Frequently asked questions

A quick reference for parents, teachers, librarians, and researchers using the site. The methodology page has the full source-hierarchy + verification + freshness detail.

Where does ReadingList get its data?

From four source tiers, in order of authority: (1) curriculum-level primary sources — AP English course framework, IB Diploma Programme language A briefs, Cambridge syllabi, Common Core ELA appendices; (2) state Department of Education documents — state ELA standards and recommended-reading lists; (3) district-level public documents — individual school-district reading lists and curriculum-map PDFs; (4) library and bibliographic metadata from Open Library and the Library of Congress for ISBN, author, Lexile, and theme enrichment. The full source-hierarchy and verification rules are documented on the methodology page.

Are these official reading lists?

Every assignment claim on the site links to a primary source — the state DOE page, AP Central course framework, or district document where the book is cited. ReadingList itself is not an official curriculum authority; it is a structured reference that compiles and links back to authoritative sources. If a state, AP, IB, or district document says a book is assigned, that source is named and linked from the page where the claim appears.

How current is the data?

Curriculum frameworks update on multi-year cycles — AP English every 4-7 years, IB every 7 years, state ELA standards on state-specific cycles. We refresh tier-1 and tier-2 sources at least twice a year and immediately on any framework update notice. Each page shows a Last verified date so you can see how recent the most recent source check was.

Can I use ReadingList in my classroom or research?

Yes. The site is free to read, and structured pages — by grade, by state, by curriculum, by book — are designed to be cited directly. We ask only that you link back to the specific page you reference rather than copying the assignment list wholesale, so readers can see the underlying primary source for each claim.

Why do some books appear on multiple grade or state pages?

Because the same book is often assigned across multiple curricula and US states — To Kill a Mockingbird, The Great Gatsby, and Of Mice and Men are common examples. ReadingList records every separate primary-source assignment, which is why a single book can have many references. The book detail page lists all known sourced assignments in one place.

Who runs ReadingList?

ReadingList is an independent reference project. The site is not affiliated with the College Board, IB Organization, Cambridge Assessment International Education, any state Department of Education, or any school district. We cite their public documents; they do not endorse, fund, or review the site. More background is on the about page.

Why do you not include book reviews, study guides, or summaries?

Because there are excellent sites dedicated to each (Goodreads, SparkNotes, Common Sense Media, the publisher pages themselves). ReadingList focuses on the one question those sites do not answer — which books are assigned in US schools, by grade, state, and curriculum — and keeps the dataset narrow on purpose. If you want a plot summary or critical reading, the book detail page links out to the publisher and to Open Library where appropriate.

Do you take money from publishers or schools to feature books?

No. Books appear on ReadingList only when a primary-source curriculum, state, or district document assigns them. We do not accept paid placement, sponsored content, or any payment that influences which books appear or how they are described.

What about banned-book lists?

ReadingList tracks a separate banned-books surface for books removed or challenged in specific US districts, sourced from district board minutes, ALA Office for Intellectual Freedom reports, and PEN America banned-books data. Those pages link back to the specific district or report that originated the ban or challenge, the same way assignment pages link to their primary sources.

How do I report an error or outdated source?

Email the address on the contact page with the page URL, the specific claim you think is wrong, and the source you think is correct. We verify within 7 days. If the correction holds, the page is updated and the Last verified date refreshes.

Are the affiliate links on book detail pages reflecting an endorsement?

No. Some book detail pages link to Bookshop.org or other retailers as an affiliate. The disclosure appears next to the link itself, not buried in a footer. Affiliate revenue helps cover hosting and source-verification time but does not influence which books appear or how they are described. ReadingList is not a paid placement service.

Can I download the data?

Each book, state, grade, and curriculum page is structured with schema.org markup so structured-data crawlers and AI engines can ingest it directly. A bulk-export endpoint is not currently public. If you have a specific research use case — a state DOE study, a publisher market analysis, an academic paper — email the contact page address and we will work out an attribution-licensed extract.