Attention middle schoolers and high schoolers - we have your summer reading lists! And we have the books you need, so hurry up and get them soon. It's always first come, first serve at the library.
Middle School Summer Reading List
Crossover by Kwame Alexander**
Fourteen-year-old twin basketball stars Josh and Jordan wrestle with highs and lows on and off the court as their father ignores his declining health.
Tiger Lily by Jodi Lynn Anderson**
Tiger Lily receives special protections from the spiritual forces of Neverland, but then she meets her tribe's most dangerous enemy -- Peter Pan -- and falls in love with him.
Minion by John David Anderson**
Michael's life of crime begins at 12, when his dad straps a fake bomb to him and sends him to rob a bank. That's normal behavior in New Liberty, a city without a superhero, until the day that "the Comet" shoots across the skyline.
The Future of Us by Jay Asher**
Emma gets her first computer and an America Online CD-ROM in 1996, and when her best friend Josh visits and they log on, they discover themselves on Facebook fifteen years in the future.
The Night Gardener: A Scary Story by Jonathan Auxier**
Irish orphans Molly and Kip travel to England to work as servants in a crumbling house filled with dark secrets, where nothing is quite what it seems.
Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo**
Orphan Alina is taken from obscurity to become the proteg
é of the mysterious Darkling, who trains her to join the magical elite in the belief that she is the only one who can save her country's people.
The Raft by S.A. Bodeen
Experienced traveler Robie, having decided to take a cargo plane from Honolulu to Midway Atoll after a visit with her aunt, struggles to survive with co-pilot, Max, after the plane crashes in the Pacific Ocean and they are left in shark-infested waters with only one bag of Skittles.
The Demon King by Cinda Williams Chima**
Street thief Hans "Cuffs" Alister and his friend Fire Dancer make enemies with a powerful young wizard when they find him burning down part of the sacred forest and steal his amulet. But the amulet is even more important than they realize.
Weight of Water by Sarah Crossen**
As she and her mother move into a crumbling apartment, recent immigrant Kasienka has a difficult transition when girls at school tease her for being different as well as for her broken English.
Better Off Friends by Elizabeth Eulberg**
Macallan and Levi are best friends from the first day they meet in 7th grade, but over the years they face a challenge - can guys and girls just be friends, or does dating get in the way?
The Sweet Revenge of Celia Door by Karen Finneyfrock**
Celia, hurt by her parents' separation, the loss of her only friend, and a classmate's cruelty has only her poetry for solace until newcomer Drake befriends her, forging a complicated relationship.
The Family Romanov: Murder, Rebellion & the Fall of Imperial Russia by Candace Fleming**
This is the tumultuous, heartrending, true story of the Romanovs - both an intimate portrait of Russia's last royal family and a gripping account of their undoing.
The War to End all Wars: World War I by Russell Freedman*
Recounts the origins, meanings, and legacy of history's first "total" war that spanned the globe and was characterized by the horrors and brutality of trench warfare.
Forget Me by Kim Harrington**
In a town suffering after the major employer scandalously closed, Morgan uncovers a related mystery involving her supposedly dead boyfriend.
The League by Thatcher Heldring*
Fourteen-year-old Wyatt, hoping to impress a girl and ward off a bully, decides to join his older brother's summer football league, "The League of Pain," against the advice of his parents, who think golf is the right sport for him.
The Secret Hum of a Daisy by Tracy Holczer**
After Grace's mother's sudden death, Grace is forced to live with a grandmother she's never met. Then she discovers clues in a mysterious treasure hunt -- on that will help her find her true home.
Titanic: Voices from the Disaster by Deborah Hopkinson**
Recounts the tragedy of the sinking of the Titanic using the narratives of the witnesses and survivors to the disaster.
The Life and Times of Benny Alvarez by Peter Johnson*
As his English teacher focuses on poetry, Benny faces down the smartest girl at school while navigating friendships and a difficult family life due to his grandfather's multiple strokes.
The Story of Owen: Dragon Slayer of Trondheim by E.K. Johnston**
In an alternate world much like ours, dragon-slaying is a lucrative corporate gig with humans and dragons battling over fossil fuels. This is a tale of one slayer-in-training, Owen, as told by his musical bard Siobhan.
Dogs of War by Sheila Keenan**
Based on true stories, these fictional graphic novel vignettes showcase soldiers in World Wars I & II, and the Vietnam War who were aided by combat dogs.
Insignia by S.J. Kincaid**
Tom, a genius at virtual reality games, is recruited by the military to begin training at the Pentagon Spire as a Combatant in World War III, controlling the mechanized drones that do the actual fighting off-planet.
Nevermore: a Photobiography of Edgar Allen Poe*
A photographic biography chronicling the life of Romantic author and poet Edgar Allen Poe, with images capturing key moments and phases in his life and highlighting his literary influence.
We Were Liars by E. Lockhart**
Cadence struggles to remember last summer's accident on her family's private island.
Egg & Spoon by Gregory Maguire**
Russian country girl Elena and aristocratic Ekaterina meet in an epic folklore filled adventure combining mistaken identity, an incognito prince, and the eccentric witch Baba Yaga.
Second Chance Summer by Morgan Matson**
Because Taylor's father is terminally ill, her family decides to spend the summer at their lake house to be together. But the last time Taylor was there, she did something she regrets and now must find a way to fix it.
Rot & Ruin by Jonathan Maberry**
In a post-apocalyptic world where fences and border patrols guard the few people left from the zombies that have overtaken civilization, fifteen-year-old Benny Imura is finally convinced that he must follow in his older brother's footsteps and become a bounty hunter.
The False Princess by Eilis O'Neal**
For sixteen years, Nalia has been raised as the princess of Thorvaldor, but one day she learns that her real name is Sinda and that she is part of a complicated plot that would change the future of her country forever.
This Dark Endeavor: The Apprenticeship of Victor Frankenstein by Kenneth Oppel*
When Victor finds a secret passageway to a forbidden library in his father's house, he begins a quest to find the Elixer of Life and heal his sick brother.
Bamboo People by Mitali Perkins*
Two Burmese boys, one a Kerenni refugee and the other the son of an imprisoned Burmese doctor, meet in the jungle and in order to survive they must learn to trust each other.
Swim that Rock by John Rocco & Jay Primiano**
A working-class Rhode Island teen fights to save his family's diner after his father is lost in a fishing boat accident.
Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell**
Set over the course of one school year in 1986, this is a story of two star-crossed misfits -- smart enough to know that first love almost never lasts, but brave and desperate enough to try.
Every bone tells a story: Hominin discoveries, deductions, and debates by Jill Rubalcaba*
Discusses the unearthing of four hominins -- Turkana Boy, Lapedo Child, Kennewick Man, and Iceman -- and the ways that new technology has helped archaeological specialists refine their theories and change their view of the past.
Steelheart by Brandon Sanderson**
At age eight, David watched as his father was killed by an Epic, a human with superpowers, and now, ten years later, he joins the Reckoners - the only people who are trying to kill the Epics and end their tyranny.
Witches: The Absolutely True Tale of Disaster in Salem by Rosalyn Schanzer**
An illustrated history of the witch hunts that took place in colonial-era Salem, Massachusetts, featuring primary source accounts, and describing the victims, accused witches, corrupt officials, and impact of the events on society.
Okay for Now by Gary Schmidt*
Fourteen-year-old Doug Swieteck faces many challenges, including an abusive father, a brother traumatized by Vietnam, suspicious teachers and police officers, and isolation, but when he meets a girl known as Lil Spicer, he develops a close relationship with her and finds a safe place at the local library.
Far From You by Lisa Schroeder
A novel-in-verse about sixteen-year-old Ali's reluctant road trip with her stepmother and new baby sister, and the terror that ensues after they end up lost in the snow-covered woods.
The Grimm Legacy by Polly Schulman*
New York high school student Elizabeth gets an after-school job as a page at the "New-York Circulating Material Repository," and when she gains coveted access to its Grimm Collection of magical objects, she and the other pages are drawn into a series of frightening adventures involving mythical creatures and stolen goods.
Midwinterblood by Marcus Sedgwick**
As these seven stories unfold backward through time, Merle and Eric are destined to meet on an island inhabited by Vikings, vampires, ghosts, and a powerful exotic flower.
Ghosts in the Fog by Samantha Seiple*
A narrative, nonfiction account of the Japanese invasion and occupation of the Aleutian Islands during World War II, told from the perspectives of an American civilian and soldiers from both sides of the conflict.
The Berlin Boxing Club by Rob Sharenow*
Berlin in the 1930s, during the rise of Nazism, is the dramatic setting for this novel told through the immediate first-person narrative of teenage Karl.
Bomb: The Race to Build and Steal the World's Most Dangerous Weapon by Steve Sheinkin**
This is the story of the plotting, the risk-taking, the deceit, and genius that created the world's most formidable weapon. This is the story of the atomic bomb.
Counting by 7s by Holly Goldberg Sloan**
When both of her adoptive parents die in a car accident, Willow is left to navigate middle school and the foster care system depending only on her exceptional IQ and a group of misfit friends.
The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight by Jennifer Smith**
Hadley and Oliver fall in love on the flight from New York to London, but after a cinematic kiss they lose track of each other at the airport until fate brings them back together on a very momentous day.
Curveball: the year I lost my grip by Jordan Sonnenblick**
After an injury ends former star pitcher Peter Friedman's athletic dreams, he concentrates on photography which leads him to a girlfriend, new fame as a high school sports photographer, and a deeper relationship with the beloved grandfather who, when he realizes he is becoming senile, gives Pete all of his professional camera gear.
All Our Yesterdays by Cristin Terrill**
Em and Finn make a daring escape from prison and must travel through time again and again to assassinate the man who turned their world into a totalitarian dystopia.
Terezin: Voices from the Holocaust by Ruth Thomson*
Provides firsthand accounts and artwork from the Jewish people who were forced to live in Terezin, the Czechoslovakian town that was turned into a ghetto.
In the Shadow of Blackbirds by Cat Winters**
With the deaths of World War I and the 1918 influenza outbreak all around, Mary watches mourners flock to s
éances and spirit photographers, and despite her scientific mind, must consider if ghosts are real.
Popular: Vintage Wisdom for a Modern Geek by Maya Van Wagenen**
With mixed results and many surprises Maya attempts to become part of the "in" crowd by following advice found in a 1950's popularity guide in this humorous memoir.
Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson**
What was it like to be a young, African American growing up in the U.S. during the 1960s and 1970s? In this memoir in verse, Woodson describes how the unwavering love and support of her family, during the turbulent time of the Civil Rights Movement, helped her to "hold fast" to her dreams.
The Book Thief by Markus Zusak**
Trying to make sense of the horrors of World War II, Death relates the story of Liesel -- a young German girl whose book-stealing and story-telling talents help sustain her family and the Jewish man they are hiding, as well as their neighbors.
High School Summer Reading List
All Our Yesterdays by Cristin Terrill**
Em and Finn make a daring escape from prison and must travel through time again and again to assassinate the man who turned their world into a totalitarian dystopia.
And We Stay by Jenny Hubbard**
After tragedy strikes Emily Beam, she is sent to boarding school, where two quirky fellow students and the spirit of Emily Dickinson offer helping hands.
Better Off Friends by Elizabeth Eulberg**
Macallan and Levi are best friends from the first day they met in 7th grade, but over the years they face a challenge - can guys and girls be friends, or does dating get in the way?
Branded by the Pink Triangle by Ken Setterington*
With the rise of the Nazi Party, life for homosexuals in Germany change dramatically from an atmosphere of tolerance to punishing discrimination marked by raids, arrests, prison sentences, and eventually concentration camps. Setterington assembles a dramatic overview of this little-known area of LGBT history.
Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson**
What was it like to be a young, African American growing up in the U.S. during the 1960s and 1970s? In this memoir in verse, Woodson describes how the unwavering love and support of her family, during the turbulent time of the Civil Rights Movement, helped her to "hold fast" to her dreams.
Complicit by Stephanie Kuehn**
After a troubled childhood, Jamie's sister Cate was arrested for burning down a neighbor's barn. Now she's been released and is coming for him, blaming him for the bad things that have happened.
The Demon King by Cinda Williams Chima**
Street thief Hans "Cuffs" Alister and his friend Fire Dancer make enemies with a powerful young wizard when they find him burning down part of the sacred forest and steal his amulet. But the amulet is even more important than they realize.
Dogs of War by Sheila Keenan**
Based on true stories, these fictional graphic novel vignettes showcase soldiers in World Wars I & II, and the Vietnam War who were aided by combat dogs.
Egg & Spoon by Gregory Maguire**
Russian country girl Elena and aristocratic Ekaterina meet in an epic folklore filled adventure combining mistaken identity, an incognito prince, and the crazy witch Baba Yaga.
Eruption!: Volcanoes and the Science of Saving Lives by Elizabeth Rusch**
Rusch profiles a group of scientists who strive to save those who live in the shadow of active volcanoes. The use of photographs, maps, personal experiences, and direct quotes from the scientists and those affected by eruptions brings a sense of urgency to each study of a recent volcanic eruption.
Fake ID by Lamar Giles*
Nike Pearson (that's not his real name) is in the witness protection program. He doesn't want to get involved in his friend Eli's investigation of "Whispertown," but when Eli turns up dead, Nick can't lay low.
The Family Romanov: Murder, Rebellion & the Fall of Imperial Russia by Candace Fleming**
This is the tumultuous, heartrending, true story of the Romanovs - both an intimate of Russia's last royal family and a gripping account of their undoing.
Forget Me by Kim Harrison**
In a town suffering after the major employer scandalously closed, Morgan uncovers a related mystery involving her supposedly dead boyfriend.
The Freedom Summer Murders by Don Mitchell
A searing look back at the events of June 1964, featuring vivid portraits of the three young adult victims who lost their lives attempting to secure the vote for all. Mitchell also focuses on the many decades-long investigations and trails, and explores racism and how it has evolved in Mississippi to present day.
Glory O'Brien's History of the Future by A.S. King**
Glory is graduating high school, but has no idea what to do next. Glory and her best friend, Ellie, start seeing visions of pasts and future of the people around them and the future isn't good. Both have to decide what their own futures hold.
In the Shadow of Blackbirds by Cat Winters**
With the deaths of World War I and the 1918 influenza outbreak all around, Mary watches mourners flock to s
éances and spirit photographers, and despite her scientific mind, must consider if ghosts are real.
Laughing at My Nightmare by Shane Burcaw
In this focused, intelligent, and most of all hilarious memoir, Shane Burcaw recalls both the normal and deeply unique experiences he has endured living with spinal muscular atrophy. With a sharp wit, Burcaw is self-deprecating but never defeatist, even in the face of his terminal condition. His anecdotal essays are thought-provoking, and his whip-smart style puts him in a league with some of today's best humorists. In his eminently readable and relatable memoir, Buraw's positive attitude is inspirational without being the least bit cloying.
The Life and Times of Benny Alvarez by Peter Johnson*
As his English teacher focuses on poetry, Benny faces down the smartest girl at school while navigating friendships and a difficult family life due to his grandfather's multiple strokes.
Lincoln's Grave Robbers by Steve Sheinkin**
A true-crime thriller about a counterfeiting ring that attempted to steal Abraham Lincoln's body to provide ransom for their jailed leader. Along the way, the reader learns about the formation of the Secret Service, the presidential election of 1876, the later lives of Lincoln's widow and son, and about counterfeiting, which was at an all-time peak during and after the Civil War.
Marcelo in the Real World by Francisco X. Stork*
Marcelo's father wants to teach his autistic and highly intelligent son about "the real world," so he makes Marcelo work at his law firm over the summer. When Marcelo discovers that one of the partners is doing something unethical, he wonders how to handle it without angering his father or hurting other people.
Midwinterblood by Marcus Sedgwick**
As these seven stories unfold backward through time, Merle and Eric are destined to meet on an island inhabited by Vikings, vampires, ghosts, and a powerful exotic flower.
The Night Gardener by Jonathan Auxier**
Irish orphans Molly and Kip travel to England to work as servants in a crumbling house filled with dark secrets, where nothing is quite what it seems.
Popular: Vintage Wisdom for a Modern Geek by Maya Van Wagenen**
With mixed results and many surprises Maya attempts to become part of the "in" crowd by following advice found in a 1950's popularity guide in this humorous memoir.
The Port Chicago 50: Disaster, Mutiny, and the Fight for Civil Rights by Steve Sheinkin*
As World War II escalated overseas, African American sailors at Port Chicago were under pressure to load bombs faster and faster onto waiting ships, until finally a horrific explosion killed hundreds. In the days that followed, 50 men refused to work under such unsafe conditions and were charged with mutiny. Sheinkin masterfully weaves interviews, court records, and other primary sources with his driving narrative to tell the complex and little-known history of the Port Chicago Disaster of 1944. Tightly written, this slim volume is rich in information about the history of a segregated military, the emerging civil rights movement, and the exceptional leaders and individuals of the time.
Red Madness: How a Medical Mystery Changed What We Eat by Gail Jarrow*
Using scientific methods that would be outlawed today, doctors unravel the mystery of a disease called Pellagra in the early 1900's. Interspersed with case studies of patients from all socioeconomic backgrounds, we discover the gruesome details as patients develop a mysterious rash, go insane and ultimately die.
The Scar Boys by Len Vhalos**
A severely burned teenager. A guitar. Punk rock. A rock n'roll road trip. Through an unconventional college application essay, Harry tells about finding his place in the world.
The Secret Hum of a Daisy by Tracy Holczer**
After Grace's mother's sudden death, Grace is forced to live with a grandmother she's never met. Then she discovers clues in a mysterious treasure hunt -- on that will help her find her true home.
The Story of Owen: Dragon Slayer of Trondheim by E.K. Johnston**
In an alternate world much like ours, dragon-slaying is a lucrative corporate gig with humans and dragons battling over fossil fuels. This is a tale of one slayer-in-training, Owen, as told by his musical bard, Siobhan.
Steelheart by Brandon Sanderson**
At age eight, David watched as his father was killed by an Epic, a human with superhuman powers, and now, ten years later, he joins the Reckoners -- the only people who are trying to kill the Epics and end their tyranny.
Swim that Rock by John Rocco & Jay Primiano**
A working-class Rhode Island teen fights to save his family's diner after his father is lost in a fishing boat accident.
This Dark Endeavor: The Apprenticeship of Victor Frankenstein by Kenneth Oppel*
When Victor finds a secret passageway to a forbidden library in his father's house, he begins a quest to find the Elixer of Life and heal his sick brother.
We Were Liars by E. Lockhart**
Cadence struggles to remember last summer's accident on her family's private island.
Winger by Andrew Smith**
Fourteen-year-old high school junior Ryan Dean West grapples with living in the dorm for troublemakers, falling for his best friend Annie, and playing wing on the Varsity rugby team.
Yaqui Delgado Wants to Kick Your Ass by Meg Medina**
Life has changed for Piddy. Her best friend moved way, she starts a new school, and she is bullied by a girl she doesn't even know. What else can possibly go wrong?
*Means the book is in the Cranston library system
**Means the book is at William Hall Library
