Summer Reading Lists for Kids Ages 8-12

Looking for another escape? Thishas – fantasy, adventure, and of course, love. What more is there? Read one, or read ‘em all – post your thoughts in the comments. Or, if we missed your favorite book, tell us in the comments!

• "Dead End in Norvelt" by Jack Gantos: Two months of being grounded during summer vacation change Jack Gantos’ life forever. Especially since it involves the mysterious chore of typing obituaries for his intriguing neighbor.
• "Charlie Joe Jackson’s Guide to Not Reading" by Tommy Greenwald: What happens when Charlie Joe Jackson, the most reluctant reader EVER has to actually read a book?
• "Big Nate in a Class by Himself" (Big Nate series) by Lincoln Peirce: Things don’t always go your way just because you’re awesome.
• "The Strange Case of Origami Yoda" by Tom Angleberger: Dwight is a clueless boy with a prescient Yoda hand-puppet. His classmate Tommy is mystified.
• "Middle School: The Worst Years of My Life" (Middle School series) by James Patterson: Middle school student Rafe Khatchadorian decides to break every rule in the school’s Code of Conduct. But what happens when things don’t go as planned?
• "Diary of a Wimpy Kid" (Wimpy Kid series) by Jeff Kinney: Read Greg Heffley’s diary detailing trials and tribulations from middle school.
• "Bud Not Buddy" by Christopher Paul Curtis: Bud, a motherless boy on the run, is armed with his suitcase of secret, important things, his book with instructions on having a fun life and being a better liar and clues to find his father. Nothing is going to come in Bud’s way – not hunger, fear or vampires.
• "The Invention of Hugo Cabret" by Brian Selznick: This book weaves prose and illustrations beautifully to tell the story of Parisian orphan, clock keeper and petty thief Hugo.
• "Maniac Magee" by Jerry Spinelli: Orphan Jeffrey Lionel “Maniac” Magee decides to run away from his unhappy aunt and uncle. And then he decides just to run.
• "Wonder" by R.J. Palacio: A facial deformity prevented August Pullman from going to a regular school. He craves an ordinary life when he joins Beecher Prep. as a fifth grader. But he soon learns that you can’t blend in when you were meant to stand out.
• "Eragon" (Inheritance Cycle series) by Christopher Paolini: Can farm boy turned dragon rider Eragon and blue stone turned dragon Saphira join forces to save the world?
• "Gregor The Overlander" (Underland Chronicles series) by Suzanne Collins: What happens when New Yorker Gregor falls through the grate in his apartments and enter the strange world of the Underland?
• "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone" by J.K. Rowling: Harry Potter enters the world of magic and realizes his destiny.                                                          
• "The Westing Game" by Ellen Raskin: This intricately plotted story has 16 people who could become millionaires if they can play the tricky and dangerous Westing game.
• "A Wrinkle in Time" by Madeline L’engle: Meg Murray, her little brother Charles Wallace and their friend Calvin travel through space and time to find Meg and Charles’ father.
• "Guinness: World Records 2012" by Guinness World Records: Read about extraordinary, interesting daredevils who want to push the limits and their record- breaking feats.
• "National Geographic Kids Almanac 2012" by National Geographic Kids: Learning about your world and everything in it was never so much fun!
• "Ripley’s Believe It Or Not: Special Edition 2012" by Ripley’s Inc.: Read about the bizarre, the hilarious and the incredible in this fun collection!