| Year | Title | Author |
| 2016-2017 | Fuzzy Mud | Louis Sachar |
| 2015-2016 | A Snicker of Magic | Natalie Lloyd |
| 2014-2015 | Michael Vey: The Prisoner of Cell 25 | Richard Paul Evans |
| 2013-2014 | Wonder | R.J. Palacio |
| 2012-2013 | Hero | Mike Lupica |
| 2011-2012 | The Hunger Games | Suzanne Collins |
| 2010-2011 | The Golly-Whopper Games | Jody Feldman |
| 2009-2010 | Deep and Dark and Dangerous | Mary Downing Hahn |
| 2008-2009 | The Lightning Thief | Rick Riordan |
| 2007-2008 | Flush | Carl Hiaasen |
| 2006-2007 | Measle and the Wrathmonk | Ian Ogilvy |
| 2005-2006 | Runt | Marion Dane Bauer |
| 2004-2005 | Loser | Jerry Spinelli |
| 2003-2004 | Skeleton Man | Joseph Bruchac |
| 2002-2003 | The Power of Un | Nancy Etchemendy |
| 2001-2002 | Danger in the Desert | T.S. Fields |
| 2000-2001 | My Life as a Fifth Grade Comedian | Elizabeth Levy |
| 1999-2000 | The Imp that Ate My Homework | Laurence Yep |
| 1998-1999 | Frindle | Andrew Clements |
| 1997-1998 | The Best School Year Ever | Barbara Robinson |
| 1996-1997 | Mick Harte Was Here | Barbara Park |
| 1995-1996 | Time for Andrew: A Ghost Story | Mary Downing Hahn |
| 1994-1995 | Mayfield Crossing | Vaunda M. Nelson |
| 1993-1994 | Jennifer Murdley’s Toad | Bruce Coville |
| 1992-1993 | The Doll in the Garden | Mary Downing Hahn |
| 1991-1992 | All About Sam | Lois Lowry |
| 1990-1991 | Hatchet | Gary Paulsen |
| 1989-1990 | There’s a Boy in the Girls’ Bathroom | Louis Sachar |
| 1988-1989 | The War with Grandpa | Robert Kimmel Smith |
| 1987-1988 | Christina’s Ghost | Betty Ren Wright |
| 1986-1987 | How to Be a Perfect Person in Just Three Days | Stephan Manes |
| 1985-1986 | The Secret Life of the Underwear Champ | Betty Miles |
| 1984-1985 | Skinnybones | Barbara Park |
| 1983-1984 | Nothing’s Fair in Fifth Grade | Barthe de Clements |
| 1982-1983 | Superfudge | Judy Blume |
| 1981-1982 | Don’t Hurt Laurie | Willo Davis Roberts |
| 1980-1981 | The Great Gilly Hopkins | Katherine Paterson |
| 1979-1980 | The Great Brain Does it Again | John D. Fitzgerald |
| 1978-1979 | The Pinballs | Betsy Byars |
| 1977-1978 | Freaky Friday | Mary Rodgers |
| 1976-1977 | Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing | Judy Blume |
| 1975-1976 | The Best Christmas Pageant Ever | Barbara Robinson |
| 1974-1975 | A Taste of Blackberries | Doris Buchanan Smith |
| 1973-1974 | Doodle and the Go-Cart | Robert Burch |
| 1972-1973 | Hey, What’s Wrong with This One? | Maia Wojceichowska |
| 1971-1972 | J.T. | Jane Wagner |
| 1970-1971 | Queenie Peavy | Robert Burch |
| 1969-1970 | Ramona the Pest | Beverly Cleary |
| 1968-1969 | Skinny | Robert Burch |
