Are you ready for summer reading? Having a reading list and a place for your child to keep track of what has been read helps motivate them to read more. Many schools and public libraries offer rewards for reading a certain amount of books during summer break.

According to the Just Read, Families! program from the Florida Department of Education,

Research shows that children who do not continue reading through the summer can lose a month or more of progress made during the school year. By encouraging their children to read, parents are playing a critical role in achieving our goal of having every child reading at or above grade level by 2012.

Here’s a list of books recommended for grades six through eight. Please keep in mind that your child may read at a different grade level than their actual school grade. You will know this from their report card, reading score on standardized tests or from their teacher.

• A Face First by Priscilla Cummings is about a girl and her mother who have been in a bad car accident. The girl has burns to her face and other injuries. She describes the painful experience in both physical and mental terms.
• Things Not Seen by Andrew Clements tells the story of a boy who becomes invisible. There’s more to this story than meets the eye!
• Hoot is a zany book that teaches about ecology. There’s even a DVD for after the book!

• Storm Warriors by Elisa Carborne is an adventure novel about real life rescues on the Outer Banks in North Carolina in the 1880′s from the only African-Americans in the US Life Saving Service (which later became the Coast Guard).

Please make reading a part of your child’s summer. Take trips to the library or buy them a few books to get them excited about enjoying one of life’s greatest pleasures.