A combined group of secondary teacher librarians, along with input from classroom teachers, create the list.
The group starts with the Iowa Association of School Librarians' awards lists: Iowa Teen Awards, Iowa High School Book Awards, and Iowa Children's Choice Awards. Then one-two classic or iconic novels are added to the list. Books are also then add that are current, trending books one or two starred reviews from library review entities. The committee attempts to incorporate a variety of genres and categories. All efforts are made to ensure book selections are age-appropriate, but the final decision to read a book rests solely with the student and his/her parents/guardians.