The Importance of Summer Reading at Oak Hill Academy

At Oak Hill Academy in Lincroft, NJ, summer reading is more than just a fun break from the classroom—it’s an essential part of our students’ academic growth. For students in Monmouth County, NJ, summer reading provides an opportunity to enhance their literacy skills, explore new ideas, and foster a lifelong love of reading. With carefully curated reading lists for grades 5 through 8, Oak Hill Academy encourages its students to engage in reading that not only enriches their minds but also prepares them for the challenges of the upcoming school year.

Why Summer Reading Matters

Reading during the summer is an important educational tool. Without it, many students experience what is known as the “summer slide”—a regression in reading skills due to the extended break from formal learning. According to research, students who don’t read over the summer can lose up to three months of progress. At Oak Hill Academy, we recognize the value of maintaining and strengthening reading skills during the summer months to ensure that students are academically prepared for the next school year.

Summer reading encourages students to keep their minds active and engaged while also providing them with opportunities to develop critical thinking and comprehension skills. Reading can also enhance vocabulary, improve writing, and increase focus—all key components for success in New Jersey independent schools like Oak Hill Academy.

Benefits of Summer Reading

1. Academic Continuity: Summer reading ensures that students continue to learn during the break. The transition from one school year to the next can be smoother when students retain the knowledge gained in the previous year. This is particularly important in private schools in New Jersey like Oak Hill Academy, where academic excellence is a top priority.
2. Fostering a Love of Learning: Encouraging students to read books that are not only educational but also enjoyable helps them build a lifelong passion for reading. At Oak Hill Academy, the summer reading lists for grades 5-8 are carefully selected by our English, History, and Science teachers to include high-quality literature that is both engaging and thought-provoking.
3. Cognitive Development: Reading is one of the most effective ways to stimulate cognitive development in young minds. Whether it’s a compelling fiction story or an insightful non-fiction work, students develop critical thinking skills as they analyze characters, plotlines, and themes. In NJ private schools like Oak Hill Academy, we place a strong emphasis on helping students develop these skills, as they are crucial for success in school and beyond.
4. Improved Writing Skills: Reading a variety of genres, from fiction to history to science, allows students to observe different writing styles. This exposure helps them to become better writers themselves by understanding how sentences are constructed, how dialogue is used, and how ideas are organized.
5. Strengthening Comprehension and Focus: Regular reading improves concentration and comprehension skills. By reading for extended periods, students learn how to focus and retain information—a skill that will benefit them throughout their academic careers in Monmouth County, NJ schools and beyond.

Oak Hill Academy’s Summer Reading Lists

Each year, Oak Hill Academy provides carefully selected reading lists to help students in grades 5-8 stay on track with their academic goals while having fun reading. Here are the summer reading books for the 2025-2026 school year:

Required Reading for Students Entering Fifth Grade

• The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis
• Hello, Universe by Erin Entrada Kelly
• The Reinvention of Edison Thomas by Jacqueline Houtman

These books offer a range of genres, from fantasy to contemporary fiction, giving students the opportunity to explore different storytelling styles.

Required Reading for Students Entering Sixth Grade

• Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls
• A Year Down Yonder by Richard Peck
• The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind by William Kamkwamba

These selections promote themes of perseverance, friendship, and the power of innovation, encouraging students to think critically about the world around them.

Required Reading for Students Entering Seventh Grade

• Heart of a Samurai by Margi Preus
• Lucky Broken Girl by Ruth Behar
• The Night Diary by Veera Hiranandani

This list includes books that explore identity, resilience, and the importance of family and community.

Required Reading for Students Entering Eighth Grade

• The Giver by Lois Lowry
• Messenger by Lois Lowry
• Code Talker: A Novel about the Navajo Marines of World War Two by Joseph Bruchac

The Giver and Messenger are companion novels, providing students with an opportunity to explore dystopian societies and the themes of freedom, choice, and individuality.

The Role of Story Maps in Summer Reading

As part of Oak Hill Academy’s summer reading program, students are required to complete a story map for each book they read. This activity encourages students to engage deeply with the text, summarizing key plot points, analyzing characters, and reflecting on the themes. Story maps help improve comprehension and ensure that students are not just reading passively, but actively thinking about what they’ve read. This also prepares students for the upcoming academic year, where they will be required to analyze and discuss literature in greater depth.

How Oak Hill Academy Supports Summer Reading

At Oak Hill Academy, we understand the importance of making summer reading a fun and enriching experience for our students. To support families, we have partnered with Barnes & Noble in Holmdel to provide easy access to the required books. Additionally, our summer reading program includes helpful resources, such as the story map templates, which can be accessed through our website at Oak Hill Academy Summer Reading.

Conclusion

Summer reading is not just a tradition at Oak Hill Academy—it’s a vital tool for continued academic success. By participating in the summer reading program, students stay engaged with their education, build essential skills, and are well-prepared for the new school year. Whether reading fiction or non-fiction, each book selected for Oak Hill Academy’s summer reading lists is designed to foster critical thinking, comprehension, and a love for learning—all essential qualities for success in private schools in New Jersey and beyond.

Encourage your child to take full advantage of this summer’s reading opportunity and see the benefits unfold throughout the year. Summer reading is a fun, rewarding experience that nurtures the minds of young learners and sets them up for a bright academic future.

Oak Hill Academy is a NJ private school that is co-educational, independent, nonsectarian, and nonprofit for grades pre-kindergarten through eight. Oak Hill Academy is dedicated to a traditional, challenging, and caring learning environment that encourages comprehensive thought processes and deep understandings; thus promoting the wholesome intellectual, emotional, moral, and physical lifetime growth of our students. If you want to learn more about what makes Oak Hill Academy one of the best private school in NJ, visit us online at www.oakhillacademy.com , or subscribe to our mailing list to be notified when we post more topics.