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California Young Reader Medal facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

The California Young Reader Medal is a special award for books. Kids in California get to choose their favorite books! This award celebrates amazing picture books and fiction books. It started in 1974. The first medals were given out in 1975, 1976, and 1977. At first, they were given every two years, but since 1983, they are given every year.

This program wants to encourage kids to read for fun. Four groups that love reading and books help make it happen. These groups are the California Association of Teachers of English, the California Library Association, the California Reading Association, and the California School Library Association.

There are five different awards, updated in 2002:

  • Primary (for grades K-3)
  • Intermediate (for grades 3–6)
  • Middle School/Junior High (for grades 6–9)
  • Young Adult (for grades 9–12)
  • Picture Books for Older Readers (for grades 4 and up, usually age 10 and older)

For the Primary and Picture Book awards, both the writer and the artist (illustrator) get a medal.

Each award category has a list of 3 to 5 books to choose from. These books were published in the last four years. For example, for the 2014–2015 awards, 17 books published between 2010 and 2013 were nominated.

How Books Are Chosen

Anyone can suggest books for the California Young Reader Medal. This includes young readers, their parents, teachers, and librarians. Even people who work with young people can recommend books.

The books must be:

  • New stories (fiction)
  • Written by living authors
  • Available in English
  • Published in the last four years
  • Still available to buy

Books are nominated for a specific award category. They should be popular and well-liked by kids in that age group. A special committee from the sponsoring groups then picks a balanced list of nominees. They look for books that are both good and popular.

Kids can vote in any category where they have read or heard all the nominated books. They fill out a paper ballot in a classroom or library. An adult supervises the voting.

Award Winners

The awards started in 1975. Until 1983, they were given every two years. After that, they became annual. The California Young Reader Medal program keeps a list of all the nominated books. This list includes details about the books and their cover pictures since 2005.

1970s Winners

California Young Reader Medal winners, 1975–1979
Year Category Author Title
1975 Intermediate Rockwell, ThomasThomas Rockwell How to Eat Fried Worms
1976 Primary Peet, BillBill Peet How Droofus the Dragon Lost His Head
1977 Intermediate Rodgers, MaryMary Rodgers Freaky Friday
Young Adult Adams, RichardRichard Adams Watership Down
1978 Primary Bate, LucyLucy Bate, illus. by Diane de Groat Little Rabbit's Loose Tooth
1979 Intermediate Dahl, RoaldRoald Dahl Danny, the Champion of the World
Young Adult Scoppettone, SandraSandra Scoppettone The Late Great Me

1980s Winners

California Young Reader Medal winners, 1980–1989
Year Category Author Title
1980 Middle School/Junior High Byars, BetsyBetsy Byars The Pinballs
Primary Peet, BillBill Peet Big Bad Bruce
1981 Intermediate Rawls, WilsonWilson Rawls Summer of the Monkeys
Young Adult Lowry, LoisLois Lowry A Summer to Die
1982 Primary Allard, HarryHarry Allard, illus. by James Marshall Miss Nelson is Missing
Middle School/Junior High Conford, EllenEllen Conford Hail, Hail Camp Timberwood
1983 Primary Mayer, MercerMercer Mayer Liza Lou and the Yeller Belly Swamp
Intermediate Blume, JudyJudy Blume Superfudge
Middle School/Junior High Blume, JudyJudy Blume Tiger Eyes
Young Adult Duncan, LoisLois Duncan Summer of Fear
1984 Primary Green, PhyllisPhyllis Green, illus. by Joel Schick Bagdad Ate It
Intermediate Taylor, TheodoreTheodore Taylor The Trouble with Tuck
Middle School/Junior High Danziger, PaulaPaula Danziger There's a Bat in Bunk Five
Young Adult Duncan, LoisLois Duncan Stranger with My Face
1985 Primary Chapman, CarolCarol Chapman, illus. by Kelly Oechsli Herbie's Troubles
Intermediate Banks, Lynne ReidLynne Reid Banks The Indian in the Cupboard
Middle School/Junior High Mazer, Norma FoxNorma Fox Mazer Taking Terri Mueller
Young Adult Miller, FrancesFrances Miller The Truth Trap
1986 Primary Marshall, EdwardEdward Marshall, illus. by James Marshall Space Case
Intermediate DeClements, BartheBarthe DeClements Nothing's Fair in Fifth Grade
Middle School/Junior High Roberts, Willo DavisWillo Davis Roberts Girl with the Silver Eyes
Young Adult Pierce, MeredithMeredith Pierce The Darkangel
1987 Primary Wood, AudreyAudrey Wood, illus. by Don Wood The Napping House
Intermediate Wright, Betty RenBetty Ren Wright The Dollhouse Murders
Middle School/Junior High Hermes, PatriciaPatricia Hermes You Shouldn't Have to Say Goodbye
Young Adult French, MichaelMichael French Pursuit
1988 Primary Numeroff, Laura JoffeLaura Joffe Numeroff, illus. by Felicia Bond If You Give a Mouse a Cookie
Intermediate Manes, StephenStephen Manes Be a Perfect Person in Just Three Days
Middle School/Junior High Lunn, JanetJanet Lunn The Root Cellar
Young Adult Sleator, WilliamWilliam Sleator Interstellar Pig
1989 Primary Carrick, CarolCarol Carrick, illus. by Donald Carrick What Happened to Patrick's Dinosaurs?
Intermediate Winthrop, ElizabethElizabeth Winthrop The Castle in the Attic
Middle School/Junior High Nixon, Joan LoweryJoan Lowery Nixon The Stalker
Young Adult Bunting, EveEve Bunting The Face at the Edge of the World

1990s Winners

California Young Reader Medal winners, 1990–1999
Year Category Author Title
1990 Primary Leaf, MargaretMargaret Leaf, illus. by Ed Young Eyes of the Dragon
Intermediate Smith, Robert KimmelRobert Kimmel Smith The War with Grandpa
Middle School/Junior High Nixon, Joan LoweryJoan Lowery Nixon The Other Side of Dark
Young Adult Voigt, CynthiaCynthia Voigt Izzy, Willy Nilly
1991 Primary Lester, HelenHelen Lester, illus. by Lynn M. Munsinger Tacky the Penguin
Intermediate King-Smith, DickDick King-Smith Harry's Mad
Middle School/Junior High Hahn, Mary DowningMary Downing Hahn December Stillness
Young Adult Kerr, M.E.M.E. Kerr Night Kites
1992 Primary Cazet, DenysDenys Cazet Never Spit on Your Shoes
Intermediate Lowry, LoisLois Lowry All About Sam
Middle School/Junior High Taylor, TheodoreTheodore Taylor Sniper
Young Adult Bunting, EveEve Bunting A Sudden Silence
1993 Primary Henkes, KevinKevin Henkes Julius, the Baby of the World
Intermediate Blume, JudyJudy Blume Fudge-a-Mania
Middle School/Junior High Avi Something Upstairs
Young Adult Klause, Annette CurtisAnnette Curtis Klause The Silver Kiss
1994 Primary Calhoun, MaryMary Calhoun, illus. by Erick Ingraham High-Wire Henry
Intermediate Roberts, Willo DavisWillo Davis Roberts Scared Stiff
Middle School/Junior High Spinelli, JerryJerry Spinelli There's a Girl in My Hammerlock
Young Adult Cormier, RobertRobert Cormier We All Fall Down
1995 Primary Meddaugh, SusanSusan Meddaugh Martha Speaks
Intermediate Conrad, PamPam Conrad Stonewords
Middle School/Junior High Mikaelsen, BenBen Mikaelsen Rescue Josh McGuire
Young Adult Hobbs, WillWill Hobbs Downriver
1996 Primary Cannon, JanellJanell Cannon Stellaluna
Intermediate Hahn, Mary DowningMary Downing Hahn Time for Andrew
Middle School/Junior High Philbrick, RodmanRodman Philbrick Freak the Mighty
Young Adult Garland, SherrySherry Garland Shadow of the Dragon
1997 Primary Silverman, EricaErica Silverman, illus. by S. D. Schindler Don't Fidget a Feather!
Intermediate Coville, BruceBruce Coville Jennifer Murdley's Toad
Middle School/Junior High Mikaelsen, BenBen Mikaelsen Sparrow Hawk Red
Young Adult Crutcher, ChrisChris Crutcher Staying Fat for Sarah Byrnes
1998 Primary Pilkey, DavDav Pilkey Dog Breath
Intermediate Tamar, ErikaErika Tamar The Junkyard Dog
Middle School/Junior High Curtis, Christopher PaulChristopher Paul Curtis The Watsons Go to Birmingham – 1963
Young Adult Crutcher, ChrisChris Crutcher Ironman
1999 Primary Edwards, Pamela DuncanPamela Duncan Edwards, illus. by Henry Cole Livingstone Mouse
Intermediate Fleischman, SidSid Fleischman, illus. by Peter Sis The 13th Floor
Middle School/Junior High Salisbury, GrahamGraham Salisbury Under the Blood Red Sun
Young Adult Randle, KristenKristen Randle The Only Alien on the Planet

2000s Winners

California Young Reader Medal winners, 2000–2009
Year Category Author Title
2000 Primary Johnson, Paul BrettPaul Brett Johnson and Celeste Lewis, illus. by Johnson Lost
Intermediate Ryan, Pam MuñozPam Muñoz Ryan Riding Freedom
Middle School/Junior High Levine, Gail CarsonGail Carson Levine Ella Enchanted
Young Adult Jenkins, A. M.A. M. Jenkins Breaking Bones
2001 Primary Clement, RodRod Clement Grandpa's Teeth
Intermediate Gutman, DanDan Gutman Honus & Me
Middle School/Junior High Haddix, Margaret PetersonMargaret Peterson Haddix Among the Hidden
Young Adult Yolen, JaneJane Yolen and Bruce Coville Armageddon Summer
2002 Primary Lester, HelenHelen Lester, illus. by Lynn M. Munsinger Hooway for Wodney Wat
Intermediate Gutman, DanDan Gutman The Million Dollar Shot
Middle School/Junior High Gantos, JackJack Gantos Joey Pigza Swallowed the Key
Picture Books for Older Readers Fleischman, PaulPaul Fleischman Weslandia
Young Adult Ferris, JeanJean Ferris Bad
2003 Primary Child, LaurenLauren Child I Will Never, Not Ever, Eat a Tomato
Intermediate DiCamillo, KateKate DiCamillo Because of Winn-Dixie
Middle School/Junior High Mikaelsen, BenBen Mikaelsen Touching Spirit Bear
Picture Books for Older Readers Adler, David A.David A. Adler The Babe and I
Young Adult Peters, Julie AnneJulie Anne Peters Define Normal
2004 Primary Creech, SharonSharon Creech, illus. by Harry Bliss A Fine, Fine School
Intermediate Clements, AndrewAndrew Clements The School Story
Middle School/Junior High Van Draanen, WendelinWendelin Van Draanen Flipped
Picture Books for Older Readers Stevens, JanetJanet Stevens And the Dish Ran Away with the Spoon
Young Adult Namioka, LenseyLensey Namioka Ties that Bind, Ties that Break
2005 Primary Fleming, CandaceCandace Fleming, illus. by G. Brian Karas Muncha! Muncha! Muncha!
Intermediate Creech, SharonSharon Creech Ruby Holler
Middle School/Junior High Clements, AndrewAndrew Clements Things Not Seen
Picture Books for Older Readers Polacco, PatriciaPatricia Polacco Mr. Lincoln's Way
Young Adult Horowitz, AnthonyAnthony Horowitz Stormbreaker
2006 Primary Garland, MichaelMichael Garland Miss Smith's Incredible Storybook
Intermediate Avi The Good Dog
Middle School/Junior High Corbett, SueSue Corbett 12 Again
Picture Books for Older Readers Fleming, CandaceCandace Fleming, illus. by Stacey Dressen-McQueen Boxes for Katje
Young Adult Prose, FrancineFrancine Prose After
2007 Primary Kasza, KeikoKeiko Kasza My Lucky Day
Intermediate Wise, WilliamWilliam Wise Christopher Mouse
Middle School/Junior High Choldenko, GenniferGennifer Choldenko Al Capone Does My Shirts
Picture Books for Older Readers Hesse, KarenKaren Hesse, illus. by Wendy Watson The Cats in Krasinski Square
Young Adult Giles, GailGail Giles Shattering Glass
2008 Primary Buehner, CaralynCaralyn Buehner, illus. by Mark Buehner Superdog: The Heart of a Hero
Intermediate Wiles, DeborahDeborah Wiles Each Little Bird That Sings
Middle School/Junior High Shusterman, NealNeal Shusterman The Schwa Was Here
Picture Books for Older Readers Asch, FrankFrank Asch, illus. by Devin Asch Mr. Maxwell's Mouse
Young Adult Morpurgo, MichaelMichael Morpurgo Private Peaceful
2009 Primary Bailey, LindaLinda Bailey, illus. by Bill Slavin Stanley's Wild Ride
Intermediate Hobbs, ValerieValerie Hobbs Sheep
Middle School/Junior High Lupica, MikeMike Lupica Heat
Picture Books for Older Readers Cushman, DougDoug Cushman Mystery at the Club Sandwich
Young Adult McCormick, PatriciaPatricia McCormick Sold

2010s Winners

California Young Reader Medal winners, 2010–2019
Year Category Author Title
2010 Primary Steffensmeier, AlexanderAlexander Steffensmeier Millie Waits for the Mail
Intermediate Clements, AndrewAndrew Clements No Talking
Middle School/Junior High Key, WattWatt Key Alabama Moon
Picture Books for Older Readers Kerby, MonaMona Kerby, illus. by Lynne Barasch Owney: The Mail-Pouch Pooch
Young Adult Alexie, ShermanSherman Alexie The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian
2011 Primary Deedy, Carmen AgraCarmen Agra Deedy, illus. by Michael Austin Martina the Beautiful Cockroach
Intermediate Weston, Robert PaulRobert Paul Weston Zorgamazoo
Middle School/Junior High Kadohata, CynthiaCynthia Kadohata Cracker: The Best Dog in Vietnam
Picture Books for Older Readers Smith, LaneLane Smith John, Paul, George & Ben
Young Adult Collins, SuzanneSuzanne Collins The Hunger Games
2012 Primary Noll, AmandaAmanda Noll, illus. by Howard McWilliam I Need My Monster
Intermediate Haworth, DanetteDanette Haworth Violet Raines Almost Got Struck by Lightning
Middle School/Junior High Mass, WendyWendy Mass Every Soul a Star
Picture Books for Older Readers Levine, EllenEllen Levine, illus. by Kadir Nelson Henry's Freedom Box
Young Adult Cashore, KristinKristin Cashore Graceling
2013 Primary Willems, MoMo Willems We Are in a Book!
Intermediate Lawrence, IainIain Lawrence The Giant Slayer
Middle School/Junior High Draper, SharonSharon Draper Out of My Mind
Picture Books for Older Readers Dennis, Major BrianMajor Brian Dennis, Kirby Larson, and Mary Nethery, illus. and photos from members of the Marines team Nubs: The True Story of a Mutt, a Marine and a Miracle
Young Adult Condie, AllyAlly Condie Matched
2014 Primary Tullet, HerveHerve Tullet Press Here
Intermediate McMann, LisaLisa McMann The Unwanteds
Middle School/Junior High Selznick, BrianBrian Selznick Wonderstruck
Picture Books for Older Readers Van Allsburg, ChrisChris Van Allsburg Queen of the Falls
Young Adult Roth, VeronicaVeronica Roth Divergent
2015 Primary Rosenthal, Amy KrouseAmy Krouse Rosenthal, illus. by Tom Lichtenheld Exclamation Mark
Intermediate Palacio, R. J.R. J. Palacio Wonder
Middle School/Junior High Nielsen, Jennifer A.Jennifer A. Nielsen The False Prince
Picture Books for Older Readers Vernick, AudreyAudrey Vernick, illus. by Steven Salerno Brothers at Bat: The True Story of an Amazing All-Brother Team
Young Adult Green, JohnJohn Green The Fault in Our Stars
2016 Primary Daywalt, DrewDrew Daywalt, illus. by Oliver Jeffers The Day the Crayons Quit
Intermediate Lean, SarahSarah Lean A Dog Called Homeless
Middle School/Junior High Partridge, ElizabethElizabeth Partridge Dogtag Summer
Picture Books for Older Readers Rappaport, DoreenDoreen Rappaport, illus. by Matt Tavares Helen's Big World: The Life of Helen Keller
Young Adult Meyer, MarissaMarissa Meyer Cinder
2017 Primary Barnett, MacMac Barnett, illus. by Jon Klassen Sam & Dave Dig a Hole
Intermediate Grabenstein, ChrisChris Grabenstein Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library
Middle School/Junior High Messenger, ShannonShannon Messenger Keeper of the Lost Cities
Picture Books for Older Readers Woodson, JacquelineJacqueline Woodson, illus. by E. B. Lewis Each Kindness
Young Adult Aveyard, VictoriaVictoria Aveyard Red Queen
2018 Primary Novak, B. J.B. J. Novak The Book with No Pictures
Intermediate Pennypacker, SaraSara Pennypacker, illus. by Jon Klassen Pax
Middle School/Junior High Nielsen, Jennifer A.Jennifer A. Nielsen A Night Divided
Picture Books for Older Readers Moss, MarissaMarissa Moss, illus. by Yuko Shimizu Barbed Wire Baseball
Young Adult Sepetys, RutaRuta Sepetys Salt to the Sea
2019 Primary Litchfield, DavidDavid Litchfield The Bear and the Piano
Intermediate Bradley, Kimberly BrubakerKimberly Brubaker Bradley The War That Saved My Life
Middle School/Junior High Muñoz Ryan, PamPam Muñoz Ryan Echo
Picture Books for Older Readers Thompson, Laurie AnnLaurie Ann Thompson, illus. by Sean Qualls Emmanuel's Dream: The True Story of Emmanuel Ofosu Yeboah
Young Adult Saeed, AishaAisha Saeed Written in the Stars

2020s Winners

California Young Reader Medal winners, 2020–present
Year Category Author Title
2020 Primary Daywalt, DrewDrew Daywalt, illus. by Adam Rex The Legend of Rock, Paper, Scissors
Intermediate Brubaker Bradley, KimberlyKimberly Brubaker Bradley The War I Finally Won
Middle School/Junior High Gratz, AlanAlan Gratz Refugee
Picture Books for Older Readers Eggers, DaveDave Eggers, illus. by Shawn Harris Her Right Foot
Young Adult Shusterman, NealNeal Shusterman Scythe
2021 Primary Fucile, TonyTony Fucile Poor Louie
Intermediate Korman, GordonGordon Korman Restart
Middle School/Junior High Gephart, DonnaDonna Gephart Lily and Dunkin
Picture Books for Older Readers McCormick, PatriciaPatricia McCormick, illus. by Iacopo Bruno Sergeant Reckless
Young Adult Mills, WendyWendy Mills All We Have Left
2022 Primary Lê, MinhMinh Lê, illus. by Dan Santat Drawn Together
Intermediate Gemeinhart, DanDan Gemeinhart The Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrise
Middle School/Junior High Levine, KristinKristin Levine The Jigsaw Jungle
Picture Books for Older Readers Wood, SusanSusan Wood, illus. by Gijsbert Van Frankenhuyzen The Skydiving Beavers
Young Adult Sepetys, RutaRuta Sepetys The Fountains of Silence
2023 Primary Higgins, Ryan T.Ryan T. Higgins We Don't Eat Our Classmates
Intermediate Holm, Jennifer L.Jennifer L. Holm The Lion of Mars
Middle School/Junior High Guterson, BenBen Guterson Winterhouse
Picture Books for Older Readers Levis, CaronCaron Levis, illus. by Charles Santoso This Way, Charlie
Young Adult Acevedo, ElizabethElizabeth Acevedo With the Fire on High
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