Summer 2025 Backlist Reading Check-in and Life Update
Summer is always an odd season for my reading life. Since I do most of my reading in the evenings, it never seems to me like summer will change all that much, but somehow, it does. This summer I had the added complication of having surgery early in June. It sounded like the recovery would be pretty quick and easy, but my experience didn’t quite line up with my expectations there, either.
Which mostly meant that I read far fewer books in June than I anticipated. That was okay, though. It was good to slow down. I made up for lost time in July.
I’ve continued my poetry reading project this summer. It hasn’t worked out to be one poem each and every day, but I still average at least that many. I started with an anthology of Black poets that I loved and then moved on to Rupi Kaur, who has been on my list for a while. I also picked up a volume by Andrea Gibson, a poet who passed away during the summer. Their work is incredible.
I also read quite a few graphic novels. When I’m struggling to read, I find that those help get my momentum up. Plus, I find them really enjoyable.
Read on to see the whole list of backlist titles I read this summer.
Summer 2025 Backlist Reading List
This is the Honey: An Anthology of Contemporary Black Poets edited by Kwame Alexander
My thoughts: A powerful collection of poetry. A few of the contributors were familiar to me from other reading, so it was great to read more of their work, and I loved getting introduced to so many new poets. I’m sure this is a collection I’ll be revisiting in the future.
Published January 30, 2024
The Gender Binary is a Big Lie by Lee Wind
My thoughts: This book highlights different cultures who have more than two genders as part of their population, including ancient Romans, classical Jewish culture, and Hawaiian culture. The author profiles famous people from the past who lived outside the gender binary, and also shares a lot of information about intersex people. It’s a great resource for people who feel unsure about how to talk about transgender/nonbinary/intersex people or who have questions and want more information. Super easy to read. Highly enjoyable.
Published August 6, 2024 | My Review to Come
When Stars Are Scattered by Victoria Jamieson and Omar Mohamed
My thoughts: This graphic novel follows two Somali brothers who grow up in a refugee camp in Kenya. It’s a heartbreaking story at times, especially as Omar recalls fleeing from home and missing his parents. But it is also fiercely hopeful, showing the power of education and brotherly love. A National Book Award finalist.
Published April 14, 2020 | My Review to Come
Odder by Katherine Applegate
My thoughts: A novel-in-verse imagining of the life of an otter rescued by the Monterey Bay Aquarium research program. Shares the story of their pioneering otter surragocy program. This is a super-quick read, and an uplifting one, despite the tragedies the main character faces.
Published September 20, 2022 | My Review to Come
Mouse and His Dog (A Dogtown Book) by Katherine Applegate and Gennifer Choldenko
My thoughts: I read most of Dogtown, but missed a few chapters because my daughter couldn’t wait until our next read-aloud session to continue. We snagged a copy of this one at the library and tore through it in a few days. Mouse was a side character in Dogtown, so it was lovely to see him as the main character here. The story continues the theme of showing life in a dog shelter and the kinds of people and families who might choose to adopt a dog.
Published September 17, 2024 | My Review to Come
Shadow Apprentice by Linda Browne
My thoughts: This began as an impulse read for me. I follow the author’s blog, but this was my first time reading a book she’d written. My plan was to read the first page or so and decide whether to continue. I ended up reading the first 25% of the book before looking up. It’s a fast-paced steampunk fantasy novel and the start of a series I’m excited to continue.
Published May 8, 2024 | My Review to Come
Two Tribes by Emily Bowen Cohen
My thoughts: This one has been on my reading list since it first came out, only I didn’t realize it was a graphic novel. Mia grapples with understanding her identity as both Jewish and Muscogee. She reconnects with her dad’s family to learn more. A thoughtful story.
Published August 15, 2023 | My Review to Come
Garlic and the Witch (Garlic #2) by Bree Paulsen
My thoughts: I loved the first book in this series and always intended to read more. It’s such a sweet, cozy story about vegetables that have come alive. This was one my seven-year-old really enjoyed.
Published September 6, 2022 | My Review to Come
Lunar Boy by Jes and Cin Wibowo
My thoughts: I saw someone online talking about this book as a must-read, so I got a copy from the library. It’s a thoughtful story about a boy who lived alone on the moon before being adopted into a family and moving to a colony on a new planet. It’s a tender and thoughtful graphic novel with gorgeous illustrations.
Published May 14, 2024 | My Review to Come
Lord of the Butterflies by Andrea Gibson
My thoughts: I hadn’t heard of Andrea Gibson (I’m wildly under-read when it comes to poetry, especially modern poets), but they passed away earlier this year. So many people shared quotes from their poetry, and I loved all of them. I eagerly requested this book from the library and then soaked up the incredible poems. Gibson writes about relationships, mental health, and identity with such insight. If you’re looking for a shorter volume of poetry, I highly recommend this one.
Published November 27, 2018 | My Review to Come
Lion Dancers by Cai Tse
My Thoughts: I think I saw someone on Marvelous Middle Grade Mondays review this book and added it to my reading list. My littlest is currently super into graphic novels, so this is one we both read this summer. I loved getting to learn about lion dancing and enjoyed the overall story.
Published August 13, 2024 | My Review to Come
Front Desk (Front Desk #1) by Kelly Yang
What you need to know: I definitely heard about this book from the bloggers at Marvelous Middle Grade Mondays, but it moved up my list pretty quickly when I read Finally Seen by Kelly Yang. I’m excited to read this whole series.
Published May 29, 2018 | My Review to Come
As Long as the Lemon Trees Grow by Zoulfa Katouh
What you need to know: I’m pretty sure I heard about this book from Danielle Hammelef, but it took me a long time to finally read it. The story is dark, as it’s set during the Syrian Revolution and shows the trauma that survivors faced on a daily basis. It’s incredibly moving and a beautiful story despite the darkness.
Published September 13, 2022 | My Review to Come
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What did you read this summer?
What titles were on your summer 2025 backlist reading list? Did you read anything over the summer that you enjoyed? Do you read differently over the summer than in other seasons? Leave a comment and let me know.
