California Young Reader Medal (CYRM) Nominees
One of the most exciting events of the CYRM calendar is the announcement of the new book nominees on February 1st. Committee members have spent the previous year reading and discussing all the books recommended by students, teachers, and librarians across California in order to create an outstanding selection of nominated books in each category. This year’s nominees will make students chuckle, cry, and, at times, think deeply about their lives and the choices they make. Learn more about all the nominated titles, authors, and illustrators by clicking on the individual book covers. Enjoy the stories!
Postponed until June 1, 2020 due to Covid-19
California Young Reader Medal Nominees: 2020-2021
California Young Reader Medal Nominees: 2020
Primary Category
The Legend of Rock, Paper, Scissors, by Drew Daywalt, illustrated by Adam Rex, published by Harper Collins Publisher
Let Me Finish by Minh Le’, published by Disney
The Highest Mountain of Books in the World by by Rocio Bonilla published by Peter Pauper Publishing
Can I Be Your Dog by Troy Cummings, published by Penguin Random House
The Bad Seed, by Jory John, Illustrated by Pete Oswald, published by Harper Collins
Picture Books for Older Readers
Her Right Foot, by Dave Eggers/Illustrated by Shawn Harris published by Chronicle Books
Lillians Right to Vote, by Jonah Winters; Ill. Shane W. Evans published by Penguin Random House
Malala's Magic Pencil, by Malala Yousafzai, published by Little, Brown Books
Intermediate
The War I Finally Won, by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley, published by Penguin Random House
The Losers Club, by Andrew Clements, published by Penguin Random House
Dectective's Assistant, by Kate Hannigan, published by Little, Brown Books
Jr.High/Middle School
When Friendship followed Me Home, by Paul Griffin, published by Penguin Random House
The Best Man, by Richard Peck, published by Penguin Random House
It Ain't So Awful Falafel,by Firoozeh Dumas, published by Houghton Mifflin Hardcourt
Young Adult
Scythe, by Neil Shusterman, published Simon and Schuster
The Hate U Give, by Angie Thomas, published by Harper Collins
Daughter of Deep Silence, by Carrie Ryan, published by Penguin Random House
The Legend of Rock, Paper, Scissors, by Drew Daywalt, illustrated by Adam Rex, published by Harper Collins Publisher
Let Me Finish by Minh Le’, published by Disney
The Highest Mountain of Books in the World by by Rocio Bonilla published by Peter Pauper Publishing
Can I Be Your Dog by Troy Cummings, published by Penguin Random House
The Bad Seed, by Jory John, Illustrated by Pete Oswald, published by Harper Collins
Picture Books for Older Readers
Her Right Foot, by Dave Eggers/Illustrated by Shawn Harris published by Chronicle Books
Lillians Right to Vote, by Jonah Winters; Ill. Shane W. Evans published by Penguin Random House
Malala's Magic Pencil, by Malala Yousafzai, published by Little, Brown Books
Intermediate
The War I Finally Won, by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley, published by Penguin Random House
The Losers Club, by Andrew Clements, published by Penguin Random House
Dectective's Assistant, by Kate Hannigan, published by Little, Brown Books
Jr.High/Middle School
When Friendship followed Me Home, by Paul Griffin, published by Penguin Random House
The Best Man, by Richard Peck, published by Penguin Random House
It Ain't So Awful Falafel,by Firoozeh Dumas, published by Houghton Mifflin Hardcourt
Young Adult
Scythe, by Neil Shusterman, published Simon and Schuster
The Hate U Give, by Angie Thomas, published by Harper Collins
Daughter of Deep Silence, by Carrie Ryan, published by Penguin Random House
2019 Winners!
Emmanuel's Dream: The True Story of Emmanuel Ofosu Yeboah
Written by Laura Ann Thompson Illustrated by Sean Qualls Published by Schwartz & Wade |
2018 Winners!
Barbed Wire Baseball
Written by Marissa Moss Illustrated by Yuko Shimizu Published by Abrams Books for Young Readers, 2016 |
2017 Winners!
SAM & DAVE DIG A HOLE
Written by Mac Barnett Illustrated by Jon Klassen Published by Candlewick Press, 2014 |
ESCAPE FROM MR. LEMONCELLO'S LIBRARY
Written by Chris Grabenstein Published by Random House Books for Young Readers, 2013 |
KEEPER OF THE LOST CITIES
Written by Shannon Messenger Published by Aladdin Books, 2012 |
RED QUEEN
Written by Victoria Aveyard Published by HarperCollins, 2015 |
EACH KINDNESS
Written by Jacqueline Woodson Illustrated by E. B. Lewis Published by Nancy Paulsen Books, 2012 |
California Young Reader Medal

The California Young Reader Medal program was founded by CRA in 1974. A committee of members from CRA, CSLA, CATE and CLA select the books for each year based on nominations from the field. The CYRM committee is proud to announce the NOMINEES for the 2016-2017 California Young Reader Medals. View the full list at on the California Young Reader Medal website.
Each year, current books are recognized for their meritorious contribution to literature for young people.
The California Young Reader Medal is proud to announce the NOMINEES for the 2016-2017 California Young Reader Medals:
Children, young adults, educators, librarians, parents, or anyone who works with young people and books may recommend titles. This recommendation process may take place in the classroom or may reflect work with children and young adults in a library. California Young Reader Medal recommended titles must reflect what young people like to read.
Each book must be nominated for a particular age category.
Criteria for Nomination:
After the nominees are selected, teachers and students can read all the books in each category and vote on their favorite title. The ballots are sent to the committee and then counted by the committee. The winners are announced in May. Check out the CYRM website for ballot and voting information. The CYRM website also has many resources such as reader’s theater scripts and lesson ideas for each CYRM winner.
Each year, current books are recognized for their meritorious contribution to literature for young people.
The California Young Reader Medal is proud to announce the NOMINEES for the 2016-2017 California Young Reader Medals:
Children, young adults, educators, librarians, parents, or anyone who works with young people and books may recommend titles. This recommendation process may take place in the classroom or may reflect work with children and young adults in a library. California Young Reader Medal recommended titles must reflect what young people like to read.
Each book must be nominated for a particular age category.
Criteria for Nomination:
- Must have strong appeal for the age group for which the recommendation is made.
- Often read or requested by children and young adults.
- Published within the previous four years and still in print.
- Written by an author who is still living.
After the nominees are selected, teachers and students can read all the books in each category and vote on their favorite title. The ballots are sent to the committee and then counted by the committee. The winners are announced in May. Check out the CYRM website for ballot and voting information. The CYRM website also has many resources such as reader’s theater scripts and lesson ideas for each CYRM winner.