Summer Reading Picks from the Engage Roundtable

What began as a simple question—“What books would you recommend for educators, parents, or gifted students?”—blossomed into a vibrant and thoughtful exchange on the Engage Roundtable. Members from across the gifted education community jumped in to share their favorite reads, classroom resources, personal reflections, and professional recommendations. The result? A crowd-sourced reading list full of insight, inspiration, and practical value.

Whether you're an educator, a parent, or simply passionate about supporting gifted and twice-exceptional (2E) learners, these titles offer a rich starting point for your summer or school-year reading.

For Educators and Parents Supporting Gifted and 2E Learners

• Different Minds: Gifted Children with ADHD, ASD, and Other Dual Exceptionalities (2nd ed.)
  A deep dive into the complexities of twice-exceptionality for parents, teachers, and psychologists.

• Neurodiversity Playbook by Dr. Matt Zakreski
  A favorite among TAG educators looking to bring neurodiversity-affirming practices into their classrooms.

• Neurodiversity-Affirming Schools by Emily Kircher-Morris & Angie Morin
  Practical tools to create supportive environments where all students feel accepted.

• Perfectionism: A Practical Guide to Managing "Never Good Enough" by Lisa Van Gemert
  A helpful guide for understanding and addressing perfectionism in gifted learners.

• What To Do When "Good Enough" Isn't Good Enough by Thomas Greenspon
  A student- and family-friendly introduction to perfectionism and how to grow beyond it.

• Promoting Rigor through Higher-Level Questioning by Todd Stanley
  A resource for educators aiming to deepen critical thinking and classroom engagement.

• Grit in the Classroom and Raising Children with Grit by Laila Sanguras
  Books that explore character development and perseverance as part of the learning journey.

• 101 Success Secrets for Gifted Kids by Christine Fonseca
  A practical pick full of quick wins and conversation starters for both home and school.

Reflections on Grit, Growth, and Perfectionism

The conversation quickly expanded beyond titles into deeper discussions around grit, growth mindset, and perfectionism—highlighting how these concepts are understood and applied in the world of gifted education.

Some members noted the benefits of explicitly teaching grit and growth mindset strategies, while others cautioned about the risks of misapplying these ideas, especially when they lead to unhealthy perfectionism or pressure. The community explored the difference between adaptive perfectionism (realistic goals and a growth-focused attitude) versus the kind that leads to anxiety and burnout. These insights added context to several of the book recommendations shared.

Favorite Fiction and Memoirs for Gifted Students (and Adults)

• A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle
  A timeless favorite that resonated deeply with many community members—some even called it the book that turned them into readers.

• Fantasia Mathematica edited by Clifton Fadiman
  An imaginative anthology connecting math and storytelling.

• Twice as Weird: A Memoir about Twice Exceptionality
  A personal perspective on growing up as a twice-exceptional learner.

• David and Goliath by Malcolm Gladwell
  Reframes the idea of success and how setbacks can lead to unexpected strengths.

• Range by David Epstein
  A compelling case for exploration and versatility over early specialization.

A Few Bonus Picks from NPR’s Favorite Books List

• Late Bloomers by Rich Karlgaard

• The Formula by Joshua Robinson and Jonathan Clegg

• Do I Know You? by Sadie Dingfelder

• Invisible Rulers by Renée DiResta

• The Secret History of Bigfoot by John O'Connor

Why This Matters

This exchange is a great example of how a single prompt in the Engage Roundtable can spark meaningful dialogue, authentic connection, and resource sharing that benefits the whole community. It's what makes Engage such a valuable space—not just for asking questions, but for building a library of collective wisdom.

If you haven’t yet joined the conversation on Engage, consider this your invitation! And if you’ve got a favorite book for gifted learners or the adults who support them, we’d love to hear about it.