Super Summer Reading for Youth, by Youth

a school gathering to watch screenagers
June 29, 2022
min read
Delaney Ruston, MD
a school gathering to watch screenagers

In Summary

Girl Surfing Books

Today I’ve compiled recommended summer reading for youth, by youth. I had fun reaching out to several thoughtful teens to see what books they would recommend to their peers. They provided many interesting reads: some classics and others that are lesser-known.

I’ve sorted these recommendations by age range to help families gauge what might work best for their kids. 

If your family is able to get a physical copy of a book instead of an e-reader, this might open up a conversation about cover design and layout. I know I still get a lot of joy from looking at book covers. If your kids are as passionate about book covers as I am, you might want to share this  5 min TED Ed video on the history of books with them. In addition, having a print copy eliminates the pull that can happen when reading on tech devices. 

By the way, I have written several blogs about ideas for summer activities which include ideas about reading, and here is one such example.

For Elementary Schoolers: 

Fiction

A Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket 

Nonfiction

Beyond Words: What Animals Think and Feel by Carl Safina 

For Middle Schoolers:

Realistic Fiction

Wonder by R.J. Palacio 

Harbor Me by Jacqueline Woodson 

Hatchet by Gary Paulsen

Dystopian Fiction

The Giver by Lois Lowry

Nonfiction

Shoot Your Shot: A Sport-Inspired Guide to Living Your Best Life by Vernon Brundage Jr. 

Poetry

Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson 

Graphic Novel

Smile by Raina Telgemeier

continues below
Share
Facebook logo.Rightward curved arrow symbol for sharing or forwarding.
host a screening

Learn more about showing our movies in your school or community!

Podcast

Join Screenagers filmmaker Delaney Ruston MD for our latest Podcast

Learn more about our Screen-Free Sleep campaign at the website!

Screenagers elementary edition

Our movie made for parents and educators of younger kids

host a screening

Learn more about showing our movies in your school or community!

For Early High Schoolers: 

Realistic Fiction

We Were Liars by E. Lockhart

Holding Up the Universe by Jennifer Niven 

Supermarket by Logic 

Dystopian Fiction

Animal Farm by George Orwell

The Maze Runner by James Dashner 

Nonfiction

The Baseball 100 by Joe Posnanski 

host a screening

Learn more about showing our movies in your school or community!

Podcast

Join Screenagers filmmaker Delaney Ruston MD for our latest Podcast

Learn more about our Screen-Free Sleep campaign at the website!

Screenagers elementary edition

Our movie made for parents and educators of younger kids

Podcast

Join Screenagers filmmaker Delaney Ruston MD for our latest Podcast

For Older High Schoolers: 

Realistic Fiction

Will Grayson, Will Grayson by John Green and David Levithan 

Catch-22 by Joseph Heller 

Normal People by Sally Rooney 

White Teeth by Zadie Smith 

On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous by Ocean Vuong 

Fantasy / Magical Realism

Haroun and the Sea of Stories by Salman Rushdie 

The Cloven Viscount by Italo Calvino 

Romance

Holding Up the Universe by Jennifer Niven  

Psychological Thriller

SuperMarket by Bobby Hall, a.k.a. The rapper Logic

Questions to get the conversation started:

  1. What books have you read that you would recommend to kids or teens?
  2. Is there a place or person you go to for reading suggestions?
  3. What are some book covers that you like?
  4. What genres interest you most? 
  5. When you read, do you prefer e-books or physical copies? 

As well as our weekly blog, we publish videos like this one every week on the Screenagers YouTube channel

Get our latest posts and practical advice in your inbox, weekly.

You have subscribed to our emails. Thank you!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.

We respect your privacy.

More Like This

No items found.

Super Summer Reading for Youth, by Youth

Delaney Ruston, MD
Lisa Tabb smiling to camera (Screenagers Producer)
Lisa Tabb
June 29, 2022

As we’re about to celebrate 10 years of Screenagers, we want to hear what’s been most helpful and what you’d like to see next.

Please click here to share your thoughts with us in our community survey. It only takes 5–10 minutes, and everyone who completes it will be entered to win one of five $50 Amazon vouchers.

Girl Surfing Books

Today I’ve compiled recommended summer reading for youth, by youth. I had fun reaching out to several thoughtful teens to see what books they would recommend to their peers. They provided many interesting reads: some classics and others that are lesser-known.

I’ve sorted these recommendations by age range to help families gauge what might work best for their kids. 

If your family is able to get a physical copy of a book instead of an e-reader, this might open up a conversation about cover design and layout. I know I still get a lot of joy from looking at book covers. If your kids are as passionate about book covers as I am, you might want to share this  5 min TED Ed video on the history of books with them. In addition, having a print copy eliminates the pull that can happen when reading on tech devices. 

By the way, I have written several blogs about ideas for summer activities which include ideas about reading, and here is one such example.

For Elementary Schoolers: 

Fiction

A Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket 

Nonfiction

Beyond Words: What Animals Think and Feel by Carl Safina 

For Middle Schoolers:

Realistic Fiction

Wonder by R.J. Palacio 

Harbor Me by Jacqueline Woodson 

Hatchet by Gary Paulsen

Dystopian Fiction

The Giver by Lois Lowry

Nonfiction

Shoot Your Shot: A Sport-Inspired Guide to Living Your Best Life by Vernon Brundage Jr. 

Poetry

Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson 

Graphic Novel

Smile by Raina Telgemeier

Join
443
others who have made the pledge!
Thank you for making the pledge!
Please try again
Book page button

Available now - Parenting in the Screen Age, from Screenagers filmmaker Delaney Ruston MD

Order Here
Find A screening Button

Find a Screening - Find a screening of our movies in your local community

Learn More
Smiling woman with long blonde hair wearing a dark teal sweater, next to text: The Screenagers Podcast with Delaney Ruston, MD.

Screenagers Podcast - Join Screenagers filmmaker Delaney Ruston MD for the latest Podcast

Learn More
Book page button

Available now - Parenting in the Screen Age, from Screenagers filmmaker Delaney Ruston MD

Learn More
Host a Screening Button

Community Screenings - Learn more about hosting your own Screenagers community screening event!

Learn More
Parenting In The Screen Age Book Cover

Free Book Preview - Download a free preview of "Parenting In The Screen Age" by Delaney Ruston, MD

Learn More
The Screenagers Project title in bold white text on a dark blue background with teal underline and partially visible screenshots of a website behind.

Join Today - Members can screen and view our movies year-round, access new lesson plans, resources and much more!

Learn More
Screenagers Under The Influence Banner

Our New Movie - Learn more about the third movie in the Screenagers Trilogy

Learn More
YouTube play button icon next to the text 'SCREENAGERS YOUTUBE' on a dark blue background with images of web pages around the edges.

The Screenagers YouTube Channel - Subscribe for new videos and content from our team weekly!

Learn More

For Early High Schoolers: 

Realistic Fiction

We Were Liars by E. Lockhart

Holding Up the Universe by Jennifer Niven 

Supermarket by Logic 

Dystopian Fiction

Animal Farm by George Orwell

The Maze Runner by James Dashner 

Nonfiction

The Baseball 100 by Joe Posnanski 

Host a Screening Button

Community Screenings - Learn more about hosting your own Screenagers community screening event!

Learn More
Find A screening Button

Find a Screening - Find a screening of our movies in your local community

Learn More
Smiling woman with long blonde hair wearing a dark teal sweater, next to text: The Screenagers Podcast with Delaney Ruston, MD.

Screenagers Podcast - Join Screenagers filmmaker Delaney Ruston MD for the latest Podcast

Learn More
Book page button

Available now - Parenting in the Screen Age, from Screenagers filmmaker Delaney Ruston MD

Learn More
Host a Screening Button

Community Screenings - Learn more about hosting your own Screenagers community screening event!

Learn More
Parenting In The Screen Age Book Cover

Free Book Preview - Download a free preview of "Parenting In The Screen Age" by Delaney Ruston, MD

Learn More
The Screenagers Project title in bold white text on a dark blue background with teal underline and partially visible screenshots of a website behind.

Join Today - Members can screen and view our movies year-round, access new lesson plans, resources and much more!

Learn More
Screenagers Under The Influence Banner

Our New Movie - Learn more about the third movie in the Screenagers Trilogy

Learn More
YouTube play button icon next to the text 'SCREENAGERS YOUTUBE' on a dark blue background with images of web pages around the edges.

The Screenagers YouTube Channel - Subscribe for new videos and content from our team weekly!

Learn More

For Older High Schoolers: 

Realistic Fiction

Will Grayson, Will Grayson by John Green and David Levithan 

Catch-22 by Joseph Heller 

Normal People by Sally Rooney 

White Teeth by Zadie Smith 

On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous by Ocean Vuong 

Fantasy / Magical Realism

Haroun and the Sea of Stories by Salman Rushdie 

The Cloven Viscount by Italo Calvino 

Romance

Holding Up the Universe by Jennifer Niven  

Psychological Thriller

SuperMarket by Bobby Hall, a.k.a. The rapper Logic

Questions to get the conversation started:

  1. What books have you read that you would recommend to kids or teens?
  2. Is there a place or person you go to for reading suggestions?
  3. What are some book covers that you like?
  4. What genres interest you most? 
  5. When you read, do you prefer e-books or physical copies? 

As well as our weekly blog, we publish videos like this one every week on the Screenagers YouTube channel

Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.

We respect your privacy.

more like this

No items found.
Book page button

Available now - Parenting in the Screen Age, from Screenagers filmmaker Delaney Ruston MD

Order Here
Find A screening Button

Find a Screening - Find a screening of our movies in your local community

Learn More
Smiling woman with long blonde hair wearing a dark teal sweater, next to text: The Screenagers Podcast with Delaney Ruston, MD.

Screenagers Podcast - Join Screenagers filmmaker Delaney Ruston MD for the latest Podcast

Learn More
Book page button

Available now - Parenting in the Screen Age, from Screenagers filmmaker Delaney Ruston MD

Learn More
Host a Screening Button

Community Screenings - Learn more about hosting your own Screenagers community screening event!

Learn More
Parenting In The Screen Age Book Cover

Free Book Preview - Download a free preview of "Parenting In The Screen Age" by Delaney Ruston, MD

Learn More
The Screenagers Project title in bold white text on a dark blue background with teal underline and partially visible screenshots of a website behind.

Join Today - Members can screen and view our movies year-round, access new lesson plans, resources and much more!

Learn More
Screenagers Under The Influence Banner

Learn more about the third movie in the Screenagers movie series

Learn More
YouTube play button icon next to the text 'SCREENAGERS YOUTUBE' on a dark blue background with images of web pages around the edges.

The Screenagers YouTube Channel - Subscribe for new videos and content from our team weekly!

Learn More
Six children standing outdoors using tablets and smartphones, with text overlay 'SCREEN AGERS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AGE EDITION'.

Screenagers: Elementary School Age Edition - Learn more about our latest movie.

Learn More
Child sleeping peacefully in bed under a gray blanket with text saying 'Screen-Free Sleep' and cartoon purple Z's.

Learn more about the Screen-Free Sleep campaign at the website!

Visit Website
Host a Screening Button

Community Screenings - Learn more about hosting your own Screenagers community screening event!

Learn More
Find A screening Button

Find a Screening - Find a screening of our movies in your local community

Learn More
Smiling woman with long blonde hair wearing a dark teal sweater, next to text: The Screenagers Podcast with Delaney Ruston, MD.

Screenagers Podcast - Join Screenagers filmmaker Delaney Ruston MD for the latest Podcast

Learn More
Book page button

Available now - Parenting in the Screen Age, from Screenagers filmmaker Delaney Ruston MD

Learn More
Host a Screening Button

Community Screenings - Learn more about hosting your own Screenagers community screening event!

Learn More
Parenting In The Screen Age Book Cover

Free Book Preview - Download a free preview of "Parenting In The Screen Age" by Delaney Ruston, MD

Learn More
The Screenagers Project title in bold white text on a dark blue background with teal underline and partially visible screenshots of a website behind.

Join Today - Members can screen and view our movies year-round, access new lesson plans, resources and much more!

Learn More
Screenagers Under The Influence Banner

Screenagers Under The Influence - Learn more about this movie and watch the trailer.

Learn More
YouTube play button icon next to the text 'SCREENAGERS YOUTUBE' on a dark blue background with images of web pages around the edges.

The Screenagers YouTube Channel - Subscribe for new videos and content from our team weekly!

Learn More
Six children standing outdoors using tablets and smartphones, with text overlay 'SCREEN AGERS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AGE EDITION'.

Screenagers: Elementary School Age Edition - Learn more about our latest movie.

Learn More
Child sleeping peacefully in bed under a gray blanket with text saying 'Screen-Free Sleep' and cartoon purple Z's.

Learn more about the Screen-Free Sleep campaign at the website!

Visit Website

Super Summer Reading for Youth, by Youth

Delaney Ruston, MD
June 29, 2022
Girl Surfing Books

Today I’ve compiled recommended summer reading for youth, by youth. I had fun reaching out to several thoughtful teens to see what books they would recommend to their peers. They provided many interesting reads: some classics and others that are lesser-known.

I’ve sorted these recommendations by age range to help families gauge what might work best for their kids. 

If your family is able to get a physical copy of a book instead of an e-reader, this might open up a conversation about cover design and layout. I know I still get a lot of joy from looking at book covers. If your kids are as passionate about book covers as I am, you might want to share this  5 min TED Ed video on the history of books with them. In addition, having a print copy eliminates the pull that can happen when reading on tech devices. 

By the way, I have written several blogs about ideas for summer activities which include ideas about reading, and here is one such example.

For Elementary Schoolers: 

Fiction

A Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket 

Nonfiction

Beyond Words: What Animals Think and Feel by Carl Safina 

For Middle Schoolers:

Realistic Fiction

Wonder by R.J. Palacio 

Harbor Me by Jacqueline Woodson 

Hatchet by Gary Paulsen

Dystopian Fiction

The Giver by Lois Lowry

Nonfiction

Shoot Your Shot: A Sport-Inspired Guide to Living Your Best Life by Vernon Brundage Jr. 

Poetry

Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson 

Graphic Novel

Smile by Raina Telgemeier

More Like This

No items found.

parenting in the screen age

for more like this, DR. DELANEY RUSTON'S NEW BOOK, PARENTING IN THE SCREEN AGE, IS THE DEFINITIVE GUIDE FOR TODAY’S PARENTS. WITH INSIGHTS ON SCREEN TIME FROM RESEARCHERS, INPUT FROM KIDS & TEENS, THIS BOOK IS PACKED WITH SOLUTIONS FOR HOW TO START AND SUSTAIN PRODUCTIVE FAMILY TALKS ABOUT TECHNOLOGY AND IT’S IMPACT ON OUR MENTAL WELLBEING.  

ORDER HERE
Parenting in the Screen Age book cover