What is the Neural Education team reading this summer?
We start each of our monthly Champion meetings with “Check and Connect.” Since we haven’t seen each other for a month, this is exactly what it sounds like: an opportunity for us to check in with each other and connect. This month we each shared a book on our summer TBR lists. Not surprisingly, our collective list has something for everyone—whether you want to sharpen your teaching practice, escape into a fantasy world, solve a murder from your beach chair, or just laugh out loud.
We've organized our picks by theme below, complete with quick descriptions and links to grab your own copy.
Heads up: links below are Amazon affiliate links, which means purchases help support Neural Education at no extra cost to you.
For the Educator's Brain: Teaching, Learning & Attention
Professional reads that will have you rethinking your classroom before fall.
Irreplaceable: How AI Changes Everything (and Nothing) in Teaching and Learning by Maya Bialik AI meets pedagogy. What technology can't replace about great teaching. Get it here
Stolen Focus: Why You Can't Pay Attention—and How to Think Deeply Again by Johann Hari Why our attention is fractured and how to reclaim deep thinking. Required reading for the distraction age. Get it here
Rebuilding Students' Learning Power: Teaching for Instructional Equity and Cognitive Justice by Zaretta Hammond Equity, cognition, and helping every student become a powerful learner. Get it here
Comprehensive Literacy for All: Teaching Students with Significant Disabilities to Read and Write by Dr. Karen Erickson & Dr. David Koppenhaver Practical, research-based literacy strategies because every student is a reader. Get it here
The Well-Educated Child by Deborah Kenny Quality thinking, agency, and ethical purpose. A vision for deeper learning. Get it here
Escape Reality: Fantasy & Romantasy
For when you want dragons, curses, and zero emails.
Bow Before the Elf Queen (The Elf Queen, Book 1)by J.M. Kearl Elves, royalty, romance. The start of a binge-worthy fantasy series. Get it here
The Once Upon a Broken Heart Series by Stephanie Garber Fairy-tale magic, broken hearts, and impossible bargains. Team review: "Young adult, romantasy, good easy read when you want to escape reality! Just keeps getting better — waiting for book 4 release 9/2026." Get it here
Dungeon Crawler Carl, Vol. 1–5 Box Set by Matt Dinniman Earth becomes a deadly alien game show. A man, his cat, and absolute chaos. Team review: "Yessssssss…. Hot tip from one of my teammates — listen to them on audiobook. The author reads them and does amazing voices." Get it here
Beach-Chair Detectives: Mystery, Crime & Thrillers
Sunscreen, iced tea, and a body in chapter one.
J.D. Robb Box Set (In Death series)by J.D. Robb Futuristic detective Eve Dallas. Gritty, addictive, and dozens of books deep. Get it here
Finlay Donovan Is Killing It by Elle Cosimano A struggling novelist mistaken for a hitwoman. Comedy-of-errors crime at its best. Get it here
Anything by Karin Slaughter — Pretty Girls, The Good Daughter, We Are All Guilty Here, the Will Trent series, the Grant County series… so many more Dark, twisty, can't-put-it-down thrillers. Get it here
Fiction to Fall Into: Novels & Stories
Heart, humor, and a little bit of everything.
Nothing to See Hereby Kevin Wilson Two kids who spontaneously combust, and the woman who loves them anyway. Team review: "So funny!" Get it here
Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir One amnesiac astronaut, one impossible mission to save Earth. Science + heart. Get it here
Love You More: A Novel by Emily Giffin Friendship, family, and the secrets we keep. Perfect poolside fiction. Get it here
All the Numbers: A Novel by Judy Larsen A mother's love tested. Moving, tender, unforgettable. Get it here
This Book Made Me Think of You by Libby PageA love letter to books and the people we share them with. Get it here
Curious Minds: Science & Nature Nonfiction
True stories stranger (and more wonderful) than fiction.
Finding the Mother Tree: Discovering the Wisdom of the Forest by Suzanne Simard How trees talk, share, and care for each other—science that reads like wonder. Get it here Bonus rec: One of our team also loved The Overstory by Richard Powers — same tree magic, but fiction!
Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers by Mary Roach What happens to our bodies after death—morbidly fascinating and genuinely funny. Get it here
Bonk: The Curious Coupling of Science and Sex by Mary Roach The hilarious, eye-opening science of, well… you read the title.Get it here
True Stories, Big Laughs: Memoirs We Love
From SNL legends to a Newbery-winning road trip.
Bossypants by Tina Fey Improv, ambition, and impostor syndrome — sharp, self-deprecating, laugh-on-every-page. Get it here
It's Always Something by Gilda RadnerThe beloved SNL original's funny, brave, deeply human memoir. Get it here.
Mexikid by Pedro Martín A hilarious, heartfelt graphic memoir. This is a Newbery Honor Winner and is great for all ages! Get it here
What's on YOUR summer list?
We'd love to hear what you're reading! Share your recommendations with us. And if you pick up one of these titles, let us know what you think.
Happy summer reading!
