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Summer Reading 2025: Middle School

It's the 2025 Middle School Summer Reading List!

Here you will find over 180 books that will kindle curiosity, ignite imaginations, and help all our students grow as both readers and learners. The titles included on this list are ones we consider highlights of the last few years, plus some perennial favorites that have stood that test of time. Each genre is organized by grade, using grade range suggestions from professional trade publications like School Library Journal and The Horn Book. As always, as you select titles with your child we encourage you to seek out reviews from sources like Common Sense Media as there might be some books that inspire your child to read "up" or "down" from the suggested grade levels. 

 

This year, there is also grade-level required summer reading. Those titles are listed first and include information about what your student can expect to do when they return to Chapin in the fall. 

  • Current Chapin students will receive their required summer reading book before the end of the school year.
  • Incoming Chapin students will receive an email from Ms. Predovan with information on how to order their required book. Please do not order until you have heard from Ms. Predovan!

 

In addition to the required reading, the librarians ask that you read at least one book from the Summer Reading List and write a review! We will post those reviews around the library in the fall. Here are the directions for how to write your review: 

  • On a 4x6 inch index card, number each line of the index card 1-6. Next to those numbers, neatly write or print/paste the following: 
  1. Your Full Name and Graduation Year (ex. Gabby Gator, Class of 2030). 
  2. Title of the Book.
  3. Author of the Book.
  4. Book Genre(s). Feel free to list more than one: Novel in Verse, Mystery, Realistic Fiction, Historical Fiction, Fantasy, Science Fiction, Nonfiction…
  5. Number of stars out of 5 Stars.
  6. A 2-3 sentence review about what you found most enjoyable about the book. Note: please do not write on the back of the index card in case your review gets hung on a bulletin board! 
  • Return your index card to the Book Review Box near the Library’s book drop on the 5th floor whenever you first visit the Library in September (either for a Library class, or on your way to Advisory in the morning!)

 

If you are looking for more great titles to enjoy this summer, check out our list of Old & New Classic Read-Alouds. We also recommend the Newbery Medal winners and honors, which is awarded yearly to the author of “the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children.” You can find more literary awards and honor lists here. 

 

You can also find a printable pdf version of the list at the bottom of this page.

 

Have a wonderful, book-filled summer!

Ms. Goldberg, Middle School Librarian