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Georgia State Reading Lists

2024 Georgia Children's Book Award Nominee

The List of Unspeakable Fears

This edition: Trade Paperback, 304 pages
Publication date: September 13, 2022
Ages: 8 - 12

The War That Saved My Life meets Coraline in this “deliciously creepy” (Publishers Weekly, starred review) middle grade historical novel following ...

The Summer of June

This edition: Trade Paperback, 224 pages
Publication date: May 30, 2023
Ages: 10 - 99

From the acclaimed author of Tune It Out and Roll with It comes a “needed, hopeful” (Booklist) middle grade book about a young girl who sets out to...

Onyeka and the Academy of the Sun

(Part of Onyeka)
This edition: Trade Paperback, 336 pages
Publication date: May 30, 2023
Ages: 8 - 12

Black Panther meets X-Men in this “fast-paced, action-packed, and empowering” (A. F. Steadman, New York Times bestselling author of Skandar and the...

2024 Georgia Children's Book Award Finalist

Holding On

Illustrated by Isabel Roxas
This edition: Hardcover, 32 pages
Publication date: August 30, 2022
Ages: 4 - 8

A young girl in the Philippines uses music to connect with her grandmother as her memory fades in this warm and moving picture book perfect for fan...

2023 Georgia Children's Book Award Nominee

When Langston Dances

Illustrated by Keith Mallett
This edition: Hardcover, 40 pages
Publication date: September 07, 2021

A young Black boy dreams of dancing in this exuberant, buoyant picture book celebrating the beauty of dance, and the wonder of Black Boy Joy—perfec...

It Fell from the Sky

Illustrated by Terry Fan and Eric Fan
This edition: Hardcover, 56 pages
Publication date: September 28, 2021
Ages: 4 - 8

From the creators of the critically acclaimed The Night Gardener and Ocean Meets Sky comes a whimsical and elegantly illustrated picture book about...

2022 Georgia Children's Book Award Nominee

Muffled

This edition: Hardcover, 224 pages
Publication date: October 27, 2020
Ages: 8 - 12

A young girl learns how to cope with her noise sensitivity and step outside of her comfort zone in this heartwarming middle grade novel that’s perf...

2021 Georgia Children's Book Award Finalist

Blended

This edition: Hardcover, 320 pages
Publication date: October 30, 2018
Ages: 8 - 12

Eleven-year-old Isabella’s blended family is more divided than ever in this thoughtful story about divorce and racial identity from the award-winni...

Genesis Begins Again

This edition: Hardcover, 384 pages
Publication date: January 15, 2019
Ages: 9 - 13

A Newbery Honor Book Winner of the Correta Scott King - John Steptoe for New Talent Author Award A Morris Award Finalist An NPR Favorite Book of 2...

2023 - 2024 Georgia Peach Book Award for Teen Readers Nominee

How Moon Fuentez Fell in Love with the Universe

This edition: Hardcover, 432 pages
Publication date: August 10, 2021
Ages: 14 - 99

“Breathlessly atmospheric…A gorgeous, hopeful book.” —Rachel Lynn Solomon, author of Today Tonight Tomorrow The Hating Game meets I Am Not Your Per...

See You Yesterday

This edition: Hardcover, 432 pages
Publication date: May 17, 2022
Ages: 14 - 99

A New York Times bestseller! From the author of Today Tonight Tomorrow comes a magical, “emotionally savvy[,] and genuinely romantic” (Publishers W...

2022 - 2023 Georgia Peach Book Award for Teen Readers Nominee

The Cost of Knowing

This edition: Hardcover, 336 pages
Publication date: April 06, 2021
Ages: 12 - 99

Four starred reviews! Dear Martin meets They Both Die at the End in this gripping, evocative novel about a Black teen who has the power to see into...

Legendborn

This edition: Hardcover, 512 pages
Publication date: September 15, 2020
Ages: 14 - 99

An Instant New York Times Bestseller! Winner of the Coretta Scott King - John Steptoe for New Talent Author Award Filled with mystery and an intrig...

The Sky Blues

This edition: Hardcover, 336 pages
Publication date: April 06, 2021
Ages: 12 - 99

Sky’s small town turns absolutely claustrophobic when his secret promposal plans get leaked to the entire school in this witty, “earnest, heartfelt...

2020 - 2021 Georgia Peach Book Award for Teen Readers Nominee

Dry

This edition: Hardcover, 400 pages
Publication date: October 02, 2018
Ages: 12 - 99

When the California drought escalates to catastrophic proportions, one teen is forced to make life and death decisions for her family in this harro...

2022 Georgia Children's Picture Book Award Finalist

Pokko and the Drum

Illustrated by Matthew Forsythe
This edition: Hardcover, 64 pages
Publication date: October 01, 2019

Four starred reviews! A Today Show Best Book of the Year An NPR Favorite Book of 2019 From E.B. White Read Aloud honor artist Matthew Forsythe com...

American as Paneer Pie

This edition: Trade Paperback, 336 pages
Publication date: May 18, 2021
Ages: 8 - 12

“[A] charming novel [that] explores the complexity of immigration and identity.” —Teen Vogue An Indian American girl navigates prejudice in her sma...

2021 Georgia Children's Picture Book Award Finalist

Between the Lines

How Ernie Barnes Went from the Football Field to the Art Gallery
Illustrated by Bryan Collier
This edition: Hardcover, 48 pages
Publication date: January 23, 2018
Ages: 4 - 8

“A visually striking, enlightening picture-book biography.” —Booklist (starred review) “An absolutely indispensable illustrated biography.” —School...

Another

Illustrated by Christian Robinson
This edition: Hardcover, 56 pages
Publication date: March 05, 2019
Ages: 4 - 8

An NPR Favorite Book of 2019 A New York Times Best Children’s Book of 2019 An NYPL Best Book of 2019 A Publishers Weekly Best Book of 2019 A School...

Sulwe

Illustrated by Vashti Harrison
This edition: Hardcover, 48 pages
Publication date: October 15, 2019
Ages: 4 - 8

A New York Times bestseller! Featured in its own episode in the Netflix original show Bookmarks: Celebrating Black Voices! Recipient of a Coretta S...

2022 - 2023 Tome Society It List Nominee

Vespertine

This edition: Hardcover, 400 pages
Publication date: October 05, 2021
Ages: 14 - 99

An international bestseller! From the New York Times bestselling author of Sorcery of Thorns and An Enchantment of Ravens comes a thrilling, “dark ...

2020 - 2021 Tome Society It List Nominee

From Twinkle, with Love

This edition: Hardcover, 336 pages
Publication date: May 22, 2018
Ages: 12 - 99

“Utterly charming.” —NPR “Cinematic.” —Teen Vogue “Funny and sweet.” —Buzzfeed “Dazzling.” —Bustle Three starred reviews for this charming romantic...

2022 - 2023 Junior Tome Society It List Nominee

Ten Thousand Tries

This edition: Hardcover, 384 pages
Publication date: July 13, 2021
Ages: 8 - 12

A middle school soccer whiz’s determination to keep things from changing is tested when his father’s ALS symptoms worsen in this “heart-tugging and...

2020 - 2021 Junior Tome Society It List Nominee

The Memory Keeper

This edition: Hardcover, 352 pages
Publication date: October 15, 2019
Ages: 8 - 12

“A heartfelt tale of an exceptional girl.” —BCCB “Poignant…heartwarming.” —School Library Journal Fish in a Tree meets The Thing About Jellyfish in...

2022 - 2023 Club Tome List Nominee

The Islanders

(Book #1 of The Islanders)
This edition: Hardcover, 304 pages
Publication date: June 15, 2021
Ages: 8 - 12

An instant New York Times bestseller!​ “Storytelling for young readers at its finest—equal parts summer adventure and environmental suspense…[a] lo...