YA Read Across America Challenge

Want to travel to all 50 states, but don’t have the time or the money? Now you can with our YA Read Across America Challenge, without even leaving your home.

We compiled a list of YA books, one for every state and Washington D.C. Challenge yourself and see how many you can read. Let us know in the comments how many of these books you have read and which are your favorites!

This blog post is all about the YA Read Across America Challenge.

Alabama: Looking for Alaska by John Green

Looking for Alaska is set at a boarding school in Alabama. Miles “Pudge” Halter wanted to leave his boring life in Florida, ready to embark on an adventure of self-discovery in someplace new.

Alaska: Not If I Save You First by Ally Carter

After moving from Washington D.C. to Alaska, Maddie lives a life of solitude. But when her past comes back to haunt her, Maddie faces the Alaskan wilderness. Not If I Save You First is a thriller set in coldest part of the United States.

Arizona: P.S. I Like You by Kasie West

Lily loves to write song lyrics during class. When someone starts returning the lyrics, Lily as hopes of finding the mysterious music lover. P.S. I Love You is a cute YA romance set in sunny Arizona.

Arkansas: After the Fall by Kate Hart

Raychel’s life in Arkansas is nowhere near perfect. Always worrying about her family and if she can afford college, she seeks comfort with two brothers: Matt and Andrew. After the Fall, Raychel has to decide which pieces are worth picking up.

California: Alex, Approximately by Jenn Bennett

Bailey is ready to move in with her dad on the central California coast. Besides, her online chat friend lives in this town, who Bailey discusses classic movies with. Alex, Approximately is one of the cutest books in YA and never fails to bring a smile to our faces.

Colorado: My Life With the Walter Boys by Ali Novak

My Life with the Walter Boys starts when Jackie Howard faces a major tragedy, leading to her moving to Colorado with the crazy and loud Walter family. Can she juggle her new life and her competing romances?

Connecticut: Save the Date by Morgan Matson

Charlie loves being the youngest of five siblings and idolizes her family. In Save the Date, Charlie has to deal with the fact that her family is far from perfect and she can’t control everything. This YA romance is a comedy of errors bound to leave readers entertained.

D.C.: White Hot Kiss by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Set in our hometown, the White Hot Kiss trilogy is perfect for fantasy and romance lovers. Expect a lot of action, a love triangle and scenes set in our city.

Delaware: The Sweet Life of Stella Madison by Lara Zeises

The Sweet Life of Stella Madison discusses what happens when you a chose a path different from your parents. Stella’s dad is a famous chef and Stella wants to go into journalism.

Florida: Paper Towns by John Green

Paper Towns starts in Florida, where Q has the best night of his life. After that, the girl of his dreams disappears, leading him on a road trip he’ll never forget.

Georgia: Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins

Getting sent to Hex Hall is punishment for Sophie’s spell gone wrong. What could go wrong in this Georgia school for witches and warlocks?

Hawaii: Famous in Love by Rebecca Serle

Paige always dreamed of an acting career, but never thought it would happen in high school. Paige is to star in the latest blockbuster based on a hit book, meaning she gets to move to Hawaii. Over the course of the movie, Paige has to decide if she’s ready for a life in the spotlight.

Idaho: Deadline by Chris Crutcher

Deadline is all about keeping secrets from everyone in this small Idaho town.

Illinois: Will Grayson, Will Grayson by John Green and David Levithan

Set in Chicago, two guys name Will Grayson cross paths, changing their lives and the lives of their friends in the process.

Indiana: Turtles All the Way Down by John Green

Turtles All the Way Down was Green’s latest YA book and is a commentary on mental health. It all begins with a mystery, a billionaire and a potential reward.

Iowa: Ashfall by Mike Mullin

A natural disaster destroys Alex’s hometown, leaving him to fend for himself. This dystopian YA begins a survival adventure set in Iowa.

Kansas: The Testing by Joelle Charbonneau

The United States has been destroyed by war, leading to a new society focused on finding the best and brightest to repair everything. Cia Vale is one of the chose few for the testing. Not everyone will make it.

Kentucky: The DUFF by Kody Keplinger

Who can forget Wesley Rush? One of our favorite YA book boyfriends. DUFF is a strong commentary on mental health and body image issues. It also has a great romance. Just don’t watch the movie version, which was terrible.

Louisiana: The Casquette Girls by Alys Arden

After a natural disaster, Adele Le Moyne wants her life to return to return to normal. But there was nothing natural about what happened, especially as magical attacks are occurring.

Maine: This is What Happy Looks Like by Jennifer E. Smith

This town in Maine is a popular place to spend summer vacation. It’s the perfect place for Graham Larkin’s next hit movie. But he has ulterior motives, including dating local Ellie O’Neill.

Maryland: The Wrong Side of Right by Jenn Marie Thorne

The Wrong Side of Right is perfect for all politically-savvy readers. Moving in with your estranged dad is hard enough, but what if that man is also running for president?

Massachusetts: The Ivy by Lauren Kunze

The Ivy is one of all-time favorite series and it’s set at Harvard University. Get ready for drama and a lot of fun college traditions, like the Harvard-Yale game.

Michigan: Angelfire by Courtney Allison Moulton

Ellie is tormented by dreams of murderous creatures hunting and killing her over and over again. She can’t help but feel that these dreams are a reality. After her teacher is brutally murdered under mysterious circumstances, she cannot shake the feeling that something is off. When she meets Will, she experiences flashes of memories that she cannot place— she feels like she has known him for centuries. 

Minnesota: Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater

Graces knows she’s seen Sam before, a mysterious boy with yellow-colored eyes. Could Sam be the wolf she’s seen behind her house and if so, what does he want with Grace?

Mississippi: The Merciless II: The Exorcism of Sofia Flores by Danielle Vega

Sofia is coming to terms with what happened after performing an exorcism. Sofia needs to get out of town, sending her to a Catholic Boarding School in Mississippi.

Missouri: Whatever Life Throws at You by Julie Cross

If you love baseball and rom-coms then Whatever Life Throws at You should be your next read. They’ll be swooning from start to finish. Hot KC Royals rookie pitcher, hell yes! It might be hard when your dad is the pitching coach though. 

Montana: Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead

Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead is a cult YA series about Rose Hathaway, a teen with human and vampire blood– a dhampir. Rose attends St. Vladimir’s Academy, a school for vampire royalty and their guardians-in-training.

Nebraska: Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell

Eleanor and Park is set in the 1980s and deals with heavy subjects, such as abuse and mental health struggles.

Nevada: Heist Society by Ally Carter

Kat was raised to be a professional thief. But at 15, she’s ready to move on and attend boarding school. Too bad leaving that life behind is easier said then done.

New Hampshire: Liv, Forever by Amy Talkington

Liv’s ticket out of foster care is getting an art scholarship to a prestigious school. But there’s something dark happening at this school, something that could cost Liv everything.

New Jersey: She’s So Dead to Us by Kieran Scott

It’s been over a year since Allie left her hometown in New Jersey. Now that she’s back, the drama won’t stop. Her old friends hate her and the the guy living in her old house is seriously cute.

New Mexico: Tiger Eyes by Judy Blume

After a tragedy, Davey and her family move to New Mexico, where she seeks help from an unlikely friends.

New York: City of Bones by Cassandra Clare

The Mortal Instruments is one of the most popular books in YA. Set in Brooklyn and Manhattan, this group of Shadowhunters takes the city by storm.

North Dakota: Taken by Storm by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

Bryn is part of a werewolf pack, only she’s human. But she has no choice but to attend a meeting between the most powerful werewolves in the country.

North Carolina: Only Mostly Devastated by Sophie Gonzales

Only Mostly Devastated follows Ollie, who wants a summer flight with the hot Will Tavares. When Will stops texting back, Ollies gives up. Too bad Will shows up everywhere.

Ohio: Unwind by Neal Shustermen 

Unwind is a dark YA dystopian series set after the Second Civil War. Three unlikely allies try to escape being unwound by the government.

Oklahoma: Oh My Goth by Gena Showalter

Jade is happy to stand out as the goth girl. But when she wakes up one day to find everyone else is goth and she’s now popular, she can’t wait to escape this alternate reality.

Oregon: If I Stay by Gayle Foreman

Made into a movie, If I Stay is a popular YA book about loss and making difficult decisions. Mia has no memory of the accident. She only know what happened after it.

Pennsylvania: The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky

The Perks of Being a Wallflower is one of the best known YA books. It follows Charlie as he tells the story of his life in the form of letters, which helps him with his mental health struggles as he navigates high school.

Rhode Island: Last Year’s Mistake by Gina Ciocca

Last Year’s Mistake is all about first love, but timing was always the issue. Kelsey and David had been friends for years, but one bad night ruined everything. After a year of not seeing each other, David and his father move to Newport, Rhode Island, the same place Kelsey and her family moved the year before.

South Carolina: Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl

If you like magic and gothic Southern towns, then pick up Beautiful Creatures. Ethan Wate’s life changes when the mysterious Lena moves to town.

South Dakota: Rose Eagle by Joseph Bruchac

Set in South Dakota, Rose Eagle of the Lakota tribe is trying to find her place after an apocalyptical event changed everything.

Tennessee: An Abundance of Katherine’s by John Green

A search for self-discovery takes two friends on a road trip to Tennessee. An Abundance of Katherines is a light-hearted read.

Texas: Pivot Point by Kasie West

Surprisingly, Kasie West’s first book release was a paranormal story and not a contemporary. It’s also her only book set in Texas. Pivot Point is fun, but also full of danger and deception.

Utah: Wild Bird by Wendelin Van Draanen

Wren is taken from her bed in the middle of the night and shipped off. To where? The Utah desert for wilderness therapy camp.

Vermont: Two Can Keep a Secret by Karen McManus

There’s something spooky about New England in the Fall. Two Can Keep a Secret is set in the creepy town of Echo Ridge, where a lot bad things happen.

Virginia: To All the Boys I Loved Before by Jenny Han

Lara Jean lives a fairly sheltered life in Charlottesville, Virginia with her dad and two sisters. When her older sister moves away to college, Lara Jean’s life starts to spiral. To All The Boys is a sweet romance with amazing characters.

Washington: The Perfectionists by Sara Shepard

Five girls have one enemy: Nolan Hotchkiss. They plan a way to kill him…except it actually happens, but none of them did it. Or did they??

West Virginia: The Dead List by Jennifer L. Armentrout

There’s something spooky about West Virginia. In The Dead List, nobody in this town is safe from the dangerous killer. If you want a great YA horror novel, you can’t find anything better.

Wisconsin: Little Monsters by Kara Thomas

Moving to a new town is hard, it’s even harder when one of your friends gets murdered. Little Monsters is a social commentary on how far people will go to get what they want.

Wyoming: You Are the Everything by Karen Rivers

Elyse Schmidt and her crush Josh are the sole survivors of a plane crash, leaving them stranded on a mountain. One of the rare books told in second person, you get to feel like part of this haunting story.