A must-read book list, curated by Meg Medina for The Children’s Book Review.
Dive into summer reading with a curated collection of standout books (spanning YA, middle grade, and picture books) handpicked by award-winning and New York Times best-selling author Meg Medina, who served as the 2023–2024 National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature.
Also making waves this season are Medina’s new paperback editions of Graciela in the Abyss and Graciela en el abismo, a lyrical and haunting deep-sea fantasy that feels tailor-made for summer reading season. With five starred reviews and praise from The New York Times, the novel has captivated readers with its ghostly underwater world, unforgettable imagery, and tender exploration of purpose, memory, and belonging.
Anna and Elena Balbusso’s mesmeric illustrations accompany Medina’s graceful and gently eerie narrative about a sea ghost who must find purpose beyond the material contours of mortality… Medina, a lyrical and tender storyteller, elegantly merges Graciela’s mortal desire for a ‘bigger’ life with the lesson her spirit must absorb before achieving peace.” — The New York Times
From contemporary YA and unforgettable middle grade stories to heartfelt picture books, these recommendations celebrate courage, identity, friendship, imagination, and the small moments that shape us.
Young Adult Recommendations
I Wish I Didn’t Have to Tell You This: A Graphic Memoir
Written by Eugene Yelchin
Ages: 14+ | 432 Pages
Publisher: Candlewick (2025) | ISBN-13: 978-1536215533
In a sentence: A graphic memoir in which Eugene Yelchin recounts his childhood in the Soviet Union, revealing how art, fear, and family shaped his struggle for freedom and identity.
Buy the Book
Borrow the Book
The Scammer
Written by Tiffany D. Jackson
Ages: 14+ | 368 Pages
Publisher: Quill Tree Books (2025) | ISBN: 978-0063271272
In a sentence: Follows a college freshman who becomes entangled with a charismatic but dangerous influencer whose secrets pull her into a web of manipulation, identity, and deception.
Buy the Book
Borrow the Book
Shut Up, This Is Serious
Written by Carolina Ixta
Ages: | 368 Pages
Publisher: Quill Tree Books (2024) | ISBN: 978-0063287860
In a sentence: The voice in this novel is so sharp and true. Belén is facing her own depression, her best friend’s pregnancy, and the scary question of what’s next after high school.
Buy the Book
Borrow the Book
Middle Grade Recommendations
The Lions’ Run
Written by Sara Pennypacker
Ages: 8-12 | 288 Pages
Publisher: Balzer + Bray (2026) | ISBN-13: 978-1250392817
In a sentence: The World War II book if you feel you can’t read another World War II book. Lovely spare writing and unforgettable characters in this story about courage to do the right thing.
Listen to this episode of The Growing Readers Podcast to hear author Sara Pennypacker discuss The Lion’s Run.
Buy the Book
Borrow the Book
A Hero’s Guide to Summer Vacation
Written by Pablo Cartaya
Ages: 8-12 | 288 Pages
Publisher: Kokila (2025) | ISBN: 978-0451479754
In a sentence: Who doesn’t love a road trip story, especially one that involves reluctant companions? Another bonus: a wonderful tool with which to study the hero’s journey as a structure.
Buy the Book
Borrow the Book
The New Girl: A Graphic Novel (The New Girl #1)
Written by Cassandra Calin
Ages: 9-12 | 272 Pages
Publisher: Graphix (2024) | ISBN: 978-1338762457
In a sentence: Periods, friends, school life, and language trouble all rolled into one charming package. This is book 1 of the series.
Buy the Book
Borrow the Book
The Peach Thief
Written by Linda Joan Smith
Ages: 8+ | 384 Pages
Publisher: Candlewick (2025) | ISBN-13: 978-1536237788
In a sentence: A determined young girl who steals peaches to survive but becomes entangled in a situation that forces her to confront trust, survival, and the consequences of her choices.
Buy the Book
Borrow the Book
The Moon Without Stars
Written by Chanel Miller
Ages: 10+ | 256 Pages
Publisher: Philomel Books (2026) | ISBN: 978-0593624555
In a sentence: Good kids mess up, too. Here’s a wonderful look at friendships and the high cost of popularity. Luna loves writing and spending time with her best friend Scott whose more peculiar qualities she doesn’t mind. But when she slowly joins the popular crowd, is there any way to fix what she’s damaged between them?
Buy the Book
Borrow the Book
Picture Book Recommendations
Abuelo, the Sea, and Me
Written by Ismée Williams
Illustrated by Tatiana Gardel
Ages: 3-8 | 40 Pages
Publisher: Roaring Brook Press (2024) | ISBN: 978-1250848772
In a sentence: A sweet contemplation of a grandfather remembering his homeland while at the beach with his grandchild.
Buy the Book
Borrow the Book
How to Eat a Mango
Written by Paola Santos
Illustrated by Juliana Perdomo
Ages: 4-8 | 40 Pages
Publisher: Neal Porter Books (2024) | ISBN: 978-0823453887
In a sentence: You hate mangoes? The mess, the drip, the smell? Maybe it’s because you don’t know how to properly eat them –or access all the sweet tastes and memories they can bring.
Buy the Book
Borrow the Book
At the Window
Written by Hope Lim
Illustrated by Qin Leng
Ages: 3-7 | 40 Pages
Publisher: Candlewick (2025) | ISBN: 978-1536224788
In a sentence: A girl walking her dog glimpses a woman writing in her window every day. As “window writer” myself, this book had me from the start. How do we know our neighbors? What windows help us see each other more clearly?
Buy the Book
Borrow the Book
Every Monday Mabel
Written and Illustrated by Jashar Awan
Ages: 4+ | 48 Pages
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers (2025) | ISBN-13: 978-1665938150
In a sentence: Nothing gets between Mabel and the highlight of her week: watching the garbage truck. A celebration of how our youngest readers see and enjoy the ordinary things around them.
Buy the Book
Borrow the Book
Goldfinches
Written by Mary Oliver
Illustrated by Melissa Sweet
Ages: 4-8 | 40 Pages
Publisher: Viking Books for Young Readers (2026) | ISBN: 978-0593692417
In a sentence: Poetry by one of our most revered poets with illustrations and nonfiction text that support learning about goldfinches. A STEM teacher and backyard birder’s dream book.
Buy the Book
Borrow the Book
About the Curator
Meg Medina is the 2024 Newbery Medal winner for Merci Suárez Changes Gears and author of many acclaimed novels and picture books, including Burn Baby Burn, Yaqui Delgado Wants to Kick Your Ass, and the Merci Suárez series. She served as the eighth National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature (2022-2024) with the platform “CuÉntame: Let’s Talk Books.” As a first-generation Cuban American, she draws on her heritage and experiences to create authentic stories that celebrate the strength and resilience of Latino families and communities.
Visit Meg Medina at https://www.megmedina.com/.
Learn More About Meg Medina’s Upcoming Paperback Releases:
Graciela in the Abyss
Written by Meg Medina
Illustrated by Anna and Elena Balbusso
Ages 10+ | 256 Pages
Publisher: Candlewick Press (2026) | ISBN-13: 978-1536253009
Buy the Book
Graciela en el abismo
Written by Meg Medina
Illustrated by Anna and Elena Balbusso
Ages 10+ | 256 Pages
Publisher: Candlewick Press (2026) | ISBN-13: 978-1536253009
