Want to freshen up your Summer Reading list, but not sure where to begin? Kick off summer with our fun, colorful, and printable Diverse Summer Reading List that will get all kids engaged in reading! Our list includes both fiction and nonfiction, bilingual Spanish/English titles, and a diverse range of cultures—in other words, the right book for every reader!
In this blog post, we’ve rounded up books from our summer reading book list for grades 6-8. You can find more of our 2021 summer reading titles in our Diverse Summer Reading List and the corresponding book collection.
Keep reading for some of our favorite entertaining Lee & Low picks!
Boy, Everywhere, written by A. M. Dassu: What turns citizens into refugees and then immigrants? In this powerful middle-grade debut which received three starred reviews, Sami and his family embark on a harrowing journey to save themselves from the Syrian civil war.
Strong as Fire, Fierce as Flame, written by Supriya Kelkar: In 1857 India, 12-year-old Meera escapes a life she has no say in–and certain death on her husband’s funeral pyre–only to end up a servant to a British general in the East India Company. When a rebellion against British colonizers spreads, she must choose between relative safety in a British household or standing up for herself and her people.
On These Magic Shores, written by Yamile Saied Méndez: When Mamá fails to return home after her evening job, it is up to 12-year-old Minerva to take care of her younger sisters and hold the family together all while trying to act in her school’s play of Peter Pan.
Rogue Heart, written by Axie Oh: Warcross meets Final Fantasy in this companion novel to Rebel Seoul, in which a young telepath joins a rebel group on a secret mission to end a decades-long world war.
The Magnolia Sword, written by Sherry Thomas: Bestselling author Sherry Thomas weaves an enthralling #ownvoices retelling of a story that has thrilled readers for centuries: the Ballad of Mulan.
Indian No More, written by Charlene Willing McManis with Traci Sorell: Set in the 1950s, a ten-year-old Umpqua girl and her family’s tribal rights are terminated and they must relocate from their reservation in Oregon to Los Angeles, where they are expected to assimilate.
All the Stars Denied, written by Guadalupe García McCall: The story of the hidden history of the United States first mass deportation event, which swept up hundreds of thousands of Mexican American citizens during the Great Depression.
Grand Theft Horse, written by G. Neri, illustrated by Corban Wilkin: The powerful story of the author’s cousin Gail Ruffu, who stole a racehorse to save it, and ended up taking on the whole racing industry to fight for the humane treatment of animals.
I Am Alfonso Jones, written by Tony Medina, illustrated by Stacey Robinson and John Jennings: Perfect for fans of The Hate U Give: an unflinching graphic novel about the afterlife of a young man killed by an off-duty police officer, co-illustrated by New York Times bestselling artist John Jennings.
Summer of the Mariposas, written by Guadalupe García McCall: In this creative retelling of The Odyssey, fifteen-year-old Odilia and her younger sisters embark on a journey to return a dead man to his family in Mexico and must outwit monsters and witches to make it back home again. Also available in Spanish.
Find more Summer Reading Books:
Summer Reading Collection Grades PreK-8
Summer Reading Collection Grades PreK-2
Summer Reading Collection Grades 3-5
Summer Reading Collection Grades 6-8
Download the printable PDF here.
Looking to customize a book collection for your school or district? Get in touch.
