Summer Reading Recommendations 2021
It’s time to start making that summer reading list, and Connections Academics has got you covered! May your summer be filled with pools, BBQ, and lots of late night page-turners!
Early Elementary
This is How We Do It: Follow seven children from all over the world through everyday life, including what they eat, how they get to school, and what they do for fun. The best part of this book is the last page where readers get to see the real families that contributed to this book.
Zoey and Sassafras Series: Science lover? These books are for you! Not a science lover? These books are still for you! Zoey and her magic ability to talk to animals will definitely spark a love for science in all young readers! The scientific method is so cleverly worked into each book of this series, readers won’t even realize how much they are learning.
Jabari Tries: The beloved Jabari returns! If you haven’t readJabari Jumps, you’ll want to grab that one too, especially for kids who might be braving the diving board this summer. I was thrilled to see Jabari back in another picture book about perseverance as Jabari attempts to make a flying machine.
Dory Story: Follow Danny on a wild adventure out at sea as he watches the ocean food chain in action. And just when you think you know where this story is going, you’re hit with a surprise ending! My favorite kind of ending!
Upper Elementary
Clean Getaway: 11-year-old William ventures off on an impromptu RV road trip with his Grandma. Enough said, right? This road trip opens William’s eyes to the segregated history of the American South as he learns the history of his own family.
Wink: Ross just wants to be “a normal middle school kid,” but his recent eye cancer diagnosis is making that impossible. This hilarious and heartfelt novel is based on the author’s real life experiences.
When Stars Are Scattered:This is a perfect example of how graphic novels can take on tough subjects. Set in a refugee camp in Kenya, Omar has the opportunity to go to school, but this would mean leaving his younger brother behind.
Middle and High School
One of Us is Next: Kick off your summer reading with the sequel to the bestselling thriller One of Us is Lying. The mystery behind Simon's death may have been solved, but now there is a whole new set of problems to deal with. Head back to Bayview for this perfect summer thriller!
Salt of the Sea: You’ve heard of Titanic, but you’ve likely never heard of Wilhelm Gustloff. The ship was hugely over capacity with war refugees when it sunk in the Baltic Sea as WWII drew to a close. Historical fiction lovers won’t be able to put this one down.
Bloom: You will get sucked into this science-fiction novel about an unusual rain that causes alien plants to sprout. These plants devour animals and humans, but three teenagers are immune to this mysterious plant. Why? How? This first book in a new series will keep you turning pages!
Clap When You Land: This novel is set in verse, and tells the gripping story of Camino and Yahaira, two very different sisters who don’t know about one another. The format of this book makes it truly unique, and readers will connect with these sisters as each shares her perspective.
