Young Reader's Choice Award (PNLA)

Young Reader's Choice Award (PNLA) references 127 books assigned across applicable K-12 grade levels in US schools. The Young Reader's Choice Award (YRCA), administered by the Pacific Northwest Library Association (PNLA), is the oldest "children's choice" book award in the United States and Canada — inaugurated in 1940 and the only major award whose winners are chosen entirely by schoolchildren in two countries (Alaska, Idaho, Montana, and Washington in the U.S., plus Alberta and British Columbia in Canada). Young readers nominate and vote for the winners themselves. Originally a single award, it expanded to Youth and Senior divisions in 1991 and to three grade divisions in 2002 — today Junior (grades 4-6), Intermediate (grades 7-9), and Senior (grades 10-12).

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127 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 Young Reader's Choice Award (PNLA) reading list

The book list above represents titles ReadingList has confirmed as referenced by Young Reader's Choice Award (PNLA)— 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. Young Reader's Choice Award (PNLA) 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 Young Reader's Choice Award (PNLA) include?

127 books are referenced by Young Reader's Choice Award (PNLA) 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 Young Reader's Choice Award (PNLA) cover?

Young Reader's Choice Award (PNLA) 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 Young Reader's Choice Award (PNLA) 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 Young Reader's Choice Award (PNLA) required reading?

Young Reader's Choice Award (PNLA) 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 Young Reader's Choice Award (PNLA) 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: 2026-06-20.