About ReadingList
ReadingList answers one question: which books are assigned in US schools, by grade, state, and curriculum? US reading-list information is scattered across state DOE websites, College Board AP frameworks, IB subject briefs, Cambridge syllabi, and thousands of individual school-district pages. Parents, teachers, and homeschoolers need a single place to see it.
What we cover
Every page focuses on structured factual data: book title, author, Lexile measure, grade range, and the specific curriculum or state document that references it. We do not write book reviews, study guides, essay prompts, or plot summaries.
- Curriculum frameworks — Common Core State Standards (ELA), AP (College Board), IB Diploma Programme, Cambridge Assessment International.
- All 50 US states — state-level ELA standards from TEKS (Texas), B.E.S.T. (Florida), NY Next Generation Learning Standards, and every other state DOE.
- All K-12 grades — from emergent readers through 12th grade.
- Individual book detail pages with Open Library ISBN metadata, Lexile ranges, themes, and content notes.
Sources & verification
Every assignment claim links to a primary source — the state DOE page, AP Central course framework, or IB subject brief where the book is cited. We cite the URL and the specific section name on every row so you can trace it back yourself. The footer on every page lists the data sources used across the site.
Book metadata (ISBN, cover, publication year, page count) comes from Open Library and Google Books APIs. Lexile measures are sourced from MetaMetrics’ Lexile Hub when available.
What we don’t do
- We don’t require an account or login to browse or use the core reference site. Passwordless account preferences and book-pick emails are optional adult features; saved lists stay on this device.
- We don’t sell books or insert paid placements into any reading list. Book detail pages link to Amazon as an Amazon Associate — clearly disclosed next to the link — and that commission never influences which books appear or how they’re classified.
- We don’t publish book summaries, study guides, essay prompts, or test prep material.
- We don’t publish user reviews or comments. The data here is factual reference, not opinion.
- Parts of this site are drafted with AI assistance. Every book placement links to its primary source, and we correct errors when readers report them.
Editorial policy
Where a book page shows a description, it is a short summary drafted with AI assistance — we don’t publish publisher jacket copy or Google Books blurbs. Guide articles (e.g., “What is Lexile?”) are also drafted with AI assistance and cite peer-reviewed or authoritative sources (NCTE, ALA, MetaMetrics, School Library Journal).
Content notes on book pages reflect what teachers and parents commonly flag — not our opinion about suitability. Each family’s standards are their own.
The full classification framework — the six dimensions every page draws from and the public source for each — is documented on the classification standard page.
How we make money
Current revenue comes from Amazon Associate links on book pages, with an inline disclosure beside the buying options. The site does not show display advertising. Monetization never determines the lists: there are no sponsored posts or paid placements, and what appears on a grade or state hub follows the cited sources.
Questions or corrections
Spot a miscited book or a state framework we’ve missed? Tell us via the contact page.