Reading lists and reading lists and MORE reading lists!
Mrs. Lynch's HOT MS Summer Reads
Show Me a Sign by Call Number: FIC LEZISBN: 9781338255812Publication Date: 2020-03-03Mary Lambert has always felt safe and protected on her beloved island of Martha's Vineyard. Her great-great-grandfather was an early English settler and the first deaf islander. Now, over a hundred years later, many people there -- including Mary -- are deaf, and nearly everyone can communicate in sign language. Mary has never felt isolated. She is proud of her lineage. But recent events have delivered winds of change. Mary's brother died, leaving her family shattered. Tensions over land disputes are mounting between English settlers and the Wampanoag people. And a cunning young scientist has arrived, hoping to discover the origin of the island's prevalent deafness. His maniacal drive to find answers soon renders Mary a "live specimen" in a cruel experiment. Her struggle to save herself is at the core of this penetrating and poignant novel that probes our perceptions of ability and disability.
The Mars Challenge by Call Number: 741.5 WILISBN: 9781250258250Publication Date: 2020-06-16Nadia is a teenager with a dream: to be the first woman on Mars. But there are a lot of obstacles in her way: gravity wells, interplanetary trajectories, space weather, and that pesky rocket equation. It's a good thing Nadia's friend Eleanor is a space wiz. Eleanor explains how scientists are working to overcome the numerous challenges involved in a manned mission to Mars. Eye-catching illustrations and detailed diagrams bring to light the scientific concepts and complex machinery of interplanetary travel. The challenges are great, but not insurmountable. Humans can reach Mars in our lifetime, and this book explains how it can be done.
Fighting Words by Call Number: FIC BRAISBN: 1984815709Publication Date: 2021-08-10Ten-year-old Della has always had her older sister, Suki: When their mom went to prison, Della had Suki. When their mom's boyfriend took them in, Della had Suki. When that same boyfriend did something so awful they had to run fast, Della had Suki. Suki is Della's own wolf--her protector. But who has been protecting Suki? Della might get told off for swearing at school, but she has always known how to keep quiet where it counts. Then Suki tries to kill herself, and Della's world turns so far upside down, it feels like it's shaking her by the ankles. Maybe she's been quiet about the wrong things. Maybe it's time to be loud.
Dragon Hoops by Call Number: 741.5 YANISBN: 1626720797Publication Date: 2020-03-17In his latest graphic novel, Dragon Hoops, New York Times bestselling author Gene Luen Yang turns the spotlight on his life, his family, and the high school where he teaches. Gene understands stories--comic book stories, in particular. Big action. Bigger thrills. And the hero always wins. But Gene doesn't get sports. As a kid, his friends called him "Stick" and every basketball game he played ended in pain. He lost interest in basketball long ago, but at the high school where he now teaches, it's all anyone can talk about. The men's varsity team, the Dragons, is having a phenomenal season that's been decades in the making. Each victory brings them closer to their ultimate goal: the California State Championships. Once Gene gets to know these young all-stars, he realizes that their story is just as thrilling as anything he's seen on a comic book page. He knows he has to follow this epic to its end. What he doesn't know yet is that this season is not only going to change the Dragons's lives, but his own life as well.
Hurricane Season by Call Number: FIC MELISBN: 9781616209063Publication Date: 2019-05-07For Fig's dad, hurricane season brings the music. For Fig, hurricane season brings the possibility of disaster. Fig, a sixth grader, loves her dad and the home they share in a beachside town. She does not love the long months of hurricane season. Her father, a once-renowned piano player, sometimes goes looking for the music in the middle of a storm. Hurricane months bring unpredictable good and bad days. More than anything, Fig wants to see the world through her father's eyes, so she takes an art class to experience life as an artist does. Then Fig's dad shows up at school, confused and looking for her. Not only does the class not bring Fig closer to understanding him, it brings social services to their door. As the walls start to fall around her, Fig is sure it's up to her alone to solve her father's problems and protect her family's privacy. But with the help of her best friend, a cute girl at the library, and a surprisingly kind new neighbor, Fig learns she isn't as alone as she once thought . . . and begins to compose her own definition of family.
Chirp by Call Number: FIC MESISBN: 1547602813Publication Date: 2020-02-04When Mia moves to Vermont the summer after seventh grade, she's recovering from the broken arm she got falling off a balance beam. And packed away in the moving boxes under her clothes and gymnastics trophies is a secret she'd rather forget. Mia's change in scenery brings day camp, new friends, and time with her beloved grandmother. But Gram is convinced someone is trying to destroy her cricket farm. Is it sabotage or is Gram's thinking impaired from the stroke she suffered months ago? Mia and her friends set out to investigate, but can they uncover the truth in time to save Gram's farm? And will that discovery empower Mia to confront the secret she's been hiding--and find the courage she never knew she had?
Illegal by Call Number: 741.5 COLISBN: 1492662143Publication Date: 2018-08-07How can a human being be illegal for simply existing? Ebo is alone. His brother, Kwame, has disappeared, and Ebo knows it can only be to attempt the hazardous journey to Europe, and a better life--the same journey their sister set out on months ago. But Ebo refuses to be left behind in Ghana. He sets out after Kwame and joins him on the quest to reach Europe. Ebo's epic journey takes him across the Sahara Desert to the dangerous streets of Tripoli, and finally out to the merciless sea. But with every step he holds on to his hope for a new life, and a reunion with his family.
Audiobook Sites
Audio File Sync, is giving away two free YA audiobooks a week, all summer long! SYNC is a free summer audiobook program for teens. SYNC will give away two complete audiobook downloads a week - pairs of high interest titles, based on weekly themes. Sign up for email or text alerts and be first to know when new titles are available to download at www.audiobooksync.com. These pairings of audiobooks can be downloaded directly into Overdrive!
If you love hearing books read aloud, LibriVox, offers free audiobooks read by volunteers from around the world. Many of these titles are from Project Gutenberg, so if you are into classics, this is a great source for you.
Reading List Links- Perfect for Middle School
School Library Journal (SLJ), is the gold standard for book reviews in the library world. Each year they release their list of the best reviewed books in children and adult literature. Head to this link for the best titles for Middle School. You can also link to their other Best of Lists for 2020. School Library Journal's Best Books of 2020
And SLJ’s Top 100 Children’s Novels is the place to start. If your child reads nothing else this summer, 2 or 3 books from this list will keep him or her rolling in the right direction. School Library Journal's Top 100 Children's Novels
Hey, all you young, powerful feminists out there...looking for some inspiration via literature? Check out this amazing list of feminist books for all ages from the 2021 Project Rise: A Feminist Book Project. These books will add power to your words and your world!
Are you into RPG's? Check out this cool list of books that will fill all your role-playing desires, 12 Reads for RPG fans!
Are you looking for a curated list of books that celebrates diversity, inclusivity and intersecting identities? This collective of experts in children's literature has picked out books that represent Indigenous and People of Color, people with disabilities, and people from the LGBTQIA+ communities. The books listed are organized by level and vetted by experts in the field. We Are Kid Lit Collective Summer Reading List.
Are graphic novels your passion? Check out this list of the Best of Graphic Novels of 2020 from School Library Journal. There are some amazing graphic novels found here. School Library Journal's Best of Graphic Novels 2021
Are you a facts and figures kind of person? Is reading non-fiction your passion? This amazing list by SLJ of the best Non-fiction for middle readers 2021 is the spot for you!
Looking to explore books that inspire a call to action, give you a lens into the voices of young activists and learn more about social justice? This book list for middle schoolers from School Library Journal on Social Justice will help you explore complex issues like racism, sexism, immigration and environmentalism.
Mensa for Kids has excellent reading lists on all the classics for different age bands. Check out this list for GR4-6 and this list for GR7-8.
Young yogi's and meditation masters alike will find messages of calmness and strength in these books from School Library Journal on Meditation and Mindfulness for the whole family.
Is adventure your thing? Are you a thrill seeker? Can't get enough high-octane, page-turning excitement? This list from School Library Journal of riveting middle-grade adventures will keep you on the edge of your seat!
Get out your measuring cup, flour, cake pans and get set to cook up some great reads! If you love to cook or love to read about cooking check out Book Riot's 10 Delicious Books for Kids who Love to Cook and Bake and get cooking!
Check out this amazing list of the hottest summer reads for middle schoolers from School Library Journal. If you are looking for your next great summer read, work your way through SLJ's Summer Reading Series!
Are you a podcast fan? Kids listening to podcasts have increased by 24% in March. Looking to expand your listening list for the summer? Give these podcasts Top Trendsetting Podcasts curated by School Library Journal aimed at middle schoolers...listen and learn!
Is sports your jam? Need just one more book about soccer? Track? Double Dutch? Basketball? Gymnastics? Football? Check out this list of diverse reads, with diverse characters AND diverse sports 31 Best Middle Grade Books about Sports and pick up a winner!
NPR’s Book Concierge is an amazing list of the best of the best of the year. The cool part? You can click for customization and it narrows down your choices for you. Children’s, Young Adult and Adult books are all at your fingertips. NPR's Book Concierge
Want to know what the experts (children’s librarians!!!) recommend you read this summer? The librarians at the American Library Services for Children (ALSC) have compiled this fantastic list for middle schoolers. Check out ALSC’s Summer 2021 Reading List for Gr 6th-8th.
Is your child going through a tough time? Are you moving this year? Has there been a sudden death or illness in the family this year? This list compiled by the American Library Services for Children (ALSC) is Comforting Reads for Difficult Times, complete with resources for parents. Books can be a great comfort during times of struggle. Let a book help.
The American Library Association’s Youth Media Awards can be found here. These are the most highly respected annual awards given to Children’s and Young Adult Literature. This is a fantastic starting point for your reading. ALA's Youth Media Award Winners 2021
Looking for a definitive list of classic books that every kid should read before age 14? Check out The Ultimate Backseat Bookshelf: 100 Must Reads for Kids 9-14 from NPR
The librarians from the Chicago Public Library create a list of their CPL Best of Best Books for kids of all ages. Check out the "never-fail" books on this list! There are two lists...one for fiction and one for informational books.
Want the best middle school reads that are recommended by MIDDLE SCHOOLERS and NOT teachers, librarians or grownups? Browse through the Best Books for Middle School According to my Students! Take it from the pros, these books are HOT!
The bloggers at Book Riot have compiled a list of 100 Must Read Middle Grade Books for the Summer. They are organized by genre. Any reader should be able to find a new favorite here!
Reading List Links- Perfect for Young Adults
A great resource for finding quality, award-winning YA literature is American Library Association's, Young Adult Library Service Association’s (YALSA) Teen Book Finder, which gives you the capability to search their database of books that have won awards and appeared on their highly respected “Best of…” lists and also to filter by genre, title, author and award year. Super handy! YALSA's Teen Book Finder
Were you inspired by National Youth Poet Laureate Amanda Gorman's amazing poem at the 2021 Inauguration? Check out these 6 Novels in Verse recommended by Kirkus for Teen poetry lovers and get your inner poet flowing.
Looking for books to expand your knowledge of racism? Read one of these amazing titles from Kirkus' 10 Antiracist Books for Young Adults.
June is National Pride Month, so grab one of the 45 amazing titles off of this list from Epic Reads on LGBTQIAP+ Protagonists and celebrate and amplify queer voices and queer books!
Every year, University of California at Berkeley (UC Berkeley) offers us a summer reading list for its incoming freshman class. This year's theme is Lift Our Gazes. "To acknowledge this difficult period in our history while also looking to the future with hope, purpose, and resilience, we take inspiration for this year’s theme from 22-year-old Amanda Gorman’s poem read at the 2021 Presidential Inauguration and “lift our gazes to...what stands before us.” See UC Berkeley's Summer Reading List 2021 here.
Need a horror fix? Want a book that will keep you reading long into the night? Check out Book Riot's Chills and Thrills: A Summer of YA Horror!
Organized by topics like "Books to Keep You Up All Night", "Books That Are More Than a Beach Read", "Books About That Crazy Thing Called Love", and "Books That Will Transport You To Another Time and Place", this great list by Brightly will help you find the perfect summer read! The Ultimate YA Summer Reading List
Do you miss traveling? Need a book that will take you away, even though you can't leave SH? Pick up one of these lovely books set in a destination that will make you want to travel. Epic Read's list of 21 Books Set Abroad will make you want to travel to far off places.
Are you stuck at home this summer? Here are some amazing non-fiction books to challenge you and your thinking by Kirkus if you are Stuck At Home.
School Library Journal's amazing librarians from around the world have compiled list upon list of the coolest and newest YA books for you to catch up on this summer...including romance, humor, sports, graphic novels, sci-fi and fantasy!
The Outstanding Books for College Bound Readers is created by a committee of Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) public, secondary school and academic librarians. This list is created every five years to offer opportunities for independent reading. The books on this list offer opportunities to discover new ideas, and provide an introduction to the fascinating variety of subjects within an academic discipline. Readers will gain an understanding of our diverse world and build a foundation to deepen their response to that world. The list is broken into five academic disciplines and is intended for students preparing for college. The Outstanding Books for College Bound Readers list
Want to know what industry titan Bill Gates is reading this year? Check out these 5 Books to Find Hope in 2021 by Bill Gates. With topics ranging from social justice to international intrigue, there is surely something here to pique your interest.
Interested in what Former President Barack Obama's favorite reads of 2020 were? Here is the list published by The Independent.
92 (!) Books Based on the Marvel Cinematic Universe? Sign me up, please! Find something with action, tech or twists that can't be topped. We promise every book will give you the same adrenaline-fueled feeling that seeing your fave superhero movie for the first time did. Scroll through and find your next SUPER read Epic Read's Marvel Cinematic Universe Reads.
NPR’s Book Concierge is an amazing list of the best of the best of the year. The cool part? You can click for customization and it narrows down your choices for you. Children’s, Young Adult and Adult books are all at your fingertips. NPR's Book Concierge
Want a super unique way to get your next book recommendation? Are you a Star Wars fan? Take this book quiz from Epic Reads and give your opinions on Star Wars questions. When you get through the quiz you will have the perfect book recommendation just for you. May the Force (of reading) be with you! Epic Reads Star Wars Quiz
Is mystery your thing? Then get a clue and find your summer read on this list of 25 Best YA Murder Mysteries of All Time compiled by Popsugar.
Are you a gamer? Looking for a heart-stopper involving gaming? We've got you covered with this list by Book Riot of 9 Nail-biting Books About Teen Gamers. Get ready to level up with these winners!
Buzzfeed has their Top 15 Young Adult Books of 2020. This list has all the best YA titles on it!
Looking for a Challenge?
Reading Challenges are a fun way to expand your reading in the summer. You can choose one of the below challenges and see how you do. Many challenges ask you to give yourself a shout out on social media...#cool #lookatmemom #ireadatonofbooks !!!
Looking for a challenge for EVERYONE in the family? Look no further than this master list of most of the reading challenges for 2021 out there on web...read the rainbow, the frankenslam, a fairytale retelling every month, the foodie challenge, kitty lit, books to movies, tunes to book...the challenges go on and on!
The most popular reading challenge out there is the Read Harder 2021 Challenge by Book Riot, which challenges readers to "read harder". This is the challenge that I try to do every year...it keeps me on my reading toes and gets me out of my comfort genres! The best thing about this reading challenge is the amazing book lists that come with each challenge...it's all right in one spot!
School Library Journal has an entire set of multi-generational lists of books on a variety of topics that will get the entire family reading, talking and exploring together! You can explore Mindfulness and Meditation, DIY or Gardening, to name a few!
Brightly's Reading Challenge for 9-12 year olds is a great place to start.
Don't worry...Brightly's Reading Challenge for Teens will inspire older readers!
Popsugar does an annual reading challenge, with 52 super cool challenges. They also have an advanced option, for all you reading overachievers out there!
The brilliant minds behind The Little Free Libraries bring you The Little Free Library 50 Book Challenge. Pick up a book and start today!
Pet therapy in the library??? Yes, please!
Sanitizing the Book Smell Away- Book Nerd Problems by Epic Reads
Now that you've got all those AMAZING books...how do you get em in your suitcase????
Mrs. Lynch's HOT YA Summer Reads
These Violent Delights by Call Number: FIC GONISBN: 9781534457690Publication Date: 2020-11-17This heart-stopping debut is an imaginative Romeo and Juliet retelling set in 1920s Shanghai, with rival gangs and a monster in the depths of the Huangpu River. The year is 1926, and Shanghai hums to the tune of debauchery. A blood feud between two gangs runs the streets red, leaving the city helpless in the grip of chaos. At the heart of it all is eighteen-year-old Juliette Cai, a former flapper who has returned to assume her role as the proud heir of the Scarlet Gang--a network of criminals far above the law. Their only rivals in power are the White Flowers, who have fought the Scarlets for generations. And behind every move is their heir, Roma Montagov, Juliette's first love...and first betrayal. But when gangsters on both sides show signs of instability culminating in clawing their own throats out, the people start to whisper. Of a contagion, a madness. Of a monster in the shadows. As the deaths stack up, Juliette and Roma must set their guns--and grudges--aside and work together, for if they can't stop this mayhem, then there will be no city left for either to rule.
The Impossible First by Call Number: 919.8904 OBRISBN: 1534461981Publication Date: 2020-11-17Prior to December 2018, no individual had ever crossed the landmass of Antarctica alone, without support, and completely human-powered. But Colin O'Brady was determined to do just that--even though ten years earlier a tragic accident raised doubts that he'd ever walk again normally. O'Brady's quest drew him into a head-to-head battle with British SAS Captain Louis Rudd--also striving to be "the first." Enduring Antarctica's sub-zero temperatures and pulling a sled that initially weighed 375 pounds in complete isolation and through a succession of whiteouts, storms, and a series of near disasters, O'Brady journeyed 932 miles to a world first. Honest, deeply moving, filled with moments of vulnerability--and set against the backdrop of some of the most extreme environments on earth, from Mount Everest to Antarctica--The Impossible First reveals how anyone can reject limits, overcome immense obstacles, and discover what matters most.
The Invisible Life of Addie Larue by Call Number: FIC SCHISBN: 0765387565Publication Date: 2020-10-06France, 1714: in a moment of desperation, a young woman makes a Faustian bargain to live forever--and is cursed to be forgotten by everyone she meets. Thus begins the extraordinary life of Addie LaRue, and a dazzling adventure that will play out across centuries and continents, across history and art, as a young woman learns how far she will go to leave her mark on the world. But everything changes when, after nearly 300 years, Addie stumbles across a young man in a hidden bookstore and he remembers her name.
Infinity Son by Call Number: FIC SILISBN: 0062457829Publication Date: 2020-01-14Growing up in New York, brothers Emil and Brighton always idolized the Spell Walkers--a vigilante group sworn to rid the world of specters. While the Spell Walkers and other celestials are born with powers, specters take them, violently stealing the essence of endangered magical creatures. Brighton wishes he had a power so he could join the fray. Emil just wants the fighting to stop. The cycle of violence has taken a toll, making it harder for anyone with a power to live peacefully and openly. In this climate of fear, a gang of specters has been growing bolder by the day. Then, in a brawl after a protest, Emil manifests a power of his own--one that puts him right at the heart of the conflict and sets him up to be the heroic Spell Walker Brighton always wanted to be. Brotherhood, love, and loyalty will be put to the test, and no one will escape the fight unscathed.
Watch Us Rise by Call Number: FIC WATISBN: 154760008XPublication Date: 2019-02-12Jasmine and Chelsea are best friends on a mission--they're sick of the way women are treated even at their progressive NYC high school, so they decide to start a Women's Rights Club. They post their work online--poems, essays, videos of Chelsea performing her poetry, and Jasmine's response to the racial microaggressions she experiences--and soon they go viral. But with such positive support, the club is also targeted by trolls. When things escalate in real life, the principal shuts the clubdown. Not willing to be silenced, Jasmine and Chelsea will risk everything for their voices--and those of other young women--to be heard. These two dynamic, creative young women stand up and speak out in a novel that features their compelling art and poetry along with powerful personal journeys that will inspire readers and budding poets, feminists, and activists.
Pet by Call Number: FIC EMEISBN: 0525647082Publication Date: 2019-09-10Pet is here to hunt a monster. Are you brave enough to look? There are no monsters anymore, or so the children in Lucille are taught. Jam and her best friend, Redemption, have grown up with the lesson that the city is safe for everyone. But when Jam meets Pet, a creature who some might call monstrous but, in reality, is anything but, she must reconsider what she's been told. Pet has emerged from one of her mother's paintings to hunt a true monster--and the shadow of something grim lurks in Redemption's house. No one has encountered monsters in years, though, and Jam's quest to protect her best friend and uncover the truth is met with doubt and disbelief. This award-winning novel from a rising-star author asks: What really makes a monster, and how do you save the world from something if no one will admit it exists?
The Rise and Fall of Charles Lindbergh by Call Number: B LINISBN: 052564654XPublication Date: 2020-02-11First human to cross the Atlantic via airplane; one of the first American media sensations; Nazi sympathizer and anti-Semite; loner whose baby was kidnapped and murdered; champion of Eugenics, the science of improving a human population by controlled breeding; tireless environmentalist. Charles Lindbergh was all of the above and more. Here is a rich, multi-faceted, utterly spellbinding biography about an American hero who was also a deeply flawed man. In this time where values Lindbergh held, like white Nationalism and America First, are once again on the rise, The Rise and Fall of Charles Lindbergh is essential reading for teens and history fanatics alike.
