Awards, Honors & Accolades

Quick Links:

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 

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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)

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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 (2002)

  • 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

  • Massachusetts Book Award Finalist:

    • Nicked (2024)

    • 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)

  • New England Book Award Finalist:

    • Elf Dog & Owl Head (2023)

  • Vermont Book Award Finalist:

    • Nicked (2024)

    • Elf Dog & Owl Head (2023)

  • Vermont Green Mountain Book Award Master List:

    • Symphony for the City of the Dead: Dmitri Shostakovich and the Siege of Leningrad (2016)

  • Tennessee State Book Award Finalist:

    • Feed (2002)

  • 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)

  • 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

  • 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)