# Great Lakes Great Books Award reading list

**149** books referenced by Great Lakes Great Books Award, a reading-program curriculum framework spanning applicable K-12 grade levels.

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.

**Framework type:** reading-program
**Canonical URL:** https://readinglist.school/curriculum/great-lakes-great-books-award
**Primary source:** https://michiganreading.org/Great-Lakes-Great-Books (michiganreading.org/Great-Lakes-Great-Books)
**License:** [CC BY 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) — please credit ReadingList.school when citing.

## Great Lakes Great Books Award reading list

- [A Bad Case of Stripes](https://readinglist.school/book/a-bad-case-of-stripes) by David Shannon _(Grades 2–8)_
- [A Mango-Shaped Space](https://readinglist.school/book/a-mango-shaped-space) by Wendy Mass _(Grades 5–8)_
- [Adopted by an Owl](https://readinglist.school/book/adopted-by-an-owl) by Robbyn Smith van Frankenhuyzen _(Grades 2–8)_
- [Amari and the Night Brothers](https://readinglist.school/book/amari-and-the-night-brothers) by B. B. Alston _(Grades 4–7)_
- [And Then, Boom!](https://readinglist.school/book/and-then-boom) by Lisa Fipps _(Grades 4–5)_
- [Arnie, the Doughnut](https://readinglist.school/book/arnie-the-doughnut) by Laurie Keller _(Grades 2–8)_
- [Ballet Brown](https://readinglist.school/book/ballet-brown) by Bellen Woodard _(Grades K–1)_
- [Barnaby Unboxed!](https://readinglist.school/book/barnaby-unboxed) by Terry Fan _(Grades 2–3)_
- [Beasts](https://readinglist.school/book/beasts) by Ingvild Bjerkeland _(Grades 9–12)_
- [Bink & Gollie](https://readinglist.school/book/bink-gollie) by Kate DiCamillo _(Grades 2–8)_
- [Black Brother, Black Brother](https://readinglist.school/book/black-brother-black-brother) by Jewell Parker Rhodes _(Grades 5–8)_
- [Blended](https://readinglist.school/book/blended) by Sharon M. Draper _(610L · Grades 3–7)_
- [Bone](https://readinglist.school/book/bone) by Jeff Smith _(Grades 2–8)_
- [Braided Roots](https://readinglist.school/book/braided-roots) by Pasha Westbrook _(Grades 2–3)_
- [Brownstone](https://readinglist.school/book/brownstone) by Samuel Teer _(Grades 9–12)_
- [Bubblegum Shoes: The Case of the Contraband Closet](https://readinglist.school/book/bubblegum-shoes-the-case-of-the-contraband-closet) by Goldy Moldavsky _(Grades 4–5)_
- [Buffalo Dreamer](https://readinglist.school/book/buffalo-dreamer) by Violet Duncan _(Grades 4–5)_
- [Buffalo Fluffalo](https://readinglist.school/book/buffalo-fluffalo) by Bess Kalb _(Grades K–2)_
- [Cabin Head and Tree Head](https://readinglist.school/book/cabin-head-and-tree-head) by Scott Campbell _(Grades 2–3)_
- [Cactus Queen: Minerva Hoyt Establishes Joshua Tree National Park](https://readinglist.school/book/cactus-queen-minerva-hoyt-establishes-joshua-tree-national-park) by Lori Alexander _(Grades 2–3)_
- [Class Act](https://readinglist.school/book/class-act) by Jerry Craft _(Grades 4–8)_
- [Clementine](https://readinglist.school/book/clementine) by Sara Pennypacker _(Grades 3–8)_
- [Counting by 7s](https://readinglist.school/book/counting-by-7s) by Holly Goldberg Sloan _(Grades 2–8)_
- [Dear Dad: Growing Up With a Parent in Prison - And How We Stayed Connected](https://readinglist.school/book/dear-dad-growing-up-with-a-parent-in-prison-and-how-we-stayed-connected) by Jay Jay Patton _(Grades 4–5)_
- [Death in the Jungle](https://readinglist.school/book/death-in-the-jungle-murder-betrayal-and-the-lost-dream-of-jonestown) by Candace Fleming _(Grades 4–10)_
- [Detective Sweet Pea: The Case of the Golden Bone](https://readinglist.school/book/detective-sweet-pea-the-case-of-the-golden-bone) by Sara Varon _(Grades 2–3)_
- [Divergent](https://readinglist.school/book/divergent) by Veronica Roth _(Grades 8–12)_
- [Dog Breath](https://readinglist.school/book/dog-breath) by Dav Pilkey _(Grades 2–8)_
- [Don't Trust Fish](https://readinglist.school/book/dont-trust-fish) by Neil Sharpson _(Grades K–1)_
- [Donut Feed the Squirrels](https://readinglist.school/book/donut-feed-the-squirrels) by Mika Song _(Grades 2–8)_
- [Down the Rabbit Hole](https://readinglist.school/book/down-the-rabbit-hole) by Peter Abrahams _(Grades 2–8)_
- [Earl & Worm: The Bad Idea and Other Stories](https://readinglist.school/book/earl-worm-the-bad-idea-and-other-stories) by Greg Pizzoli _(Grades K–1)_
- [El Deafo](https://readinglist.school/book/el-deafo) by Cece Bell _(420L · Grades 4–6)_
- [Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library](https://readinglist.school/book/escape-from-mr-lemoncellos-library) by Chris Grabenstein _(Grades 4–6)_
- [Ferris](https://readinglist.school/book/ferris) by Kate DiCamillo _(Grades 3–6)_
- [Fever 1793](https://readinglist.school/book/fever-1793) by Laurie Halse Anderson _(Grades 2–8)_
- [Fish in a Tree](https://readinglist.school/book/fish-in-a-tree) by Lynda Mullaly Hunt _(550L · Grades 4–7)_
- [Flora and Ulysses](https://readinglist.school/book/flora-and-ulysses) by Kate DiCamillo _(Grades 4–7)_
- [Forests](https://readinglist.school/book/forests) by Nell Cross Beckerman _(Grades 2–3)_
- [Four Eyes: A Graphic Novel](https://readinglist.school/book/four-eyes-graphic-novel) by Rex Ogle _(Grades 3–7)_
- [Frankenstein Takes the Cake](https://readinglist.school/book/frankenstein-takes-the-cake) by Adam Rex _(Grades 2–8)_
- [Front Desk](https://readinglist.school/book/front-desk) by Kelly Yang _(640L · Grades 3–7)_
- [Fudge-a-Mania](https://readinglist.school/book/fudge-a-mania) by Judy Blume _(Grades 3–6)_
- [Ghost](https://readinglist.school/book/ghost) by Jason Reynolds _(730L · Grades 5–8)_
- [Ghost Boys](https://readinglist.school/book/ghost-boys) by Jewell Parker Rhodes _(360L · Grades 4–7)_
- [Goosebumps: Welcome to Dead House](https://readinglist.school/book/goosebumps-welcome-to-dead-house) by R.L. Stine _(Grades 3–7)_
- [Ground Zero](https://readinglist.school/book/ground-zero) by Alan Gratz _(Grades 6–8)_
- [Haiku, Ew! Celebrating the Disgusting Side of Nature](https://readinglist.school/book/haiku-ew) by Lynn Brunelle _(Grades 3–6)_
- [Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone](https://readinglist.school/book/harry-potter-and-the-sorcerers-stone) by J.K. Rowling _(880L · Grades 4–7)_
- [Here Comes the Garbage Barge](https://readinglist.school/book/here-comes-the-garbage-barge) by Jonah Winter _(Grades 2–8)_
- [His Face Is the Sun](https://readinglist.school/book/his-face-is-the-sun) by Michelle Jabès Corpora _(Grades 9–12)_
- [Home in a Lunchbox](https://readinglist.school/book/home-in-a-lunchbox) by Cherry Mo _(Grades K–1)_
- [How to Stay Invisible](https://readinglist.school/book/how-to-stay-invisible) by Maggie C. Rudd _(Grades 2–8)_
- [How to Talk to Your Succulent](https://readinglist.school/book/how-to-talk-to-your-succulent) by Zoe Persico _(Grades 6–8)_
- [I'm Sorry You Got Mad](https://readinglist.school/book/im-sorry-you-got-mad) by Kyle Lukoff _(Grades K–1)_
- [Ida B. and Her Plans to Maximize Fun, Avoid Disaster, and (Possibly) Save the World](https://readinglist.school/book/ida-b-and-her-plans-to-maximize-fun-avoid-disaster-and-save-the-world) by Katherine Hannigan _(Grades 2–8)_
- [Is It Real?: The Loch Ness Monster](https://readinglist.school/book/is-it-real-the-loch-ness-monster) by Candace Fleming _(Grades 4–5)_
- [It's All or Nothing, Vale](https://readinglist.school/book/its-all-or-nothing-vale) by Andrea Beatriz Arango _(Grades 6–8)_
- [Lawn Boy](https://readinglist.school/book/lawn-boy) by Gary Paulsen _(Grades 2–8)_
- [Little Shrew](https://readinglist.school/book/little-shrew) by Akiko Miyakoshi _(Grades 2–3)_
- [Long Way Down](https://readinglist.school/book/long-way-down) by Jason Reynolds _(720L · Grades 7–12)_
- [Loser](https://readinglist.school/book/loser) by Jerry Spinelli _(Grades 4–6)_
- [Lulu's Mysterious Mission](https://readinglist.school/book/lulus-mysterious-mission) by Judith Viorst _(Grades 2–8)_
- [Max in the House of Spies: A Tale of World War II](https://readinglist.school/book/max-in-the-house-of-spies-a-tale-of-world-war-ii) by Adam Gidwitz _(Grades 6–8)_
- [My Explosive Diary](https://readinglist.school/book/my-explosive-diary) by Emily Gale _(Grades 2–8)_
- [New Kid](https://readinglist.school/book/new-kid) by Jerry Craft _(Grades 4–8)_
- [No More Dead Dogs](https://readinglist.school/book/no-more-dead-dogs) by Gordon Korman _(Grades 2–8)_
- [Nova's Ark](https://readinglist.school/book/novas-ark) by Kirk, David _(Grades 2–8)_
- [Officer Buckle and Gloria](https://readinglist.school/book/officer-buckle-and-gloria) by Peggy Rathmann _(Grades K–3)_
- [One Crazy Summer](https://readinglist.school/book/one-crazy-summer) by Rita Williams-Garcia _(750L · Grades 5–8)_
- [Orbiting Jupiter](https://readinglist.school/book/orbiting-jupiter) by Gary D. Schmidt _(Grades 7–10)_
- [Out of My Mind](https://readinglist.school/book/out-of-my-mind) by Sharon M. Draper _(700L · Grades 4–7)_
- [Plain Jane and the Mermaid](https://readinglist.school/book/plain-jane-and-the-mermaid) by Vera Brosgol _(Grades 9–12)_
- [Pocket Bear](https://readinglist.school/book/pocket-bear) by Katherine Applegate _(Grades 4–5)_
- [Polar: Wildlife at the Ends of the Earth](https://readinglist.school/book/polar-wildlife-at-the-ends-of-the-earth) by L. E. Carmichael _(Grades 4–5)_
- [Popcorn](https://readinglist.school/book/popcorn-harrell) by Rob Harrell _(Grades 4–8)_
- [Real Friends](https://readinglist.school/book/real-friends) by Shannon Hale _(Grades 2–8)_
- [Rules](https://readinglist.school/book/rules) by Cynthia Lord _(Grades 4–7)_
- [Say What?](https://readinglist.school/book/say-what) by Margaret Peterson Haddix _(Grades 2–8)_
- [Scat](https://readinglist.school/book/scat) by Carl Hiaasen _(Grades 2–8)_
- [Sharing Susan](https://readinglist.school/book/sharing-susan) by Eve Bunting _(Grades 2–8)_
- [Shiloh Season](https://readinglist.school/book/shiloh-season) by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor _(Grades 3–6)_
- [Simon Sort of Says](https://readinglist.school/book/simon-sort-of-says) by Erin Bow _(Grades 6–8)_
- [Sisters in the Wind](https://readinglist.school/book/sisters-in-the-wind) by Angeline Boulley _(Grades 9–12)_
- [Song of a Blackbird](https://readinglist.school/book/song-of-a-blackbird) by Maria van Lieshout _(Grades 3–8)_
- [Spooky Lakes: 25 Strange and Mysterious Lakes that Dot Our Planet](https://readinglist.school/book/spooky-lakes) by Geo Rutherford _(Grades 4–8)_
- [Star in the Storm](https://readinglist.school/book/star-in-the-storm) by Joan Hiatt Harlow _(Grades 2–8)_
- [Steve, a Rare Egg](https://readinglist.school/book/steve-a-rare-egg) by Kelly Collier _(Grades 2–3)_
- [Summer Vamp](https://readinglist.school/book/summer-vamp) by Violet Chan Karim _(Grades 2–8)_
- [Superfudge](https://readinglist.school/book/superfudge) by Judy Blume _(Grades 3–6)_
- [Swing](https://readinglist.school/book/swing) by Audrey Meeker _(Grades 2–8)_
- [Tangerine](https://readinglist.school/book/tangerine) by Edward Bloor _(Grades 2–8)_
- [The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian](https://readinglist.school/book/the-absolutely-true-diary-of-a-part-time-indian) by Sherman Alexie _(600L · Grades 7–10)_
- [The Apothecary](https://readinglist.school/book/the-apothecary) by Maile Meloy _(Grades 2–8)_
- [The Aquanaut](https://readinglist.school/book/the-aquanaut) by Dan Santat _(Grades 2–8)_
- [The BFG](https://readinglist.school/book/the-bfg) by Roald Dahl _(720L · Grades 3–6)_
- [The Bakery Dragon](https://readinglist.school/book/the-bakery-dragon) by Devin Elle Kurtz _(Grades K–1)_
- [The Boy on the Porch](https://readinglist.school/book/the-boy-on-the-porch) by Sharon Creech _(Grades 3–5)_
- [The Crossover](https://readinglist.school/book/the-crossover) by Kwame Alexander _(750L · Grades 5–8)_
- [The Curse of Eelgrass Bog](https://readinglist.school/book/the-curse-of-eelgrass-bog) by Mary Averling _(Grades 6–8)_
- [The Experiment](https://readinglist.school/book/the-experiment) by Rebecca Stead _(Grades 4–5)_
- [The Fire-Breathing Duckling](https://readinglist.school/book/the-fire-breathing-duckling) by Frank Cammuso _(Grades K–1)_
- [The Forbidden Library](https://readinglist.school/book/the-forbidden-library) by Django Wexler _(Grades 2–8)_
- [The Girl Who Sang: A Holocaust Memoir of Hope and Survival](https://readinglist.school/book/the-girl-who-sang-a-holocaust-memoir-of-hope-and-survival) by Estelle Nadel _(Grades 9–12)_
- [The Giver](https://readinglist.school/book/the-giver) by Lois Lowry _(760L · Grades 6–8)_
- [The Golden Hour](https://readinglist.school/book/the-golden-hour) by Niki Smith _(Grades 2–8)_
- [The House of the Scorpion](https://readinglist.school/book/the-house-of-the-scorpion) by Nancy Farmer _(Grades 7–10)_
- [The Indian in the Cupboard](https://readinglist.school/book/the-indian-in-the-cupboard) by Lynne Reid Banks _(Grades 3–6)_
- [The Labors of Hercules Beal](https://readinglist.school/book/the-labors-of-hercules-beal) by Gary D. Schmidt _(Grades 3–7)_
- [The Legend of Mackinac Island](https://readinglist.school/book/the-legend-of-mackinac-island) by Kathy-jo Wargin _(Grades 2–8)_
- [The Legend of Rock Paper Scissors](https://readinglist.school/book/the-legend-of-rock-paper-scissors) by Drew Daywalt _(Grades 2–8)_
- [The Lost Library](https://readinglist.school/book/the-lost-library) by Rebecca Stead & Wendy Mass _(Grades 4–8)_
- [The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane](https://readinglist.school/book/the-miraculous-journey-of-edward-tulane) by Kate DiCamillo _(Grades 3–6)_
- [The Mystery of Locked Rooms](https://readinglist.school/book/the-mystery-of-locked-rooms) by Lindsay Currie _(Grades 6–8)_
- [The One About the Blackbird](https://readinglist.school/book/the-one-about-the-blackbird) by Melanie Florence _(Grades 2–3)_
- [The One and Only Ivan](https://readinglist.school/book/the-one-and-only-ivan) by Katherine Applegate _(570L · Grades 3–7)_
- [The Penderwicks](https://readinglist.school/book/the-penderwicks) by Jeanne Birdsall _(Grades 4–7)_
- [The Skull: A Tyrolean Folktale](https://readinglist.school/book/the-skull) by Jon Klassen _(Grades 3–5)_
- [The Strange Case of Origami Yoda](https://readinglist.school/book/the-strange-case-of-origami-yoda) by Tom Angleberger _(Grades 4–6)_
- [The Tale of Despereaux](https://readinglist.school/book/the-tale-of-despereaux) by Kate DiCamillo _(670L · Grades 3–6)_
- [The Thief Lord](https://readinglist.school/book/the-thief-lord) by Cornelia Funke _(Grades 4–6)_
- [The Trouble with Heroes](https://readinglist.school/book/the-trouble-with-heroes) by Kate Messner _(Grades 6–8)_
- [The Wild Robot](https://readinglist.school/book/the-wild-robot) by Peter Brown _(740L · Grades 4–6)_
- [Thirty Minutes Over Oregon](https://readinglist.school/book/thirty-minutes-over-oregon) by Marc Tyler Nobleman _(Grades 2–8)_
- [This Book Won't Burn](https://readinglist.school/book/this-book-wont-burn) by Samira Ahmed _(Grades 9–12)_
- [Togo](https://readinglist.school/book/togo) by Robert J. Blake _(Grades 2–8)_
- [Towed by Toad](https://readinglist.school/book/towed-by-toad) by Jashar Awan _(Grades K–1)_
- [Traction Man Is Here!](https://readinglist.school/book/traction-man-is-here) by Mini Grey _(Grades K–5)_
- [Tuck Everlasting: The Graphic Novel](https://readinglist.school/book/tuck-everlasting-the-graphic-novel) by Natalie Babbitt _(Grades 6–8)_
- [Twins](https://readinglist.school/book/twins) by Varian Johnson _(Grades 4–6)_
- [Under the Same Stars](https://readinglist.school/book/under-the-same-stars) by Libba Bray _(Grades 9–12)_
- [Unspeakable](https://readinglist.school/book/unspeakable-the-tulsa-race-massacre) by Carole Boston Weatherford _(Grades 3–7)_
- [Up Periscope!: How Engineer Raye Montague Revolutionized Shipbuilding](https://readinglist.school/book/up-periscope-how-engineer-raye-montague-revolutionized-shipbuilding) by Jennifer Swanson _(Grades 2–3)_
- [Verdi](https://readinglist.school/book/verdi) by Janell Cannon _(Grades 3–5)_
- [Viewfinder](https://readinglist.school/book/viewfinder) by Christine D.U. Chung _(Grades 4–5)_
- [Walk Two Moons](https://readinglist.school/book/walk-two-moons) by Sharon Creech _(770L · Grades 5–7)_
- [We Are Definitely Human](https://readinglist.school/book/we-are-definitely-human) by X. Fang _(Grades K–1)_
- [Weirdo](https://readinglist.school/book/weirdo) by Tony Weaver, Jr. _(Grades 6–8)_
- [When Stars Are Scattered](https://readinglist.school/book/when-stars-are-scattered) by Victoria Jamieson _(Grades 5–8)_
- [When You Reach Me](https://readinglist.school/book/when-you-reach-me) by Rebecca Stead _(750L · Grades 4–8)_
- [When Zachary Beaver Came to Town](https://readinglist.school/book/when-zachary-beaver-came-to-town) by Kimberly Willis Holt _(Grades 2–8)_
- [When the Wolves Returned](https://readinglist.school/book/when-the-wolves-returned) by Dorothy Hinshaw Patent _(Grades 2–8)_
- [Where Wolves Don't Die](https://readinglist.school/book/where-wolves-dont-die) by Anton Treuer _(Grades 9–12)_
- [Wish I Was a Baller](https://readinglist.school/book/wish-i-was-a-baller) by Amar Shah _(Grades 6–8)_
- [Wonder](https://readinglist.school/book/wonder) by R.J. Palacio _(790L · Grades 3–7)_
- [Wonderstruck](https://readinglist.school/book/wonderstruck) by Brian Selznick _(Grades 4–7)_
- [Zen and the Art of Faking It](https://readinglist.school/book/zen-and-the-art-of-faking-it) by Jordan Sonnenblick _(Grades 2–8)_
- [Zooni Tales: Keep It Up, Plucky Pup](https://readinglist.school/book/zooni-tales-keep-it-up-plucky-pup) by Vikram Madan _(Grades K–1)_
- [¡Vamos! Let's Go Eat](https://readinglist.school/book/vamos-lets-go-eat) by Raúl the Third III _(Grades 2–8)_

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