Summer Reading List 2021
Jump to:
Children: Picture Books | Early Readers | Chapter Books
Teens: Middle School | High School
Adults: Fiction | Non-Fiction
There is something special about reading during the long days of summer. Take a look at some new books we are recommending or wanting to read ourselves for the summer of 2021.
Want to check any of these out? Place a hold on a title at lincc.org or give us a call (503-783-3455). For even more ideas, just ask your librarian!
Also, have you joined us for our summer reading program? Book lovers of all ages are eligible.
Picture Books
Camp Tiger by Susan Choi; illustrated by John Rocco
Every year, a boy and his family go camping at Mountain Pond, but this year brings some unexpected surprises.
Fatima’s Great Outdoors by Ambreen Tariq; illustrated by Stevie Lewis
Fatima takes a camping trip with her family and helps to set up a tent and build a fire before settling down to sleep surrounded by the sounds of the forest.
A New Green Day by Antoinette Portis
Explore nature through evocative riddles and bold imagery that take the reader from day to night and back again.
Off to See the Sea by Nikki Grimes; illustrated by Elizabeth Zuon
A routine bath becomes a magical adventure at sea, where the faucet is a waterfall, a rubber ducky is a sea creature, and the splashing water is a raging ocean!
Shape Up Construction Trucks! by Victoria Allenby
Vivid photographs of construction vehicles, rhyming text, and find the shape interaction- – toddler perfection!
Swashby and the Sea by Beth Ferry; illustrated by Juana Martinez-Neal
Captain Swashby loves his quiet life by the sea — find out what happens when an exuberant girl moves into the house next door.
When We Are Kind by Monique Gray Smith; illustrated by Nicole Neidhardt
This book celebrates simple acts of everyday kindness and encourages children to explore how they feel when they initiate and receive acts of kindness in their lives.
Where’s Baby? by Anne Hunter
Can you find Baby Fox? Daddy looks up and down and all around, discovering many other animals until he finally gets a hint.
Wonder Walkers by Micah Archer
Two curious kids embark on a wonder walk, observing carefully, taking pleasure in the beauty they see, and asking questions about the natural world.
Early Readers
Beginning readers, short chapters, and lots of fun
Blue, Barry & Pancakes by Dan Abdo and Jason Patterson
Three friends spend a day at the beach, where things go outrageously wrong.
Bunbun & Bonbon: Fancy Friends by Jess Keating
Bunbun has it all: a delightful Bunbun nose, a cute Bunbun tail, and two adorable Bunbun ears, but Bunbun doesn’t have a friend — until Bunbun meets Bonbon.
Charlie & Mouse Outdoors by Laurel Snyder; illustrated by Emily Hughes
Two brothers and their family are off on a new adventure — going camping!
I’m on it! by Andrea Tsurumi
When Goat jumps on it, Frog does, too. Soon Goat and Frog are on it, along it, above it, inside it, beside it, around it, and under it!
See the Cat: Three Stories about a Dog by David LaRochelle; illustrated by Mike Wohnoutka
Max is not a cat– Max is a dog! But much to his dismay, this book keeps instructing readers to “see the cat.” How can Max get through to the book that he is a dog?
What about worms!? by Ryan T. Higgins
Tiger is big. Tiger is brave. Tiger is unafraid, except . . .what about worms!?
Who Needs a Checkup? by Norm Feuti
Harry is worried about going to the doctor and getting a shot, so his best friend Hedgehog comes up with a way to reassure him in this sweet humorous friendship tale.
Chapter Books
Just right for grade schoolers
Allergic by Megan Wagner Lloyd and Michelle Mee Nutter
What to do when you really want a pet but you’re also super allergic to everything?!
Cardboard Box Engineering by Jonathan Adolph
Cure summer boredom by turning cardboard boxes and tubes into games, robots, and more.
Dog Squad by Chris Grabenstein
When trouble calls, it’s Dog Squad to the rescue in this hilarious action packed start to a new series.
Magnificent Monsters of Cedar Street by Lauren Oliver
Cordelia teams up with human and fantastical friends when her beloved father and several of the creatures in his care go missing.
Measuring Up by Ann Xu
Cici enters a cooking competition to win the chance to see her grandmother again, but she only knows how to cook Taiwanese food.
Pawcasso by Remy Lai
The loneliest girl in class befriends the coolest canine roaming the town — she brings him to art class where he is mistaken as “her” dog, and that’s where the trouble starts.
The Last Last-Day-of-Summer by Lamar Giles
When adventurous cousins accidentally extend the last day of summer by freezing time, they find the secrets between the unmoving seconds are not as much fun as they expected.
Lion of Mars by Jennifer Holm
Bell has spent his whole life–all eleven years of it–on Mars. But he’s still just a regular kid–he loves cats, any kind of cake, and is curious about the secrets the adults in the US colony are keeping.
Sydney and Taylor Explore the Whole Wide World by Jacueline Davies
Taylor the hedgehog and Sydney the skunk set out from their comfortable burrow on an expedition to see the “Whole Wide World”.
Ways to Grow Love by Renee Watson
In the summer before fifth grade, Ryan continues to grow through changes and challenges, such as waiting for a new baby sister to be born, a summer camp trip, and more.
Middle School
Just right for 6th-8th graders
Amari and the Night Brothers by B.B. Alston
An invitation to go to a supernatural summer camp means a chance to find out what happened to her missing brother.
Amber and Clay by Laura Amy Schlitz
After a curse is put on the ghost of a privileged girl killed by lightning, she comes to the aid of an enslaved boy living in Ancient Greece.
The Girl from the Sea by Molly Knox Ostertag
One night, Morgan is saved from drowning by a mysterious girl named Keltie. The two become friends and suddenly life on the island doesn’t seem so stifling anymore.
Green Lantern: Legacy by Minh Lê; illustrated by Andie Tong
When thirteen-year-old Tai Pham inherits his grandmother’s jade ring, he soon finds out he has been inducted into a group of space cops known as the Green Lanterns.
How To Draw Cute Beasts by Angela Nguyen
Learn how to draw cute Kawaii style mythical creatures.
Marcus Vega Doesn’t Speak Spanish by Pablo Cartaya
After a scuffle at school, Marcus finds himself on a plane to Puerto Rico for a week of relatives, misadventures, and more.
Snapdragon by Kat Leyh
Snap meets Jacks, the town’s spooky old crone who is rumored to be a witch, and the two develop an unlikely camaraderie and discover unexpected connections.
The Total Eclipse of Nestor Lopez by Adrianna Cuevas
A Cuban American boy must use his secret ability to communicate with animals to save the inhabitants of his town when they are threatened by a tule vieja, a witch that transforms into animals.
High School
Drama, heartbreak, and finding your voice
Fire Keeper’s Daughter by Angeline Boulley
Daunis, who is part Ojibwe, defers attending the University of Michigan to care for her mother and reluctantly becomes involved in the investigation of a series of drug-related deaths.
Game Changer by Neal Schusterman
Transported into other dimensions by a seemingly random hit, a young football player visits alternate worlds that evolved differently in accordance with respective belief systems.
Heartstopper by Alice Oseman
A heartwarming celebration of friendship, first love and coming out, this series follows the unlikely relationship between a shy teen and a popular rugby player as they navigate the ups and downs of high school.
Legendborn by Tracy Deonn
To discover the truth behind her mother’s mysterious death, Bree infiltrates a magical secret society claiming to be the descendants of King Arthur and his knights.
Luck of the Titanic by Stacy Lee
Valora and Jamie Luck, twin British-Chinese acrobats, travel aboard the Titanic on its ill-fated maiden voyage in this thrilling page-turner.
Super Fake Love Song by David Yoon
When new-girl Cirrus mistakes self-described nerd Sunny Dae as the lead in a rock band, Sunny rolls with it, forming a fake band with his friends, but as the lies continue he risks losing both Cirrus and his friends.
Tokyo Ever After by Emiko Jean
After discovering that her father is the crown prince of Japan, Izumi travels to Japan, where she contends with the Japanese Imperial family, paparazzi, court intrigue, and oh yes, a handsome body guard, a frothy fun royal fairytale.
The Teen Kitchen by Emily and Lyla Allen
A colorful and engaging cookbook, written by teen media stars The Kitchen Twins, with more than 75 delicious recipes for everyday cooking
Woven in Moonlight by Isabel Ibanez
A decoy Condesa must hide her true self while unraveling the mystery of her magic, her past, and her country’s history.
Adult Fiction
The Atmospherians by Alex McElroy
When her oldest childhood friend hatches a plan for her to restore her reputation, hilarity ensues as former social media sensation Sasha Marcus becomes the resident female leader of a group of washed up, desperate men who need to be rid of their toxic masculinity.
Golden Girl by Elin Hilderbrand
Entering the afterlife due to a hit and run accident, a successful author learns she can observe the earthly lives of her nearly grown children and is also permitted three “nudges” to alter the outcome of events.
Libertie by Kaitlyn Greenidge
Coming of age as a free-born Black woman in Reconstruction-era Brooklyn, Libertie Sampson struggles against her mother’s medical aspirations for her when she finds herself more drawn to a musical career that could compromise her autonomy.
The Newcomer by Mary Kay Andrews
After her sister is murdered, Letty Carnahan goes on the run with her 4-year-old niece to Florida’s Gulf Coast where she is taken in by a hotel owner and her cynical son, a police detective, who believes she is a danger to them all.
Pretending by Holly Bourne
Unable to find love past a 5th date, a relatively normal young woman takes on an alter ego and wonders how long she will be able to keep pretending when her feelings get in the way.
Queenie by Candice Carty-Williams
Constantly compared to her white middle-class peers, a young Jamaican-British woman in London makes a series of questionable decisions in the aftermath of a messy breakup before challenging herself to figure out who she wants to be.
Reunion Beach by various authors
A group of bestselling authors pays tribute to legendary New York Times bestselling author Dorothea Benton Frank and her literary legacy, capturing her unforgettable spirit, joy, and humor in stories of reunions and love.
That Summer by Jennifer Weiner
While trying to pinpoint the root of her dissatisfaction with her life, Daisy Shoemaker begins receiving misdirected emails meant for another woman and starts living vicariously through her until she discovers that their connection was not completely accidental.
Adult Non-Fiction
24: Life Stories and Lessons from the Say Hey Kid by Willie Mays And John Shea
A man widely regarded as one the greatest all-around players in baseball history reflects on his lifetime of experience meeting challenges with positivity, integrity and triumph.
Consider This: Moments in My Writing Life After Which Everything Was Different by Chuck Palahniuk
The local and best-selling author of Fight Club presents a behind-the-scenes tour of the writing life, drawing on postcard correspondences from his decades of travel as well as personal insights into the art of storytelling.
Group: How One Therapist and a Circle of Strangers Saved My Life by Christie Tate
A top law school graduate struggling with suicidal thoughts and an eating disorder describes her reluctant participation in a therapeutic support group that taught her the meaning of human connection and intimacy.
Guilty Admissions: The Bribes, Favors, and Phonies Behind the College Cheating Scandal by Nicole Laporte
An exposé of the Varsity Blues scandal reveals how an unscrupulous college counselor named Rick Singer preyed on the desperation of wealthy, upper class, insecure parents who sought to have their children admitted to elite colleges to maintain their own social status.
Is This Anything? by Jerry Seinfeld
Collecting material from half a century in comedy, a chronologically arranged selection of favorite skits and memories by the iconic funnyman includes selections from his original “Catch a Rising Star” performance.
Last Chance Texaco: Chronicles of an American Troubadour by Rickie Lee Jones
This is a no-holds-barred account of the life of two-time Grammy Award-winner Rickie Lee Jones. It is a tale of desperate chances and impossible triumphs, an adventure story of a girl who beat the odds and grew up to become one of the most legendary artists of her time.
The Secret to Superhuman Strength by Alison Bechdel
A comics and cultural superstar delivers a deeply layered story of her fascination, from childhood to adulthood, with every fitness craze throughout the years, from Jack LaLanne in the 60s to the existential oddness of present-day spin classes.
