Wrap up your 2024 school year with the 5 best young adult summer reads and middle grade reads!
Wrap up your 2024 school year with the 5 best young adult summer reads and middle grade reads!
Welcome, book lovers and educators! As the school year draws to a close and the promise of long, sunny days begins to unfold, it’s the perfect time to update your reading list with the best young adult summer reads. Whether you’re lounging by the pool, nestled in a cozy hammock, or simply enjoying the quiet of your living room, these books promise to be the perfect companions.
Below, we’ll explore five standout titles that are sure to resonate with both young adult and middle grade readers, making them excellent picks for secondary ELA educators looking to recommend or explore fresh narratives and diversify their classroom libraries.
From gripping thrillers to heartfelt romances, these best young adult summer reads will not only captivate your imagination but also spark meaningful discussions when school swings back into session.
So, let’s dive into the vibrant world of young adult literature and discover your next favorite book!
Best Young Adult Summer Reads 2024
If YA or MG is your go-to reading genre, NO JUDGMENTS HERE! If you are looking to add these diverse best young adult summer reads to your classroom library, you can use these for independent reading activities or pair them with reading response cards that go with ANY novel.
Something More by Jackie Khalilieh
✨ HS
✨ Contemporary romance with charming comedy and themes of coming-of-age
✨ Jessie, a 15-year-old with autism, creates a list of goals in order to maintain a new persona as she starts high school.
🎥 For fans of To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before and Atypical
Warrior Girl Unearthed by Angeline Boulley
✨ MG and/or HS
✨ Thriller with social justice themes
✨ Perry Firekeeper-Birch is stuck in the same summer program as her by-the-book twin sister; It is in this summer program that she learns of two dark realities: stolen ancestral remains and sacred Anishinaabe items are being held captive by colonizers AND Indigenous women in her community are going mysteriously missing.
🎥 For fans of Gone Girl and The Menu
In need of Indigenous MG or YA recs? Or how about some spooky creative writing activity to match the thriller vibes?
The Davenports by Krystal Marquis
✨ HS
✨ Historical fiction with romance, coming-of-age, and familial relationships
✨ Based on the true life story of the esteemed Patterson family, this romantic and lavish period piece celebrates the Davenports, one of few Black families in the 1910s to procure vast wealth and status in a racist United States.
🎥 For fans of Gossip Girl and Bridgerton (but make it PG)
Different Kinds of Fruit by Kyle Lukoff
✨ MG/HS
✨ Contemporary fiction with cute comedy and themes of coming-of-age, activism, and identity
✨ When Annabelle accuses her dad of being homophobic, she finds out she has a lot to learn about her family and herself.
🎥 For fans of Love, Victor
We also have more LGBTQI+ YA recs on our blog and trans and non-binary authored or protag-centered recs at our Bookshop!
Invisible: A graphic novel by Christina Diaz Gonzalez & Gabriela Epstein
✨ MG
✨ Graphic novel with themes of friendship, acceptance, and diversity
✨ Five students who have only ONE thing in common—they all speak Spanish—are forced to complete community service together.
🎥 For fans of The Breakfast Club
Want more Latine representation and/or graphic novels on your shelves?
Well folxs, that wraps up our top picks for our best young adult summer reads and middle grade reads to keep you company this summer.
These books are sure to keep you and your students hooked, whether you’re basking in the summer sun or just chilling out at home. Happy reading, everyone – here’s to a summer filled with great books and even better memories!
