Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction
Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction references 38 books assigned across applicable K-12 grade levels in US schools. The Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction is given annually to a distinguished work of historical fiction for children or young adults, written in English by a US citizen and set in the Americas. Established in 1982 by Island of the Blue Dolphins author Scott O'Dell, its winners — from Out of the Dust to Chains and One Crazy Summer — are staples of US classroom reading lists.
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38 books referenced
- A Sea of Lemon TreesMaría Dolores Águila
- African TownIrene Latham
- All He KnewHelen Frost
Bea and the New Deal HorseL. M. Elliott- Behave Yourself, Bethany BrantPatricia Beatty
- Beyond the Bright SeaLauren Wolk
- Bo at Ballard CreekKirkpatrick Hill
- Bull RunPaul Fleischman
- Butterfly YellowThanhhà Lại
ChainsLaurie Halse Anderson · 780L- ChickadeeLouise Erdrich
- Dash (Dogs of World War II)Kirby Larson
Dead End in NorveltJack Gantos
Elijah of Buxton (Scholastic Gold)Christopher Paul Curtis- Finding LangstonLesa Cline-Ransome
- Forty Acres And Maybe A MuleHarriette Robinet
- Full of BeansJennifer L. Holm
- JipKatherine Paterson
- Morning GirlMichael Dorris
One Crazy SummerRita Williams-Garcia · 750L- Ophie's GhostsJustina Ireland
Out of the DustKaren Hesse · 740L
Sarah, Plain and TallPatricia MacLachlan · 660L- Shades of GrayCarolyn Reeder
- Stepping on the CracksMary Downing Hahn
- Streams to the River, River to the SeaScott O'Dell
- The Art of Keeping CoolJanet Taylor Lisle
- The BombTheodore Taylor
- The Color of a LieKim Johnson
- The Game of SilenceLouise Erdrich
- The Green Glass SeaEllen Klages
- The Hired GirlLaura Amy Schlitz
- The LandMildred D. Taylor
- The River Between UsRichard Peck
- The Sign of the BeaverElizabeth George Speare
- The Storm in the BarnMatt Phelan
- Trouble Don't LastShelley Pearsall
- Under the Blood-Red SunGraham Salisbury
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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 Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction reading list
The book list above represents titles ReadingList has confirmed as referenced by Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction— 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. Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction 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 Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction include?
38 books are referenced by Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction 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 Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction cover?
Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction 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 Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction 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 Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction required reading?
Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction 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.