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. [online electronic audiobook]
King, SJ.
Audiobook
Meet The Secret Explorers! Children will be inspired to discover the world with these brand new character-driven adventure stories for children. Learn about humpback whales and fascinating deep-sea creatures in this action-packed adventure story. Dive into the world of The...

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)

Just keep walking
Downing, Erin Soderberg
Paper Book
*A MIBA Bestseller! Wild meets Gilmore Girls on the trail in this indie bestselling story of resilience and the healing and restorative power of the nature from bestselling author Erin Soderberg Downing "A fun, heartfelt tale of adventure, family, and...

A girl and her mother set off on a backpacking trip along Lake Superior, healing their relationship in this mother-daughter take on Cheryl Strayed's memoir Wild. (Children's Fiction Grades 3-5)

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

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)

Adventure awaits.
Kingsbury, Karen.
Paper Book
Now an original series on Prime Video In the fourth book in Karen Kingsbury and Tyler Russell's beloved series about the Baxter children, Kari and Ashley go through the ups and downs of summer camp. School science camp is a few weeks away, but Ashley and Kari...

The fourth book in this popular Christian fiction series focuses on learning more about nature and the outdoors as the five siblings spend the summer at science camp. (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)

Haven Jacobs saves the planet
Dee, Barbara
Paper Book
From critically acclaimed author Barbara Dee comes a "thought-provoking...wonderful" (School Library Journal) middle grade novel about a young girl who channels her anxiety about the climate crisis into rallying her community to save a local river. Twelve-year-old Haven...

A middle schooler with debilitating climate anxiety confronts her fears with action and activism on a crisis close to home. (Young Teen Fiction Grades 5-7)

Nowhere better than here
Guillory, Sarah
Paper Book
In a town slowly being destroyed by rising tides, one girl must fight to find a way to keep her community's spirit from drowning. For thirteen-year-old Jillian Robichaux, three things are sacred: bayou sunsets, her grandmother Nonnie's stories, and the coastal Louisiana town...

After her Louisiana town is devastated by a flood, a young teen girl harnesses her family's storytelling traditions to help shift the narrative around the climate crisis behind the rising waters. (Young Teen Fiction Grades 5-7)

Emily posts
Kyi, Tanya Lloyd
Paper Book
Emily is the ringleader for her school podcast, Cedarview Speaks - Sponsored by CoastFresh! But her plans for middle-school fame and social media influence are derailed when Amelie joins her eighth-grade class. The new arrival has a seemingly endless supply of confidence and a gift for leading...

An ambitious middle school podcaster must choose between doing what she believes is right and following the rules when she discovers her podcasting idol is part of a plan to suppress a student climate protest. (Young Teen Fiction Grades 5-7)

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)

Condor comeback
Montgomery, Sy
Paper Book
Winner of the Green Earth Book Award Sibert Medalist, National Book Award Honoree, and New York Times bestselling author Sy Montgomery turns her formidable talents to the story of California condors and the scientists who have fought against their extinction in this installment in the...

Don't let the size and shape of the Scientists in the Field books fool you! Each one is a deep dive that follows real scientists conducting field research. There are dozens, including this book by powerhouse science writer Sy Montgomery that explores the fight to save California condors from extinction. (Children's Nonfiction Age 10-12)

Hatchet.
Paulsen, Gary, 1939-
Paper Book
This award-winning contemporary classic is the survival story with which all others are compared--and a page-turning, heart-stopping adventure, recipient of the Newbery Honor. Hatchet has also been nominated as one of America's best-loved novels by PBS's The Great American Read....

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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