California Young Reader Medal

California Young Reader Medal references 48 books assigned across applicable K-12 grade levels in US schools. The California Young Reader Medal is California's statewide student-choice reading program, jointly sponsored by the California Reading Association, the California School Library Association, the California Library Association, and the California Association of Teachers of English since 1974. Students across the Intermediate, Middle School/Junior High, and Young Adult divisions read from annual nominee lists and vote for their favorite. Its winners are read in California classrooms and libraries statewide and span many of the most-loved middle-grade and YA titles, from Because of Winn-Dixie, Out of My Mind, and Wonder to Pax, Refugee, Restart, The Hunger Games, and The Fault in Our Stars.

Primary source: californiayoungreadermedal.org

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48 books referenced

Show all 48 titles

Ruby Lost and Found · Christina Li
Salt to the Sea · Ruta Sepetys
Scythe · Neal Shusterman
Shut Up, This Is Serious · Carolina Ixta
Stormbreaker · Anthony Horowitz
The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian · Sherman Alexie
The Agathas · Kathleen Glasgow
The False Prince · Jennifer A. Nielsen
The Fire of Stars · Kirsten W. Larson
The Hunger Games · Suzanne Collins
The Indian in the Cupboard · Lynne Reid Banks
The Mystery of the Monarchs · Barb Rosenstock
The Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrise · Dan Gemeinhart
The Tenth Mistake of Hank Hooperman · Gennifer Choldenko
The Unwanteds · Lisa McMann
The War I Finally Won · Kimberly Brubaker Bradley
The War That Saved My Life · Kimberly Brubaker Bradley
Things Not Seen · Andrew Clements
Torch · Lyn Miller-Lachmann
Touching Spirit Bear · Ben Mikaelsen
Ursula Upside Down · Corey R. Tabor
Wonder · R.J. Palacio
Wonderstruck · Brian Selznick
You Are Here: Connecting Flights · Ellen Oh

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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 California Young Reader Medal reading list

The book list above represents titles ReadingList has confirmed as referenced by California Young Reader Medal— 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. California Young Reader Medal 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 California Young Reader Medal include?

48 books are referenced by California Young Reader Medal 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 California Young Reader Medal cover?

California Young Reader Medal 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 California Young Reader Medal data come from?

Primary source: californiayoungreadermedal.org/. Cross-referenced with Common Core exemplars at achievethecore.org. Every book page on ReadingList.school cites the standards origin for that assignment.

Is California Young Reader Medal required reading?

California Young Reader Medal 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.