Odyssey Award (Best Audiobook)
Odyssey Award (Best Audiobook) references 90 books assigned across applicable K-12 grade levels in US schools.
Try it on audio — free. Kids who struggle with the print versions often finish the assigned books by listening.
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The Odyssey Award, presented annually since 2008 by the Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC) and the Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA), honors the best audiobook produced for children and/or young adults in the United States. The titles below are recognized audiobook productions — well suited to listening at home, in the classroom, or on the go.
Narrow by grade
90 books referenced
- A Boy Called ChristmasMatt Haig
- A Plate of HopeErin Frankel
- A Snicker of Magic (Scholastic Gold)Natalie Lloyd
- Alchemy and Meggy SwannKaren Cushman
- Anna and the Swallow ManGavriel Savit
- Artemis Fowl and the Last GuardianEoin Colfer
- Better Nate Than EverTim Federle
- Black Girl You Are AtlasRenée Watson
- Bloody Jack SeriesL. A. Meyer
- Boogie Boogie, Y’allC.G. Esperanza
- Chinese MenuGrace Lin
- Clap When You LandElizabeth Acevedo
- Creepy Carrots!Aaron Reynolds
- Demon in the Wood Graphic NovelLeigh Bardugo
- Dooby Dooby MooDoreen Cronin
- Dream on AmberEmma Shevah
- Du Iz Tak?Carson Ellis
EchoPam Muñoz Ryan · 680L
El DeafoCece Bell · 420L- Eleanor & ParkRainbow Rowell
Elijah of Buxton (Scholastic Gold)Christopher Paul Curtis- Emmanuel's Dream: The True Story of Emmanuel Ofosu YeboahLaurie Ann Thompson
- Esquivel! Space-Age Sound ArtistSusan Wood
- Fighting WordsKimberly Brubaker Bradley
Show all 90 titles
- Five, Six, Seven, Nate! · Tim Federle
- Ghetto Cowboy · G. Neri
- Ghost · Jason Reynolds
- Ghost Knight · Cornelia Funke
- Girls Like Her · Melanie Sumrow
- H.O.R.S.E. · Christopher Myers
- Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows · J. K. Rowling
- Hey, Kiddo: A Graphic Novel · Jarrett J. Krosoczka
- How the Boogeyman Became a Poet · Tony Keith Jr.
- I Talk Like a River · Jordan Scott
- I'm Dirty! · Kate McMullan
- In the Belly of the Bloodhound · L. A. Meyer
- Inheritance · Elizabeth Acevedo
- Kent State · Deborah Wiles
- La Belle Sauvage: The Book of Dust Volume One · Philip Pullman
- Legendary Frybread Drive-In · Cynthia Leitich Smith
- Long Way Down · Jason Reynolds
- Martina una cucarachita muy linda · Carmen Agra Deedy
- Matilda · Roald Dahl
- Mexikid · Pedro Martín
- Monstrous Beauty · Elizabeth Fama
- Nation · Terry Pratchett
- Nimona · ND Stevenson
- Okay for Now · Gary D. Schmidt
- Once There Was · Kiyash Monsef
- Peace, Locomotion · Jacqueline Woodson
- Perfectly Parvin · Olivia Abtahi
- Promise Boys · Nick Brooks
- Redwood and Ponytail · K.A. Holt
- Revolution · Deborah Wiles
- Rotters · Daniel Kraus
- Sadie · Courtney Summers
- Scowler · Daniel Kraus
- Sisters of the Lost Marsh · Lucy Strange
- Skulduggery Pleasant – Skulduggery Pleasant: Books 1 - 12 · Derek Landy
- Song for A Whale · Lynne Kelly
- Soundtrack: A Novel · Jason Reynolds
- Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You · Jason Reynolds and Ibram X. Kendi
- Stateless · Elizabeth Wein
- Stuntboy, In-Between Time · Jason Reynolds
- The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian · Sherman Alexie
- The Dead of Summer (Book 1) · Ryan La Sala
- The Fault in Our Stars · John Green
- The First Helping (Lunch Lady Books 1 & 2) · Jarrett J. Krosoczka
- The Hate U Give · Angie Thomas
- The Honeys · Ryan La Sala
- The Knife of Never Letting Go · Patrick Ness
- The Parker Inheritance · Varian Johnson
- The Poet X · Elizabeth Acevedo
- The Scandalous Sisterhood of Prickwillow Place · Julie Berry
- The Scorpio Races · Maggie Stiefvater
- The Three Billy Goats Gruff · Mac Barnett
- The True Meaning of Smekday · Adam Rex
- The War That Saved My Life · Kimberly Brubaker Bradley
- The Wizards of Once · Cressida Cowell
- Trans History: A Graphic Novel: From Ancient Times to the Present Day · Alex L. Combs
- Treasure Island - Robert Louis Stevenson · Robert Louis Stevenson
- We Are Grateful: Otsaliheliga · Traci Sorell
- We Are the Ship · Kadir Nelson
- We're Not from Here · Geoff Rodkey
- Whale Eyes · James Robinson
- When Stars Are Scattered · Victoria Jamieson
- When You Look Like Us · Pamela N. Harris
- Will Grayson, Will Grayson · John Green
- You Are Brave: A Book About Trying New Things · Margaret O'Hair
- Young Fredle · Cynthia Voigt
Reading the whole Odyssey Award (Best Audiobook) reading list? Kids who struggle with the print versions often finish the assigned books by listening.
Listen free on Audiblestarts instantlyNew members only · many assigned titles are included with the membership. As an Amazon Associate, ReadingList earns from qualifying purchases and membership trials at no extra cost to you.
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 Odyssey Award (Best Audiobook) reading list
The book list above represents titles ReadingList has confirmed as referenced by Odyssey Award (Best Audiobook)— 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. Odyssey Award (Best Audiobook) 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.
Related on ReadingList
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Frequently asked questions
What books does Odyssey Award (Best Audiobook) include?
90 books are referenced by Odyssey Award (Best Audiobook) 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 Odyssey Award (Best Audiobook) cover?
Odyssey Award (Best Audiobook) 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 Odyssey Award (Best Audiobook) 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 Odyssey Award (Best Audiobook) required reading?
Odyssey Award (Best Audiobook) 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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