DMS Summer Reading List - 2026

Explore this summer reading list featuring newer releases and reader favorites. Immerse yourself in captivating stories, broaden your perspective, and embrace the joy of reading. happy summer adventures!

 

'Uprising'

Jennifer A. Nielsen

When Germany invades Poland in 1939, twelve-year-old Lidia's world shatters. Refusing to sit idly by while her country falls under Nazi occupation, she joins the Polish resistance. Lidia starts small by smuggling food into the Warsaw ghetto, but she is soon risking everything to courier weapons and messages through dangerous streets. This gripping, fast-paced historical novel tells a powerful story of courage, sacrifice, and standing up against overwhelming injustice.


 

'Isle of Ever'

Jen Calonita

Right after turning 12, Everly "Benny" Benedict discovers she has inherited a massive family fortune. There is just one catch: To claim it, she must solve a series of ancient riddles left by her ancestor and locate a magical island that vanished centuries ago. With a strict two-week deadline, tricky clues, and a rival treasure hunter on her heels, Benny is thrown into a high-stakes adventure full of secrets and magic.


 

'Right Back at You'

Carolyn Mackler

Twelve-year-old Mason is having a terrible 2023. His parents just separated and school bullies won't leave him alone. To vent, he hides a letter in his closet, only to find a reply from Talia, a girl living in 1987. Connected through a mysterious time-wormhole, the two mismatched preteens become unexpected lifelines for each other. They navigate family drama, changing friendships, and middle school life in a funny, heartfelt story about connection.


 

'The Academy'

T.Z. Layton

Twelve-year-old Leo Doyle lives for soccer, so when an elite scout invites him to try out for the world-famous London Dragons youth squad, it is a dream come true. Suddenly, Leo is flown to England to compete against 200 of the best young players on Earth for only 11 open spots. To make the cut, he must survive grueling training, handle a vicious camp bully, and overcome his own self-doubt.


 

'Scritch Scratch'

Lindsay Currie

Twelve-year-old Claire is a scientist who utterly disbelieves in the paranormal. But after helping out on her dad's Chicago ghost tour bus, she spots a strange, sad-eyed boy who vanishes into thin air. Soon, terrifying scratching sounds echo in her room, eerie voices whisper from the dark, and the number 396 appears everywhere. Claire realizes she is being haunted—and she must use her logic to uncover what this ghost wants before it is too late.


 

'The First State of Being'

Erin Entrada Kelly

It is the summer of 1999, and twelve-year-old Michael is busy worrying about Y2K and hoarding canned goods. His life takes a wild turn when he meets Ridge, a strange, confused boy who has accidentally time-traveled from the year 2199. Together with his friend Gibby, Michael tries to help Ridge navigate the nineties and find a way home. It is a brilliant, heartfelt, and funny science-fiction story about living in the moment.


 

'The Trouble With Heroes'

Kate Messner

Seventh-grader Finn Connelly is drowning in grief after losing his firefighter-hero father. Angry at the world, Finn gets caught vandalizing a local cemetery headstone. To avoid charges, he must complete a unique restitution: climb all 46 Adirondack High Peaks by Labor Day, bringing along the dead woman’s drooling dog, Seymour. Written largely in verse as a school poetry assignment, this moving, funny adventure captures a boy transforming raw anger into healing.


 

'Impossible Creatures'

Katherine Rundell

While visiting his grandfather, Christopher accidentally discovers a hidden gateway to the Archipelago, a secret cluster of islands where magical creatures like griffins, sphinxes, and unicorns actually exist. There, he teams up with a brave girl named Mal, who can fly. Together, they embark on an epic, high-stakes quest to save this mythical world from a dark, encroaching magic that threatens to destroy it. It is a breathtaking, highly imaginative modern epic.


 

'The Labors of Hercules Beal'

Gary D. Schmidt

Hercules Beal is a rising seventh grader who is grieving the tragic loss of his parents. When his school year starts, his brilliant but demanding teacher gives him a massive, unique assignment: connect the mythical Twelve Labors of Hercules to his own real life. As Hercules tackles hilarious real-world challenges - like dealing with a runaway cat and conquering giant chores - he accidentally discovers his own strength. It’s a deeply touching, incredibly funny story.