Awards

Author Awards

Nominated for 2014 Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award
Named National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature by Library of Congress, 2012
Nominated for 2013 Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award
New York City Literary Honor for Children’s Literature (inaugural year), 2012
Nominated for 2012 Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award
Rutgers University Medal for the Literature of Children and Young Adults, 2011
Honorary Doctor of Letters from Amherst College, 2010
Nominated for 2011 Astrid Lindgren Award
Chicago Tribune Prize for Writers of Young Adult Literature, 2010
Coretta Scott King – Virginia Hamilton Award for Lifetime Achievement (inaugural year), 2010
Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award Nominee, 2009
Jeremiah Ludington Award (Educational Paperback Association), 2009
May Hill Arbuthnot Honor Lecturer, 2009
Katharine Drexel Award from the Catholic Library Association, 2008
West Virginia Library Association Literary Merit Award, 2008
University of Minnesota Kerlan Award, 2008
University of Southern Mississippi Medallion, 2006
The Library of Congress National Book Festival Participant, 2001, 2003
Virginia Hamilton Liberary Award (First), 1999
Anne V. Zarrow Award, 1996
Margaret A. Edwards Award for Lifetime Achievement, 1994
Alan Award for Outstanding Contribution to the Field of Young Adult Literature, 1994
MacDowell Fellowship, 1988
National Endowment for the Arts Grant, 1982
New Jersey State Council for the Arts Fellowship, 1981

Invasion New York, Scholastic, 2013 Grade: 6-8; 9-12 Ages: 12+

Invasion (2013)

Nominated for 2014 NAACP Image Awards in the category of Outstanding Literary Work for Youth/Teens

Darius & Twig (2013)

Named a Kirkus Best Book of the Year for 2013
Named a Booklist Top Ten Book for 2013 in the category of Black History Books for Youth
Named a Booklist Editors’ Choice for 2013
Featured in the Chicago Tribune’s “Best Children’s Books to Give as Gifts” for 2013
Featured in BCCB’s 2013 Guide Book to Gift Books
Newsday Summer 2013 Reading List selection
Coretta Scott King Author Award Honor Book, 2014
Named a 2014 ALA Notable Children’s Book
Named a 2014 Quick Pick for Reluctant Readers

The Cruisers Book 3: A Star Is Born (2012)

Nominated for 2014 Dolly Gray Children’s Literature Award

All the Right Stuff (2012)

Selected as one of the 2013 Children’s Book Committee/Bank Street College of Education Best Children’s Books of the Year

Kick (2011)

Spring 2011 Kids’ Indie Next List: “Inspired Recommendations for Kids from Indie Booksellers.”

Lockdown (2010)

2011 YALSA QuickPick for Reluctant Young Adult Readers
Coretta Scott King Honor Award, 2011
NAACP Image Award Finalist, 2011
National Book Award Finalist in Young People’s Literature category, 2010

The Cruisers (2010)

2010 Parent’s Choice Award Winner
2010 Book Links Lasting Connections

Riot (2009)

Nominated for the 2014 YALSA Popular Paperback List in the Conflicted: Life During Wartime category
Nominated for ALA’s Popular Paperback List, 2013
Booklist Online Top 10 History Books for Youth, 2010

Looking Like Me (2009)

School Library Journal Best Books of 2009
Chicago Public Library Best of the Best Book 2009

Dope Sick (2009)

American Library Association Best Book for Young Adults Nominee

Game (2008)

Children’s Book Council Teen Choice Book Award Nominee
Cooperative Children’s Book Center Choice

Sunrise Over Fallujah (2008)

Christopher Award in Books for Young People Category
Cooperative Children’s Book Center Choice
New York Times Best Book of 2008
School Library Journal Best Book of the Year

Harlem Summer (2007)

Book Sense Children’s Pick Nominee
Cooperative Children’s Book Center Choice
International Reading Association Notable Book for a Global Soceity
National Council for Social Studies/Children’s Book Council “Notable Children’s Trade Book in the Field of Social Studies��
Parents’ Choice Silver Honor Award

What They Found: Love on 145^th Street (2007)

American Library Association Best Book for Young Adults
American Library Association Quick Pick for Reluctant Young Adult Readers
Booklist Editor’s Choice Selection
Cooperative Children’s Book Center Choice
Great Lakes Book Award Nominee
Junior Library Guild Selection
Kirkus Reviews Best Young Adult Book of 2007
Los Angeles Times Book Award Finalist
New York Public Library Book for the Teen Age
School Library Journal Best Book of the Year
Teens Author Spotlight

Jazz (2006)

Coretta Scott King Illustrator Award Honor Book
American Library Association Notable Children’s Book
Book Links Best New Book for the Classroom
Booklist Editor’s Choice Selection
Booklist Top 10 Black History Title for Youth
Golden Kite Award for Picture Book Text (SCBWI)
Hans Christian Andersen Award Honor List (Illustrator Honor)
International Reading Association Notable Book for a Global Society
Kirkus Reviews Editor��s Choice Award
Lee Bennett Hopkins Poetry Award
National Association for the Advancement of Colored People Image Award for Outstanding Literacy Work in Poetry Nominee
New York Public Library 100 Titles for Reading and Sharing
Odyssey Award for Excellence in Audiobook Production (First)
Parenting Magazine “Mom-Tested�� Book of the Year
Publishers Weekly 100 Best Books of the Year

Harlem Hellfighters (2006)

Book Sense Children’s Pick
New York Library Association Book of the Season

Street Love (2006)

American Library Association Best Book for Young Adults
American Library Association Quick Pick for Reluctant Young Adult Readers
Horn Book Fanfare Honor List
Kirkus Reviews Best Children’s Book of 2006
New York Public Library Book for the Teen Age

Autobiography of My Dead Brother (2005)

National Book Award Honor for Young People’s Literature
American Library Association Best Book for Young Adults
Bank Street College of Education Best Children��s Book of the Year, Starred Award for Outstanding Merit
New York Public Library Book for the Teen Age

Antarctica (2004)

National Council for Social Studies/Children’s Book Council “Notable Children’s Trade Book in the Field of Social Studies”
New York Public Library Book for the Teen Age

I’ve Seen The Promised Land: The Life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. (2004)

Bulletin of the Center for Children��s Books Blue Ribbon Book

Shooter (2004)

American Library Association Quick Pick for Reluctant Young Adult Readers
Atlanta Journal & Constitution Kids�� Corner Pick of the Lists
New York Book Show in the Young Adult Fiction Children’s Trade Hardcover One-Color Category, 1^st Place
New York Public Library Book for the Teen Age

Here in Harlem: Poems in Many Voices (2004)

American Library Association Notable Children’s Book
Bank Street College of Education Best Children’s Book of the Year
Chicago Public Library “Best of the Best Books for Great Kids”
Chicago Public Library “Children’s Books for Year Round Gift Giving”
Children’s Book Committee at Bank Street College of Eductaion Claudia Lewis Award for Best Poetry Book of the Year
Cooperative Children’s Book Center Choice
Kirkus Reviews End of Year Round Up for Best Book of the Year
Lee Bennett Hopkins Poetry Award
Lion and the Unicorn Award for Excellence in North American Poetry Honor Book
Paterson Prize for Books for Young People, Grades 4-6
Society of School Librarians Best Book Award
Texas Tayshas Reading List
Voice of Youth Advocates Nonfiction Honor List
Washington D.C. Capitol Choice

USS Constellation: Pride of the American Navy (2004)

Book Links “Adventures on the High Seas�� Classroom Connections

The Beast (2003)

International Reading Association Notable Book for a Global Society
New York Public Library 100 Titles for Reading and Sharing

Blues Journey (2003)

American Library Association Notable Children’s Book
Boston Globe/Horn Book Award Honor Book
Bank Street College of Education Best Children’s Book of the Year
Booklist Top 10 Black History Title for Youth
Booklist Youth Arts Top 10
Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books Blue Ribbon Book
Chicago Public Library “Best of the Best�� Book for Kids and Teens
Horn Book Fanfare Honor List
Kirkus Reviews Editor��s Choice List
Lee Bennett Hopkins Poetry Award Honor Book
National Council for Social Studies/Children’s Book Council “Notable Children’s Trade Book in the Field of Social Studies”
New York Public Library 100 Titles for Reading and Sharing
Pennsylvania School Librarians Association (PSLA) Young Adult Top Forty Nonfiction Title

The Dream Bearer (2003)

Bank Street College of Education Best Children’s Book of the Year
New York Public Library Book for the Teen Age

Handbook for Boys (2002)

Atlanta Journal & Constitution Kids’ Corner Pick of the Lists
New York Public Library Book for the Teen Age

Patrol: An American Soldier in Vietnam (2002)

Book Sense 76 Pick
Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books Blue Ribbon Book
California Young Reader Medal Nominee
International Reading Association/Children’s Book Council Children’s Choice
Jane Addams Peace Association Children’s Book Award Honor Book
Maine Student Book Award Master List
National Council for Social Studies/Children’s Book Council “Notable Children’s Trade Book in the Field of Social Studies”
New York Public Library Book for the Teen Age
New York Public Library 100 Titles for Reading and Sharing
Parenting Magazine “Best Books of the Year” Finalist
Parenting Magazine Book of the Year Award
Vermont’s Dorothy Canfield Fisher Children’s Book Award

Three Swords for Granada (2002)

Children’s Literature Committee Book Banter – “Books to Read Between Harry Potter Novels”
Society of School Librarians International Best Book Award Program Honor List

Bad Boy (2001)

American Library Association Best Book for Young Adults
American Book Association Kids�� Pick of the List
Barnes & Noble Top Picks of 2001
Book Sense 76 Pick
Borders’ Original Voices Award in the Young Adult Category Nominee
Cooperative Children’s Book Center Choice
Kentucky Bluegrass Book Award Nominee
National Council for Social Studies/Children’s Book Council “Notable Children’s Trade Book in the Field of Social Studies”
National Council of Teachers of English Notable Children’s Book in the Language Arts
New York Public Library Book for the Teen Age
Parents’ Guide to Children’s Media Outstanding Achievement in Books Honor
Smithsonian Notable Book
TeenReads.com Best Book of 2001 Award
Tennessee’s Volunteer State Book Award Nominee
Vermont’s Dorothy Canfield Fisher Children’s Book Award Master List

The Blues of Flats Brown (2000)

American Library Association Notable Children’s Book
Audie Award for Excellence in Audio Publishing, Children’s Title for Ages 0-7
Parents�� Choice Gold Award
School Library Journal Curriculum Connections

The Greatest: Muhammad Ali (2000)

American Library Association Best Book for Young Adults
American Library Association Notable Children’s Book
American Library Association Quick Pick for Reluctant Young Adult Readers
Book Links “Lasting Connection”
Booklist Editor’s Choice Selection
Cooperative Children’s Book Center Choice

Malcolm X: A Fire Burning Brightly (2000)

National Council for Social Studies/Children’s Book Council “Notable Children��s Trade Book in the Field of Social Studies”
New York Public Library 100 Titles for Reading and Sharing
School Library Journal Best Book of the Year

145^th Street: Short Stories (2000)

American Library Association Best Book for Young Adults
American Library Association Quick Pick for Reluctant Young Adult Readers
Boston Globe/Horn Book Award Honor Book
Horn Book Fanfare Honor List
Texas Tayshas Reading List

Monster (1999)

Michael L. Printz Award (First)
Coretta Scott King Illustrator Award Honor Book
National Book Award Honor for Young People’s Literature
New York Times Bestseller
American Library Association Best Book for Young Adults
American Library Association Quick Pick for Reluctant Young Adult Readers
American Library Association Teen Best Books for Young Adults
Boston Globe/Horn Book Award Honor Book
Amazon.com Top Ten Teen Books
Book Sense 76 Pick
Booklist Editor’s Choice Selection
Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books Blue Ribbon Book
Edgar Allan Poe Award Nominee
Heartland Award for Excellence in Young Adult Literature Finalist
Horn Book Fanfare Honor List
International Board on Books for Young People Honor List
Kentucky Bluegrass Book Award Finalist
Los Angeles Times Book Award Finalist
Maryland Black-Eyed Susan Book Award in High School Category Nominee
New York Public Library Book for the Teen Age
New York Times Notable Children��s Book
Ohio Buckeye Children’s Book Award Nominee
Parents’ Guide to Children��s Media Outstanding Achievement in Books Honor
Publishers Weekly 100 Best Books of the Year
Riverbank Review Children’s Book of Distinction
Texas Tayshas Reading List
Wyoming Soaring Eagle Award Nominee

At Her Majesty��s Request: An African Princess in Victorian England (1999)

National Council of Teachers of English Orbis Pictus Honor Book Award for Outstanding Non-fiction
American Bookseller Pick of the List
Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books Blue Ribbon Book
Children’s Book Council��s “Not Just For Children Anymore!” Choice Book
National Council for Social Studies/Children’s Book Council “Notable Children’s Trade Book in the Field of Social Studies��
New York Public Library 100 Titles for Reading and Sharing

Slam (1998)

Coretta Scott King Author Award Honor Book
American Library Association Best Book for Young Adults
American Library Association Quick Pick for Reluctant Young Adult Readers
International Reading Association Youth Choice
M. Jerry Weiss Book Award
New York Public Library Book for the Teen Age
Parents’ Choice Award
South Carolina Young Adult Book Award

Harlem (1997)

Caldecott Award Honor Book
Coretta Scott King Illustrator Award Honor Book
Boston Globe/Horn Book Award Honor Book
Children��s Book Council’s “Not Just For Children Anymore!” Choice Book

Toussaint L’Overture: The Fight for Haiti’s Freedom (1996)

American Library Association Notable Children��s Book

One More River to Cross (1996)

American Library Association Best Book for Young Adults
Golden Kite Award Honor Book for Nonfiction (SCBWI)
National Council for Social Studies/Children’s Book Council “Notable Children’s Trade Book in the Field of Social Studies”
New York Public Library Book for the Teen Age
Parents’ Choice Recommended Winner

Story of the Three Kingdoms (1995)

Parents’ Choice Foundation Paperback Book Honor

The Glory Field (1994)

New York Public Library Book for the Teen Age

Brown Angels (1993)

American Library Association Notable Children’s Book
Library of Congress Children��s Book
National Council of Teachers of English Notable Children’s Book in the Language Arts
New York Public Library Book for the Teen Age
Parenting Best Books of the Year

Malcolm X: By Any Means Necessary (1993)

Coretta Scott King Author Award Honor Book
American Library Association Best Book for Young Adults
American Library Association Notable Children’s Book
Horn Book Fanfare Honor List
International Reading Association Teachers’ Choice
International Reading Association Young Adult Choice
Library of Congress Children’s Book
National Council for Social Studies/Children’s Book Council “Notable Children��s Trade Book in the Field of Social Studies”
New York Public Library Book for the Teen Age

Somewhere in the Darkness (1992)

Newbery Honor Book Award
Coretta Scott King Author Award Honor Book
American Library Association Best Book for Young Adults
American Library Association Notable Children��s Book
American Library Association Quick Pick for Reluctant Young Adult Readers
Boston Globe/Horn Book Award Honor Book
Booklist Editor’s Choice Selection
Horn Book Fanfare Honor List
New York Public Library Book for the Teen Age
School Library Journal Best Book of the Year

The Righteous Revenge of Artemis Bonner (1992)

American Library Association Best Book for Young Adults
Library of Congress Children��s Book
New York Public Library Book for the Teen Age
Parents’ Choice Award

Now Is Your Time!: The African-American Struggle for Freedom (1991)

Coretta Scott King Author Award Honor Book
American Library Association Best Book for Young Adults
American Library Association Notable Children’s Book
National Council of Teachers of English Orbis Pictus Honor Book Award for Outstanding Non-fiction
Golden Kite Award Honor Book for Nonfiction (SCBWI)
Horn Book Fanfare Honor List
Jane Addams Peace Association Children��s Book Award Honor Book
Library of Congress Children’s Book
National Council of Social Studies Carter G. Woodson Book Award Outstanding Merit Book
New York Public Library Book for the Teen Age

The Mouse Rap (1990)

American Library Association Best Book for Young Adults
Library of Congress Children’s Book
New York Public Library Book for the Teen Age
Parents’ Choice Award
Parenting, Reaidng Magic Award Honorable Mention

Scorpions (1988)

Newbery Honor Book Award
American Library Association Best Book for Young Adults
American Library Association Notable Children’s Book
American Library Association Quick Pick for Reluctant Young Adult Readers
American Library Association Best of the Best Book (YA)
American Library Association: The USA Through Children��s Books
International Reading Association/Children’s Book Council Young Adult Choice
Judy Lopez Memorial Award, Honorable Mention
Library of Congress Children’s Books
New York Public Library Book for the Teen Age

Me, Mop, and the Moondance Kid (1988)

American Library Association Best Book for Young Adults

Fallen Angels (1988)

Coretta Scott King Author Award Book
American Library Association Best Book for Young Adults
American Library Association Quick Pick for Reluctant Young Adult Readers
ABC Choice
Booklist Editor’s Choice Selection
Horn Book Fanfare Honor List
International Reading Association/Children’s Book Council Young Adult Choice
National Council for Social Studies/Children’s Book Council “Notable Children’s Trade Book in the Field of Social Studies”
New York Charlotte Award
Parents’ Choice Award
School Library Journal Best Book of the Year
South Carolina Young Adult Book Award

Crystal (1987)

Parents’ Choice Award

Motown and Didi (1984)

Coretta Scott King Author Award Honor Book

The Outside Shot (1984)

Parents’ Choice Award

Tales of a Dead King (1983)

New Jersey Institute of Technology Author Award

Won’t Know Til I Get There (1982)

Parents’ Choice Award

Legend of Tarik (1981)

American Library Association Best Book for Young Adults
National Council for Social Studies/Children’s Book Council “Notable Children’s Trade Book in the Field of Social Studies”