ALSC 2026 Summer Reading List: Grades 6-8Like this list

20 items

• All the Blues in the Sky

  Watson, Renée,

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  After losing her best friend on her thirteenth birthday, Sage navigates grief and guilt in this moving novel in verse.

• The Atlas Obscura Explorer's Guide to Inventing the World

  Thuras, Dylan,

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  Journey through time in this enjoyable look at inventions from around the world. The book is organized into categories, from fire, ancient renewables, binary numbers, and so many more, all the way to AI. For example, readers discover that the…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Blood in the Water

  Jackson, Tiffany D.,

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  When a popular local teen is found dead during her summer on Martha’s Vineyard, twelve-year-old Kaylani turns amateur sleuth to uncover the truth in this gripping mystery.

• A Dangerous Idea

  the Scopes Trial, the Original Fight Over Science in Schools

  Levy, Debbie,

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  In 1925, Tennessee lawmakers banned the teaching of evolution in their classrooms. John Scopes mentioned the theory in passing during science class, thus starting a nationwide conversation about what should or shouldn’t be taught to our nation’s…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• The Forgotten Summer of Seneca

  Garrett, Camryn

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  Fantasy and history converge in this captivating coming-of-age story. Twelve year-old budding photographer Rowan isn’t looking forward to summer with her aunt in New York City, but then she steps through a portal that takes her into the city’s past,…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• How to Say Goodbye in Cuban

  Miyares, Daniel,

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  This powerful graphic memoir recounts the experiences of Carlos, the author’s father, who escaped from Cuba at age twelve during the Cuban Revolution.

• The Moon Without Stars

  Miller, Chanel,

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  Middle-schooler Luna’s skills in bibliotherapy and the unexpected success of her zine shift her social status in this philosophical look at friendship dynamics.

• The New Girl

  Calin, Cassandra, 1994-

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  How does it feel to start all over in a new country? Lia leaves behind Romania and has to figure everything out in a new country, new home, new language, and even a seemingly new body as she struggles with getting her period for the first time.

• Rialto

  Milford, Kate,

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  Two sisters struggling with their sibling dynamic spend summer vacation in a magic-tinged town where lore around an abandoned amusement park enthralls them.

• Scarlet Morning

  Stevenson, ND,

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  Viola’s and Wilmur’s lives are turned upside down when Captain Chase arrives at their door. They are in for the trip of a lifetime as they set sail in this funny and fast-paced fantasy pirate adventure.

• A Song for You and I

  O'Neill, Kay (Cartoonist),

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  Rowan wants nothing more than to be a ranger protecting their village. But when their reckless actions lead to disaster, a surprising relationship will help Rowan appreciate a different speed of living.

• Speak Up, Santiago!

  Anta, Julio,

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  Santiago leaves New York City for a summer with his abuela to improve his Spanish skills. He looks forward to playing soccer with new friends, but Santi’s lack of fluency makes him feel left out among the Latine community of Hillside Valley,…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• The Teacher of Nomad Land

  a World War II Story

  Nayeri, Daniel,

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  Orphaned siblings navigate the perilous landscape of neutral Iran as Axis and Allied forces converge there in 1941 in this poetic and gentle World War II story.

• The Trouble With Heroes

  Messner, Kate,

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  After damaging a tombstone, Finn must hike the forty-six Adirondack peaks, where he learns about himself and deals with the trauma of his father’s death.

• The Undead Fox of Deadwood Forest

  Hartman, Aubrey,

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  Clare ushers animal souls to their afterlives, but the arrival of stubborn badger Gingersnipes sends Clare off on a treacherous mission to find answers to questions Clare fears asking; a tender and quirky masterpiece.

• The Vanishing of Lake Peigneur

  a Graphic Novel Based on a True Story

  Wolf, Allan,

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  For fans of the I Survived series by Lauren Tarshis, this tells the little-known true story of a mining disaster that caused a whole lake in Louisiana to disappear. Great for fans of both historical and environmental reads. Pair it with Junius Leak…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• Whale Eyes

  a Memoir About Seeing and Being Seen

  Robinson, James (Filmmaker),

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  James Robinson has a visible disability, exotropia, which means his eyes are not aligned. Through unconventional formatting and multimedia, readers are able to view the world as James does and to explore the power of human connection.

• Winnie Nash Is Not Your Sunshine

  Melleby, Nicole,

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  There’s a lot on Winnie’s plate this summer, from her dad’s new job to her mom’s post miscarriage pregnancy. To top it all off, Winnie’s parents ask her to go back into the closet while she’s staying with her grandma in New Jersey. Winnie spends the…Read moreRead more of this annotation

• A World Without Summer: A Volcano Erupts, a Creature Awakens, and the Sun Goes Out

  Day, Nicholas

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  This engaging nonfiction book tells the story of Mount Tambora’s 1815 eruption and the “Year Without a Summer,” connecting the dots by exploring the global impact of this event on weather, society, art, and literature.

• A World Worth Saving

  Lukoff, Kyle,

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  When A came out as trans, his parents were less than thrilled. Now he’s stuck in an anti-trans group while his parents try to “fix” him. The problem is, not only is A in danger, but the whole world is also in peril from pain-eating demons. If A…Read moreRead more of this annotation