Oregon Reader's Choice Award (ORCA)
Oregon Reader's Choice Award (ORCA) references 23 books assigned across applicable K-12 grade levels in US schools. The Oregon Reader’s Choice Award (ORCA) is Oregon’s statewide young readers’ choice award, presented by the Oregon Library Association. Students in grades 3-12 across Oregon read each cycle’s nominees in three divisions — Upper Elementary (3-5), Middle School (6-8) and High School (9-12) — and vote for the winners. Its winner lists are read in Oregon classrooms and libraries statewide and include widely loved titles such as The Wild Robot, Front Desk, The Crossover, The One and Only Ivan, and The Hunger Games.
Primary source: oregonreaderschoiceaward.wordpress.com
Narrow by grade
23 books referenced
11 BirthdaysWendy Mass
DivergentVeronica Roth
El DeafoCece Bell · 420L
Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's LibraryChris Grabenstein
Front DeskKelly Yang · 640L
GhostJason Reynolds · 730L
Ghost BoysJewell Parker Rhodes · 360L
I'll Give You the SunJandy Nelson- RestartGordon KormanRestartGordon Korman · 730L
Roller GirlVictoria Jamieson · 440L
ScytheNeal Shusterman
SmileRaina Telgemeier · 410L
The CrossoverKwame Alexander · 750L
The Fault in Our StarsJohn Green · 850L
The Hunger GamesSuzanne Collins · 810L
The Maze RunnerJames Dashner
The One and Only IvanKatherine Applegate · 570L
The Poet XElizabeth Acevedo · 800L
The War That Saved My LifeKimberly Brubaker Bradley · 580L
The Wild RobotPeter Brown · 740L
UngiftedGordon Korman
When You Reach MeRebecca Stead · 750L
WishtreeKatherine Applegate · 590L
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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 Oregon Reader's Choice Award (ORCA) reading list
The book list above represents titles ReadingList has confirmed as referenced by Oregon Reader's Choice Award (ORCA)— 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. Oregon Reader's Choice Award (ORCA) 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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Copy + paste this snippet into any school newsletter, classroom blog, library site, or homeschool resource page. The embed shows the top 12 titles and links back to the full list. Updates automatically when ReadingList’s data changes.
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Frequently asked questions
What books does Oregon Reader's Choice Award (ORCA) include?
23 books are referenced by Oregon Reader's Choice Award (ORCA) 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 Oregon Reader's Choice Award (ORCA) cover?
Oregon Reader's Choice Award (ORCA) 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 Oregon Reader's Choice Award (ORCA) data come from?
Primary source: oregonreaderschoiceaward.wordpress.com/past-winners/. Cross-referenced with Common Core exemplars at achievethecore.org. Every book page on ReadingList.school cites the standards origin for that assignment.
Is Oregon Reader's Choice Award (ORCA) required reading?
Oregon Reader's Choice Award (ORCA) 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.