Summer Reading Tips: Comics and Books for Kids and Teens

Another school year is behind us and students are enjoying their well-deserved break… but what to do when it's pouring outside or the sun is blazing? Whatever the weather, you can always open a book or comic and dive into fantastic stories! We’ve put together a list of titles that won’t bore readers to death and will definitely expand their vocabulary. All these recommended books share two things: action and humor.

What might interest beginner readers? (approx. 6 – 10 years old)

For absolute beginners, I highly recommend The Witcher: A Grain of Truth! This comic will hook even the most reluctant reader. We all know the tough Geralt, who one day takes Ciri under his wing and together they fight evil… but what kind of “dad” would Geralt be? You’ll find the answer in this comic. The art is simple and many scenes are adorable (note: even if the context is terrifying for parents). It’s packed with witty dialogue and engaging micro-stories.

This is a family-friendly comic that kids and parents can read together. Many situations will feel familiar to what we experience ourselves (how to convince kids to clean up?). If you want to spark a child's interest in reading and The Witcher… this is the way!

For more experienced elementary school readers, I have a tip for some spooky reading: Monstrous Memoirs 2.

Well… Grandpa Vampire, Count Vlad Dracula himself, gets stuck looking after his three grandkids… To ensure they survive his care, he tells them adventurous stories from his life. But since it’s Grandpa Vlad Dracula, the stories are full of monsters that we might be judging a bit too harshly. And watch out! Van Helsing himself warns against this book! Only for the brave.

I have to praise several things about this book. First is the storytelling style. Grandpa Dracula tells his tales in an engaging way that is easy for younger readers to understand. The book doesn't use overly complex vocabulary, yet it maintains a great linguistic level. Younger readers will also appreciate the frequent illustrations, some of which span TWO WHOLE PAGES! They’ll breeze through their reading log in no time. 😊

What might older kids like? (approx. 11 – 14 years old)

You can’t go wrong with a time-tested classic: the Percy Jackson series, now in a fresh new look! Learning about Greek mythology through a bunch of demigod teenagers sounds much more appealing than the old-school textbooks.

The new edition differs from the original mainly in its covers. Every page breathes a bit of Greece, history, and mystery. Compared to the “original” release, the new one also differs in the number of volumes. Since 2023, new sequels (from book six onwards) have been arriving, where Percy once again dives into various quests with his friends to satisfy the gods and get into college. And let’s be honest… it perfectly blends the modern world with the mystical, introducing readers to Greek mythology in a much more exciting way. There are seven volumes out so far, so you’ve got plenty of entertainment for the rest of the summer (or even just a full week).

And what should the oldest ones read this summer? (approx. 15 – 20 years old)

This group of readers has tons of plans over the summer and spends a lot of time working part-time jobs. If they aren't into massive tomes (though something like Alchemised should last them the whole summer), I have tips for two series that are not only readable and humorous but also lead to deeper reflection.

Frieren: Beyond Journey's End from Crew publishing is the perfect summer companion – especially because the characters in this story travel to colder regions, so the reader can cool off at least imaginatively. Many readers will also be familiar with the anime version available on Netflix: Frieren: Beyond Journey's End.

Activity Tip: Read the manga and then watch the series. Keep a tally of every single thing that’s different in the show.

The Frieren series is about the titular elf mage who, along with her party, defeats the demon king and returns to the capital to be celebrated. Frieren spent ten years on this journey, but for her, it’s nothing. Years later, as her companions age and die, she begins to realize how much she changed because of them. She sets out on a journey again, but this time she won't be alone.

You’ll fall in love with Frieren just because of how differently she perceives the world and emotions. Her “emotional numbness” often leads to funny moments, and with every page, you’ll grow to love this powerful elven sorceress even more. And the best part? Six parts have been translated so far, and we can look forward to the seventh volume in the summer of 2026!

However, if you aren't into manga and anime, I have a tip for a comic series that might sound like something fans of Toy Story would appreciate, but believe me, this is reading for the strong-willed only!

The I Hate Fairyland comics are exactly the kind of read where you can relax, expand your vocabulary, and have a blast. Eight volumes have been translated so far, and each one surprises the reader with a ton of contrasts – vulgarity vs. cute art, fairy tale characters vs. massacres, a crazy heroine vs. desperate characters.

The main “heroine” is Gert, who ends up in Fairyland as a little girl and gets stuck there… She’s been trapped for years… She only ages mentally, because physically she still looks like a cute little girl. She desperately tries to get out of Fairyland (and the inhabitants of Fairyland would be happy if she succeeded, too), but Gert is a master at messing everything up. If you want to see what Alice in Wonderland would look like if Alice snapped and chose violence instead of diplomacy… you’ll love this series!

In short… summer vacation is the time when students have the chance to read what they actually enjoy. They can experiment and discover genres they don't have time for during the year. So, if you don't know what to get your kids to read, try one of today's tips. All the books on this list share one thing – humor.

And during the holidays, kids and teens mostly just want to have fun!