Awards & Ratings
A word about reading levels and content:
Every child and family is unique. The books recommended on this site represent a range of interests, and reading and maturity levels. They are suggestions, not required reading. Families are encouraged to help their student choose what is right for them.
Publishers designate books in several categories, but they don't always match up with students' needs or library shelves. The following categories are general guidelines:
- Juvenile -- grades 3-6
- Middle Grade -- ages 8-12, or grades 5-8
- Young Adult -- ages 12 and up, or grades 7-12
Each encompasses a big range of reading levels and content, and there is overlap. On this site, books are separated very generally by reading/content levels from left (lower level) to right (highest level), but that is just a guideline, not a rule. YA books marked HS are suggested for grades 9 + (ages 14+). Books recommended by HS teachers for specific HS grades are found on the High School page, but HS students are not limited to those.
Every student reads at their personal level. For independent, summer reading, students might want to read a fun "beach" read, or choose to stretch and challenge themselves.
We have a wonderfully diverse community, and what's right for one reader might not be right for another. There are no 'ratings' for books, as there are for movies. Librarians, educators, and families must rely on reviews, or reading the books themselves, when helping readers choose. Only a parent or guardian can decide what is right for their family. Common Sense Media is a good place to start if you want more information about a particular book.
Awards
Many of the books and authors listed on this site are award-winners. More information about various awards for children's and young adult literature, including lists of current and past winners, are available from the following resources:
Alex Awards for adult books that appeal to teens
Batchelder Award book originally published in a foreign language/country
Pura Belpre Award best portrays the Latinx cultural experience
Best Fiction for Young Adults list good quality/high appeal to teens
Coretta Scott King Awards for African-American authors and illustrators
Excellence in Nonfiction for Young Adults list good quality/high appeal to teens
Great Graphic Novels for Teens list
Newbery Medal most distinguished contribution to children's literature
Printz Award for excellence in young adult literature
Quick Picks for Reluctant Teen Readers
Schneider Family Book Award depiction of the disability experience
Sibert Medal for informational books
Stonewall Award for exceptional merit relating to the LGBTQIA experience
Teens' Top Ten voted on by teens
William C. Morris Debut Award for first-time authors writing for teens
Boston Globe - Horn Book Awards
Christopher Award for books that "affirm the highest value of the human spirit"
The Cybils chosen by book bloggers
Database of Award-Winning Children's Literature searchable database by award, year, genre, age level, etc.
Edgar Awards from Mystery Writers of America, search for Juvenile or Young Adult
Garden State Book Awards voted on by NJ children and teens!
Golden Kite; Sid Fleischmann; and Karen Cushman awards from Society for Children's Book Writers and Illustrators
National Book Awards for Young People's Literature
Nebula Awards and Hugo Awards for science fiction
Scott O'Dell Award for historical fiction
Sydney Taylor Award for outstanding books that portray the Jewish experience
Walter Award named for Walter Dean Myers, celebrating diverse books by diverse authors.