The Ultimate Summer Reading List for Kids Ages 9 – 12
by Janssen Bradshaw
I can’t believe summer is almost upon us! Slow summer mornings with tons of time stretched ahead of us mean my middle grade readers will devour book after book. This summer reading list for 5th, 6th, and 7th graders will help fill that need to read.
These books for tweens feature fantasy, mystery, hardships, history, adventure, and lots of fun! This list has something for every kind of reader.
-
A Copycat Conundrum (The Misfits)
Available from:My daughter loved the first book in this series! The Misfits may be an awkward group of kids fighting crime, but they possess the right qualities to dominate every mission. That is until priceless pieces of art go missing, bizarre earthquakes shake up San Francisco, and the nicest kid in school starts receiving terrorizing notes — all at the same time. Is this a coincidence, or are these circumstances connected?
Also available from: -
The Dragon’s Apprentice
Available from:Like most fantasy books, this middle grade novel has adventure and magic on every page, but it is also hilarious! Twelve-year-old Ciara lives in a tiny village ruled by an Emperor who promises that bad things will befall anyone who learns magic. Ciara tempts fate and accidentally summons an ancient, grouchy dragon who might be able to help her save her mother!
Also available from: -
The Green Kingdom
Available from:Brooklyn is NOT where 12-year-old Caspia wants to spend the summer. Big cities are not her thing, but her attitude changes when she finds a bundle of letters written by a blind girl long ago, all containing a riddle. These riddles lead her on an adventure to places and people she would have never discovered otherwise.
Also available from: -
Max in the Land of Lies
Available from:In this sequel to the historical fiction novel Max in the House of Spies, Max has successfully become a British spy. But when he returns to Germany, he finds his parents missing, and the Nazis keep him under constant surveillance. He risks everything to find his parents, but before long, the lies and truths start to blur together.
Also available from: -
Ready or Not! #1
Available from:Too much is changing in nine-year-old Abby’s world. Her best friend moved away, her mom started working full time, she has to do the dreaded after-school running program, and don’t get her started on the changes happening in her body without her permission. Being stuck between being a little kid and a full-blown teenager is hard.
Also available from: -
Survive This Safari
Available from:My kids love mind puzzles, and this middle grade novel is chock full of them. Lucy’s mind is blown when she is selected to participate in the Wildlands Safari Escape Challenge. She and her team race against the Wild Ambassadors to solve mind-bending puzzles and unlock new areas in the safari park. Naturally, they run into some crazy obstacles along the way. You don’t want to miss this one!
Also available from: -
Bumps in the Night
Available from:Darika is mad and doesn’t think she deserves to be shipped off to her grandmother in the Caribbean for the summer. She’s also angry at her mom, who left and never came back. The second she steps foot on the island, things feel off. But after a group of misfit kids offers to help her find her mother, she gets pulled into an adventure filled with monsters, mazes, and magic.
Also available from: -
Creaky Acres: A Graphic Novel
Preorder from:Sign my kids up for all the graphic novels! Nora loves her suburban hometown and close group of friends. But when her mom accepts a new job in a poor, rural area, Nora finds herself sad and lonely in a new place. Can she get used to being the new kid at school and practicing her horseback riding hobby at Creaky Acres?
(On sale: 5/6/2025)
Preorder from: -
The Human Kaboom
Available from:Do you have a child who loves all things wacky and weird? If so, check out this collection of six short stories! Even though every short story has the same name (quirky, right?), they each have a different illustrator, scenarios, and endings. These unique stories will leave your tween wanting more, so check out the author’s companion book, The Ice Cream Machine!
Also available from: -
Would You Rather? Summer Edition
Available from:School is out, everyone is relaxed, and the fun is just starting! Get some funny discussions going with this Would You Rather? book on a family road trip, sitting around the campfire, or hanging out at the beach. Your entire family will laugh at the goofy responses you come up with. It’s a surefire way to keep everyone entertained!
Also available from: -
Speak Up, Santiago!
Available from:Santi is thrilled to spend the summer in Hillside Valley, hang out with local kids, spend time with his Grandma, and eat her delicious food. There is one hang-up, though — the majority of kids speak Spanish. Even though Santi is Columbian, his Spanish is shaky. Can he keep up with everyone and absorb his Columbian heritage? This graphic novel is filled with lots of culture and friendship!
Also available from: -
Encounter at Owl Rock
Preorder from:Oakley and Cypress may be identical twins, but that’s where the likenesses end. Cypress is into directing films and is excited to start his new movie project. Oakley loves acting in Cypress films and using his imagination. When the twins have a disagreement, Oakley runs into Owl Rock, a granite formation, and vanishes. Cypress and his friend Jaz must outmaneuver a villainous company, find Oakley, and uncover Owl Rock’s deepest secrets.
(On sale: 6/3/2025)
Preorder from: -
Sea Swept
Preorder from:9780593481417The final installment of the Sisters Ever After series is here! Sisters Daria and Meria are both happy where they are. Daria lives in the sea as a mermaid, but Meria traded her fins for legs to be with the love of her life. Things drastically change when Daria receives a message about her sister’s disappearance up on land. Will she leave the beloved sea and venture to the land above to save her sister?
(On sale: 4/29/2025)
Preorder from: -
Quantum Interstellar Sports League #1
Available from:If you have a child who loves football, space, and graphic novels, this book is for them! Wyatt doesn’t love football, regardless of his legendary quarterback dad. Somehow, he becomes the quarterback in an intergalactic tournament against some scary aliens! This novel is full of fun, humor, and friendship.
Also available from:
Looking for summer reading ideas for younger or older kids? Check out our 2024 lists for Kids Ages 3 – 5, Ages 6 – 8, and Teens.