Illinois State Reading Lists

As Brave As You

Kirkus Award Finalist Schneider Family Book Award Winner Coretta Scott King Author Honor Book When two brothers decide to prove how brave they are,...

A Case of the Clones

Dr. Bunsen causes some serious double trouble when he creates clones of the DATA Set in this fifth DATA Set adventure.Dr. Bunsen is just trying to...

Don't Disturb the Dinosaurs

The DATA Set find themselves stuck in the prehistoric era in the second adventure of the brand-new series!Thanks to Dr. Bunsen’s latest wacky...

March of the Mini Beasts

Danger! Action! Trouble! Adventure! Introducing The DATA Set, a brand-new chapter book series for young readers.What would happen if your next-door...

Robots Rule the School

In the fourth DATA Set adventure, the DATA Set race to deprogram an army of robots before they take over Newtonberg Elementary School.One morning, Mrs....

The Sky Is Falling

In the third action-packed adventure of The DATA Set series, Dr. Bunsen uses his newest invention—the Bunsenmunicator 3000—to communicate with...

Freedom Over Me

Eleven Slaves, Their Lives and Dreams Brought to Life by Ashley Bryan

Newbery Honor Book Coretta Scott King Author Honor Book Coretta Scott King Illustrator Honor Book Using original slave auction and plantation estate...

Ghost

A National Book Award Finalist for Young People’s Literature. Nominated as one of America’s best-loved novels by PBS’s The Great American Read. Ghost...

I Dissent

Ruth Bader Ginsburg Makes Her Mark

Get to know celebrated Supreme Court justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg—in the first picture book about her life—as she proves that disagreeing does not make...

The Last True Love Story

From the critically acclaimed author of The Gospel of Winter and the coauthor of All American Boys comes a cool, contemplative spin on hot summer...

The Marvelous Thing That Came from a Spring

The Accidental Invention of the Toy That Swept the Nation

With magnificent dioramic illustrations, Gilbert Ford captures the joy, creativity, and determination behind the invention of an iconic, one-of-a-kind...

Nine, Ten: A September 11 Story

From the critically acclaimed author of Anything But Typical comes a touching look at the days leading up to the tragic events of September 11, 2001,...

The Storyteller

From Ezra Jack Keats 2015 New Illustrator Honor recipient Evan Turk comes his debut work as author-illustrator: an original folktale that celebrates...

The Summer Nick Taught His Cats to Read

A School Library Journal Best Book of the Year A Chicago Public Library Best Book of the Year “A marvelous debut…Sometimes it takes the right nudge to...

The V-Word

True Stories about First-Time Sex

An honest and poignant collection of essays by women about losing their virginity in their teens. The V-Word captures the complexity of this important...

We Are the Ants

From the “author to watch” (Kirkus Reviews) of The Five Stages of Andrew Brawley comes a brand-new novel about a teenage boy who must decide whether or...

Creepy Pair of Underwear!

From the celebrated team behind Creepy Carrots!, Aaron Reynolds and Caldecott Honor winner Peter Brown, comes a hilarious (and just a little creepy)...

The Night Gardener

In the spirit of Goodnight Moon and The Curious Garden comes a stunning debut picture book filled with whimsy and creativity from brothers Terry and...

Gaston

A bulldog and a poodle learn that family is about love, not appearances in this adorable doggy tale from New York Times bestselling author Kelly...

Going Places

A go-cart contest inspires imagination to take flight in this picture book for creators of all ages, with art from New York Times bestselling...

Amina's Voice

A Washington Post Best Children’s Book of 2017 “For inspiring empathy in young readers, you can’t get better than this book.” —R. J. Palacio, author of...

Lulu's Mysterious Mission

This irresistible third illustrated chapter book starring Judith Viorst’s Lulu is full of hilarious hijinks, delightful twists, and a top-secret...

Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of Nimh

Some extraordinary rats come to the aid of a mouse family in this Newbery Medal Award–winning classic by notable children’s author Robert C....

Hatchet

20th Anniversary Edition

This award-winning contemporary classic is the survival story with which all others are compared—and a page-turning, heart-stopping adventure,...

Ghost

A National Book Award Finalist for Young People’s Literature. Nominated as one of America’s best-loved novels by PBS’s The Great American Read. Ghost...

Better Nate Than Ever

“The Nate series by Tim Federle is a wonderful evocation of what it’s like to be a theater kid. Highly recommended.” —Lin-Manuel Miranda, star and...

Stella by Starlight

When the Ku Klux Klan’s unwelcome reappearance rattles Stella’s segregated southern town, bravery battles prejudice in this Depression-era tour de...

Michael Vey

The Prisoner of Cell 25

The electrifying #1 New York Times bestselling first installment of the action-packed Michael Vey series from author Richard Paul Evans.My name is...

Camo Girl

Set in a suburb of Las Vegas, Ella and Zachary, called Z, have been friends forever, but Z has always been “the weird kid” in their class. He collects...

When Dimple Met Rishi

A New York Times bestseller An NPR Best Book of 2017 A Buzzfeed Best YA Book of 2017 A Kirkus Reviews Best Teen Book of 2017 A School Library Journal...

Scythe

Two teens must learn the “art of killing” in this Printz Honor–winning book, the first in a chilling new series from Neal Shusterman, author of the New...

Beartown

A Novel

NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY: LibraryReads • BookBrowse • Goodreads “You’ll love this engrossing novel.” —People The bestselling author...

All American Boys

A 2016 Coretta Scott King Author Honor book, and recipient of the Walter Dean Myers Award for Outstanding Children’s Literature. In this Coretta Scott...

The Boy in the Black Suit

A 2016 Coretta Scott King Author Honor book. Just when seventeen-year-old Matt thinks he can’t handle one more piece of terrible news, he meets a girl...

Through the Woods

Discover a terrifying world in the woods in this collection of five hauntingly beautiful graphic stories that includes the online webcomic sensation...

100 Sideways Miles

Destiny takes a detour in this heartbreakingly hilarious novel with five starred reviews, from the acclaimed author of Winger, which Kirkus Reviews...

Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe

A lyrical novel about family and friendship from critically acclaimed author Benjamin Alire Sáenz.Aristotle is an angry teen with a brother in prison....

Rot & Ruin

In the zombie-infested, post-apocalyptic America where Benny Imura lives, every teenager must find a job by the time they turn fifteen or get their...