School Summer Reading Lists by Ardsley, Dobbs Ferry, Hastings, and Irvington public schools are pasted below as they are released. Email Sara at picturebookny@gmail.com to place your order for your kids’ summer books to be picked up at HudCo, or click the links below to buy them on Bookshop.org and have them shipped. Please check with your child’s individual school for specific assignments.
Irvington Middle School — IMS Keeps Cool By Reading!
Looking for some good summer 2025 reads? IMS recommends…
Sophia’s War: A Tale of the Revolution by Avi
In 1776, young Sophia Calderwood witnesses the execution of Nathan Hale in New York City, which is newly occupied by the British army. Sophia is horrified by the event and resolves to do all she can to help the American cause. Recruited as a spy, she becomes a maid in the home of General Clinton, the supreme commander of the British forces in America. When she learns that someone in the American army might be switching sides, she uncovers a plot that will really damage the Americans if it succeeds. But the identity of the would-be traitor is so shocking that no one believes her, and so Sophia decides to stop the treacherous plot herself...while putting herself in grave danger. She’s young, she’s a girl, and she’s running out of time. And if she fails, she’s facing an execution of her own.
Recommended by Ms. Kozak (ELA): “This historical fiction book is set right here in our region as Sophia sneaks through Irvington and Tarrytown on the banks of the Hudson River. Brave, strong, and determined, she is a changemaker from a young age as she inspires a reader to follow your heart and always ‘do the right thing’!”
Timothy is a good kid who did a bad thing. Now he's under house arrest for a whole year. He has to check in weekly with a probation officer and a therapist, keep a journal, and stay out of trouble. But when he must take drastic measures to help his struggling family, staying out of trouble proves more difficult than Timothy ever thought it would be.
Recommended by Ms. Meiseles (ELA): “House Arrest is a middle grade novel in verse about one boy's path to redemption as he navigates life with a sick brother, a grieving mother, and one tough probation officer.”
The Year of the Puppy: How a Puppy Becomes Your Dog by Alexandra Horowitz
Few of us meet our dogs on Day One. The dog who will, eventually, become an integral part of our family, our constant companion and best friend, is born without us into a family of her own. A puppy's critical early development into the dog we come to know is usually missed entirely. Dog researcher Alexandra Horowitz aimed to change that with her family's new pup, Quiddity (Quid). In this scientific memoir, she charts Quid's growth from wee grub to boisterous sprite, from her birth to her first birthday.
Horowitz follows Quid's first weeks with her mother and ten roly-poly littermates, and then each week after the puppy joins her household of three humans, two large dogs, and a wary cat. She documents the social and cognitive milestones that so many of us miss in our puppies' lives, when caught up in the housetraining and behavioral training that easily overwhelms the first months of a dog's life with a new family. In focusing on training a dog to behave, we mostly miss the radical development of a puppy into themselves—through the equivalent of infancy, childhood, young adolescence, and teenager-hood.
Recommended by Ms. Richardson (Librarian): What’s cuter than a puppy? “Ever wondered what goes on in a dog’s mind? This wonderful nonfiction book, written by a dog scientist and dog lover, follows the first year of her puppy’s life while sharing fascinating information about dog behavior and the connection between dogs and their people.”
Freak the Mighty by Rodman Philbrick
"I never had a brain until Freak came along . . . "
That's what Max thought. All his life he'd been called stupid. Dumb. Slow. It didn't help that his body seemed to be growing faster than his mind. It didn't help that people were afraid of him. So Max learned how to be alone. At least until Freak came along.
Freak was weird, too. He had a little body -- and a really big brain. Together Max and Freak were unstoppable.
Together, they were Freak the Mighty.
Recommended by Ms. O’Sullivan (ELA): “Freak the Mighty is an engaging story that encourages empathy and highlights the importance of friendship and individuality. As a coming-of-age story, it features relatable characters and themes that IMS readers will connect with.”
In middle school, words aren’t just words. They can be weapons. They can be gifts. The right words can win you friends or make you enemies. They can come back to haunt you. Sometimes they can change things forever.
When cell phones are banned at Branton Middle School, Frost and his friends Deedee, Wolf, and Bench come up with a new way to communicate: leaving sticky notes for each other all around the school. It catches on, and soon all the kids in school are leaving notes—though for every kind and friendly one, there is a cutting and cruel one as well.
In the middle of this, a new girl named Rose arrives at school and sits at Frost’s lunch table. Rose is not like anyone else at Branton Middle School, and it’s clear that the close circle of friends Frost has made for himself won’t easily hold another. As the sticky-note war escalates, and the pressure to choose sides mounts, Frost soon realizes that after this year, nothing will ever be the same.
Recommended by Ms. Griffin (ELA): “I recommend Posted because it’s a powerful story about friendship and the impact of words. It’s both funny and heartfelt, with memorable characters and important lessons about kindness and communication.”
Clifford Allyn Abernathy III (just Cliff, for short) is the oldest of six kids in a family that does everything—fighting, laughing, playing, eating, telling stories, and celebrating the holidays—in a big, often outlandish, and sometimes poignant way. Taking the family from Christmas to Christmas, the chapters of Fig Pudding, narrated by eleven-year-old Cliff, are complete short stories in themselves—full of quick-paced, hilarious action and the warmth and love of a close-knit family. This new edition includes an original story.
Recommended by Ms. LaBella (Social Studies): “Fig Pudding captures the ups and downs of life over one year in a large family. Ralph Fletcher has been a frequent guest author at IMS.”
The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune
Linus Baker is a by-the-book caseworker in the Department in Charge of Magical Youth. He's tasked with determining whether six dangerous magical children are likely to bring about the end of the world.
Arthur Parnassus is the master of the orphanage. He would do anything to keep the children safe, even if it means the world will burn. And his secrets will come to light.
The House in the Cerulean Sea is an enchanting love story, masterfully told, about the profound experience of discovering an unlikely family in an unexpected place―and realizing that family is yours.
Recommended by Ms. Evanko (8th grade ELA): “Such a heartwarming venture into the world of magic. A must read if you enjoy fantasy.”
The Blossoming Universe of Violet Diamond by Brenda Woods
A moving, uplifting story of a girl finally meeting the African American side of her family explores racism and how it feels to be biracial, and celebrates families of all kinds.
Violet is biracial, but she lives with her white mother and sister, attends a mostly white school in a white town, and sometimes feels like a brown leaf on a pile of snow. Now that she’s eleven, she feels it’s time to learn about her African American heritage, so she seeks out her paternal grandmother. When Violet is invited to spend two weeks with her new Bibi (Swahili for "grandmother") and learns about her lost heritage, her confidence in herself grows and she discovers she’s not a shrinking Violet after all.
Recommended by Ms. Nadler (ELA): “I would recommend The Blossoming Universe of Violet Diamond by Brenda Woods to middle schoolers because it explores identity, family, and belonging in a relatable and heartfelt way. Violet’s journey offers both emotional depth and uplifting moments that should resonate with young readers.”
Finding Perfect by Elly Swartz
To twelve-year-old Molly Nathans, perfect is the number four, the tip of a newly sharpened No. 2 pencil, a crisp white pad of paper, and her neatly aligned glass animal figurines. What’s not perfect is Molly’s mother leaving the family to take a faraway job with the promise to return in one year. Molly knows that promises are sometimes broken, so she hatches a plan to bring her mother home: Win the Lakeville Middle School Poetry Slam Contest. The winner is honored at a fancy banquet with white tablecloths. Molly is sure her mother would never miss that. Right…? But as time passes, writing and reciting slam poetry become harder. Actually, everything becomes harder as new habits appear, and counting, cleaning, and organizing are not enough to keep Molly's world from spinning out of control. In this fresh-voiced debut novel, one girl learns there is no such thing as perfect.
Recommended by Ms. Daley (Assistant Principal): “If you enjoyed Give and Take, then you will love one too! It is about a middle schooler who is struggling with OCD.”
A First Time for Everything by Dan Santat
Dan's always been a good kid. The kind of kid who listens to his teachers, helps his mom with grocery shopping, and stays out of trouble. But being a good kid doesn't stop him from being bullied and feeling like he's invisible, which is why Dan has low expectations when his parents send him on a class trip to Europe.
At first, he's right. He's stuck with the same girls from his middle school who love to make fun of him, and he doesn't know why his teacher insisted he come on this trip. But as he travels through France, Germany, Switzerland, and England, a series of first experiences begin to change him―first Fanta, first fondue, first time stealing a bike from German punk rockers... and first love.
Recommended by Dr. James (Librarian): “This graphic novel is based on the author's own experience about a life-changing school trip to Europe during middle school. The book conveys a hopeful message: that it's okay to be unsure of yourself, and that trying new things—even scary ones—can lead to some of the best moments in life.”
Thirteen-year-old Min, who comes from a long line of fox spirits. But you’d never know it by looking at her. To keep the family safe, Min’s mother insists that none of them use any fox-magic, such as Charm or shape-shifting. They must appear human at all times.
Min feels hemmed in by the household rules and resents the endless chores, the cousins who crowd her, and the aunties who judge her. She would like nothing more than to escape Jinju, her neglected, dust-ridden, and impoverished planet. She’s counting the days until she can follow her older brother, Jun, into the Space Forces and see more of the Thousand Worlds. When word arrives that Jun is suspected of leaving his post to go in search of the Dragon Pearl, Min knows that something is wrong. Jun would never desert his battle cruiser, even for a mystical object rumored to have tremendous power. She decides to run away to find him and clear his name.
Min’s quest will have her meeting gamblers, pirates, and vengeful ghosts. It will involve deception, lies, and sabotage. She will be forced to use more fox-magic than ever before, and to rely on all of her cleverness and bravery. The outcome may not be what she had hoped, but it has the potential to exceed her wildest dreams.
Recommended by Ms. Chillemi (ELA): “Dragon Pearl is a fast-paced adventure that blends Korean mythology with space travel, perfect for readers who enjoy science fiction, fantasy, or stories about clever, courageous (anti-)heroes. If you like shape-shifters, high-stakes missions, and uncovering secrets, this book will pull you in from the first chapter.”
Ghost by Jason Reynolds - Full series available at Picture Book
Ghost. Lu. Patina. Sunny. Four kids from wildly different backgrounds with personalities that are explosive when they clash. But they are also four kids chosen for an elite middle school track team—a team that could qualify them for the Junior Olympics if they can get their acts together. They all have a lot to lose, but they also have a lot to prove, not only to each other, but to themselves.
Running. That’s all Ghost (real name Castle Cranshaw) has ever known. But Ghost has been running for the wrong reasons—it all started with running away from his father, who, when Ghost was a very little boy, chased him and his mother through their apartment, then down the street, with a loaded gun, aiming to kill. Since then, Ghost has been the one causing problems—and running away from them—until he meets Coach, an ex-Olympic Medalist who sees something in Ghost: crazy natural talent. If Ghost can stay on track, literally and figuratively, he could be the best sprinter in the city. Can Ghost harness his raw talent for speed, or will his past finally catch up to him?
Recommended by Ms. Griffin (ELA): “I recommend Ghost because it’s a fast-paced, inspiring story about overcoming challenges and finding your true potential. It captures the struggles and triumphs of a young runner trying to outrun his past, making it a powerful read for anyone who loves sports and personal growth.”
The Baseball 100 by Joe Posnanski
Baseball’s legends come alive in these pages, which are not merely rankings but vibrant profiles of the game’s all-time greats. Posnanski dives into the biographies of iconic Hall of Famers, unfairly forgotten All-Stars, talents of today, and more. He doesn’t rely just on records and statistics—he lovingly retraces players’ origins, illuminates their characters, and places their accomplishments in the context of baseball’s past and present. Just how good a pitcher is Clayton Kershaw in the 21st-century game compared to Greg Maddux dueling with the juiced hitters of the nineties? How do the career and influence of Hank Aaron compare to Babe Ruth’s? Which player in the top ten most deserves to be resurrected from history?
Recommended by Mr. Dore (Special Education): “As someone who has read many baseball books, this is the best one I have ever read. It's a collection of 100 short essays, each on a different baseball legend, in which Posnanski illustrates each player's backstory with little-known facts. The book is not heavy on statistics, but instead each essay reads more as a chapter in a novel. I found Posnanski's writing extremely engaging, making for an easy read. It is a very long book, but each chapter could theoretically be read selectively or out-of-order (although I think it's great to read start-to-finish!). This book is perfect for hardcore or casual baseball fans.”
Alex Douglas always wanted to be a hero. But nothing heroic ever happened to Alex. Nothing, that is, until his eleventh birthday. When Alex rescues a stray dog as a birthday gift to himself, he doesn't think his life can get much better. Radar, his new dog, pretty much feels the same way. But this day has bigger things in store for both of them. This is a story about bullies and heroes. About tragedy and hope. About enemies with two legs and friends with four, and pesky little sisters and cranky old men, and an unexpected lesson in kindness delivered with a slice of pizza. This is Eleven: the journey of a boy turning eleven on 9/11.
Recommended by Ms. Daley (Assistant Principal): “On 9/11 I was living and teaching first grade in NYC. While the day was an unimaginable one, it was also a day where I witnessed so many people respond heroically and with immense empathy, courage and kindness.”
The Vanderbeekers of 141st Street by Karina Yan Glaser
The Vanderbeekers have always lived in the brownstone on 141st Street. It's practically another member of the family. So when their reclusive, curmudgeonly landlord decides not to renew their lease, the five siblings have eleven days to do whatever it takes to stay in their beloved home and convince the dreaded Beiderman just how wonderful they are.
And all is fair in love and war when it comes to keeping their home.
Recommended by Ms. Doherty (Special Education): “Our 6th grade students are loving this book series and we can't keep them on the shelf! They love the entire series!”
The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
It is 1939. Nazi Germany. The country is holding its breath. Death has never been busier, and will become busier still. Liesel Meminger is a foster girl living outside of Munich, who scratches out a meager existence for herself by stealing when she encounters something she can’t resist–books. With the help of her accordion-playing foster father, she learns to read and shares her stolen books with her neighbors during bombing raids as well as with the Jewish man hidden in her basement.
In superbly crafted writing that burns with intensity, award-winning author Markus Zusak, author of I Am the Messenger, has given us one of the most enduring stories of our time.
Recommended by Ms. Schmertz (Art): “The last line of this book will always stay with me.”
"With a bolt of lightning on my kicks . . .The court is SIZZLING. My sweat is DRIZZLING. Stop all that quivering. Cuz tonight I’m delivering," announces dreadlocked, 12-year old Josh Bell. He and his twin brother Jordan are awesome on the court.
But Josh has more than basketball in his blood. He's got mad beats, too, that tell his family's story in verse, in this fast and furious middle grade novel of family and brotherhood from Kwame Alexander. Josh and Jordan must come to grips with growing up on and off the court to realize breaking the rules comes at a terrible price, as their story's heart-stopping climax proves a game-changer for the entire family.
Recommended by Ms. O’Sullivan (ELA): “I would recommend The Crossover by Kwame Alexander because it's written in fast-paced verse, and the characters feel so real that middle schoolers can really see themselves in the story.”
Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard (first in a series)
Mare Barrow's world is divided by blood—those with common, Red blood serve the Silver-blooded elite, who are gifted with superhuman abilities. Mare is a Red, scraping by as a thief in a poor, rural village, until a twist of fate throws her in front of the Silver court. Before the king, princes, and all the nobles, she discovers she has an ability of her own.
To cover up this impossibility, the king forces her to play the role of a lost Silver princess and betroths her to one of his own sons. As Mare is drawn further into the Silver world, she risks everything and uses her new position to help the Scarlet Guard—a growing Red rebellion—even as her heart tugs her in an impossible direction.
One wrong move can lead to her death, but in the dangerous game she plays, the only certainty is betrayal.
Recommended by Ms. Evanko (ELA): “Dystopian novel meets fantasy fiction. Action-packed and hard to put down!”
The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind by William Kamkwamba and Bryan Mealer
When a terrible drought struck William Kamkwamba's tiny village in Malawi, his family lost all of the season's crops, leaving them with nothing to eat and nothing to sell. William began to explore science books in his village library, looking for a solution. There, he came up with the idea that would change his family's life forever: he could build a windmill. Made out of scrap metal and old bicycle parts, William's windmill brought electricity to his home and helped his family pump the water they needed to farm the land. Retold for a younger audience, this exciting memoir shows how, even in a desperate situation, one boy's brilliant idea can light up the world. Complete with photographs, illustrations, and an epilogue that will bring readers up to date on William's story, this is the perfect edition to read and share with the whole family.
Recommended by Ms. Panitz (Science): “This book portrays science in the real world” and Ms. Griffin (6th grade ELA): “I recommend this book because it is a true story that shows the power of perseverance, the importance of following dreams, and the impact that the love and support of family and friends can have.”
Dragon Hoops by Gene Luen Yang
Gene understands stories―comic book stories, in particular. Big action. Bigger thrills. And the hero always wins.
But Gene doesn’t get sports. As a kid, his friends called him “Stick” and every basketball game he played ended in pain. He lost interest in basketball long ago, but at the high school where he now teaches, it's all anyone can talk about. The men’s varsity team, the Dragons, is having a phenomenal season that’s been decades in the making. Each victory brings them closer to their ultimate goal: the California State Championships.
Once Gene gets to know these young all-stars, he realizes that their story is just as thrilling as anything he’s seen on a comic book page. He knows he has to follow this epic to its end. What he doesn’t know yet is that this season is not only going to change the Dragon's lives, but his own life as well.
Recommended by Ms. Chillemi (8th grade ELA): “A nonfiction graphic novel that chronicles a California’s high school team’s championship season. Yang captures the energy on the court and delves into the psychology of the team's players while navigating through tough conversations about systemic racism and microaggressions.”
Thien's first memory isn't a sight or a sound. It's the sweetness of watermelon and the saltiness of fish. It's the taste of the foods he ate while adrift at sea as his family fled Vietnam.
After the Pham family arrives at a refugee camp in Thailand, they struggle to survive. Things don't get much easier once they resettle in California. And through each chapter of their lives, food takes on a new meaning. Strawberries come to signify struggle as Thien's mom and dad look for work. Potato chips are an indulgence that bring Thien so much joy that they become a necessity. Behind every cut of steak and inside every croissant lies a story. And for Thien Pham, that story is about a search―for belonging, for happiness, for the American dream.
Recommended by Dr. James (Librarian): “Family Style is a graphic memoir that helps middle school students understand the refugee experience. It follows the author as he and his family escape Vietnam, live in refugee camps and start a new life in America.”
Eleven-year-old Isabella’s parents are divorced, so she has to switch lives every week: One week she’s Isabella with her dad, his girlfriend Anastasia, and her son Darren living in a fancy house where they are one of the only black families in the neighborhood. The next week she’s Izzy with her mom and her boyfriend John-Mark in a small, not-so-fancy house that she loves. Because of this, Isabella has always felt pulled between two worlds. And now that her parents are divorced, it seems their fights are even worse, and they’re always about HER. Isabella feels even more stuck in the middle, split and divided between them than ever. And she’s beginning to realize that being split between Mom and Dad is more than switching houses, switching nicknames, switching backpacks: it’s also about switching identities. Her dad is black, her mom is white, and strangers are always commenting: “You’re so exotic!” “You look so unusual.” “But what are you really?” She knows what they’re really saying: “You don’t look like your parents.” “You’re different.”... And when her parents, who both get engaged at the same time, get in their biggest fight ever, Isabella doesn’t just feel divided, she feels ripped in two. What does it mean to be half white or half black? To belong to half mom and half dad? And if you’re only seen as half of this and half of that, how can you ever feel whole? It seems like nothing can bring Isabella’s family together again—until the worst happens. Isabella and Darren are stopped by the police. A cell phone is mistaken for a gun. And shots are fired.
Recommended by Ms.Daley (Assistant Principal): “Izzy’s voice really shines through in this story about a girl who feels divided. Her strong, resilient personality is inspirational.”
ARDSLEY HIGH SCHOOL
9th Grade A Most Beautiful Thing by Arshay Cooper
10th Grade Patron Saints of Nothing by Randy Ribay
11th Grade American Like Me: Reflections on Life Between Cultures by America Ferrera
12th Grade Born a Crime by Trevor Noah