wonderful books to keep older children engaged in reading.

Summer Book List from ALSC for Grades 6-8

*All Summer Long by Hope Larson Farrar, Straus, & Giroux, 2018, ISBN: 9780374304850 Bina's expectations for summer are upended, leading to new experiences and self-discovery.
*Amal Unbound by Aisha Saeed Nancy Paulsen Books, 2018, ISBN: 9780399544682.
*Ashes to Asheville by Sarah Dooley Putnam, 2017, ISBN: 9780399165047.
*Charlie Hernandez and the League of Shadows by Ryan Calejo Aladdin, 2018, ISBN: 9781534426580.
*Countdown: 2979 Days to the Moon by Suzanne Slade, illustrated by Thomas Gonzalez Peachtree, 2018, ISBN: 9781682630136.
*Dove Arising by Karen Bao Viking, 2015, ISBN: 9780451469014.
*Ghost by Jason Reynolds Atheneum/Caitlyn Dlouhy Books, 2016, ISBN: 9781481450157.
*Ghost Boys By Jewell Parker Rhodes Little, Brown, 2018, ISBN: 9780316262286.
*Harbor Me by Jacqueline Woodson Nancy Paulsen Books, 2018, ISBN: 9780399252525.
*Hidden Figures: Young Readers' Edition by Margot Lee Shetterly HarperCollins, 2016, ISBN: 9780062662385.
*It All Comes Down to This by Karen English Clarion, 2017, ISBN: 9780544839571.
*Love, Ish by Karen Rivers Algonquin Young Readers, 2017, ISBN: 9781616205706.
*Marcus Vega Doesn't Speak Spanish by Pablo Cartaya Viking, 2018, ISBN: 9781101997260.
*Merci Suarez Changes Gears by Meg Medina Candlewick Press, 2018, ISBN: 9780763690496.
*The Night Diary by Vera Hiranandani Kokila, 2018, ISBN: 9780735228511.
*Peasprout Chen, Future Legend of Skate and Sword by Henry Lien Henry Holt, 2018, ISBN: 9781250165695.
*Piecing Me Together by Rene Watson Bloomsbury, 2017, ISBN: 9781681191058.
*The Playbook: 52 Rules to Aim, Shoot, and Score in This Game Called Life by Kwame Alexander, photographs by Thai Neave Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2017, ISBN: 9780544570979.
*Putting Peace First: 7 Commitments to Change the World by Eric Dawson Viking, 2018, ISBN: 9781101997338.
*Sci-Fu by Yehudi Mercado Oni Press, 2018, ISBN: 9781620104729.
*See You in the Cosmos by Jack Cheng Dial Books, 2017, ISBN: 9780399186370.
*Space Battle Lunchtime, Vol. 1: Lights, Camera, Snacktion by Natalie Riess Oni Press, 2016, ISBN: 9781620103135.
*Us, in Progress: Short Stories about Young Latinos by Lulu Delacre HarperCollins, 2017, ISBN: 9780062392145.
*The Witch Boy by Molly Knox Ostertag Graphix, 2017, ISBN: 9781338089523.


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