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Teacher’s Book Recommendations for Summer!!
Yay! Summer is finally here and of course the Teacher’s from The Teacher’s Academy are excited to bring you our 2026 summer book recommendations! We had a blast curating the following 15 books for teacher’s to read or listen to. Enjoy!
Novels
The Heir Apparent
By Rebecca Armitage
Recommended by: Ms. Breisch (High School Physics Teacher)
An irresistible modern fairy tale about a British princess who must decide between her duty to her family—or to her own heart. In this young adult science-fiction/fantasy novel, teenager Giannine Bellisario becomes trapped inside an advanced virtual-reality game after a real-world accident prevents her from safely logging out. To survive, she must navigate a medieval kingdom, avoid repeated deaths, solve political conflicts, and successfully claim the throne before time runs out. Teachers, this novel offers engaging opportunities to discuss themes such as problem-solving, resilience, ethics in technology, identity, leadership, and decision-making. Its fast-paced plot and blend of fantasy and science fiction make it accessible to middle and high school readers while encouraging critical thinking about virtual worlds and real-world consequences.
The Giver of Stars
By JoJo Moyes
Recommended by: Ms Semmit (8th Grade English Teacher)
Based on a true story rooted in America’s past, The Giver of Stars is unparalleled in its scope and epic in its storytelling. Funny, heartbreaking, enthralling, it is destined to become a modern classic–a richly rewarding novel of women’s friendship, of true love, and of what happens when we reach beyond our grasp for the great beyond. This historical fiction novel set in Depression-era Kentucky and inspired by the real-life Pack Horse Library Project. The story follows Alice Wright, a young Englishwoman who joins a group of women delivering books on horseback to isolated mountain communities. Through their work, the women build strong friendships, challenge social expectations, and bring literacy and opportunity to underserved populations.
Teachers will love this novel because it provides rich opportunities to explore themes of literacy, access to education, women’s empowerment, social justice, community service, and the transformative power of books. Its historical setting also supports discussions of the Great Depression, New Deal programs, Appalachian culture, and the role of libraries in expanding educational access.
The Correspondent
By Virginia Evans
Recommended by: (Multiple teachers loved this one!)
Filled with knowledge that only comes from a life fully lived, The Correspondent is a gem of a novel about the power of finding solace in literature and connection with people we might never meet in person. It is about the hubris of youth and the wisdom of old age, and the mistakes and acts of kindness that occur during a lifetime. Teachers- the novel offers opportunities to explore themes of communication, memory, aging, grief, resilience, forgiveness, and the power of human connection. Its epistolary structure provides a strong model for studying voice, characterization, and narrative perspective, while encouraging discussion about how written communication can reveal personal history and foster empathy. Plus, when I finished reading it, the first thing I wanted to do… was write a letter!
We All Live Here
By JoJo Moyes
Teachers, if you want a page-turner get-away explores themes of family dynamics, resilience, forgiveness, personal growth, and belonging, this is your summer read! Its realistic characters and relatable conflicts can support discussions about relationships, caregiving, life transitions, and the ways people adapt to change while building community and support systems. Lila Kennedy has a lot on her plate. A broken marriage, two wayward daughters, a house that is falling apart, and an elderly stepfather who seems to have quietly moved in. Her career is in freefall and her love life is . . . complicated. So when her real dad—a man she has barely seen since he ran off to Hollywood thirty-five years ago—suddenly appears on her doorstep, it feels like the final straw. But it turns out even the family you thought you could never forgive might have something to teach you: about love, and what it actually means to be family.
The Extraordinary Life of Sam Hell
By Robert Dugoni
Recommended by: Ms. Woosnam (Elementary Special Education Teacher)
Sam Hill always saw the world through different eyes. Born with red pupils, he was called “Devil Boy” or Sam “Hell” by his classmates; “God’s will” is what his mother called his ocular albinism. Her words were of little comfort, but Sam persevered, buoyed by his mother’s devout faith, his father’s practical wisdom, and his two other misfit friends. Teachers love this novel for the forum it provides to discuss bullying, discrimination, disability awareness, and the influence of family and community in shaping character. The novel encourages reflection on how individuals respond to adversity and how compassion can foster belonging and growth.
Daisy Jones & the Six
By Taylor Jenkins Reid
Recommended by: Ms. Massey (English Language Learner Teacher)
A gripping novel about the whirlwind rise of an iconic 1970s rock group and their beautiful lead singer, revealing the mystery behind their infamous breakup—from the author of The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, Malibu Rising, and Carrie Soto Is Back. English teachers are going to love the unique oral-history format which provides a strong example for studying narrative structure, point of view, reliability of narrators, and how multiple perspectives shape readers’ understanding of events. I’m not sure I’d recommend the themes for elementary students, but you won’t put it down this summer!
The God of the Woods
By: Liz Moore
If you love novels that have split story lines that converge in a “will-not disappoint ending, this novel is for you! Disappearances at an elite summer camp unravel privilege and family secrets across two timelines — Dark Academia meets summer mystery. A page-turner with literary depth, written by, you guessed it- a teacher!
The Ministry of Time
By: Kaliane Bradley
Recommended by: Ms. Grassley (Elementary School Librarian)
Witty and propulsive—The Ministry of Time is great for teachers who love history and a good plot twist! This speculative fiction novel blends science fiction, historical fiction, romance, and satire. The story follows a civil servant who is assigned to work with “expats”—historical figures brought into the present through time travel by a secret government program. Her charge is Commander Graham Gore, a real-life Victorian naval officer who disappeared during the ill-fated Franklin Expedition. As Gore adapts to modern life, their relationship deepens, while larger questions emerge about power, history, identity, and the consequences of altering time. Teachers, dive into themes of colonialism, cultural adaptation, identity, memory, ethics, and the relationship between history and the present. Its blend of genres and use of a historical figure in a speculative setting make it valuable for discussions of historical interpretation, narrative perspective, and how fiction can reimagine the past to examine contemporary social and political issues.
First Lie Wins
By Ashley Elston
Evie Porter has everything a nice Southern girl could want: a doting boyfriend, a house with a white picket fence, a tight group of friends. The only catch: Evie Porter doesn’t exist. A Reese’s Book Club thriller starring a shape-shifting con artist — fast-paced, clever, and impossible to put down. The perfect plane-ride or beach page-turner for teachers. Also, bring back to the classroom what you learned from this novel about identity, trust, deception, morality, and self-determination. Its suspenseful structure and shifting revelations provide strong examples of characterization, plot development, foreshadowing, and unreliable information. The novel can also support discussions about the ethical consequences of dishonesty and the challenges of defining one’s true self amid external pressures.
Professional Development
Hidden Potential
By Adam Grant
Recommended by: Maggie Haflett (AP Psychology Teacher)
Supercommunicators
By Charles Duhigg
Concrete tools for deeper conversations — from tough parent calls to classroom discussions. Teaches how to identify what kind of conversation you’re actually in and respond accordingly. In classrooms, communication is constantly shifting between instruction, behavior management, and relationship-building. The book’s ideas can help teachers respond more intentionally in each moment.
Audio/Podcast
Theo of Golden
By Allen Levi
Narrated by David Morse
This heartwarming, quiet and deeply moving literary masterpiece emphasizes human connection in our increasingly isolated world. Listen to David Morse wander through the small town of Golden as a mysterious benefactor who changes the lives he touches.
Yesteryear
By Caro Claire Burke
Narrated by Rebecca Lowman
This unique narrative splits into two timelines after an insta-famous-pioneer protagonist, Natalie Mills suddenly wakes up one morning cold, dirty, and trapped in what appears to be the brutal, electricity-free reality of 1855. Her family looks different, her cozy kitchen is replaced by a sputtering fire, and she is forced into backbreaking manual labor. Believing she is trapped in a simulation, a reality TV hoax, or a divine test, Natalie tries to survive while uncovering the mystery. This was a different immersive experience and I highly recommend for the summer house projects or long road trips you have planned!
Thomas Jefferson: The Art of Power
By Jon Meacham
This magnificent biography brings vividly to life an extraordinary man and his remarkable times, giving us Thomas Jefferson the man, the politician, and the president. A Founder whose understanding of power and of human nature enabled him to move men and marshal ideas, to learn from his mistakes and to prevail, Jefferson was passionate about many things—women, his family, science, architecture, gardening, Monticello, Paris, and more. He strove, despite fierce opposition, to realize his vision: the creation, survival, and success of popular government in America.
The History Chicks
This Podcast is long overdue! I’ve been enjoying listening to The History Chicks for a few years now and I have learned so much about many extraordinary women in history. Personally, I just finished their Laura Ingalls Wilder 3-part mega episode and, I laughed, cried and was astonished about how much I really didn’t know about the true life of Laura Ingalls Wilder. I recently listened to Ona Judge an incredibly smart, strong woman who risked her life to escape enslavement from the Washington’s. (These events occurred hundreds of years ago but I was physically nervous and excited as I listened to her perilous journey to freedom.) I can’t wait to learn about Audrey Hepburn and Martha Gellhorne! The Chicks have an extensive list of women they’ve already covered and are adding new ones all the time. Give them a listen on your next road trip or relaxing at the beach!
I found them on Spotify, here is their list of social media where you can find them too:
Contact us for amazing professional development courses created by teachers for teachers. Have a safe and fun summer!!