When I was seven, I read my first-ever chapter book, Laura Ingalls Wilder’s “Little House on the Prairie.” It was there that I found my love for reading and my love to share the magic of books with others. This last year, as a Junior Staff Member at Paradise Point, I carried a book around with me everywhere, and I was amazed by just how many children asked what I was reading. I ended up reading a section of my book to the cabin I stayed with. And then we ended up spending every moment in our cabin reading. I was inspired by their love of reading and their excitement to know what happened next.
As a result, I have created the ultimate “Camp Book List.” Please know that I especially love fantasy novels, and the list contains lots of fantasy novels. Additionally, while I separated the list by estimated age/reading level, feel free to pick any book from the list. I have also highlighted my own favorites. Hope to see you all at Camp in 2022!
Sincerely,
Booker
2021 Junior Staff (& hopeful 2022 staff member)
Booker's 2022 Camp Reading List | |
|---|---|
Book List | Booker's Picks |
AGE: 7-9 Percy Jackson Series by Rick Riordan Diary of a Wimpy Kid Series by Jeff Kinny Dork Diaries Series by Rachel Renee Russell Artemis Fowl Series by Eoin Colfer Harry Potter Series by J.K. Rowling The Unwanteds Series by Lisa McMann Captain Underpants Series by Dav Pilkey Land of Stories Series by Chris Colfer Junie B Jones Series by Barbara Park The Chronicles of Narnia Series by C.S. Lewis Wonder by R.J. Palacio Magic Treehouse Series by Mary Pope Osborne Boxcar Children Series by Gertrude Chandler Warner A Series of Unfortunate Events Series by Lemony Snicket Rainbow Fairies Series by multiple authors Ivy + Bean Series by Annie Barrows City of Ember Series by Jeanne DuPrau FableHaven by Brandon Mull Wildwood by Colin Meloy The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupery | The Unwanteds Set in the world of Quill, where 13 year-olds are sorted into the intelligent Wanteds and the artistic Unwanteds. 13 year old artistic Alex is sent to the “death farm” only to discover a secret world, Artime, where artistic skill and magic are cultivated. “The Hunger Games meets Harry Potter…” Harry Potter An iconic series, where a boy named Harry learns that he is a wizard and is set to attend Hogwarts School of Magic, where he goes on extravagant and entertaining adventures! + quidditch! Percy Jackson Another must read series! Percy is just a regular teenage boy until he learns he is the son of Poseidon, the god of the sea. He is going to be hunted for the rest of his life unless he goes to a camp for demi-gods like him, Camp Halfblood. |
AGE: 9-12 A School of Good & Evil Series by Soman Chainani Goddess Girls Series by Joan Holub & Suzanne Williams Ranger’s Apprentice Series by John Flanagan Maze Runner Series by James Dashner Hunger Games Series by Suzanne Collins Divergent Series by Veronica Roth The Giver by Lois Lowry Lunar Chronicles by Marissa Meyer Renegades Series by Marissa Meyer The Selection Series by Kiera Cass The Daughter of the Pirate King by Tricia Levenseller Red Queen Series by Victoria Aveyard The Wrath & The Dawn Series Renee Ahdieh A Wrinkle in Time Series by Madeleine L’Engle Mrs. Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children Series Ransom Riggs The False Prince Series by Jennifer Nielsen | The Wrath & The Dawn In a land where a mudourous boy-king murders his new wife at each new dawn, Shahrzad is determined to avenge her best friend’s death and kill the boy-king. But can she survive long enough to do so? The Daughter of the Pirate King Alosa, the heir to a fearsome pirate empire, must uphold the feared name of her father. When she is sent on a mission to retrieve an ancient treasure map, Alosa allows herself to be captured by the enemy. The only thing standing in the way of her and the map, her captor, but no lone pirate can stop the Daughter of the Pirate King. |
AGE: 12-15 The Mortal Instruments Series by Cassandra Claire The Infernal Devices Series by Cassandra Claire The Dark Artifices Series by Cassandra Claire The Last Hours Series by Cassandra Claire Throne of Glass Series by Sarah J. Maas Six of Crows Series by Leigh Bardugo Children of Blood & Fire by Tomi Adeyemi A Deadly Education Series by Naomi Novik Bone Witch Series by Rin Chepeco The Empirium Trilogy by Claire Legrand Shadow & Bone Series by Leigh Bardugo From Blood & Ash Series by Jennifer L. Armentrout Rebel of the Sands Series by Alywn Hamilton | The Shadow Hunter Universe (The Mortal Instruments Series + The Infernal Devices +The Dark Artifices) In a world where a half-angel, half-human race called Shadow Hunters hunt down demons protecting the human and supernatural worlds. You can jump into this series in England 1880s (The Infernal Devices) or in more modern times (The Mortal Instruments + the others). A Deadly Education The Scholomance is a magical school where failure means certain death. There are no teachers, no holidays, and no friendships. Survival is the name of the game and the school won’t allow its students to leave until they graduate or die. Beware of the monsters lurking around every corner and always be ready for anything! “Hogwarts if Hogwarts was trying to kill you” |
Recommendations from Donovan/Gandalf (Paradise Point Assistant Director):
Hilda (aka Hildafolk) by Luke Pearson. This children's comic book and graphic novel series follows young Hilda and her loyal deerfox companion Twig as they explore the wilderness, returning home to a small log cabin and her worried mom. Hilda eventually moves into Trollberg, a city with a large wall built to keep out the trolls that turn to stone in the day time and come alive at night. As a child raised as part of nature, it takes time for Hilda to fit in to the typical school atmosphere. This is a great series for kids who find classrooms challenging while remaining curious and driven in their element. It was also recently adapted as a cartoon series with a movie finale by Netflix.
Lumberjanes by Shannon Watters, Grace Ellis, Brooklyn A. Allen and ND Stevenson. This Middle Grade comic book and graphic novel series follows a ragtag group of cabinmates at "Miss Qiunzella Thiskwin Penniquiqul Thistle Crumpet's Camp for Hardcore Lady Types," where campers (called Lumberjanes) are instructed on how to survive in a wilderness full of fantastical mysteries and mythical creatures. This award-winning series has a diverse set of authors with characters to represent everyone, even those of us that may not always feel as cool as our radical, hardcore lady-type friends.
Camp by L.C. Rosen. A Young Adult book that centers on Randy, a lovestruck teen boy hoping to woo his crush while at camp. The book focuses on the theme of identity, and not losing yourself while trying to convince others to like you. Great for fans of teen romance!
Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens. Adult novel that follows the life of "Kya," oftimes referred to as a "swamp girl" in her local town, as she learns to fend for herself while being curiosity-driven in exploring her local marshland. Fans of the outdoors might enjoy the way Kya's fascination with nature leads her to catalog, with drawings, the wildlife with whom she shares a home. I read this with high schoolers in a library book club; however, this book does contain intense content and the overarching plot deals with an active murder investigation. It makes for a great read for people interested in many different types of books and perfect for group reading.
Adult book recommendations from Megan/Eggs (Paradise Point Camp Director):
American Library Association list of top 10 most frequently challenged books by year. Some challenged books are listed in Booker’s picks, and some are all time favorites of mine. Consider frequently challenged books as a window into today’s societal fears- what stories are we afraid of hearing and why?
Cloud Cuckoo Land by Anthony Doer. The newest release (2021) from award winning Idaho author, this timeline hopping novel is a rich exploration on themes of legacy, humanity and bedtime stories. With one timeline based in the recent past of a town eerily similar to McCall, this is a fun (long and dense) read!
Love Is The Way by The Very Rev Bishop Michael Curry with Sarah Grace “As the descendant of slaves and the son of a civil rights activist, Bishop Michael Curry's life illustrates massive changes in our times. Much of the world met Bishop Curry when he delivered his sermon on the redemptive power of love at the royal wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle at Windsor Castle. Here, he expands on his message of hope in an inspirational road map for living the way of love, illuminated with moving lessons from his own life. Through the prism of his faith, ancestry, and personal journey, Love Is the Way shows us how America came this far and, more important, how to go a whole lot further.” - Love Is The Way
The Church Cracked Open by Rev Canon Stephanie Spellers “In this critical yet loving book, the author explores the American story and the Episcopal story in order to find out how communities steeped in racism, establishment, and privilege can at last fall in love with Jesus, walk humbly with the most vulnerable and embody beloved community in our own broken but beautiful way.” - The Church Cracked Open
Whatever book you choose to accompany you to Paradise Point Camp this year, may your imagination and spirit be active!
