Summer Learning keeps moving forward, and we are here to help inspire your reading and learning this summer. If you haven't already, you should sign up for Summer Learning to log your reading and win prizes. Make sure to check out some of the themed booklists. This week, hear what your fellow summer readers have been diving into. These book reviews may give you some great ideas about what to read next.
Summer Reading Book Reviews
Vikrant, age 6
"I love that this is a mystery book where the investigators crack case(s). The detectives are two alligators whose names are Mango and Brash. They flush themselves in toilets to go to their headquarters!! Chef Gustavo Mustachio gets kidnapped by an evil Cracker. The book is very funny, especially Mango 😀."
Bial Cooks Daal by Aisha Saeed
Llew, age 7
"I liked that this book was a book about patience and daal the food. I would recommend this book because it is very good book for children that are not patient because this book is about patience. I did not like the food was very spicy and the book is mostly for children six and under but grownups and kids older than six can also read it. And they eat daal with naan."
Bad Kitty Camp Daze by Nick Bruel
Mayra, age 7.5
"I like this book because I like how kitty acts like a dog."
The Future Book by Mac Barnett
Opal, age 9
"Very funny and silly.
Sunny Makes a Splash by Jennifer L. Holm
Alina, age 9.5
"There is a diving board that the main character Sunny is scared of , but at last she jumped of the diving board!"
Warriors: Fire and Ice by Erin Hunter
Jacob, age 10
"Suspicion in this sequel keeps you on your toes of what is going to happen next. Great book."
Betty Before X by Ilyasah ShabazzAlexandra, age 11
"I loved this book because it shows how Betty wanted to help find justice for colored people. Betty’s persistence and determination can help people stand up for what’s right too. Betty is a wonderful role model."
The Gilded Girl by Alyssa ColmanJulia, age 12
"The Gilded Girl is a really interesting book that mixes magic with a kind of old-fashioned city life. I think it was fun to read because it felt like a mix of a fairy tale and a story about real problems like unfair rules and wanting freedom. The main character is easy to understand and I liked how she didn’t just give up when things got hard. Sometimes she made mistakes, but that made her feel more real instead of perfect all the time. The magical parts were cool, especially how magic is part of everyday life for some characters but not for others. One thing I didn’t like as much was that was that some parts felt a bit predictable, like I could guess what might happen next before it actually did. But overall, the story kept me interested and I wanted to know what would happen next. 😍."
The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han
Rye, age 13
"It was Super interesting one of my favorites."
Place Promised in Our Early Days by Makoto Shinkai
Nhi, age 15.5
"Not done yet- still got a half of it, but it was a really creative story. I was really impressed. It's really cool, I recommend if you are Makoto Shinkai fan lol."
Kin by Tayari Jones
Gwendolyn, age 18+
"Beautiful story of two women coming of age in a world without their mothers. The end broke my heart."
There are Rivers in the Sky by Elif Shafak
Kim, age 18+
"4.5/5 I loved the writing in this book. The words flowed so well. The stories came together well in the end. It’s a 4.5 because it did take me a minute to appreciate the characters."
Want to submit your own review? Sign up for Summer Learning
None of these books sound up your alley? Check out a themed booklist for other recommendations to help you decide what to read next. You can also access booklists year round at the Staff Picks page. Prefer to read through your Kindle or phone? We have you covered!
In a hurry? Our always available streaming audiobooks and ebooks on Overdrive are ready for you with no holds or wait time. Or check out what Hoopla Digital has to offer, where you can also find graphic novels, movies, and music.
However you prefer to read, San Jose Public Library has you covered this summer!
SIGN UP FOR SUMMER LEARNING
(Information Updated: June 2026)
Add a comment to: Summer Learning: Book Reviews