2025 TD Summer Reading Books for Older Children

Updated February 27, 2025
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Alterations
Xu, Ray
Paper Book
For fans of Gene Luen Yang's American Born Chinese and Svetlana Chmakova's Awkward, this funny yet poignant middle-grade coming-of-age story highlights the struggle of feeling invisible while yearning to be seen by all.    ...
Anne dares
George, K.
Paper Book
Anne is excited to be a guest at a party at Orchard Slope, the home of her kindred spirit, Diana Barry. But when the dares start and mean Josie Pye makes the others feel bad, Anne can't stop herself from challenging Josie to a dare... which leads to Anne being dared to climb the house and walk along...
Anzu and the realm of darkness
Nguyen, Mai K.
Ebook
5 Worlds meets Spirited Away in this tale of a girl fighting her way back home after getting trapped in the spirit world. Anzu has just moved to a new town during Obon, a time for families to remember and celebrate their ancestors. Ever since her obaachan died,...
Are we there yet? : how humans find their way
Birmingham, Maria
Paper Book
Why do some people have a bad sense of direction? How can you avoid getting lost? Why did early mapmakers put fake towns on their maps and why does every traffic controller in the world speak English? From finding food, water and shelter to traveling for commerce, trade and eventually...
The Bellwoods Game
Krampien, Celia
Paper Book
Perfect for fans of Doll Bones and Hocus Pocus, this "beautifully creepy" (Kirkus Reviews), highly illustrated middle grade novel follows a girl who hopes to fix her outcast status through a game in the haunted woods, only to discover that some legends shouldn't be...

Also available in eBook and eAudiobook formats.

Bog Myrtle
Sharp, Sid
Paper Book
Best Books of 2024 lists: NYPL, New York Magazine, Quill & Quire * JLG Gold Standard Selection * Moonbeam Children's Book Award Winner * Kids Indie Next Pick From the acclaimed author of The Wolf Suit comes another weirdly hilarious, masterfully thought-provoking, and lushly painted early...
Chang'e on the moon
Moore, Katrina
Paper Book
Everlasting Tales is a collection of multicultural fairy tales and folktales--honoring the stories passed down through oral tradition by refreshing and preserving them for new generations.  Before she was the famous goddess of the moon, she was simply Chang'e.  Once upon a...
City of neighbors
Curtis, Andrea
Paper Book
A splash of paint, a place to sit, a popup park or playground bring life and a sense of fun to our cities. Neighborhoods where people look out for each other, eat together, make art and build community are healthier, happier, greener and cleaner. Journey around the world to discover how...
Ellen outside the lines
Sass, A. J.
Paper Book
Winner of a Sydney Taylor Book Award Honor! A heartfelt novel about a neurodivergent thirteen-year-old navigating changing friendships, a school trip, and expanding horizons for fans of Rain Reign and Ivy Aberdeen's Letter to the World. ...

Also available in eBook format.

A first time for everything : a true story
Santat, Dan
Paper Book
*Winner of the National Book Award for Young People's Literature* A middle grade graphic memoir based on bestselling author and Caldecott Medalist Dan Santat's awkward middle school years and the trip to Europe that changed his life. Dan's always been a...
Grounded : a novel
Saeed, Aisha
Paper Book
When a thunderstorm grounds all flights following a huge Muslim convention, four unlikely kids are thrown together. Feek is stuck babysitting his younger sister, but he'd rather be writing a poem that's good enough for his dad, a famous poet and rapper. Hanna is intent on finding a lost cat in the...

Also available in eBook format.

Isabel in bloom
Respicio, Mae
Paper Book
A middle-school girl discovers a connection between her home in the Philippines and her new home in the U.S. through a special garden in "this sweet and heartfelt novel [that] explores how bumpy beginnings can offer chances for new growth" (The New York Times)
Lunar boy
Wibowo, Jessica
Paper Book
For fans of The Witch Boy and Squished, Lunar Boy is a must-have heartwarming coming-of-age graphic novel about a young boy from the moon who discovers a home in the most unlikely places, from debut twin creators Jes and Cin Wibowo. Indu, a boy from the moon, feels like he...
The new girl
Calin, Cassandra
Paper Book
Instagram sensation and Tapas webcomic superstar Cassandra Calin makes her long-form debut with this funny, feel-good middle-grade graphic novel about change. Goodbye, old life... Lia and her family are waiting to board a flight across the Atlantic, leaving behind family,...

Also available in eBook format.

No boundaries : 25 women explorers and scientists share adventures, inspiration, and advice
Fieseler, Clare
Ebook
Meet 25 female explorers and scientists in these inspirational and poignant stories of exploration, courage, and girl power. Along the way, they share lessons learned and words of wisdom sure to inspire the next generation of scientists, adventurers, and world-changers. Track a volcanologist as she...
Out of my dreams
Draper, Sharon M.
Paper Book
Melody flies to London to speak at a convention about differently abled kids in this "warm and beautifully told" (Kirkus Reviews, starred review) sequel to the acclaimed, New York Times bestselling middle grade novels Out of My Mind and Out of My Heart.

Also available in eBook and eAudiobook formats.

The Racc Pack. 1
Cooke, Stephanie
Paper Book
Live life in the trash lane with this first entry in a hilarious middle grade graphic novel series about a family of sneaky raccoons from graphic novel superstars Stephanie Cooke and Whitney Gardner! Meet the Bins family, a trio of raccoons in the risky business of dumpster...
Safiyyah's war
Khan, Hiba Noor
Ebook
Inspired by the true story of how the Grand Mosque of Paris saved the lives of hundreds of Jews during World War II, this breathtaking tale of suspense, compassion, and courage stars an extraordinary young heroine readers will never forget. "A riveting read for children and adults alike." -...
Salma writes a book
Ramadan, Ahmad Danny
Paper Book
Salma is going to be a big sister! Can she figure out what it means to be a good sister before the baby arrives? Silver Birch Express Award Finalist OLA Top Ten Best Bets Winner Salma's determined to be the best sister ever, so she sets out to write the ultimate guidebook to...
Search for a giant squid : pick your path
Forrester, Amy Seto
Ebook
A new and exciting pick-your-path STEM adventure for emerging readers! This series starter takes emerging readers on an expedition to the ocean's twilight zone in search of a giant squid. But giant squids are hard to find. Readers will need to join the expedition and help make choices...
Special delivery : a book's journey around the world
Faber, Polly
Paper Book
This unique story follows the process of making a book from printing to shipping to selling . . . to reading! This beautifully illustrated picture book shows the journey of one book from printer to reader. Bright, contemporary artwork details the people, the vehicles, and the...
Tasty : a history of yummy experiments
Elliott, Victoria Grace
Paper Book
How did cheese happen? Who pickled the first pickle? Explore the history of innovative food in this non-fiction graphic novel filled with facts, legends, and recipes. Have you ever wondered how some of our favorite foods came to be? How was cheese created and who realized it...
Viewfinder
Chung, Christine D. U.
Paper Book
A young space traveler happens upon Earth in the future in this gorgeous wordless adventure for fans of Shaun Tan. A transportive graphic novel for ages 6 to 9, perfect for Earth Day. A young space traveler visits Earth on a whim and finds a planet empty of people. She happens...
Walking together
Marshall, Albert
Paper Book
This bestselling, innovative picture book introduces readers to the concept of Etuaptmumk--or Two-Eyed Seeing, the gift of multiple perspectives in the Mi'kmaw language--as we follow a group of young children connecting to nature as their teacher. A poetic, joyful celebration...
Swimming into trouble
Ahn, Angela
Paper Book
Temporarily sidelined from her swim team by an earache, Julia won't be kept down in this buoyant illustrated novel for ages 7 to 10 by acclaimed writer Angela Ahn. As a member of the Vipers Swim Team, Julia Nam's always in the pool. Mountainview Community Center is like her...

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