Battle of the Books (state reading programs)

Battle of the Books (state reading programs) references 38 books assigned across applicable K-12 grade levels in US schools.

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Battle of the Books is a voluntary reading-competition program run in many US elementary, middle, and high schools, where student teams read from an official annual book list and answer recall questions in a quiz-bowl format. Lists are set at the state level (for example, by the North Carolina School Library Media Association's Elementary, Middle, and High School divisions), so the titles are state-specific and refreshed each year.

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38 books referenced

Show all 38 titles

Sal and Gabi Break the Universe · Carlos Hernandez
Scythe · Neal Shusterman
Smack Dab in the Middle of Maybe · Jo Watson Hackl
Stand Up, Yumi Chung · Jessica Kim
Swim Team · Johnnie Christmas
The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian · Sherman Alexie
The Boy at the Back of the Class · Onjali Q. Raúf
The Field Guide to the North American Teenager · Ben Philippe
The Hate U Give · Angie Thomas
The Last Musketeer · Stuart Gibbs
The Reappearance of Rachel Price · Holly Jackson
The Serpent King · Jeff Zentner
The Silence That Binds Us · Joanna Ho
Willa of the Wood · Robert Beatty

Reading the whole Battle of the Books (state reading programs) reading list? Kids who struggle with the print versions often finish the assigned books by listening.

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About this curriculum framework

This curriculum is one of dozens of named English Language Arts frameworks tracked across US public-school districts. Frameworks differ in scope (district-level vs state-level vs national), in mandate (required vs recommended vs elective), and in how prescriptive their reading lists are (single fixed text list vs broad reading-pool selection).

The book list below represents titles cited as required, recommended, or commonly assigned within this framework, sourced from the framework's primary documentation (or, where the framework is administered at district level, from public district curriculum pages). Each book's detail page links the specific source document for that citation.

How to use this Battle of the Books (state reading programs) reading list

The book list above represents titles ReadingList has confirmed as referenced by Battle of the Books (state reading programs)— either through the framework’s own published documentation, through audited classroom syllabi citing the framework, or through US state and district curriculum guides that map their reading expectations to it. Each book’s detail page links the specific primary source so parents, teachers, and students can verify the citation and locate the official document.

Reading lists evolve. Battle of the Books (state reading programs) citations on ReadingList are reviewed on a rolling basis as primary sources publish updates. If you teach or learn under this framework and a title on this page is no longer used (or you know of one that should appear), the ReadingList methodology page explains how to submit a correction with a citation.

Frequently asked questions

What books does Battle of the Books (state reading programs) include?

38 books are referenced by Battle of the Books (state reading programs) across applicable K-12 grade levels. Each book page cites the primary source assignment (the official curriculum standard, exemplar list, or syllabus where the title appears).

What grades does Battle of the Books (state reading programs) cover?

Battle of the Books (state reading programs) is a reading-program curriculum spanning applicable K-12 grade levels via the standards framework. Browse by grade using the grade-filter links on this page or visit /grade for the full grade index across all curricula.

Where does Battle of the Books (state reading programs) data come from?

Sourced from published curriculum documents + standards organizations. Cross-referenced with Common Core exemplars at achievethecore.org. Every book page on ReadingList.school cites the standards origin for that assignment.

Is Battle of the Books (state reading programs) required reading?

Battle of the Books (state reading programs) provides recommended exemplars + assignments — adoption varies by district and teacher. Always check with your school's English department for the specific required vs recommended list at your grade level.

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