Great Lakes Great Books Award

Great Lakes Great Books Award references 149 books assigned across applicable K-12 grade levels in US schools.

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The Great Lakes Great Books Award (GLGBA) is Michigan's statewide student-choice reading program, run by the Michigan Reading Association since 1989. Each year Michigan students read from an annual grade-band shortlist and vote for a winner plus honor books in Grades 4-5, 6-8, and 9-12 (the program also runs K-1 and 2-3 picture-book divisions, outside this list's scope). Winners and shortlist titles run from Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, The Tale of Despereaux, The Thief Lord, The Giver, and The BFG through The One and Only Ivan, Wonder, Fish in a Tree, El Deafo, Out of My Mind, New Kid, Ghost, Front Desk, Blended, Ghost Boys, Long Way Down, We Were Liars, Divergent, The Fault in Our Stars, and Firekeeper's Daughter.

Primary source: michiganreading.org

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149 books referenced

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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 Great Lakes Great Books Award reading list

The book list above represents titles ReadingList has confirmed as referenced by Great Lakes Great Books Award— 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. Great Lakes Great Books Award 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.

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Frequently asked questions

What books does Great Lakes Great Books Award include?

149 books are referenced by Great Lakes Great Books Award 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 Great Lakes Great Books Award cover?

Great Lakes Great Books Award 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 Great Lakes Great Books Award data come from?

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

Is Great Lakes Great Books Award required reading?

Great Lakes Great Books Award 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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Citations to Great Lakes Great Books Award are based on the publicly available course framework, reading list, or prescribed text list. Each book page links to the specific source document. Last reviewed: 2026-09-11.