When I reflect on my childhood summer vacations, I’m surprised by how much I don’t remember. The days flowed together seamlessly, and I gloried in so much freedom. Before I knew it, September arrived, and school resumed for the year.
That’s how it should be. The magic of summer vacation as a child is that it lasts forever and yet flies by in minutes. You aren’t supposed to remember it. It’s an undefinable feeling rather than a memory.
As I grew older, however, and the magic of childhood faded away, all that freedom felt like a mixed blessing. I enjoyed the break from school, but I craved structure and something to work toward. I wasn’t old enough to get a job. My three older siblings were all busy. I just had too much time on my hands.
So I spent hours reading. I made my way through most of Charles Dickens’ corpus (yes, even the 900+ pagers). I read the lesser-known Brontë novels (and can confirm there’s a reason they’re “lesser-known”). As an adult, I’m grateful for that leisure time because it expanded my knowledge and introduced me to many books I would never have the opportunity to read now. But for my teenage self, the summers were a tad listless.
In retrospect, I needed all that reading to be more organized and directed towards a goal. If you have a bookish teen at home with free time this summer, I encourage you to create a summer reading plan now. The process can be as easy or as complex as you wish. But you can make the experience more rewarding with a few simple steps.
(And if it all seems too overwhelming, don’t worry. There’s a cheat code at the end just for you!)
Create summer reading goals—and a reward for their completion.
Does your student love to read? Or do they avoid reading like the plague? The answer doesn’t really matter. Everyone benefits from clearly defined goals and a reward if they are completed. Without the pressure of grades, most students need a carrot to either motivate them or make tasks feel worthwhile. You know your student best, so choose a reward which will be exciting and meaningful. And to avoid any quibbles at the end, make sure everyone is on the same page about their goals.
Decide on a theme for your summer reading list.
This step will be informed by the goals you set. Does your student want to read more heavily in a specific genre (poetry, drama, etc.)? Are you looking to get a jumpstart on reading for next school year? Does your student want to do a deep dive into a particular author? Whatever angle you take, the list should be based on a loose theme which binds everything together.
You’ll have more success if you mix “fun” titles with “serious” ones.
No matter how much you love Shakespeare’s plays, for instance, his writing can be challenging, and most students will get burn out if there’s no variety. If you’re focusing on Shakespeare, intersperse plays inspired by his works (think West Side Story type of thing). Don’t be afraid to include some recent young adult novels on the list. Remember, it’s still summer vacation. The pace should be steady but relaxed.
Going on any trips this summer? Use some titles set in that place!
Reading about a place before you arrive can open it up in a whole new way. When you get there, it’s as if you’re already acquainted. Reluctant readers in particular may be excited by this approach. Consider getting the whole family involved. It’ll make the trip more fun and add to the “delights of anticipation,” as Miss Anne Shirley would say.
Still feeling a little lost? We’ve got you covered!
We did the work so you don’t have to. Click here to download HSLDA Online Academy’s 2025 summer reading list.
Happy reading! And have a wonderful summer.
