As a reading leader in a school, my days are filled with the magic of words. I truly believe that reading is the ultimate key to unlocking opportunity; it’s the cornerstone of education. But beyond the classroom walls and the curriculum, books do something even more profound. They open windows into different worlds, grant us entry to places we’ve never been, and offer emotional strength and sanctuary when we need it most.
After a long, rewarding, but exhausting school year, my brain needs a bit of a refresh. That’s where my summer reading list comes in. Every year, I choose 12 books. I don’t set this number to make reading feel like a burden or a chore; instead, it’s a gentle invitation to expand my reading palette, step outside my usual comfort zones, and dive into a rich mix of genres, from historical biography and whimsical poetry to gripping sci-fi and magical fantasy.
Here are the 12 books sharing my beach towel, garden chair, and bedside table this summer.
1. Eleanor by Alice Loxton
[The historical one] Alice Loxton’s Eighteen was a phenomenally delivered concept, exploring the lives of eighteen historical figures through the lens of them turning that milestone age. Alice has an extraordinary way of bringing history to life. Now that I live and work so close to one of the historic Eleanor Crosses, I am incredibly excited to read her new biography of Eleanor of Castile, following her own pilgrimage along the commemorative route.
2. Dear Ugly Sisters and Other Poems by Laura Mucha
[The one I might read to my class] I was handed this book by a friend on a train journey, and I fell in love with it instantly. It is quirky, laugh-out-loud funny, and deeply poignant (essentially, Brian Bilston for the primary school age group). This summer, I’m determined to dig into this collection, explore each poem, and, most importantly, see how they read aloud so I can get them ready for the new school year.
3. Procrastination Proof by Jon Acuff
[The ironically delayed one] I’ve had this book for a few months now, and ironically, it’s just been sitting on the side as I’ve put off reading it. It feels entirely necessary that I finally crack it open this summer!
4. Shadow Thieves: Island of Skulls by Peter Burns
[The one I’m itching to read] The first Shadow Thieves book was an absolute revelation. The prose is so beautifully crafted that I actually highlighted a number of sections during my first read to use as stellar examples with my class. But alongside the rich, descriptive narrative, the story itself is lively and engaging. I am fully invested in this world and can’t wait to dive into the second instalment.
5. Easy Garden by Michael Griffiths
[The massively practical one] I’ve been a follower of Michael on Instagram for a number of years and have always appreciated his straightforward, no-nonsense approach to gardening. I’ll be reading this to grab some practical pointers for our own beautiful but mammoth garden as I get stuck into some outdoor projects over the summer months.
6. Kokun the Girl from the West by Nahoko Uehashi
[The getting lost in a new world one] The Beast Player and the Moribito series are some of my absolute favourite examples of fantasy literature. Uehashi weaves rich Asian tapestries of deeply layered storytelling that live on in your mind long after you’ve closed the book. This new release topped my birthday request list without me even looking at the premise or the blurb, I just trust her storytelling that much. I can’t wait to get started.
7. Rune: The Tale of the Obsidian Maze by Carlos Sánchez
[The one my niece will borrow from me] The first book in this series was a Waterstones Children’s Book Prize winner last year, and I absolutely devoured it (and subsequently recommended it to so many children!). The artwork in Rune is absolutely stunning, the characters are incredibly funny and fantastical, and the storylines are of truly epic proportions. I’ve been saving this highly anticipated follow-up specifically for the summer, and I can’t wait to crack it open.
8. Pablo and Splash: Roman Holiday by Shauna Dempsey
[The one recommended by children] This was the winner of the Children’s Book Award 2026. I was lucky enough to attend the ceremony, and I remember thinking: if children think this is the best book of the year, I absolutely need to read it! The story follows two time-travelling penguins (loosely based on the author and her husband). Fun fact: they are penguins because the author struggled to draw human hands and elbows!
9. Super-Infinite by Katherine Rundell
[The biographical one] Katherine’s children’s literature is stunning, and it is always an absolute pleasure to read her work aloud to a class. Because of that, I was highly intrigued to see that she had written a biography for adults centring on the life of the poet John Donne. I’m excited to see her brilliant writing style applied to non-fiction.
10. Amari and the Despicable Wonders by B.B. Alston
[The sequel one]I absolutely loved the first two books of the Amari series, but the next instalments have been sitting on my “to-read” pile for far too long. This summer is the perfect time to make that right and see what adventures Amari and her “illegal” magical abilities get up to next.
11. King of Nothing by Nathanael Lessore
[The one I should have read last year]Another book that has been on my radar for a while, and summer finally provides the breathing room to enjoy it. It’s a Young Adult book that explores contemporary boyhood and masculinity, and it sounds like exactly the kind of vital narrative we need in the world right now.
12. The Midwich Cuckoos by John Wyndham
[The classic one] I always like to include a classic on my reading list. I’ve read a few of Wyndham’s science fiction books over the years and have always loved his sweeping, imaginative world-building. The Day of the Triffids, The Chrysalids, and The Kraken Wakes have woven such rich narratives into my own storytelling psyche. I can’t wait to read another of his works—this time with a slightly darker, horror-leaning edge.
What’s on your reading list this summer? Let me know in the comments below!
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