Summer Reading Collage

Collage of GDS Community Readers

Summer Reading 2025

Welcome to GDS’s suggested summer reading lists! Note the word “suggested.” At GDS, we believe students should choose their own free reading whenever it’s possible. We highly recommend browsing in, borrowing from, and participating in programs at your local public libraries during summer months when the school libraries are closed.

If you’d like to read what Kirkus Reviews, a great book review publication, says about the books on this list, simply click the title. Where possible, we’ve also included links to the e-books and audio books on the DC Public Library’s Overdrive shelf. Looking for physical books? Search the DCPL catalog here. If you're interested in purchasing any of the books on this list from Politics & Prose, mention the Georgetown Day School Summer Reading List at the register for a 10% discount.

Some of these titles contain challenging ideas, concepts, and language. See this Hopper Effect blog post to learn more about GDS’s thoughts around this.

Happy Reading!

Did You Know? GDS students, regardless of where they live, can get a card for the DC Public Libraries. GDS also encourages participation in DCPL’s Discover Summer program.

PK–2nd Grade

Suggested Summer Reading List for PK-2nd Grade

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Summer Reading Challenge.
Submit a photo of a PK–8th grade student reading a book to library@gds.org. We love to see photos of LMS summer readers! We will use all the photos for a joyful collage of reading at the beginning of the school year.

Did You Know?
GDS students, regardless of where they live, can get a card for the DC Public Libraries. GDS also encourages participation in DCPL’s Discover Summer program.

Need more summer reading in your life?
Try these lists as well: ALSC Summer Reading Lists, Horn Book Summer Reading List, Scholastic Summer Reading, Barnes and Noble Summer Reading, Loyalty Books: Kids’ Indie Next List

3rd–4th Grade

Suggested Summer Reading List for 3rd–4th Grade

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Summer Reading Challenge.
Submit a photo of a PK–8th grade student reading a book via email. We love to see photos of LMS summer readers! We will use all the photos for a joyful collage of reading at the beginning of the school year.

Did You Know?
GDS students, regardless of where they live, can get a card for the DC Public Libraries. GDS also encourages participation in DCPL’s Discover Summer program.

Need more summer reading in your life?
Try these lists as well: ALSC Summer Reading Lists, Horn Book Summer Reading List, Scholastic Summer Reading, Barnes and Noble Summer Reading, Loyalty Books: Kids’ Indie Next List

5th-6th Grade

Suggested Summer Reading List for 5th-6th Grade

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Summer Reading Challenge.
Submit a photo of a PK–8th grade student reading a book via email. We love to see photos of LMS summer readers! We will use all the photos for a joyful collage of reading at the beginning of the school year.

Did You Know?
GDS students, regardless of where they live, can get a card for the DC Public Libraries. GDS also encourages participation in DCPL’s Discover Summer program.

Need more summer reading in your life?
Try these lists as well: ALSC Summer Reading Lists, Horn Book Summer Reading List, Scholastic Summer Reading, Barnes and Noble Summer Reading, Loyalty Books: Kids’ Indie Next List

7th–8th Grade

Suggested Summer Reading List for 7th–8th Grade

No post to display.

Summer Reading Challenge.
Submit a photo of a PK–8th grade student reading a book via email. We love to see photos of LMS summer readers! We will use all the photos for a joyful collage of reading at the beginning of the school year.

Did You Know?
GDS students, regardless of where they live, can get a card for the DC Public Libraries. GDS also encourages participation in DCPL’s Discover Summer program.

Need more summer reading in your life?
Try these lists as well: ALSC Summer Reading Lists, Horn Book Summer Reading List, Scholastic Summer Reading, Barnes and Noble Summer Reading, Loyalty Books: Kids’ Indie Next List

High School

Suggested Summer Reading List for High School

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Are you a newspaper reader? Consider participating in the New York Times 15th Annual Summer Reading Contest!

Theatre fans: Watch theatre performances through GDS's Digital Theatre Plus subscription over the summer! See the HS LibGuides for log-in credentials or contact Rhona.