Read, Renew, Repeat | Chapter Books

The 2024 statewide Summer Reading theme is Read, Renew, Repeat: sustainability and the environment. These chapter books, graphic novels, and nonfiction books for readers in grades 2-7 share a wide variety of takes on this theme--from youth activism to nature guides!

Books for younger readers are available in our Read, Renew, Repeat | Picture Books list.

Updated May 14, 2024
LINCC (Libraries in Clackamas County)Oregon City Public Library
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The Secret Explorers and the lost whales
King, SJ
Paper Book
Dive into the world of The Secret Explorers and learn about ocean life in this action-packed first installment in a brand-new fiction series. Meet The Secret Explorers! This group of brilliant kids comes together from all four corners of the globe to fix problems, solve...

A group of young explorers take turns leading expeditions in different areas of scientific expertise, gathering new knowledge and saving the planet. This short chapter book is perfect for readers who've just graduated from Bridging Fiction. (Children's Fiction Grades 3-5)

Expedition backyard : exploring nature from country to city
Mosco, Rosemary
Paper Book
Join two best friends-a mole and vole-on their everyday expeditions to find beautiful plants, meet new animals, and learn more about the world all around them in this nonfiction graphic novel. Each day, Mole and Vole venture out into the world - never forgetting their nature...

This nonfiction graphic novel explores the wonderful world of nature close to home in our yards and parks. (Bridging Graphic Novel Grades 2-4)

Turtles of the midnight moon
Fitzgerald, María José
Ebook
When poachers threaten the island they love, two girls team up to save the turtles--and each other. An eco-mystery with an unforgettable friendship story at its heart from a fresh new voice in middle grade. Twelve-year-old Barana lives in a coastal village in...

A Honduran American tween vising relatives in Honduras bonds with her cousin when they team up to save endangered sea turtles. (Children's Fiction Grades 3-5)

When sea becomes sky
McDunn, Gillian
Paper Book
In this heartfelt summer story, acclaimed author Gillian McDunn paints a stunning portrait of the bond of siblings and the love we'll always carry with us. Bex and Davey's summer in the saltmarsh is different this year, thanks to the record-breaking drought. Even the fish seem...

After a drought lowers the water level in their local saltmarsh, a brother and sister solve a mystery of a submerged statue found in the marsh bed. (Children's Fiction Grades 3-5)

Two degrees
Gratz, Alan
Paper Book
The instant #1 New York Times bestseller! #1 New York Times bestselling author Alan Gratz (Refugee; Ground Zero) is back, tackling the urgent topic of climate change in this breathtaking, action-packed novel that will keep readers turning pages while making...

Bestselling author Alan Gratz explores a not-too-distant potential future in which global temperatures have risen 2 degrees Celsius with three interconnected survival stories about middle schoolers surviving concurrent climate disasters. (Young Teen Fiction Grades 5-7)

Big tree
Selznick, Brian
Paper Book
The fate of all life on Earth may depend on the bravery of two little seeds in this epic adventure from the #1 New York Times bestselling creator and Caldecott Medalist of The Invention of Hugo Cabret. "The tale of the natural world is the greatest story we have to...

Caldecott Medalist Brian Selznick uses his trademark black-and-white drawings to craft a compelling full-length novel following a pair of sycamore seeds. (Children's Fiction Grades 3-5)

The Green Girls
Nicoloff, Loïc
Paper Book
Emma, Lily, and Fadila want to save the planet . . . but no one around them seems to care. Frustrated, they name themselves the Green Girls, take to social media, and launch a series of bold protests. Alongside their classmate and aspiring Green Girl Silas, the crew risks getting in...
A group of middle school girls become climate activists in this graphic novel translated from the original French. (Children's Graphic Novel Grades 3-5)
Survive in the outdoors!
Lawrence, Mike (Comic book artist)
Paper Book
In this volume of Maker Comics, First Second's DIY graphic novel series, you'll find step-by-step instructions for seven projects that will help you survive in the wild! Sophia and Alonso have been packed off to their grandpa's for a fishing trip, and they're dreading spending...

This hands-on graphic novel installment in the Maker Comics series focuses on survival skills for staying safe in nature. (Children's Graphic Novel Grades 3-5)

Wildfire
Bard, Breena
Paper Book
An inspiring and moving graphic novel, Wildfire follows climate change through the eyes of one middle-school girl, who's eager to turn her anger into action. Julianna loved her life in rural Oregon. She loved taking care of her farm...

Joining a climate change club at her new Portland middle school helps a tween girl heal after her beloved home in rural Oregon is destroyed by a wildfire started by a classmate. (Young Teen Graphic Novel Grades 5-7)

Global
Colfer, Eoin
Paper Book
From New York Times bestselling author Eoin Colfer and the team behind the Artemis Fowl graphic novels and bestselling, acclaimed graphic novel Illegal comes a compelling and timely story that follows two courageous children as they face the effects of climate change. Time is running out...

This graphic novel co-authored by the bestselling author of the Artemis Fowl series follows two young teens, one in northern Canada and one in India, as their lives change in the face of climate change. (Young Teen Graphic Novels Grades 5-7)

Total garbage : a messy dive into trash, waste, and our world
Donnelly, Rebecca
Paper Book
Total Garbage by Rebecca Donnelly dives into the messy truth about trash, garbage, waste, and our world--it's a fact-filled and fascinating illustrated middle grade environmental read! Trash has been part of human societies since the beginning. It seems like the...
Why do humans produce so much waste and what happens to it after the garbage truck takes it away? This nonfiction book dives into the history of trash and offers suggestion for how we can handle our waste in a more sustainable way. (Children's Nonfiction Age 8-12)
Team trash : a time traveler's guide to sustainability
Wheeler, Kate
Paper Book
When a science project goes awry, two student activists travel through time to learn how to protect our Earth from plastic pollution in modern times. Studious environmentalist Charlie is stuck with a science fair partner who seems like her complete opposite- Charlie wants to save...

A science fair project goes off course when two middle schoolers accidentally encounter a time machine that allows them to study the history of trash, using a science fiction premise to introduce readers to factual information about waste and sustainability. (Children's Nonfiction Age 10-13)

Hatchet
Paulsen, Gary
Paper Book
There was a wild crashing sound, a ripping of metal, and the plane blew through the trees, out over the water and down, down to slam into the lake . . . Brian is a city boy. Not used to living rough. Until his plane crash-lands in the Canadian wilderness. All he has is a...

A young man finds his inner strength after a plane crash strands him in the wilderness with just a hatchet and his wits in this classic novel from the late, great Gary Paulsen. (Young Teen Fiction Grades 5-7)


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