Young Reader's Choice Award


The Young Reader's Choice Award is an award program of the Pacific Northwest Library Association which was inaugurated in 1940 by Harry Hartman, a well-known Seattle based bookseller. It is the oldest "children's choice" award in the U.S. and Canada and the only award chosen by children in two countries. Initially a single award, in 1991 the award expanded to include both a Youth and Senior category. In 2002, a third award category, Intermediate, was created. The PNLA now offers three annual awards for books selected by schoolchildren in the Pacific Northwest. The PNLA homepage heading is "Alaska, Alberta, British Columbia, Idaho, Montana, Washington", a list of the four U.S. states and two Canadian provinces where most of its members are located. It is the oldest regional association and the only binational one in the US and Canada.
The three winners of 2018 awards were published during 2015. The voting, open to "anyone in grades four through twelve in the Pacific Northwest who has read at least one title from the list", is conducted by member libraries during March and April.
The nomination process was last revised in 2012. Children, teachers, parents and librarians in Pacific Northwest may recommend books to their state, provincial representatives or to the YRCA Chair. Nominations of 2017 publications are due in February 2018. One nominee in each category must also include either a Canadian author or a title where the story primarily occurs in Canada.

Recipients, 1940–1990

YearAuthorTitle
1940Dell J. McCormickPaul Bunyan Swings His Axe
1941Richard and Florence AtwaterMr. Popper's Penguins
1942Laura Ingalls WilderBy the Shores of Silver Lake
1943Eric KnightLassie Come-Home
1944Walter FarleyThe Black Stallion
1945Marie McSwiganSnow Treasure
1946Jack O'BrienThe Return of Silver Chief
1947Robert McCloskeyHomer Price
1948Walter FarleyThe Black Stallion Returns
1949Shannon GarstCowboy Boots
1950Dr. SeussMcElligot's Pool
1951Marguerite HenryKing of the Wind
1952Marguerite HenrySea Star, Orphan of Chincoteague
No awards, 1953–1955
1956Ellen MacGregorMiss Pickerell Goes to Mars
1957Beverly ClearyHenry and Ribsy
1958William CorbinGolden Mare
1959Fred GipsonOld Yeller
1960Beverly ClearyHenry and the Paper Route
1961Jay WilliamsDanny Dunn and the Homework Machine
1962Stewart HolbrookThe Swamp Fox of the Revolution
1963Jay WilliamsDanny Dunn on the Ocean Floor
1964Sheila BurnfordThe Incredible Journey
1965Richard TregaskisJohn F. Kennedy and PT-109
1966Sterling NorthRascal
1967Ian FlemingChitty Chitty Bang Bang
1968Beverly ClearyThe Mouse and the Motorcycle
1969Keith RobertsonHenry Reed's Baby-Sitting Service
1970William CorbinSmoke
1971Beverly ClearyRamona the Pest
1972Donald J. SobolEncyclopedia Brown Keeps the Peace
1973No award
1974Robert C. O'BrienMrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH
1975Judy BlumeTales of a Fourth Grade Nothing
1976John D. FitzgeraldThe Great Brain Reforms
1977Judy BlumeBlubber
1978John D. FitzgeraldThe Great Brain Does It Again
1979Mildred TaylorRoll of Thunder, Hear My Cry
1980Beverly ClearyRamona and Her Father
1981Ellen ConfordHail, Hail Camp Timberwood
1982Deborah Howe and James HoweBunnicula: A Rabbit Tale of Mystery
1983Judy BlumeSuperfudge
1984Lynne Reid BanksThe Indian in the Cupboard
1985Jamie GilsonThirteen Ways to Sink a Sub
1986Betty Ren WrightThe Dollhouse Murders
1987Robert Kimmel SmithThe War with Grandpa
1988Barthe DeClementsSixth Grade Can Really Kill You
1989Mary Downing HahnWait Till Helen Comes: A Ghost Story
1990Louis SacharThere's a Boy in the Girls' Bathroom

Recipients, 1991–2001

Recipients, 2002–present

Nominations 2019 - Present

AuthorTitle
2019Dav PilkeyDog Man
2019Kelly BarnhillThe Girl Who Drank the Moon
2019Firoozeh DumasIt Ain't so Awful Falafel
2019Natalie LloydThe Key to Extraordinary
2019John David AndersonMs. Bixby's Last Day
2019Sara PennypackerPax
2019Peter BrownThe Wild Robot
2019Marina CohenThe Inn Between
2020Katherine ApplegateWishtree
2020Linda BaileyThe Tiny Hero of Ferny Creek Library
2020Pablo CartayaThe Epic Fail of Arturo Zamora
2020Cat ClarkeThe Pants Project
2020Cressida CowellThe Wizards of Once
2020Alan GratzRefugee
2020Gordon KormanRestart
2020Jessica TownsendThe Trials of Morrigan Crow
2021Katherine ArdenSmall Spaces
2021John David AndersonGranted
2021John AugustArlo Finch in the Valley of Fire
2021Jonathan AuxierSweep: The Story of a Girl and Her Monster
2021Sayantani DasGuptaThe Serpent's Secret
2021Tui T. SutherlandWings of Fire: The Dragonet Prophecy
2021Terri LibensonPositively Izzy
2021Kenneth OppelInkling
2022Charlene Willing McManisIndian No More
2022Jerry CraftNew Kid
2022Lynda Mullaly HuntShouting at the Rain
2022Kelley ArmstrongA Royal Guide to Monster Slaying
2022Rosanne ParryA Wolf Called Wander
2022Jasmine WargaOther Words for Home
2022Yoon Ha LeeDragon Pearl
2022Lynne KellySong for a Whale
2023David RobertsonThe Barren Grounds
Janae MarksFrom the Desk of Zoe Washington
James PontiCity Spies
Rena BarronMaya and the Rising Dark
Tae KellerWhen You Trap a Tiger
Daniel NayeriEverything Sad Is Untrue
Rob HarrellWink
Victoria JamiesonWhen Stars Are Scattered

YearAuthorTitle
2019Kwame AlexanderBooked
2019Marissa MeyerHeartless
2019Rick RiordanThe Hidden Oracle
2019Iian LawrenceThe Skeleton Tree
2019Nicole CastromanBlackhearts
2019Lauren OliverReplica
2019Alwyn HamiltonRebel of the Sands
2019Wesley KingOCDaniel
2020S. K. AliSaints and Misfits
2020Dusti BowlingInsignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus
2020Chris ColferStranger Than Fanfiction
2020Rosalyn EvesBlood Rose Rebellion
2020Stephanie GarberCaraval
2020Ryan GraudinInvictus
2020Antonio IturbeThe Librarian of Auschwitz
2020Fonda LeeExo
2021Elizabeth AcevedoThe Poet X
2021Leslie ConnorThe Truth as Told by Mason Buttle
2021Lisa GreenwaldTBH, This Is So Awkward
2021Adib KhorramDarius the Great is Not Okay
2021Susin Nielsen-FernlundNo Fixed Address
2021Victoria SchwabCity of Ghosts
2021Laura SebastianAsh Princess
2021Scott WesterfeldImposters
2022Padma VenkatramanThe Bridge Home
2022Margaret RogersonSorcery of Thorns
2022Kwame MbaliaTristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky
2022Elizabeth LimSpin the Dawn
2022Sarah HenstraWe Contain Multitudes
2022Kip WilsonWhite Rose
2022Christine DayI Can Make This Promise
2022Sarah KuhnI Love You So Mochi
2023Aiden ThomasCemetery Boys
2023Elizabeth AcevedoClap When You Land
2023Darcie Little BadgerElatsoe
2023Tracy DeonnLegendborn
2023Ibi Aanu ZoboiPunching the Air
2023Adiba JaigirdarThe Henna Wars
2023Jordyn TaylorThe Paper Girls of Paris
2023Traci CheeWe Are Not Free