Summer reading struggles? Here’s how to help your child now and into the school year.

Thus, while some parents may protest podcasts or magazines as lackluster summer reading options, for some children, this media may be the most accessible. Podcasts, with unlimited downloads, can be more accessible than even a library book, as library branches will often have a limited number of copies, both hard copies and digital. Looking at Kirkus Review’s recommended Middle Grade novels for the summer, the books retail from $5.99-$14.99, which can still be prohibitive for families with multiple children in school. Movements toward consolidating public student ID cards and library cards, such as cities like Boston and Washington D.C. have done, helps to expand access to reading materials, as well.