The long, hot summer is here and we can think of nothing better we'd like to do than curl up with a good book under a fan, by the pool or at the beach. With so many great books out there for tweens and teens, sometimes you need a little guidance on what to get for your reader. Local gems like the Austin Public Library and Westbank Library have staff members who specialize in adolescent literature, and are always happy to help point you in a good direction. Check out APL's NBTween Book Club this summer, too! Up next is Time Cat and Nerd Camp!

Readergirlz is an online book club for adolescents that promotes literacy and social service, and can be a great way to get your social media-savvy tween excited about books again.

Local bookstore BookPeople has summer reading lists for grades 5-6, 7-8 and a whole website dedicated to teen literature with events, reviews and recommendations!

Here are a few titles we enjoy to help get you started. Happy reading!

Ages 9-12:
ALEXANDER DRAKE'S EXTRAORDINARY PURSUIT by Elizabeth Parkinson Bellows
THE MAGICIAN’S ELEPHANT by Kate DiCamillo
ONE CRAZY SUMMER by Rita Williams-Garcia
WHEN YOU REACH ME by Rebecca Stead
NUMBER THE STARS by Lois Lowry
HOW TO ROCK GLASSES AND BRACES by Meg Haston
BIGGER THAN A BREAD BOX by Laurel Snyder
    Ages 13 and up:
UNDER THE NEVER SKY by Veronica Rossi
BETWEEN SHADES OF GREY by Ruta Sepetys
GIRLS DON’T FLY by Kristen Chandler