25 Incredible Books to Read This Summer

| Allison
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Hello, and how are you, dears? Good, I hope!

Well it’s summer, which means lots and lots of reading, right? Except if you’re like me, you don’t know what to read.

Don’t panic! Grab your library card and go check out some of these books. I’ve compiled twenty five of my favorite books, including plenty of series to keep you occupied. 🙂

In case you’re wondering, for the most part they aren’t in any particular order. I added a short description – you can ask for a longer one in the comments – and a link to the book on Amazon. (Just note that I didn’t shop around for the cheapest option. Also, these are not affiliate links.)

Now without further ado, I present to you twenty five incredible books!

  1. The Mysterious Benedict Society Series: THIS IS (one of) THE BEST SERIES EVER! There’s no bad language, magic, or inappropriate content; it’s great for all ages; and it’s one of the best books I’ve ever read! Unfortunately it’s super hard to explain the plot without spoiling it or else making it sound boring, but I’ll give it a try. After following a strange advertisement in the newspaper and passing a series of mind-bending tests, four children embark on a strange adventure to stop the evil Mr. Curtain from taking over the world with his Whisperer in a most terrible way. They must use their abilities and work as a team to solve the riddles and mysteries at every turn. Ugh, that was an awful summary. You can read a slightly better one here.
  2. The Penderwicks Series: Follow the four Penderwick sisters on many hilarious and heartwarming adventures (and misadventures). Filled with funny, well crafted, and extremely relatable characters, these books are immensely satisfying must-reads, and perfect for summer!
  3. The Chronicles of Narnia Series: This is part of Amazon’s summary: “…four children travel repeatedly to a world in which they are far more than mere children and everything is far more than it seems. Richly told, populated with fascinating characters, perfectly realized in detail of world and pacing of plot, and profoundly allegorical, the story is infused throughout with the timeless issues of good and evil, faith and hope.” If you haven’t yet read these wonderful classics, well, what are you waiting for?
  4. The Mighty Miss Malone: I read this just recently, and it was so good it’s now one of my favorite books! Narrated by a black girl living in the time of the Great Depression, this historical-fiction-ish story is full of humor, warmth, and wonderful characters.
  5. Miss Piggle-Wiggle Series:  Charming, clever, and hilarious. Another perfect read-aloud. Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle is a rather eccentric old lady who finds the most peculiar cures for children’s bad habits. Like the time when she cures a boy who doesn’t want to take a bath by letting him get so dirty, his parents can plant radishes in his hair. Or the time when… well, I could go on, but maybe you should just read them yourself. 😉
  6. The Green Ember Series: A delightful adventure story starring two rabbits named Heather and Picket. When their peaceful world is disturbed, the two siblings are thrown onto a dangerous path that will take strength they didn’t know they had. Joined by many interesting and sometimes mysterious characters, the two rabbits join the fight “Till the Green Ember rises or the end of the world.” These books are kind of a blend of Watership Down, The Chronicles of Narnia, and The Lord of the Rings.
  7. Freddy the Pig Series: Freddy the Pig is no ordinary pig. He’s also a writer, a detective, and leader of all the animals on Mr. Bean’s farm – in short, Freddy is a hero. He, along with his friends Jinx the cat and Mrs. Wiggins the cow, lead the farm animals on all sorts of wild adventures, uncovering schemes and concocting clever plans.
  8. Charlotte’s Web: Wilbur the pig goes into hysterics when he finds out he will be butchered one day. But with the help of his talented spider friend Charlotte and farm girl Fern, they come up with a plan that just might save his bacon. This is definitely another children’s classic.
  9. Do Hard Things: This is quite different from the rest of the books on this list, but it’s one of the most life-changing. Do Hard Things is a how-to book written by teenagers that shows you how to overcome society’s pathetically low expectations for today’s teenagers and use your life to make a difference. That involves sometimes scary things and stepping outside your comfort zone, but the rewards are sky-high. The authors are unashamedly Christian, but their points are still as true and thought-provoking for non-Christians. Read this. Please. (They also have a website called therebelution.com.)
  10. Pippi Longstocking Series: These books contain the laugh-out-loud escapades of an unusually spunky, peculiar, and delightful red-haired girl who can turn anything into an adventure. A great read-aloud for all ages.
  11. Anne of Green Gables Series: A sweet, funny series about another lovable red-haired orphan girl. Anne-with-an-e has a big heart and a flair for the dramatic. She encounters many trials in her life such as that hilarious escapade with the “raspberry cordial,” nearly drowning while pretending to be a heroine in a poem, and a certain boy named Gilbert who insists on calling her “Carrots.”
  12. Swiss Family Robinson: An exciting adventure story about a family who is shipwrecked on an island and must fend for themselves. The language of the original is rather dense, but the story is sooo good once you get into it! Mom read it to my siblings and I quite a few years ago and we all loved it.
  13. Little Women: Four sisters learn to make their own fun from what they have while their father is away at war and their mother works hard to support their family. Sorry, this one’s a little hard to summarize. XD But it IS really good! 😉
  14. The Little House Series: The classic (true) story of life as a pioneer. It’s amazing how very different Laura and Almanzo’s lives were from ours – a world without cars or electronics, where everyone made their own clothes and built their own houses and grew most of their own food. I like how my little sister says reading these make her feel all warm inside – me too! 😀 One of my top favorite series ever!
  15. Peter Pan: Three children visit Neverland – a magical world of fairies, mermaids, pirates, and boys who never grow up. A delightful children’s classic.
  16. Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH: When Mrs. Frisby’s home is about to be destroyed, the mouse seeks help from the mysterious rats of NIMH, rats who are abnormally strong and intelligent. But why? What happened to the rats and how are they connected to NIMH, whatever that stands for? I think this is a lesser known book/series that deserves more popularity. It’s really quite good!
  17. The Borrowers Series: Unbeknownst to the humans, a family of tiny people live within their walls, surviving by “borrowing” human things – dollhouse furniture, scraps of food, bits of thread… But what would happen if the humans discovered them? It looks like they’re about to find out.
  18. Mr. Popper’s Penguins: Part of Amazon’s summary: “A classic of American humor, the adventures of a house painter and his brood of high-stepping penguins have delighted children for generations.” This is such a funny, charming book.
  19. Mary Poppins Series: Let’s do another Amazon summary: “When their new nanny, Mary Poppins, arrives on a gust of the East Wind, greets their mother, and slides up the banister, Jane and Michael’s lives are turned magically upside down . . . Mary takes the children on the most extraordinary outings: to a fun fair inside a pavement picture; to visit Uncle Andrew who floats up to the ceiling when he laughs; on a spectacular trip to see the Man-in-the-Moon!”
  20. My Side of the Mountain Trilogy: A boy named Sam runs away and makes a home for himself on the side of a mountain, learning how to hunt, cook, make a house out of a tree, and more. This series reminds me of Swiss Family Robinson and The Little House.
  21. The Wizard of Oz Series: A tornado suddenly whisks Dorothy and her dog Toto away to a strange new land with talking lions and scarecrows and tin men – and a mysterious wizard who seems to be hiding something. But what? And now how will Dorothy ever get back to her farm?
  22. Winnie the Pooh Series: An adorable, hilarious story about a stuffed bear and his companions who live in the Hundred Acre Wood. I absolutely love the writing style, the gentle yet laugh-out-loud humor, and the lovable characters. This is meant for younger children, but older children and adults will love it too – a perfect read-aloud.
  23. James Herriot Series: A sort of autobiography about the adventures of James Herriot, a vet who works in the England countryside. He encounters many strange and funny cases, but he manages all of them with a warm sense of humor and some soap and hot water.
  24. The Secret Garden: One of my favorite classics! A young girl discovers a hidden garden and takes it upon herself to uncover its secrets and bring it back to life. The garden miraculously does the same to her and her friends and makes them grow and blossom in ways they had never thought possible.
  25. And last but the opposite of least… The Bible! The Bible is not only the most important book you will ever read, but it has some quite interesting (and true!) stories in it: the stories of Adam and Eve, Noah, Abraham, Joseph, Ruth, Esther, Daniel, David, Paul, and of course, Jesus, among many, many others. The amazing thing about the Bible is you can always find some new detail or meaning every time you read it. Try it and see! You might be surprised at how a supposedly familiar Bible story or passage encourages you in a fresh new way.

Well, I hope you found some new stories to try in that list, my friends. Which ones are you looking forward to reading? How many have you already read? And what are a few of your favorite books?

***Allison***

P. S. I have sooooo many more favorite books that I originally was going to do a list of 50, but I thought that would get a bit long. XD So maybe I can do another book list post! What do you guys think?

92 thoughts on “25 Incredible Books to Read This Summer”

  1. Oh, yes, I recognize a lot of these as great books! The classics are definitely the best! I will have to check out the ones I don’t know.

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  2. Aww, these are some really lovely younger reads! I’ve read almost all of them at one point or another, and they’re all super cute and fun. ^.^ I’d say my favorite books are all classics — Lord of the Rings, Dickens, Dumas, Shakespeare, etc. (BECAUSE CLASSICS AJSLDKJ) — although I do have a few favorites in YA (CHALLENGER DEEP OMGOODNESS EVERYONE GO READ IT PLS.)

    And also I LOVE that you put the Bible on there. Because seriously, what could be a better read than that? :DD

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    1. Yes I agree! Classics are great. 🙂 I think they’re really underappreciated in today’s “instant entertainment” culture because you do have to do a bit of work to get into the books sometimes. But personally I like that! 😀 My brain gets bored when you can read without thinking. 😛
      Ooh, and Challenger Deep sounds great! What is it about?
      Yes! Really! Not to mention you can read the Bible over and over for your whole life and still find something new that you never noticed each time. 🙂

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      2. They are! And that’s so true . . . the best books are the ones that make you think. :DD
        Challenger Deep IS great — it’s basically the story of a boy’s descent and emergence from a schizophrenic episode. It’s super eye-opening, and it gives you a glimpse into how it feels to be in that situation. Just AHHH IT’S AMAZING.

        Agreed! A simple verse can give so much insight . . . it’s mind-boggling and SERIOUSLY SO COOL.

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  3. Okay not only do we have the same name but we also seem to like a lot of the same books! 😆Oh my gosh, okay first of all I LOVE The Mysterious Benedict’s Society, Mighty Miss Malone and Little Women! I’ve read several of the others, but those are my favs out of the ones you listed. Thanks for sharing!

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    1. Ooh, good question! Okay. Go to your WordPress Admin dashboard, hover over the “Settings” tab, and click on “Discussion.” Scroll all the way to the bottom where it says “Comment Form” and then “Prompt.” Just type whatever you want to in the little box there.
      I hope that helps, Krista! If any part of that wasn’t clear or you have more questions, feel free to ask. 🙂

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    1. Yep, I think so! 😀 Ooh, that’s so hard. A few of my very favorites are the Bible, the Mysterious Benedict Society, the Penderwicks, the Chronicles of Narnia, and the Little House series, maybe. 🙂

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  9. Hi, Allison! Would you recommend numbers 1, 2, and/or 4 for a 7 year-old accelerated reader? I’m always looking for good content but on a more advanced reading level. The rest of your suggestions are spot on and we have those in our home library, but the ones I mentioned are new titles for me! Thanks!

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    1. Hi, Erin! Let’s see… Yes, I think all of those would be fine! Just a note: number two has a tiny bit of romance but it’s sweet and funny and nothing at all inappropriate. 😉 I hope you guys enjoy them!

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  10. I’ve read almost all of these! YAY! Almost nobody that I know has read both Green Ember books and I love them sooo much!

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          1. I don’t know! I hope that he didn’t. But Uncle Wilfred saw him die in front of his eyes…that part was really sad. I wish they would release a third book. 🙂 Also, this sounds ignorant, but do you know who was singing at the end? 😛

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            1. Yeah… Well they never actually said he died – I think he said he saw the arrow go into his body or something and he was carried away limp, but they never said he died. Ooh, and I think the person singing at the end was Heather and Picket’s mother!

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              1. Hmm…I hope for goodness sake’s that he didn’t! Ooh, that would be awesome! 😀 😀 I really want another book, because I have questions that need to be answered! XD

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  11. I love this post! 🙂 We must have quite similar taste in books, because I’ve read nearly all of these. A few of my favorites from your list are Anne of Green Gables (it’s my favorite book ever), Little Women, The MBS, and Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle! A lot of the books on your list are really close to my heart so it made me happy to read.❤️

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  14. *reads through list* Yep… yep.. yep… XD I love all of these books! There’s maybe one or two of them that I haven’t read. I bought Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH at a used bookstore but haven’t gotten around to reading it yet. I used to love Miss Piggle-Wiggle! I’m in the middle of the Green Ember series right now. 🙂 One book that I might add to this list is The Candymakers by Wendy Mass. It’s very summery and fun to read. Oh, and another one is Stuart Little by E.B. White. It’s a really sweet and funny book written by the same person who wrote Charlotte’s Web. 😀
    Anyways, sorry for this rather random comment. You chose a lot of really good books! 🙂

    -Clara ❤
    clara-and-co.com

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    1. Hee hee! Wow, it’s so neat that you read almost all of these! Ooh yes, you should really read Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH. It’s great! Oh yes! I actually had The Candymakers and maybe even Stuart Little on my original list of 50 books, but I had to prune them off, sadly. 😦 😉 But yesss, those are both great books! Thanks for your comment, dear! 😀 It wasn’t random at all!

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  15. Great post, Allison! If I ever see the The Mysterious Benedict Society series at the library I should check it out. 🙂 I’ve read most of the books you mentioned(and I really like them all, too), including the Freddy the Pig books-those are so hilarious! Recently I’ve been reading books in the Liberty Bell series by Gilbert Morris-they are such amazing books! They are set at the time of the Revolutionary War, which I really like, too. Have you read any books by GIlbert Morris before?
    One of my favorite series is the Zion Covenant series by Bodie Thoene-they are at the time before and during World War II, and they are so exciting, but you also learn a lot of history, which I really like. I recommend any books by the Thoenes. 🙂 Another book I read recently was Mansfield Park by Jane Austen. What books have you read by her?
    I completely understand your dilemma of deciding how many books to put on your list-there are so many good books out there! I would definitely be interested in another post like this. 🙂
    ~Christian Homeschooler
    P.S. A great addition to your every day Bible reading is to read a chapter of Proverbs a day-there are 31 chapters, so you can basically read it the book in a month. 🙂

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    1. Thanks so much! 😀 YES you really should! I think you would like the MBS. 🙂
      Oh yeah, I think Logan has read the Liberty Bell series but I’m not sure if I read them too or not.
      Ooh, maybe I can check out the Zion Covenant books at our library! I do like reading historical fiction set in WW times, so that sounds neat.
      I’ve never read the Mansfield Park book but I have read Pride and Prejudice, and that was good! Have you read it?
      Ha ha, I know! It’s so hard! 😀
      P. S. Ooh, yeah! I think my mom might do that… I know I’ve heard of it somewhere, at least. Thanks for the great tip and the comment! 😀

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      1. You’re welcome!
        Oh, really? Have you read any of the House of Winslow books, then, too?
        Yes, you should! The series after it is called the Zion Chronicles, so make sure you don’t read those books first.
        Yes, I did read Pride and Prejudice! It was a good book. I read Emma and Sense and Sensibility, too, but those weren’t as good.

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        1. Nope, I don’t think I’ve read House of Winslow before. What is it about?
          Ooh, thanks for warning me. 😉 I don’t like when I read series out of order, heh heh.
          Yeah! I think I started Emma but never finished it, and I still want to read Sense and Sensibility. 🙂

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          1. The House of Winslow series goes through American history, chronically the lives of the Winslow family. It starts during the American colonization, and goes through the 1900s. They’re very interesting, though Gilbert Morris does have a lot of the same themes in his books.
            Yeah, Emma was kind of long and boring. 😛

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  16. My my my you certainly have good taste in books!
    What about Nancy Drew Mystery Stories some of those are really good! Have you ever read any?

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    1. Hee hee, why thank you! Yes, I have read a few Nancy Drew books and they’re pretty good, but after a while they kind of all seemed the same to me. :/ 😉

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  17. I’ve only read The Swiss Family from this list ( other than the Bible of course ) So yeah… *runs off to see just how many of these books we have* Ok, so we actually own most of them. 😂 I just need to find a time to read them.

    And yes, you should definitely do another book post!

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  21. Yassss! I actually have some the Mysterious Benedict Society stashed somewhere in my house. XD I’ve heard of The Green Ember, Anne of Green Gables, The Might Miss Malone, and The Secret Garden, but never read them… But I’ve read Narnia, Charlotte’s Web, Mr. Popper’s Penguins, Miss Piggle-Wiggle, and Little Women. And ofc, the Bible AMEN. ;))

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  24. Wow! These are really amazing. And you’re right- God’s word really is the most amazing book in the world.

    I LOVE The Mighty Miss Malone! It’s one of my favorites, along with The Penderwicks and the Mysterious Benedict Society. I’ll be reading the Swiss Family Robinson this year in school, and hope to enjoy it. 🙂

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  27. Wow! How cool! I’ve read some of these, like Charolette’s Web, The Borrowers, and probably others. Some of my favorite books are: “Worth It All” by Isabella Morganthal, “Not Abandoned” by MacKenzie Morgantal, “Kisses from Katie” by Katie Davis, “Alone Yet Not Alone” by Tracy Leininger. I know, a lot and that’s not even all of them, haha! 😀 I love to read! 😀 Have you read any of the ones I listed? 😉 I’d love to see your next 25 in another post! 😀

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    1. Ooh, thank you for the book suggestions Livy! I don’t think I’ve read any of those but I’ve heard of some of them. 😉 I still really want to read “Kisses from Katie.” I’ll try to remember to see if our library has it next time we go!

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  28. Me too! I love Emma. I think that I’m drawn to books with comedy and tragedy, which the Green Ember has. 😉 Too little salt is an insult and too much salt is an assault!

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  30. Caroline told me about All Creatures Great and Small but she said there was language. O.o I think just beaver houses, though. ALSO do you think you’ll do another one of these posts this summer and add The Chestry Oak?

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    1. Oh yeah, there is a little language – that’s the one thing I don’t like. 😦 Yeah, approximately that. Hmm, good question… I was thinking about that but I’m not sure. It depends on how many other post ideas I have. BUT PERHAPS.

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  31. Hi Allison, another nice post. Well among all these, which books should be read first? Oooh, and have you read Harry Potter too. I’m an avid reader of the fabulous series by Miss☺️ Rowling.

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    1. Thank, Gaurav! Hmm, that’s a good question… I suggest The Mysterious Benedict Society books. They’re super interesting and fun to read. I’ve only read the first Harry Potter book, but I might have to continue the series!

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