Awards, Honors & Accolades
Best of All Time
NPR’s 100 Best YA Novels: Feed
Time Magazine’s Best 100 YA Books of All Time: Feed
Parade Magazine’s 222 Greatest Books of All Time: The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation, Vol. I: The Pox Party
Christian Science Monitor’s “10 Young Adult Books Worthy of Adult Readers” (#1): Symphony for the City of the Dead: Dmitri Shostakovich and the Siege of Leningrad)
Booklist 50 Best YA Books of All Time: The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation, Vol. II: The Kingdom on the Waves; The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation, Vol. I: The Pox Party
School Library Journal’s “Top 100 Must-Have YA Books”: Feed
National Awards
National Book Award Winner: The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation, Vol. I: The Pox Party (2006)
National Book Award Finalists: The Assassination of Brangwain Spurge (2018), Feed (2002)
National Book Award Longlist: Symphony for the City of the Dead: Dmitri Shostakovich and the Siege of Leningrad (2015)
Newbery Honor Medal: Elf Dog & Owl Head (2023)
Boston Globe – Horn Book Award Winner, Fiction: The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation, Vol. I: The Pox Party (2007)
Boston Globe – Horn Book Award, Honor Book, Nonfiction: Symphony for the City of the Dead: Dmitri Shostakovich and the Siege of Leningrad (2007), Handel, Who Knew What He Liked (2002)
Boston Globe – Horn Book Award, Honor Book, Fiction: The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation, Vol. II: The Kingdom on the Waves (2009), Feed (2003)
Los Angeles Times Book Prize Winner: Feed (2002)
Los Angeles Times Book Prize Finalist: The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation, Vol. I: The Pox Party (2006)
Michael L. Printz Honor Books: The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation, Vol. II: The Kingdom on the Waves (2009), The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation, Vol. I: The Pox Party (2007)
ALSC Notable Children’s Book: The Assassination of Brangwain Spurge (2019), Whales on Stilts (2006), Handel, Who Knew What He Liked (2002)
YALSA Best Fiction for Young Adults: Landscape with Invisible Hand (2018), The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation, Vol. II: The Kingdom on the Waves (2009); The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation, Vol. I: The Pox Party (2007), Feed (2003)
YALSA Award for Excellence in Nonfiction, Finalist: Symphony for the City of the Dead: Dmitri Shostakovich and the Siege of Leningrad (2016)
YALSA Outstanding Books for the College Bound, Selection: Feed (2004)
YALSA Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers: Landscape with Invisible Hand (2018)
YALSA Great Graphic Novels for Teens: The Daughters of Ys (2021)
National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) Notable Children’s Books in the Language Arts: The Serpent Came to Gloucester (2006)
National Council for the Social Studies (NCSS) Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People: Symphony for the City of the Dead: Dmitri Shostakovich and the Siege of Leningrad (2016), Handel, Who Knew What He Liked (2002)
American Booksellers Association Indies Choice Honor Award: Symphony for the City of the Dead: Dmitri Shostakovich and the Siege of Leningrad (2016), Feed (2003)
Cybils Award, Young Adult: The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation, Vol. II: The Kingdom on the Waves (2008)
Gustavus Myers Center for the Study of Bigotry and Human Rights Outstanding Book Awards, Honorable Mention: The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation, Vol. I: The Pox Party (2006)
Parents’ Choice Awards Silver Honor: The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation, Vol. II: The Kingdom on the Waves (2006)
Body of Work
Margaret A. Edwards Award for Lasting Contribution to Young Adult Literature (2019)
St. Botolph Foundation Distinguished Artist Award (2009)
Best Books of the Year
NPR’s Best Books of the Year: The Assassination of Brangwain Spurge (2018), Symphony for the City of the Dead: Dmitri Shostakovich and the Siege of Leningrad (2015)
New York Times Notable Books of the Year: The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation, Vol. II: The Kingdom on the Waves (2008), The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation, Vol. I: The Pox Party (2006), Feed (2002)
Wall Street Journal Best Book of the Year: Landscape with Invisible Hand (2017), Symphony for the City of the Dead: Dmitri Shostakovich and the Siege of Leningrad (2015)
People Magazine Best Book of the Year: The Assassination of Brangwain Spurge (2018)
U.S. News and World Report “Top 10 Children’ Books”: Strange Mr. Satie (2003)
Boston Globe Best Book of the Year: The Assassination of Brangwain Spurge; Landscape with Invisible Hand (2018)
Amazon.com Best Books of the Year: Landscape with Invisible Hand (2017), The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation, Vol. II: The Kingdom on the Waves (2008), The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation, Vol. I: The Pox Party (2006)
Barnes & Noble Best Young Adult Books of the Year: Landscape with Invisible Hand (2017)
Bank Street College Best Children’s Book of the Year: Symphony for the City of the Dead: Dmitri Shostakovich and the Siege of Leningrad (2015), Strange Mr. Satie (2003)
BookPage Best Children's Book of the Year: The Assassination of Brangwain Spurge (2018)
Booklist Editor’s Choice: The Assassination of Brangwain Spurge (2018), Landscape with Invisible Hand (2017), The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation, Vol. II: The Kingdom on the Waves (2008), The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation, Vol. I: The Pox Party (2006)
Book Sense Children’s Pick: Me All Alone at the End of the World (2005), Feed (2002)
Book Sense Book of the Year Honor Book: The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation, Vol. I: The Pox Party (2006)
Horn Book Fanfare: The Assassination of Brangwain Spurge (2018), The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation, Vol. II: The Kingdom on the Waves (2008), The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation, Vol. I: The Pox Party (2006), Strange Mr. Satie (2003), Feed (2002), Handel, Who Knew What He Liked (2001)
Kirkus Reviews Best Book of the Year: The Assassination of Brangwain Spurge (2018), Yvain: The Knight of the Lion (2017), Landscape with Invisible Hand (2017), The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation, Vol. II: The Kingdom on the Waves (2008)
Kirkus Reviews Editors’ Choice: The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation, Vol. I: The Pox Party (2006), Me All Alone at the End Of World (2005)
Publishers Weekly Best Book of the Year: The Assassination of Brangwain Spurge (2018), Landscape with Invisible Hand (2017), The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation, Vol. II: The Kingdom on the Waves (2008), The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation, Vol. I: The Pox Party (2006), Whales on Stilts (2005), Feed (2002)
Publishers Weekly Cuffie Award: The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation, Vol. I: The Pox Party (2006)
School Library Journal Best Book of the Year: Landscape with Invisible Hand (2017), The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation, Vol. I: The Pox Party (2006)
Shelf Awareness Best Children’s and Teen Books of the Year: Landscape with Invisible Hand (2017)
National Lists
Oprah’s 2012 Kids Reading List: (Feed)
Indie Next List: Symphony for the City of the Dead: Dmitri Shostakovich and the Siege of Leningrad (2015), The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation, Vol. II: The Kingdom on the Waves (2008)
Booklist Top 10 Sci-Fi, Fantasy, and Horror Books for the Young: Landscape with Invisible Hand (2017)
Booklist Top 10 Arts Books for Youth: Landscape with Invisible Hand (2017)
Booklist Top 10 Historical Fiction for Youth: The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation, Vol. I: The Pox Party (2006)
Booklist Top 10 Black History Books for Youth: The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation, Vol. I: The Pox Party (2006)
State Awards
Association of Indiana School Library Educators Read-Aloud Books Too Good to Miss: Me All Alone at the End of World (2006)
Delaware Diamonds Booklist, High School: The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation, Vol. II: The Kingdom on the Waves (2007)
Judy Lopez Award for Children’s Literature (California): The Assassination of Brangwain Spurge (2019)
Julia Ward Howe Young Readers Award (Massachusetts): Symphony for the City of the Dead: Dmitri Shostakovich and the Siege of Leningrad (2016), The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation, Vol. I: The Pox Party (2007)
Kentucky Bluegrass Award: Handel, Who Knew What He Liked (2003), Burger Wuss (2000)
New Jersey Library Association Garden State Teen Book Award: Landscape with Invisible Hand (2018)
Oklahoma Sequoyah Children’s Book Award Nominee: The Assassination of Brangwain Spurge (2019)
Tennessee Volunteer State Book Award: The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation, Vol. I: The Pox Party (2007)
Tennessee State Book Award Finalist: Feed (2003)
Texas Tayshas High School Reading List (Landscape with Invisible Hand (2018), Symphony for the City of the Dead: Dmitri Shostakovich and the Siege of Leningrad (2016)
Texas Topaz Nonfiction Reading List: Symphony for the City of the Dead: Dmitri Shostakovich and the Siege of Leningrad (2016)
TriState Young Adult Review Group Books of Note: Symphony for the City of the Dead: Dmitri Shostakovich and the Siege of Leningrad (2016)
Vermont Golden Dome Award/Dorothy Canfield Fisher Children's Book Award, Nomination: The Clue of the Linoleum Lederhosen (2006)
Vermont Green Mountain Book Award Master List: Symphony for the City of the Dead: Dmitri Shostakovich and the Siege of Leningrad (2016)