Recs if you like A Long Way from Chicago...

Bring on those Gen Y memories! A list of books likely to give people born between 1981 and 1996 a lot of feelings.

This list is for those of us who grew up eagerly awaiting the Scholastic Book Fair, watching Reading Rainbow (or Wishbone!), and dreaming of a free personal pan pizza from Pizza Hut.

Note: these are not books published in 1981-1996, but books that had a hold on the millennial generation.

Also check out the Dear America series, American Girl series & Royal Diaries series.

Complete as of August 2026.

Books that were nominated for the John Newbery Medal for distinguished contributions to juvenile literature but did not win Currently lists nominees up to 2024

Other items used: "The Timeline Book", "Sheet of Book Labels 100", "Electives 100" (includes "The Fallacy Detective" and "Story of Art"), "Safety Glasses", "Literature 130 Student Guide", "Literature 130 Parent Guide", "History/Bible 120 Student Guide", "History/Bible 120 Parent Guide", "Berean Earth Science Schedule Plus", "Berean Earth Science Supplies Kit", "Geology Basics Kit", "Geology Testing Kit", "MUS200 - Geometry Video Instruction with Video" and "Binders + Tabs for High School Packages".