2026 Forest Teen Committee Summer Reading List

 

Recently, the Forest of Reading announced their summer reading lists for Silver Birch readers in Grades 3–6, (ages 8–12), and one for Red Maple readers in Grades 7 and 8 (ages 12–14). Now there's a summer reading list for teens ages 14–18 (Grades 9–12) who would be in the White Pine program of the Forest of Reading.

 

This list which came together after a teen committee met to discuss recently published books by Canadian creators is a fabulous list of titles teens might consider reading this summer. 

 

Congratulations to the young people who worked so diligently to champion Canadian books for their peers and to prepare such stellar lists. 

 

Here are their selections for 2026:

  

White Pine

(Ages 14–18, Grades 9–12)

 

Agnes Aubert's Mystical Cat Shelter 

Written by Heather Fawcett 

Del Rey

368 pp.

Ages 18+

2026 

 

Bad in The Blood 

Written by Matteo L. Cerilli

Tundra Books

392 pp.

Ages 14–17

2025 

 

The Beauty of Us 

Written by Farzana Doctor 

ECW Press

304 pp.

Ages 15–18 

2024 

 

Behind Five Willows 

Written by June Hur 

Feiwel & Friends

336 pp.

Ages 13–18

2026 

 

A Deadly Inheritance 

Written by Kelley Armstrong 

Tundra Books

424 pp.
Ages 14+

2026  

 

Here for a Good Time 

Written by Kim Spencer 

Swift Water Books

256 pp.

Ages 14+

2026 

 

Like a Bird 

Written by Becky Citra 

Second Story Press

250 pp.

Age 12–18

2025 

 

The Ocean Would Paint Me Blue 

Written by Zoulfa Katouh

Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

368 pp.

Ages 12+

2026 

 

Other Worlds: Stories 

Written by André Alexis 

McClelland & Stewart

288 pp.

Ages 17+

2025 

 

Red Flags and Butterflies 

Written by Sheryl Azzam 

DCB Young Readers

258 pp.

Ages 12–17

2025 

 

Small Ceremonies 

Written by Kyle Edwards

McClelland & Stewart

368 pp.

Ages 18+

2025 

 

This Place Kills Me 

Written by Mariko Tamaki 

Illustrated by Nicole Goux 

Harry N. Abrams

272 pp.

Ages 14–18

2025

 

A Treachery of Swans 

Written by A. B. Poranek 

Margaret K. McElderry Books

368 pp.

Ages 14+ 

2025 

 

What Wakes the Bells 

Written by Elle Tesch

Feiwel & Friends 

331 pp.

Ages 13–18

2025 

 

 

 

 

The downloadable list and poster are available at the Forest of Reading website here:

• Teen summer reading list

• Teen summer reading list poster

2026 Forest of Reading Kid Committees Summer Reading Lists

Every spring since 2017, young peoples have applied to participate on the Forest of Reading's Kid Committees to select books to recommend to their peers to read over the summer.  These lists of recently published books by Canadian creators cover a variety of genres and reading levels and introduce young readers to fabulous books.

 

This year, the committees met in early May to discuss and champion books that they thought their peers might enjoy reading. The Forest Kid Committees have come up with two fabulous lists, one for Silver Birch readers in Grades 3–6, (ages 8–12), and one for Red Maple readers in Grades 7 and 8 (ages 12–14). They have included graphic novels and historical fiction, fantasy and non-fiction. There are more challenging reads and hi-lo readers for grabbing young readers attention. There's something for everyone.

 

Congratulations to the young people who worked so diligently to champion Canadian books for their peers and to prepare such stellar lists. Well done, young readers!

 

Here are their selections for 2026:

 

 

SILVER BIRCH

(Ages 8–12, Grades 3–6) 

Amir and the Jinn Princess

Written by M. T. Khan

Jimmy Patterson Books

Ages 8–12

304 pp.

2024 

 

Bark Twice for Murder

Written by John Lekich

Orca Book Publishers

Ages 9–12

120 pp.

2025

Best Friend, Worst Bully

Written and illustrated by Mei Yu

Union Square Kids

Ages 7–10

144 pp.

2026

Briarwood

Written by Natalie Hyde

DCB Young Readers

Ages 9–12

246 pp.

2026 

Built Like a Bug: How Insects Inspire Everyday Inventions

Written by Anjali Joshi

Illustrated by Kathleen Ng 

Annick Press

Ages 9–12

128 pp.

2026

The Ghosts of Bitterfly Bay 

Written by Mary Averling

G. P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers

Ages 8–12

224 pp.

2025 

 

I Won't Feel This Way Forever

Written by Kim Spencer

Orca Book Publishers

Ages 9–12

192 pp.

2025

 

Izzy Wong's Nose for News

Written by Marty Chan

Orca Book Publishers

Ages 9–12

208 pp.

2024 

Kaboom!: Blast Off (Book 1)

Written by Jay Odjick

Illustrated by KC Oster 

Scholastic Canada

Ages 8–12

142 pp.

2026 

 

Kindred Dragons

Written and illustrated by Sarah Mensinga

Harry N. Abrams

Ages 10–13

208 pp.

2025

Planting Sunshine

Written by Andrée Poulin

Illustrated by Enzo 

Groundwood Books

Ages 9–12

116 pp.

2026

 

Snoop

Written by Gordon Korman

Scholastic Press

Ages 9–12

208 pp.

2025

Touching Grass 

Written by Kristy Jackson

Illustrated by Rhael McGregor 

HarperCollins

Ages 8–12

336 pp.

2025

 

 

 

 

 

 

RED MAPLE 

(Ages 12–14, Grades 7–8) 

 

Best of All Worlds    

Written by Kenneth Oppel

Penguin Teen Canada

Ages 12+

256 pp.

2025 

The Curse of Heartwood Academy    

Written by Marty Chan

Orca Book Publishers 

Ages 12+

126 pp.

2026

Digger: Dig or Die!    

Written by Deborah Cholette

Illustrated by Davide Ochu

One Elm Book 

Ages 9–12

240 pp.

2025

The Experiment (The Factory, Book 2)    

Written by Catherine Egan

Scholastic 

Ages 9–12

320 pp.

2025

Fierce Voice    

Written by Susan Currie

Common Deer Press 

Ages 12–18

280 pp.

2025

Hypergifted (Ungifted, Book 3)    

Written by Gordon Korman

Scholastic Canada

Ages 9–12

264 pp.

2026

Julia and Romano    

Written by Eric Walters

DCB Young Readers 

Ages 13+

304 pp.

2026

Last Year with Maddy     

Written by Anna Rosner

Yellow Dog 

Ages 9–12

156 pp.

2026

Rhapsody Smith, Ice Angel    

Written by Lorna Schultz Nicholson

Yellow Dog 

Ages 8–12

210 pp.

2025

Seabird    

Written by Michelle Kadarusman

Pajama Press 

Ages 8–12

224 pp.

2025 

The Shape of Lost Things    

Written by Sarah Everett

HarperCollins 

Ages 8–12

272 pp.

2024 

Something's Up with Arlo    

Written by Matteo L. Cerilli

HarperCollins 

Ages 8–12

304 pp.

2025 

 

The Water You're Swimming In    

Written by Rachel Schwartz Fagan

Orca Book Publishers 

Ages 9–12

192 pp.

2026

 

The World's End (The Misewa Saga, Book 6)    

Written by David A. Robertson 

Tundra Books 

Ages 10+

280 pp.

2025 

 

 

  

 

The downloadable lists and poster are available at the Forest of Reading website:

 

• Silver Birch list

• Red Maple list 

• Silver Birch and Red Maple poster

 

2026 Forest of Reading winners announced

 

Over the past week, the Ontario Library Association's Forest of Reading®, a readers' choice book award program, announced the winners either virtually or at its annual Festival of Trees at Harbourfront in Toronto.

Here are this year's winners and honour books for each reading program, as voted by young readers from JK to Grade 12.

 

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Winner

The Great Dinosaur Sleepover
Written by Linda Bailey
Illustrated by Joe Bluhm
Tundra Books

 

Honour Books:

Fox and the Mystery Letter
Written and illustrated by Alex G. Griffiths
Frances Lincoln Children’s Books

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Weedflower
Written by Elizabeth Davaze
Illustrated by Marianne Ferrer
Owlkids Books  

 

 

Winner

The Great Puptective #2: Purranormal Activity
Written and illustrated by Alina Tysoe
Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
 

Honour Books:

The League of Littles
Written by Casey Lyall
Illustrated by Sara Faber
Greenwillow Books

 

 

 

  

Plant Attack! The Fascinating Ways Flora Defends Itself
Written by Erin Silver
Illustrated by Julie McLaughlin
Orca Book Publishers

 

 

 

  

Winner

The Last Hope School for Magical Delinquents
Written by Nicki Pau Preto
Viking Books for Young Readers

  

Honour Books:

Death by Whoopee Cushion
Written by Vicki Grant
Tundra Books 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Taxi Ghost
Written and illustrated by Sophie Escabasse
Random House Graphic  

Winner 

A Sick History of Medicine: A Warts-And-All Book Full of Fun Facts and Disgusting Discoveries
Written by Jelena Poleksic
Illustrated by Ella Kasperowicz
Neon Squid

Honour Books:

Spooky Lakes: 25 Strange and Mysterious Lakes That Dot Our Planet
Written and illustrated by Geo Rutherford
Abrams Books for Young Readers

 

 

 

 

Octopus Ocean: Geniuses of the Deep
Written by Mark Lieren-Young
Orca Book Publishers  

 

Winner

If We Tell You
Written by Nicola Dahlin
Kids Can Press

Honour Books:

Finding Harmony
Written by Eric Walters
Orca Book Publishers

 

 

 

 

 

The Factory
Written by Catherine Egan
Scholastic Canada 

Winner

For She is Wrath
Written by Emily Varga
Wednesday Books

Honour Books:

The History of Everything
Written and illustrated by Victoria Evans
HarperAlley  

  

 

 

 

 

 

A Drop in the Ocean
Written by Léa Taranto
Arsenal Pulp Press  

Winner/Lauréat

Les mal-aimés
Écrit et illustré par Magalie Élément 
Éditions Alaska 

 

 

Honour Books/Livres distingués:

Mon pire cauchemar, c’est lui, c’est elle

Écrit par Émilie Ouellette

Illustré par Mika

Éditions Alaska 

 

 

 

 

 

Comme toi et moi
Écrit par Priska Poirier
Illustré par Sabrina Gendron
Druide  

Winner/Lauréat

La bibliothèque enchantée 1: Le livre aspirateur
Écrit par Jocelyn Boisvert 
Illustré par Enzo
Éditions Michel Quintin

 

Honour Books/Livres distingués: 

Comment sauver des chevaux sauvages
Écrit par Andrée Poulin
Illustré par Caroline Lavergne
Bayard Jeunesse Canada 

Croki
Écrit et illustré par Jacques Goldstyn 
La Pastèque 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Winner/Lauréat

L’affaire Buddy Bussières
Écrit par François-Martine Bergeron-Mercier 

(François Gravel, Martine Latulippe, Alain Bergeron, Johanne Mercier)
Illustré par Mathilde Filippi
La courte échelle

Honour Books/Livres distingués:

L’Oracle
Écrit par Julie Champagne 
La courte échelle 
 

 

 

 

 

 

Quand ils sont venus
Écrit par Andrée Poulin
Illustré par Sophie Casson
Les Éditions de l'Isatis 


 
 

Congratulations to everyone!

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