As the final school bells ring and classrooms empty for the summer, another tradition is quietly gearing up across libraries, schools, and living rooms: summer reading. But this trend was not left behind in Middle School, summer reading has evolved into a powerful tool for education, equity, and engagement.
Closing the “Summer Slide”
Educators have long warned about the “summer slide”. The learning loss that occurs when students forget what they learned during the long break. According to the National Summer Learning Association, students can lose up to two months of reading skills over the summer if they don’t practice. Summer reading isn’t just for enrichment anymore – it’s essential. People can see marked differences in performance between students who read during the summer and those who don’t. To combat this, many schools partner with local libraries to offer themed reading programs, incentivizing kids with everything from stickers and snacks to digital badges and prize raffles.
Libraries at the Heart
Public libraries are central hubs for summer reading initiatives. This year, the American Library Association’s theme is “Drawn to the Library,” which celebrates the many reasons people visit libraries, from accessing resources to participating in programs.
Many libraries are also expanding access by offering digital borrowing and multilingual reading lists to reflect the diverse backgrounds of their readers.
Tech and Trends
Summer reading has gone digital, with platforms like Epic!, Libby, and Beanstack letting kids and teens track their progress, access e-books, and earn rewards online.
Social media has also played a role, with TikTok and Instagram fueling the popularity of “BookTok” and summer reading challenges.
More Than Academics
But summer reading isn’t only about boosting test scores. It’s also about cultivating curiosity and joy.
Some of our students discover genres they’ve never tried before – graphic novels, fantasy, memoirs- they start to see reading as personal, not just academic.
Parents, too, are getting involved. Family reading nights and community book clubs are drawing multigenerational crowds. In some towns, local businesses sponsor reading hours or donate prizes, turning reading into a shared experience.
Looking Ahead
As the season unfolds, librarians and educators alike hope that this year’s efforts continue to bridge learning gaps and spark lifelong habits.
Reading opens doors, and summer gives us the time to walk through them.
