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 (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 Parent’s Choice Award Winner
- 2010 Book Links Lasting Connections
Riot
- 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
- 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 145th 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, 1st 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
145th 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’ 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, Reading 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”
Hoops (1981)
- American Library Association Best Book for Young Adults
- Edgar Allan Poe Award Nominee
The Young Landlords (1979)
- Coretta Scott King Author Award Honor Book
- American Library Association Best Book for Young Adults
- American Library Association Notable Children’s Book
It Ain’t All for Nothin’(1978)
- American Library Association Best Book for Young Adults
- American Library Association Notable Children’s Book
Fast Sam, Cool Clyde, and Stuff (1975)
- Coretta Scott King Author Award Honor Book
- American Library Association Notable Children’s Book
The Dancers (1972)
- Child Study Association of America’s Children’s Books of the Year
Where Does the Day Go? (1969)
- Council on Interracial Books for Children Award