Special Collections
California Department of Education Recommended Literature List 2025
Description: The California Department of Education (CDE) coordinates the development of Recommended Literature List with the assistance of teachers, teacher librarians employed by schools and public libraries, administrators, curriculum planners, and parents.#CDE
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Impossible Creatures
by Katherine Rundell#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • Two kids race to save the world&’s last magical place in the first book of a landmark new fantasy series, from &“a writer with an utterly distinctive voice and a wild imagination.&” (Philip Pullman, author of The Golden Compass) &“An instant classic from one of the most gifted storytellers of our time, Impossible Creatures is an astonishing miracle of a book.&” —Katherine Applegate, Newbery Medal Winner for The One and Only IvanA WALL STREET JOURNAL BEST CHILDREN'S BOOK OF THE YEAR • A PUBLISHERS WEEKLY, KIRKUS REVIEWS, AND SHELF AWARENESS BEST BOOK OF THE YEARThe day that Christopher saved a drowning baby griffin from a hidden lake would change his life forever. It&’s the day he learned about the Archipelago—a cluster of unmapped islands where magical creatures of every kind have thrived for thousands of years, until now. And it&’s the day he met Mal—a girl on the run, in desperate need of his help.Mal and Christopher embark on a wild adventure, racing from island to island, searching for someone who can explain why the magic is fading and why magical creatures are suddenly dying. They consult sphinxes, battle kraken, and negotiate with dragons. But the closer they get to the dark truth of what&’s happening, the clearer it becomes: no one else can fix this. If the Archipelago is to be saved, Mal and Christopher will have to do it themselves.Katherine Rundell&’s story crackles and roars with energy and delight. It is brought vividly to life with more than 60 illustrations, including a map and a bestiary of magical creatures.
Three Summers
by Laura L. Sullivan and Amra Sabic-El-RayessAn epic middle-grade memoir about sisterhood and coming-of-age in the three years leading up to the Bosnian Genocide. Three Summers is the story of five young cousins who grow closer than sisters as ethnic tensions escalate over three summers in 1980s Bosnia. They navigate the joys and pitfalls of adolescence on their family’s little island in the middle of the Una River. When finally confronted with the harsh truths of the adult world around them, their bond gives them the resilience to discover and hold fast to their true selves.Written with incredible warmth and tenderness, Amra Sabic-El-Rayess takes readers on a journey that will break their hearts and put them back together again.
Kareem Between
by Shifa Saltagi Safadi**WINNER of the NATIONAL BOOK AWARD for Young People's Literature**This heartfelt coming-of-age novel in verse tells the powerful story of a seventh-grade Syrian American boy and his struggles, big and small, as he navigates middle school."The exact type of book I would've loved, and needed, as a kid." — Jasmine Warga, New York Times bestselling author of and Newbery Honor recipient for Other Words for HomeSeventh grade begins, and Kareem&’s already fumbled it. His best friend moved away, he messed up his tryout for the football team, and because of his heritage, he was voluntold to show the new kid—a Syrian refugee with a thick and embarrassing accent—around school. Just when Kareem thinks his middle school life has imploded, the hotshot QB promises to get Kareem another tryout for the squad. There&’s a catch: to secure that chance, Kareem must do something he knows is wrong.Then, like a surprise blitz, Kareem&’s mom returns to Syria to help her family but can&’t make it back home. If Kareem could throw a penalty flag on the fouls of his school and home life, it would be for unnecessary roughness.Kareem is stuck between. Between countries. Between friends, between football, between parents—and between right and wrong. It&’s up to him to step up, find his confidence, and navigate the beauty and hope found somewhere in the middle.
Ultraviolet
by Aida SalazarSometimes life explodes in technicolor.In the spirit of Judy Blume, award-winning author Aida Salazar tells it like it is about puberty, hormones, and first love in this hilarious, heartwarming, and highly relatable coming-of-age story. Perfect for fans of Jason Reynolds, Kwame Alexander, and Adib Khorram.* "Stunning...A story that sings to the soul." -Kirkus Reviews, starred review* "A compassionate verse novel about first love, heartbreak, and vulnerability. " -Publishers Weekly, starred review* "Salazar writes from a place of abundant empathy. . . . Another heartfelt and accessible tale of growing up from one of the best in modern children's literature." -School Library Journal, starred reviewFor Elio Solis, eighth grade fizzes with change-His body teeming with hormones. His feelings that flow like lava. His relationship with Pops, who's always telling him to man up, the Solis way. And especially Camelia, his first girlfriend.But then, betrayal and heartbreak send Elio spiraling toward revenge, a fight to prove his manhood, and defend Camelia's honor. He doesn't anticipate the dire consequences-or that Camelia's not looking for a savior.Ultraviolet digs deep into themes of consent, puberty, masculinity, and the emotional lives of boys, as it challenges stereotypes and offers another way to be in the world.
Jupiter Rising
by Gary D. SchmidtWhen Jack's P.E. coach pairs him up with Jay Perkins for the cross-country team, neither of them is happy about it. Jack is grieving the loss of Joseph, his foster brother, and adjusting to his role as big brother to Jupiter, Joseph’s orphaned daughter. Dealing with Jay Perkins—who'd once ganged up with his buddies to jump Joseph in the locker room—is the last thing he wants to do.But then Jack realizes that Jay is grieving too—the loss of his cousin Maddie, Jupiter’s mom.As Jack's relationships with both Jay and Jupiter grow and his running improves, he starts to feel more like himself than he has since Joseph died. He's finding his stride . . . until Maddie’s parents, who have never shown interest in their granddaughter before, decide to claim Jupiter as their own, blocking Jack’s family from adopting her.And suddenly Jack’s past and present smash together, threatening to dissolve both his newfound confidence and his friendships.This poignant, powerful companion to Orbiting Jupiter is Gary D. Schmidt at his best. He is the author of the Printz Honor and Newbery Honor Book Lizzie Bright and the Buckminster Boy; Okay for Now, a National Book Award finalist; and The Wednesday Wars, a Newbery Honor Book, among many acclaimed novels for young readers.
Ellie Haycock Is Totally Normal
by Gretchen SchreiberThe Breakfast Club meets Five Feet Apart in this big-hearted novel from debut author Gretchen Schreiber.Ellie Haycock has always separated her life into sections: Ellie at home and Ellie at the hospital. At home, Ellie is a proud member of her high school’s speech and debate team alongside her best friend and her boyfriend. At the hospital, Ellie has a team of doctors and a mom who won’t stop posting about the details of her illness online. It’s not hard for Ellie to choose which of the two she prefers.But this latest hospital stay is different. Ellie becomes close with a group of friends, including Ryan, a first-timer who’s still optimistic about the doctors that Ellie stopped trusting years ago. Despite their differences, she can’t seem to keep him out of her head. Ellie’s life has never been ordinary—but maybe this time it will be extraordinary.
The Bletchley Riddle
by Ruta Sepetys and Steve SheinkinA stunning collaboration between award-winning and bestselling authors Ruta Sepetys and Steve Sheinkin, this middle grade historical adventure follows two siblings at Bletchley Park, the home of WWII codebreakers, as they try to unravel a mystery surrounding their mother&’s disappearance.Remember, you are bound by the Official Secrets Act…Summer, 1940. Nineteen-year-old Jakob Novis and his quirky younger sister Lizzie share a love of riddles and puzzles. And now they&’re living inside of one. The quarrelsome siblings find themselves amidst one of the greatest secrets of World War II—Britain&’s eccentric codebreaking factory at Bletchley Park. As Jakob joins Bletchley&’s top minds to crack the Nazi's Enigma cipher, fourteen-year-old Lizzie embarks on a mission to solve the mysterious disappearance of their mother.The Battle of Britain rages and Hitler&’s invasion creeps closer. And at the same time, baffling messages and codes arrive on their doorstep while a menacing inspector lurks outside the gates of the Bletchley mansion. Are the messages truly for them, or are they a trap? Could the riddles of Enigma and their mother's disappearance be somehow connected? Jakob and Lizzie must find a way to work together as they race to decipher clues which unravel a shocking puzzle that presents the ultimate challenge: How long must a secret be kept?
Do You Remember?
by Sydney SmithFrom the multiple award-winning creator of Small in the City and the illustrator of I Talk Like a River comes a fresh and moving look at memories, filtered through the mind of a child.Tucked in bed at a new apartment, a boy and his mother trade favorite memories. Some are idyllic, like a picnic with Dad, but others are more surprising: a fall from a bike into soft piled hay, the smell of an old oil lamp when a rainstorm blew the power out.Now it&’s just the two of them, and the house where all those memories happened is far away. But maybe someday, this will be a favorite memory, too: happy and sad, an end and a beginning intertwined.In a series of warm and wistful vignettes, as achingly fleeting as childhood memories always become, Sydney Smith takes us into the mind of a young person processing a bevy of complex emotions during a major life change. Do You Remember? is a stirring meditation on holding fast to the best of the past, and choosing to believe in the future.A Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection
On the Bright Side
by Anna SortinoA hopeful novel about love, disability, and the inevitability of change by the author of Give Me a Sign.&“Poignant, romantic, and deeply heartfelt.&” —Amber Smith, New York Times bestselling author of The Way I Used to BeEllie&’s Deaf boarding school just shut down, forcing her to leave the place she considered home and return to her hearing family. But being mainstreamed into public school isn't exactly easy. So her guidance counselor pairs her with Jackson, a student who&’s supposed to help her adjust. Can the boy who tries to say the right things, and gets it all wrong, be the lifeline Ellie needs?Jackson has been avoiding his teammates ever since some numbness in his legs cost them an important soccer match. With his senior year off to a lonely start, he&’s intrigued when he&’s asked to help the new girl, initially thinking it will be a commendable move on his part. Little does he know Ellie will soon be the person he wants most by his side when the strange symptoms he&’s experiencing amount to a life-changing diagnosis.Exploring what it means to build community, Anna Sortino pens a story about the fear of the unknown and the beauty of the unexpected, all wrapped up in a poignant romance that will break your heart and put it back together again."Tender, honest, and utterly human." —Adib Khorram, award-winning author of Darius the Great Is Not Okay
One Small Spark
by Ruth SpiroA young girl is inspired to make a difference in this thoughtful and lyrical exploration of the Jewish philosophy tikkun olam or repair the world.Imagine the world you want to live in. If it&’s not the world you see, will you create it?So begins a young girl&’s journey to solve a problem she notices one rainy day while walking to school. In that moment, the small spark inside her grows and then connects her to others who are inspired to make a change and help the world become a better place.This lyrical and very personal text from beloved author Ruth Spiro, with breathtaking and imaginative illustrations from Victoria Tentler-Krylov, explores the Jewish concept of tikkun olam, or taking part to repair the world. It&’s sure to inspire young readers to nurture their own small spark, taking action today that will change the world tomorrow.
Stronger at the Seams
by Shannon StockerFrom award-winning author Shannon Stocker comes a moving and empowering YA novel that explores what it means to find your voice and learn to advocate for yourself. Twyla has always believed things happen for a reason, but when she starts having severe health issues and doctors won&’t listen to her concerns, she finds herself questioning everything, including her diagnosis … and wondering if her mother&’s death holds the answer.Twyla enters high school sure of three things: Her best friends will always be there for her, the next four years will be amazing, and her mom was right when she said there&’s a reason behind everything. Then she gets extremely nauseous and has trouble concentrating during a field hockey game. The doctors say it&’s only a mild digestive issue, but Twyla is convinced they&’re wrong. Making things worse, her friends start ghosting her outside of school, even though they tell her everything is fine, and her dad is becoming more distant each time she asks about her mom&’s life before she died.As Twyla&’s illness intensifies and her diagnosis stays the same, she finds herself feeling like her world is unraveling. It&’s not until she begins researching her symptoms herself—and discovers something in her mom&’s old records that could hold the answer to her condition—that she believes there could be some sort of reason for everything she&’s facing. But will anyone listen to her in time?Stronger at the Seams:Is a contemporary fiction novel for readers 12 and up and adult fans of YAComes from Shannon Stocker, the winner of the 2023 Schneider Award for Listen: How Evelyn Glennie, a Deaf Girl, Changed Percussion and an advocate for children with disabilities and chronic diseaseIs a powerful coming-of-age story about family, friendship, and self-advocacy
A Maleta Full of Treasures
by Natalia SylvesterFrom an award-winning author and illustrator, a warm, gentle ode to cherished visits from grandparents and the people and places that make us who we are even if we haven&’t met them yet.It&’s been three years since Abuela&’s last visit, and Dulce revels in every tiny detail—from Abuela&’s maletas full of candies in crinkly wrappers and gifts from primos to the sweet, earthy smell of Peru that floats out of Abuela&’s room and down the hall. But Abuela&’s visit can&’t last forever, and all too soon she&’s packing her suitcases again. Then Dulce has an idea: maybe there are things she can gather for her cousins and send with Abuela to remind them of the U.S. relatives they&’ve never met. And despite having to say goodbye, Abuela has one more surprise for Dulce—something to help her remember that home isn&’t just a place, but the deep-rooted love they share no matter the distance.
Ursula Upside Down
by Corey R. TaborUrsula finds confidence in seeing the world her own way in another innovative, flipped-format digital picture book from Caldecott Honoree and Geisel Award winner Corey R. Tabor. In order to fully enjoy the flipbook features of this digital picture book, we suggest locking the orientation on your device.Ursula is a happy catfish, swimming through a shimmering river with weeds waving above and a sky full of scrumptious bugs below. Then one question turns her world upside down. Is left right? Is right wrong? Which way even is up? Children will love turning the book upside down and back again as they follow Ursula’s humorous journey to self-discovery.
Finding My Dance
by Ria ThundercloudIn her debut picture book, professional Indigenous dancer Ria Thundercloud tells the true story of her path to dance and how it helped her take pride in her Native American heritage.At four years old, Ria Thundercloud was brought into the powwow circle, ready to dance in the special jingle dress her mother made for her. As she grew up, she danced with her brothers all over Indian country. Then Ria learned more styles--tap, jazz, ballet--but still loved the expressiveness of Indigenous dance. And despite feeling different as one of the only Native American kids in her school, she always knew she could turn to dance to cheer herself up. Follow along as Ria shares her dance journey--from dreaming of her future to performing as a professional--accompanied by striking illustrations that depict it while bringing her graceful movements to life.
Fatima Tate Takes the Cake
by Khadijah VanBrakleFatima Tate wants to be a baker AND enjoy some innocent flirting with her hot friend Raheem—but her strict Muslim parents would never approve of either...Seventeen-year-old Fatima Tate, aspiring baker (100% against her conservative parents&’ wishes), leads a pretty normal life in Albuquerque: long drives with BFF Zaynab, weekly services at the mosque, big family parties, soup kitchen volunteering (the best way to perfect her flaky dough recipe!), stressing about college.But everything changes when she meets a charming university student named Raheem. Knowing the 'rents would FREAK, Fatima keeps their burgeoning relationship a secret... and then, one day, her parents and his parents decide to arrange their marriage. Amazing! True serendipity!Except it's not amazing. As soon as the ring is on Fatima&’s finger, Raheem&’s charm transforms into control and manipulation. Fatima knows she has to call the whole thing off, but Raheem doesn&’t like to lose. He threatens to reveal their premarital sexual history and destroy her and her family&’s reputation in their tight-knit Muslim community.Fatima must find the inner strength to blaze her own trail by owning her body, her choices, and her future. Combining the frank authenticity of Elizabeth Acevedo and the complex social dynamics of Ibi Zoboi, FATIMA TATE TAKES THE CAKE is a powerful coming-of-age story that gives a much-needed voice to young Black Muslim women.A Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection
Wishes
by Muon Thi VanAn arresting, poetic journey and a moving reflection on immigration, family, and home, from an acclaimed creative team.Wishes tells the powerful, honest story about one Vietnamese family's search for a new home on the other side of the world, and the long-lasting and powerful impact that makes on the littlest member of the family. Inspired by actual events in the author's life, this is a narrative that is both timely and timeless. Told through the eyes of a young girl, the story chronicles a family's difficult and powerful journey to pack up what they can carry and to leave their world behind, traveling to a new and unknown place in a crowded boat. With sparse, poetic, and lyrical text from acclaimed author Muon Thi Van, thoughtful back matter about the author's connection to the story, and luminous, stunning illustrations from Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree Victo Ngai, Wishes tells a powerful and timely story in a gentle and approachable way for young children and their families.With themes of kindness, bravery, hope, and love running throughout, Wishes is a must-have book for every child's bookshelf.
Chronically Dolores
by Maya Van WagenenWinner of The Schneider Family Book Award, for excellence in portraying the disability experience!Maya Van Wagenen, bestselling author of Popular, tells Dolores&’s story with humor, heartache, and an occasional bit of telenovela flair.&“A striking fiction debut.&” —Publishers Weekly, starred review&“An insightful, funny, and realistic coming-of-age story.&” —KirkusDolores Mendoza is not thriving. She was recently diagnosed with a chronic bladder condition called interstitial cystitis. The painful disease isn&’t life-threatening, but it is threatening to ruin her life.Just when things seem hopeless, Dolores meets someone poised to change her fate. Terpsichore Berkenbosch-Jones is glamorous, autistic, and homeschooled against her will by her overprotective mother. After a rocky start, the girls form a tentative partnership. Beautiful, talented Terpsichore will help Dolores win back her ex–best friend, Shae. And Dolores will convince Terpsichore&’s mom that her daughter has the social skills to survive public school. It seems like a foolproof plan, but Dolores isn&’t always a reliable narrator, and her choices may put her in danger of committing an unforgivable betrayal.
Adela's Mariachi Band
by Denise VegaAdela loves everything about her family's mariachi band--except that she isn't in it! Shining a spotlight on Mexican music, full of instruments and dancing, Adela&’s Mariachi Band is sure to be a hit!Adela wants nothing more than to be a part of her family's mariachi band, but when she tries the different instruments, everything comes out wrong. La trompeta fizzles, la vihuela squeaks, and trying to dance makes Adela fall on her face. From watching her family, Adela knows that practice makes perfect, but can she find a way to be part of the band in the meantime?A new go-to read-aloud favorite that comes complete with funny instrument sounds, a rythmic text, and Spanish vocabulary. Strike up the band!
Black Girl You Are Atlas
by Renée WatsonA Coretta Scott King Honor BookWinner of the Walter Dean Myers AwardA thoughtful celebration of Black girlhood by award-winning author and poet Renée Watson.In this semi-autobiographical collection of poems, Renée Watson writesabout her experience growing up as a young Black girl at the intersections of race, class, and gender.Using a variety of poetic forms, from haiku to free verse, Watson shares recollections of her childhood in Portland, tender odes to the Black women in her life, and urgent calls for Black girls to step into their power.Black Girl You Are Atlas encourages young readers to embrace their future with a strong sense of sisterhood and celebration. With full-color art by celebrated fine artist Ekua Holmes throughout, this collection offers guidance and is a gift for anyone who reads it.
Kindred Spirits: Shilombish Ittibachvffa
by Leslie Stall WidenerA nonfiction picture book about the inspiring true pay-it-forward story that bridges two continents, 175 years, and two events in history--connecting Ireland, Choctaw Nation, Navajo Nation, and the Hopi Tribe.1845. The Potato Famine devastated Ireland. An ocean away, Choctaw people heard and were moved by the similarities to the injustice they had suffered on the Trail of Tears. Though they had little, they gathered money to donate.2017. Irish people built a statue to remember their connection to the Choctaw Nation--twenty-foot high feathers in the shape of a bowl.2020. COVID-19 disproportionately ravished the Navajo Nation and the Hopi Tribe. Irish people remembered the Choctaws' kindness and paid it forward by donating.Empathy creates kindness that lives well beyond a single act and includes more people the bigger it grows.
The People Remember
by Ibi Zoboi and Loveis WiseFrom award-winning, New York Times bestselling author Ibi Zoboi comes her debut picture book—a tour de force that uses the principles of Kwanzaa to talk about the history of African Americans. This lyrical, powerful tribute is sumptuously illustrated by New Yorker artist and rising star Loveis Wise. A beautiful gift for readers of all ages and for fans of Kadir Nelson’s Heart and Soul. A Coretta Scott King Honor Book! The People Remember tells the journey of African descendants in America by connecting their history to the seven principles of Kwanzaa. It begins in Africa, where people were taken from their homes and families. They spoke different languages and had different customs. Yet they were bound and chained together and forced onto ships sailing into an unknown future. Ultimately, all these people had to learn one common language and create a culture that combined their memories of home with new traditions that enabled them to thrive in this new land. Sumptuously illustrated, this is an important book to read as a family—a story young readers can visit over and over again to deepen their understanding of African American history in relation to their own lives and current social justice movements. By turns powerful and revealing, this is a lyrical narrative that tells the story of survival, as well as the many moments of joy, celebration, and innovation of Black people in America.
With Just One Wing
by Brenda WoodsCoretta Scott King Honor winner Brenda Woods&’s poignant, heartfelt story of an adopted boy and the bird he rescuesEveryone expects Coop to be musical like his beloved parents, but he&’s not. That&’s one of the few things he finds awkward about being adopted—well, that and the fact that he sometimes wonders why his birth mother didn&’t love him enough to keep him. This summer, he&’s stuck at home with a broken arm after falling out of a tree trying to get a closer peek at a mockingbird nest. Later, when the eggs in the nest have hatched and the fledglings fly away, he and his friend Zandi notice that one of them stays behind. Taking a closer look, they realize the bird only has one wing. Since it won&’t survive in the wild, they adopt it and name it Hop, and then learn everything they can about birds so they can care for Hop properly. Unfortunately, when a hawk injures Hop, the vet says it&’s illegal to keep mockingbirds as pets. Faced with a difficult decision about surrendering his beloved little bird to a bird sanctuary, Coop starts thinking about his birth mother&’s motivation in a new light.
Rising from the Ashes: Los Angeles, 1992. Edward Jae Song Lee, Latasha Harlins, Rodney King, and a City on Fire
by Paula YooA Chicago Public Library Best of the Best Books of the Year The Horn Book Fanfare Best Books of the Year A Kirkus Reviews Best Book of the Year A Publishers Weekly Best Book of the Year A School Library Journal Best Book of the Year A YALSA Excellence in Nonfiction Award Finalist Award-winning author Paula Yoo delivers "a comprehensive, kaleidoscopic account of what happened before, during, and after the 1992 Los Angeles uprising." (Horn Book Magazine, starred review) In the spring of 1992, after a jury returned not guilty verdicts in the trial of four police officers charged in the brutal beating of a Black man, Rodney King, Los Angeles was torn apart. Thousands of fires were set, causing more than a billion dollars in damage. In neighborhoods abandoned by the police, protestors and storeowners exchanged gunfire. More than 12,000 people were arrested and 2,400 injured. Sixty-three died. In Rising from the Ashes, award-winning author Paula Yoo draws on the experience of the city’s Korean American community to narrate and illuminate this uprising, from the racism that created economically disadvantaged neighborhoods torn by drugs and gang-related violence, to the tensions between the city’s minority communities. At its heart are the stories of three lives and three families: those of Rodney King; of Latasha Harlins, a Black teenager shot and killed by a Korean American storeowner; and Edward Jae Song Lee, a Korean American man killed in the unrest. Woven throughout, and set against a minute-by-minute account of the uprising, are the voices of dozens others: police officers, firefighters, journalists, business owners, and activists whose recollections give texture and perspective to the events of those five days in 1992 and their impact over the years that followed.
Kyra, Just for Today
by Sara ZarrFrom award-winning author Sara Zarr comes a gorgeously crafted and deeply personal story about a young girl, her alcoholic mother, and the hope that ties them together.Krya has always felt like she’s a bit too much. Too tall. Too loud. Too earnest. But she’s okay with that, because she’s got her mom. Ever since Mom got sober about five years ago, she and Kyra have always been there for each other—something Kyra is thankful for every week when she attends her group meetings with other kids of alcoholics. When Mom is managing her cleaning business and Kyra is taking care of things at home, maybe, she thinks, she’s not too much. Maybe, she’s just enough.Then seventh grade starts, and everything Kyra used to be able to count on feels unsure. Kyra’s best friend, Lu, is hanging out with eighth graders, and Mom is unusually distant. When Mom starts missing work, sleeping in, and forgetting things, Kyra doesn’t dare say “relapse." But soon not saying that word means not saying anything at all—to Lu or to her support group. And when Kyra suspects that her worst fears might be real, she starts to question whether being just enough is not enough at all.With sensitivity and candor, acclaimed author Sara Zarr tells a heartfelt, personal story about finding hope in even the most difficult places, and love in even the most complicated relationships.