Great Summer Reads for Your Middle Schooler

Redwall

Series: Redwall, Book #1

by Brian Jacques Illustrated by Troy Howell

When the peaceful life of ancient Redwall Abbey is shattered by the arrival of the evil rat Cluny and his villainous hordes, Matthias, a young mouse, determines to find the legendary sword of Martin the Warrior which, he is convinced, will help edwall's inhabitants destroy the enemy.

Hatchet

Series: Brian's Saga, Book #1

by Gary Paulsen

Winner of the 1988 Newbery Honor

Frindle

by Andrew Clements Illustrated by Brian Selznick

Fifth grader Nick Allen knows just how to make school more cool . In third grade, he transformed Miss Deaver's room into a tropical paradise with some paper palm trees and a sandy beach. In fourth grade, he taught his classmates to mimic the high-pitched calls of blackbirds.

Chasing Vermeer

by Blue Balliett Illustrated by Brett Helquist

When a book of unexplainable occurrences brings Petra Andalee and Calder Pillay together, strange things start to happen. Before they know it, the two find themselves at the center of an international art scandal.

The Akhenaten Adventure

Series: Children of the Lamp, Book #1

by Philip Kerr

Meet John and Philippa Gaunt, twelve-year-old twins who one day discover themselves to be descended from a long line of djinn. All of a sudden, they have the power to grant wishes, travel to extraordinary places, and make people and objects disappear.