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Summer Reading List for Kids and Teens, Curated by Award-Winning Author Meg Medina
A must-read book list, curated by Meg Medina for The Children’s Book Review.
Dive into summer reading with a curated collection of standout books (spanning YA, middle grade, and picture books) handpicked by award-winning and New York Times best-selling author Meg Medina, who served as the 2023–2024 National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature.
Also making waves this season are Medina’s new paperback editions of Graciela in the Abyss and Graciela en el abismo, a lyrical and haunting deep-sea fantasy that feels tailor-made for summer reading season. With five starred reviews and praise from The New York Times, the novel has captivated readers with its ghostly underwater world, unforgettable imagery, and tender exploration of purpose, memory, and belonging.
Anna and Elena Balbusso’s mesmeric illustrations accompany Medina’s graceful and gently eerie narrative about a sea ghost who must find purpose beyond the material contours of mortality… Medina, a lyrical and tender storyteller, elegantly merges Graciela’s mortal desire for a ‘bigger’ life with the lesson her spirit must absorb before achieving peace.” — The New York Times
From contemporary YA and unforgettable middle grade stories to heartfelt picture books, these recommendations celebrate courage, identity, friendship, imagination, and the small moments that shape us.
Young Adult Recommendations
In a sentence: A graphic memoir in which Eugene Yelchin recounts his childhood in the Soviet Union, revealing how art, fear, and family shaped his struggle for freedom and identity.
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In a sentence: Follows a college freshman who becomes entangled with a charismatic but dangerous influencer whose secrets pull her into a web of manipulation, identity, and deception.
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In a sentence: The voice in this novel is so sharp and true. Belén is facing her own depression, her best friend’s pregnancy, and the scary question of what’s next after high school.
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Middle Grade Recommendations
In a sentence: The World War II book if you feel you can’t read another World War II book. Lovely spare writing and unforgettable characters in this story about courage to do the right thing.
Listen to this episode of The Growing Readers Podcast to hear author Sara Pennypacker discuss The Lion’s Run.
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In a sentence: Who doesn’t love a road trip story, especially one that involves reluctant companions? Another bonus: a wonderful tool with which to study the hero’s journey as a structure.
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In a sentence: Periods, friends, school life, and language trouble all rolled into one charming package. This is book 1 of the series.
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In a sentence: A determined young girl who steals peaches to survive but becomes entangled in a situation that forces her to confront trust, survival, and the consequences of her choices.
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In a sentence: Good kids mess up, too. Here’s a wonderful look at friendships and the high cost of popularity. Luna loves writing and spending time with her best friend Scott whose more peculiar qualities she doesn’t mind. But when she slowly joins the popular crowd, is there any way to fix what she’s damaged between them?
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Picture Book Recommendations
In a sentence: A sweet contemplation of a grandfather remembering his homeland while at the beach with his grandchild.
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In a sentence: You hate mangoes? The mess, the drip, the smell? Maybe it’s because you don’t know how to properly eat them –or access all the sweet tastes and memories they can bring.
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In a sentence: A girl walking her dog glimpses a woman writing in her window every day. As “window writer” myself, this book had me from the start. How do we know our neighbors? What windows help us see each other more clearly?
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Every Monday Mabel
Written and Illustrated by Jashar Awan
Ages: 4+ | 48 Pages
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers (2025) | ISBN-13: 978-1665938150
In a sentence: Nothing gets between Mabel and the highlight of her week: watching the garbage truck. A celebration of how our youngest readers see and enjoy the ordinary things around them.
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In a sentence: Poetry by one of our most revered poets with illustrations and nonfiction text that support learning about goldfinches. A STEM teacher and backyard birder’s dream book.
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About the Curator
Meg Medina is the 2024 Newbery Medal winner for Merci Suárez Changes Gears and author of many acclaimed novels and picture books, including Burn Baby Burn, Yaqui Delgado Wants to Kick Your Ass, and the Merci Suárez series. She served as the eighth National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature (2022-2024) with the platform “CuÉntame: Let’s Talk Books.” As a first-generation Cuban American, she draws on her heritage and experiences to create authentic stories that celebrate the strength and resilience of Latino families and communities.
Visit Meg Medina at https://www.megmedina.com/.
Learn More About Meg Medina’s Upcoming Paperback Releases:
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