Summer Reading 2026
A summer reading program in all divisions has long been a Fort Worth Country Day tradition. Keeping students reading over the summer and fostering a love of literacy are important goals. The School works toward these goals by choosing books with literary value that are also popular with the readers. View the Summer Reading LibGuide, and learn more about each division's program.
Lower School
K-4 students enjoy Blackout Bingo, which is designed to encourage students to read a variety of books over the summer break. The grade-level specific bingo cards include categories of books to encourage all students – even the newest of readers – to use the library catalog or browse the shelves to find books of interest and to promote reading in different genres. Summer reading commences for Lower School students on Thursday, May 21. All cards must be submitted to classroom teachers by Thursday, August 28. Students who complete the card are granted a highly coveted Out-of-Uniform Day on Friday, September 4.
Questions about Lower School summer reading? Email Biz Hurley, Library Assistant.
Middle School
Grades 5-8 students continue reading with varying levels of autonomy, depending on the grade. Please consult the individual grade-level LibGuides (linked below) for the different requirements. All four Middle School levels have a required book and choice books. The required books are:
Fifth Grade: Number the Stars by Lois Lowry
Sixth Grade: One for the Murphys by Linda Mullaly Hunt
Seventh Grade: Either Divergent by Veronica Roth or Uglies by Scott Westerfeld
Eighth Grade: Unbroken: An Olympian’s Journey from Airman to Castaway to Captive–Adapted for Young Adults by Laura Hillenbrand
Accelerated Reader (AR) quizzes can be taken on books read over the summer in the Moncrief Library on Wednesdays. All AR quizzes are due Friday, August 21st. Please read the information on each grade-level page to understand the number of AR points required.
Questions about Middle School summer reading? Email Kim Gardner, Middle School Librarian.
Upper School
Grades 9-12 students have three summer reading requirements: a universal book The Boys in the Boat–Adapted for Young Readers by Daniel James Brown, a student choice book, and a grade-level required reading for English class. The students will read the universal book and participate in the Universal Book Program in the fall. Students will also participate in discussions related to the universal and student choice books during the school year. All summer work is due on the first day of school, Tuesday, August 18.
Read each grade level’s LibGuide (Grade 9, Grade 10, Grade 11, Grade 12) for details on summer reading.
Questions about Upper School summer reading? Email Sarah Blan, Upper School Librarian.
Faculty/Staff Summer reading isn’t just for the students. FWCD faculty and staff will enjoy a good book as well! They are choosing from 16 books that cover a variety of genres. Faculty and staff connect to discuss their selected books during the August in-service. For a complete listing of books for all grades and the Lower School Blackout Bingo cards, visit the 2026 Summer Reading LibGuide.
Library Hours
The William A. and Elizabeth B. Moncrief Library and Carolyn W. Fierer Library (Lower School) will be open this summer on Wednesdays beginning May 27, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Both libraries will be closed on Wednesday, July 1. Please note that the Carolyn W. Fierer Library will only be accessible from the patio doors. There will not be someone sitting at the front desk to let families into the building.
