List
Hot Summer Reads 2021 (Grades 6-8)
From dramatic rescues to chilling horror, to political romance, these books will keep you turning the pages! Vote for your favorites, watch videos, and more on our Summer Reads page.
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Yes No Maybe So
2020 by Albertalli, BeckyGet this itemRomance meets politics! When Jewish teen Jamie and Muslim teen Maya are assigned the job of canvassing together for a local progressive candidate, they don't expect the summer to be very interesting. They're so wrong!
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The Only Black Girls in Town
2020 by Colbert, BrandyGet this itemEver feel like you don't fit in? Seventh-graders Alberta and Edie are the only two Black girls in their small California town, which means they are often the targets of microaggressions and misunderstanding. They don't seem to have much in common, but the discovery of some old letters in Edie's attic shows them that their shared history is a powerful bond.
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Dress Coded
2020 by Firestone, CarrieGet this itemDo dress codes ever bother you? Eighth-grader Olivia is dress-coded for a wardrobe malfunction beyond her control, and as a result, a class trip is cancelled. This uplifting story will have you cheering for Olivia and her friends as they unite to challenge an unfair rule.
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Agnes at the End of the World
2020 by McWilliams, KellyGet this itemIf you're looking for a page-turner, look no further! Teen Agnes was born and raised in a strict, off-the-grid cult, led by The Prophet, who controls every aspect of his flock's daily lives. Bit by bit, Agnes begins to discover that there are other ways to live. But can she escape The Prophet?
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Bloom
2020 by Oppel, KennethGet this itemDon't read this one if you scare easily! After an unusually hard rain on her small island off the coast of Vancouver, teen Anaya notices strange grass taking hold in places where nothing has grown before. What could it mean?
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Anti/Hero
2020 by Quinn, Kate KaryusGet this itemFreaky Friday for superheroes in a fun, fast-paced graphic novel. The Hummingbird and Gray Owl are 13-year-old superheroes who are competing to steal an important but mysterious bit of technology. No one is quite sure what the gadget does, but they will soon find out!
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Long Way Down: The Graphic Novel
2020 by Reynolds, JasonGet this itemDon't cry. Don't snitch. Get revenge. These are the rules in Will's neighborhood. When his brother Shawn is murdered, Will knows it's up to him to respond. He takes a gun and leaves his family's apartment to avenge Shawn's death. The ride down in the elevator is not what he expected.
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The Million Dollar Race
2021 by Smith, Matthew RossGet this itemThis sports story is funny, fast and fun! Grant knows he's a fast runner, and he wants to compete in The Babblemoney games, where the prize is $1 million. But you've got to have a birth certificate to enter, and Grant's counterculture parents never got one for him. Can Grant figure out a way to get in the race?
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All Thirteen: The Incredible Cave Rescue of the Thai Boys' Soccer Team
2020 by Soontornvat, ChristinaGet this itemThe story of an impossible rescue will keep you reading from start to finish. The plight of a young soccer team trapped in a cave that was rapidly filling with water was a huge news story in 2018. Learn about the efforts to rescue them against overwhelming odds as time runs out and the water keeps coming.
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When You Were Everything
2019 by Woodfolk, AshleyGet this itemIf you know how painful it is to lose a friend, you'll love the story of Cleo, who has always been sure that she and Layla will be best friends forever. Then the unthinkable happens. Layla starts drifting away. But Cleo is sure there's a way to get Layla back. There must be.
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