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Westerly Middle School Library: Summer Reading Recommendations

Promoting lifelong learning and encouraging exploration in curious minds.

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Remember, you can choose any 2 books for Summer Reading, but if you need suggestions check out some of these great reads!

KRARI - Kids Read Across Rhode Island 2021

Kids Read Across Rhode Island 2023: The Aquanaut by Dan Santat

 

Ever since her father was lost at sea, Sophia has been moping around Aqualand, the marine theme park her dad and uncle created. But Sophia's world is turned upside down when an "aquanaut" breaks into the park's research lab.

To her amazement, Sophia discovers that the aquanaut is not what it seems -- inside lives a band of four goofy sea creatures! And when they all realize that Aqualand has evolved into something much darker than Sophia's dad had envisioned, Sophia is determined to help the aquanaut crew free the park's captive marine life before it's too late.

Historical Fiction

The War That Saved My Life

Ten-year-old Ada has never left her one-room apartment. Her mother is too humiliated by Ada’s twisted foot to let her outside. So when her little brother Jamie is shipped out of London to escape the war, Ada doesn’t waste a minute—she sneaks out to join him.


More Historical Fiction

  • Lifeboat 12
  • Towers Falling
  • After Tupac and Foster
  • Fever, 1793

Humor

The Unteachables by Gordan Korman

The Unteachables are a notorious class of misfits, delinquents, and academic train wrecks. The Unteachables have been removed from the student body and isolated in room 117. Their teacher is Mr. Zachary Kermit, the most burned-out teacher in all of Greenwich. After years of phoning it in, he is finally one year away from early retirement. But the superintendent has his own plans to torpedo that idea—and it involves assigning Mr. Kermit to the Unteachables. Over the course of a school year, room 117 will experience mayhem, destruction—and maybe even a shot at redemption.


More Humor

  • The Adventures of Bean Boy
  • Terrible Two
  • Jackie Haha
  • Strange Case of the Origami Yoda

Mystery

Greenglass House

It’s wintertime at Greenglass House. The creaky smuggler’s inn is always quiet during this season, and twelve-year-old Milo, the innkeepers’ adopted son, plans to spend his holidays relaxing. But on the first icy night of vacation, out of nowhere, the guest bell rings. Then rings again. And again. Soon Milo’s home is bursting with odd, secretive guests, each one bearing a strange story that is somehow connected to the rambling old house. As objects go missing and tempers flare, Milo and Meddy, the cook’s daughter, must decipher clues and untangle the web of deepening mysteries to discover the truth about Greenglass House—and themselves.


More Mysteries

  • Parker Inheritance
  • Hoot
  • Mysterious Benedict Society
  • Click Here to Start

Sports

The Crossover

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Josh and his twin brother Jordan are awesome on the court. Josh also has mad beats, too, that tell his family's story in verse. Josh and Jordan must come to grips with growing up on and off the court to realize breaking the rules comes at a terrible price, as their story's heart-stopping climax proves a game-changer for the entire family.


More Sports

  • Up for Air
  • Booked
  • Out of Left Field
  • Ghost

Graphic Novels

Twins

Maureen and Francine are twins who do everything together, so when Francine
wants to be called Fran, join different clubs and have different classes, Maureen
worries they will lose their special twin bond. Will Middle school change their relationship forever?

 


 

More Graphic Novels

  • Apocalypse Taco
  • Be Prepared
  • Illegal
  • Awkward 
  • Lumberjanes

Nonfiction

Monster

This fascinating encyclopedia of monsters dives into the history and science behind eight legendary creatures, from Bigfoot and the Kraken to zombies and more. Find out each monster's origin story and the real-world history that informed it, and then explore the science of each creature in fun and surprising ways.


More Nonfiction

  • Rising Water: The Story of the Thai Cave Rescue
  • Undefeated
  • Girl Code
  • I Will Always Write Back

Sci Fi / Fantasy

Bloom by Kenneth Oppel

Anaya, Petra and Seth seem to be the only people immune to the toxic plants invading their Canadian island home and soon realize this rapidly spreading worldwide invasion must be stopped.With their soon-to-be-revealed hidden powers, these teens must stop this invasive, carnivorous alien plant species from destroying Earth. Bloom is the 1st book of Oppel’s trilogy.

 


More Science Fiction

  • Sal and Gabi Break the Universe
  • When You Reach Me
  • Legend
  • The Giver

Realistic Fiction

Song for a Whale by Lynne Kelley

Iris is many things. She is a caring sister, an antique radio repairer, and Deaf. As the only Deaf student in her class, she struggles to connect with her classmates and her teachers. In science she is introduced to Blue 55, a whale with a unique song that isolates him. As Iris learns more about this whale, she enlists her grandmother, the only other Deaf member of her family, to join her on an adventure of a lifetime to help Blue 55.


More Realistic Fiction

  • Counting by 7's
  • Ghost
  • Fish in a Tree
  • Hello Universe

Spooky

Small Spaces

undefinedAfter suffering a tragic loss, eleven-year-old Ollie only finds solace in books. So when she happens upon a crazed woman at the river threatening to throw a book into the water, Ollie steals the book and runs away. Ollie discovers a chilling story about a girl who made a deal with "the smiling man," a sinister specter who grants your most tightly held wish, but only for the ultimate price. Could it be the story about the smiling man is true?


More Chilling Tales

  • Graveyard Book
  • The Jumbies
  • Wait Til Helen Comes

Great (FREE!) eBooks Available on Destiny Discover