| 2025 | How the Word Is Passed (Adapted for Young Readers) | New York Public Library Best Books source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Best Books for Kids | |
| 2025 | How the Word Is Passed: Remembering Slavery and How It Shaped America | Chicago Public Library Best of the Best source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Best Informational Books for Older Readers | |
| 2025 | How the Word Is Passed (Adapted for Young Readers): Remembering Slavery and How It Shaped America | Booklist Editors' Choice source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Books for Youth: Older Nonfiction | |
| 2025 | How the Word Is Passed (Adapted for Young Readers) | Kirkus Best Books of the Year source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Middle Grade | |
| 2023 | Above Ground | TIME Best Books of the Year source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · 100 Must-Read | |
| 2023 | Above Ground | New York Public Library Best Books source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Best Books for Adults | |
| 2023 | Above Ground | NPR Books We Love source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Books We Love | |
| 2022 | How the Word Is Passed | Dayton Literary Peace Prize source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Winner · Nonfiction | |
| 2022 | How the Word Is Passed: A Reckoning with the History of Slavery Across America | PEN America Literary Awards source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Finalist · PEN/John Kenneth Galbraith Award for Nonfiction | |
| 2021 | How the Word Is Passed | National Book Critics Circle Awards source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Winner · Nonfiction | |
| 2021 | How the Word Is Passed: A Reckoning with the History of Slavery Across America | National Book Awards source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Longlist · Nonfiction | |
| 2021 | How the Word Is Passed | Goodreads Choice Awards source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Nominee · History & Biography | |
| 2021 | How the Word Is Passed | TIME Best Books of the Year source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · 100 Must-Read | |
| 2021 | How the Word Is Passed | Esquire Best Books of the Year source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Best Books | |
| 2021 | How the Word Is Passed: A Reckoning With the History of Slavery Across America | Chicago Public Library Best of the Best source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Best Books | |
| 2021 | How the Word Is Passed | New York Public Library Best Books source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Best Books for Adults | |
| 2021 | How the Word Is Passed | Barack Obama's Favorite Books source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Favorite Books | |
| 2021 | How the Word Is Passed | The Boston Globe Best Books of the Year source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Nonfiction | |
| 2021 | How the Word Is Passed | New York Times 10 Best Books of the Year source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Nonfiction | |
| 2021 | How the Word Is Passed | New York Times 100 Notable Books source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Nonfiction | |
| 2021 | How the Word Is Passed: A Reckoning with the History of Slavery Across America | Publishers Weekly Best Books source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Nonfiction | |
| 2021 | How the Word Is Passed | BookPage Best Books of the Year source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Nonfiction | |
| 2021 | How the Word Is Passed | TIME Best Books of the Year source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Nonfiction | |
| 2021 | How the Word Is Passed: A Reckoning With the History of Slavery Across America | Washington Post Best Books of the Year source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Notable Nonfiction | |
| 2021 | How the Word is Passed | The Economist Books of the Year source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Politics and current affairs | |
| 2021 | How the Word Is Passed: A Reckoning with the History of Slavery Across America | Library Journal Best Books source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Social Sciences | |
| 2021 | How the Word Is Passed: A Reckoning with the History of Slavery Across America | Amazon Editors' Best Books of the Year source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Top 10 | |