Welcome to the Greenwich Sentinels Summer Reading List, carefully curated for readers of all ages to enjoy under the sun. From whimsical adventures for the youngest explorers to introspective narratives for college students and adults, this list promises to transport you into worlds of mystery, magic, and heartfelt connections. Whether you’re lounging by the beach or relaxing in your backyard, each book has the power to make your summer days just a little brighter.
7 and Under
Sun – Sam Usher
It’s the hottest day of the year, hotter than broccoli soup, hotter than the Atacama Desert, hotter than the surface of the sun. It’s just the right kind of day for a boy and his granddad to go for a picnic. But as the sun beats down, Granddad keeps having to stop for a rest, and by the time they find the perfect picnic spot, some pirates have beaten them to it. Good thing they have enough food to share!
The Secret Garden – Frances Hodgen Burnette
When Mary Lennox comes to live at her uncle’s great house on the Yorkshire Moors, she finds it full of secrets. The mansion has nearly one hundred rooms, and her uncle keeps himself locked up. The gardens surrounding the large property are Mary’s only escape. Then, Mary discovers a secret garden, surrounded by walls and locked with a missing key. With the help of two unexpected companions, Mary discovers a way in—and becomes determined to bring the garden back to life.
How I Spent my Summer Vacation – Mark Teague
Most kids go to camp over the summer, or to Grandma’s house, or maybe they’re stuck at home. Not Wallace Bleff. Wallace insists he was carried off by cowboys and taught the ways of the West–from riding buckin’ broncos to roping cattle. Lucky for Aunt Fern, he showed up at her house just in time to divert a stampede from her barbecue party! Perfect for back-to-school read-alouds, here’s a western fantasy with sparkling illustrations and enough action to knock kids’ boots off!
8 – 13
Treasure Island – Robert Louis Stevenson
Treasure Island spins a heady tale of piracy, a mysterious treasure map, and a host of sinister characters charged with diabolical intentions. Seen through the eyes of Jim Hawkins, the cabin boy of the Hispaniola, the action-packed adventure tells of a perilous sea journey across the Spanish Main, a mutiny led by the infamous Long John Silver, and a lethal scramble for buried treasure on an exotic isle.
Confessions of a Dork Lord – Mike Johnston
Meet Wick. He’s the son of the Dark Lord, heir to the throne of black and broken glass, and next in line to be the leader of the Grim World. Too bad he’s stuck in Remedial Spell Casting (he can barely even cast the fart-revealer spell), he’s allergic to fire and brimstone, and the bullies at school insist on calling him Dork Lord. Full of humor, hijinks, and lively illustrations, Confessions of a Dork Lord follows Wick through the pages of his journal as he comes up with a genius plan to defeat his foes, achieve greatness . . . and survive Middle Ages School.
Echo Mountain – Lauren Wolk
After losing almost everything in the Great Depression, Ellie’s family is forced to leave their home in town and start over on Echo Mountain. Ellie has found a welcome freedom in her new life on the mountain. But a terrible accident leaves her father in a coma. Ellie is a girl who takes matters into her own hands, and determined to help her father she will make her way to the top of the mountain in search of the healing secrets of a woman known only as “the hag.” But the hag, and the mountain, still have many untold stories left to reveal.
14 – 17
The Summer I Turned Pretty – Jenny Han
Belly measures her life in summers. Everything good, everything magical happens between the months of June and August. Winters are simply a time to count the weeks until the next summer, a place away from the beach house, away from Susannah, and most importantly, away from Jeremiah and Conrad. They are the boys that Belly has known since her very first summer—they have been her brother figures, her crushes, and everything in between. But one summer, one wonderful and terrible summer, the more everything changes, the more it all ends up just the way it should have been all along.
We Were Liars – E. Lockhart
A beautiful and distinguished family. A private island. A brilliant, damaged girl; a passionate, political boy. A group of four friends—the Liars—whose friendship turns destructive. A revolution. An accident. A secret. Lies upon lies. True love. The truth. Read it. And if anyone asks you how it ends, just LIE.
Brave New World – Aldous Huxley
Largely set in a futuristic World State, inhabited by genetically modified citizens and an intelligence-based social hierarchy, the novel anticipates huge scientific advancements in reproductive technology, sleep-learning, psychological manipulation and classical conditioning that are combined to make a dystopian society which is challenged by only a single individual: the story’s protagonist.
College
1984 – George Orwell
George Orwell’s 1984 is a chilling tale of rebellion and oppression set in a world where truth is manipulated, freedom is restricted, and Big Brother’s surveillance reigns. The story follows Winston Smith, who dares to pursue forbidden love in a society controlled by war, lies, and a totalitarian regime that dominates not only actions but thoughts and memories. A prophetic novel, 1984 exposes the destruction of individuality and truth, making it a haunting, timeless exploration of political power and personal autonomy.
This Summer Will Be Different – Carley Fortune
Lucy, a regular tourist to Prince Edward Island, returns each year to escape her busy life, always with the goal of avoiding Felix, her best friend’s younger brother, despite their undeniable chemistry. But when her best friend, Bridget, flees her wedding plans and Lucy rushes to her side, she finds herself drawn to Felix once again, who is now showing a more serious side. As old promises are broken and feelings grow deeper, Lucy must navigate the tension between desire and loyalty, wondering if she can resist the one man she’s never been able to.
A Life on Our Planet: My Witness Statement and a Vision for the Future – David Attenborough
David Attenborough reflects on his 94 years of witnessing the gradual decline of the planet’s biodiversity and wild places, a phenomenon often unnoticed in daily life. This book serves as both a memoir and a powerful call to action, outlining how humanity has contributed to this environmental crisis and offering hope for the future. Attenborough emphasizes the urgent need to restore the world and create a sustainable future, highlighting movements, research, and policies already underway to address these challenges. His message is both a warning and a gift to humanity, urging readers to act now before it’s too late.
Grown Ups
The Summer Book – Tove Janson
The Summer Book distills the essence of the summer into twenty-two crystalline vignettes. This brief novel tells the story of Sophia, a six-year-old girl awakening to existence, and Sophia’s grandmother, nearing the end of hers, as they spend the summer on a tiny unspoiled island in the Gulf of Finland. The grandmother is unsentimental and wise, if a little cranky; Sophia is impetuous and volatile. Together they discuss things that matter to young and old alike: life, death, the nature of God and of love. “On an island,” thinks the grandmother, “everything is complete.”
Funny Story – Emily Henry
Daphne’s life is upended when her fiancé leaves her for his best friend, Petra. Stranded in Waning Bay, Michigan, with a barely-paying dream job, she moves in with Petra’s chaotic ex, Miles. Though the two couldn’t be more different, they form a friendship fueled by heartbreak and a plan to post fake summer adventures for their friends. But as their connection deepens, Daphne starts to wonder if she’s falling for her ex-fiancé’s new fiancée’s ex. Funny Story is a heartwarming tale of unexpected connections, personal growth, and the complexities of modern relationships.
The Country of Pointed Firs and Other Stories – Sarah Orne Jewitt
A female writer comes one summer to Dunnet Landing, a Maine seacoast town, where she follows the lonely inhabitants of once-prosperous coastal communities. Here, lives are molded by the long Maine winters, rock-filled fields and strong resourceful women. Throughout Sarah Orne Jewett’s novel and stories, these quiet tales of a simpler American life capture the inspirational in the everyday: the importance of honest friendships, the value of family, and the gift of community.
