---
title: "What We Read in July: A Peek Into Our Family Bookshelf"
description: A family reading recap from the team at Curio. See what this homeschool family read in July—picture books, chapter books, graphic novels, and thought-provoking middle grade titles.
---

[The Homeschooling Online Teacher](https://thinkcurio.com/the-homeschooling-online-teacher)

# [What We Read in July: A Peek Into Our Family Bookshelf](https://thinkcurio.com/the-homeschooling-online-teacher/what-we-read-in-july)

 Written by [Melissa Muir](https://thinkcurio.com/the-homeschooling-online-teacher/author/melissa-muir) | Jul 26, 2025 11:15:00 AM

July was a full month. Between camps, trips, and hosting visitors, we still managed to get through a solid stack of books. Some we loved, some sparked big conversations, and a few were read *again* for the third time (or more) because younger siblings do not believe in “too many times.”

Here’s what each of us read in July—with a little peek into what we thought:

## The 6-Year-Old’s Picks

This age is all about the familiar favorites. We’re still deep in the *early chapter book* phase, and this month was full of giggles and drama thanks to a very specific little kindergartener and a very sparkly friend.

**Junie B. Jones: Boo—and I Mean It!**  
Junie is NOT here for Halloween. The drama. The sass. The mispronunciations. It’s chaotic in the best way.

**Junie B. Jones: Meanie Jim’s Birthday**  
This one brought up some good chats about being left out and how we treat our friends. But mostly it was Junie yelling and making questionable decisions. As usual.

**Fancy Nancy: 5-Minute Stories** (yes, again)  
We read this collection more than once. Still delightful. Still full of big words and bigger outfits. Still sparking some imaginative dress-up time.

## The 8-Year-Old’s Stack

This one devoured books this month. A mix of history, fantasy, and superheroes—because why not?

**Charlie and the Chocolate Factory**  
We read this aloud, and it never gets old. Roald Dahl’s characters are weird and wonderful. Charlie’s quiet perseverance hit home.

**Spider-Man: Spider-Verse**  
Graphic novels like this are great for reading breaks. It’s fast, fun, and full of multiverse chaos.

**A Penny’s Worth of Character**  
A quick read with a big message. Perfect for talking about honesty—and not just in theory, but in the real-life situations kids actually face.

**The Boxcar Children: The Haunted Clock Tower**  
Mystery, teamwork, a touch of spookiness… it’s everything an 8-year-old sleuth could want.

**I Survived the Battle of D-Day, 1944**  
This one brought a lot of “Wait, did that *really* happen?” moments. The history-packed adventure style makes this series such a solid pick.

## The 10-Year-Old’s Reads

Big feelings. Big books. And some deep conversations. *Pink Rabbit* was our pick for [Curio's Newbery Book Club](https://payhip.com/b/KR7cm)!

**Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows**  
We made it to the end of the series. Emotional doesn’t even cover it. This kid was all in—narrating battles in the kitchen and analyzing character motives at bedtime.

**When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit**  
A quieter story with big impact. This book opened up thoughtful discussions about war, displacement, and what childhood looks like in different parts of the world.

<https://payhip.com/b/KR7cm>

## The 12-Year-Old’s Titles

Graphic novels ruled this month—with one sweet read slipped in between dragons.

**Cupcake Diaries**  
This series is the right mix of light and relatable. Friendship drama, cupcakes, and just enough middle school awkwardness to be realistic.

**Wings of Fire: Moon Rising** *(graphic novel)*  
**Wings of Fire: Escaping Peril** *(graphic novel)*  
Fast-paced fantasy, dragon politics, and amazing illustrations. These continue to be favorites—read in a day, discussed for a week.

## Mom’s Reading List

A little YA, a little historical fiction, and a few audiobooks squeezed in during sports practices and laundry-folding marathons.

**The Fates Divide** by Veronica Roth  
This sequel had more heart than I expected. Dystopian YA still gets me.

**The Last Mapmaker** by Christina Soontornvat  
Middle grade fantasy with gorgeous writing and deep themes. Highly recommend for older kids *or* grown-ups. This'll come up in our [Newbery Book Club](https://payhip.com/b/KR7cm) soon!

**The Higher Power of Lucky** *(audiobook)*  
Quirky and slow-paced, but memorable. Lucky’s world is small, but her questions are big. I'll also be teaching this in Book Club soon!

**The Watsons Go to Birmingham—1963**  
I finally read this one and wow. It’s funny, tender, and gut-wrenching all in one. A must-read. Yes, more book club prep but this one made me laugh... unexpected. Christopher Paul Curtis is such a genius at taking heavy historical moments and helping you see the humanity from a boy's eyes.

**Four** *(audiobook)*  
Listened for fun while cleaning. If you liked *Divergent*, it’s a good side-trip.

**The Paris Architect**  
Historical fiction set in Nazi-occupied Paris. A heavier read, but worth it. Very interesting for any architecture fans out there.

**Lost Roses**  
A sweeping, emotional novel set during WWI. Loved the multiple perspectives and the strong female characters.

## Why We Share Our Family Reads

At [**Curio**](https://thinkcurio.com/), we believe reading builds more than just vocabulary. It builds curiosity, empathy, and conversation. Whether you’re homeschooling full-time or just sneaking in read-alouds before bed, books shape the way our kids see the world—and that’s worth celebrating.

## Want to See What We Read Each Month?

Check back at the end of each month for our latest reading recap, or [follow along on YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/@thinkcuriolearning)where we share book stacks and other homeschool & teaching tips!

[View full post](https://thinkcurio.com/the-homeschooling-online-teacher/what-we-read-in-july)

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