| 2022 | Yonder | Booklist Editors' Choice source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Adult Books: Fiction | |
| 2022 | Yonder: A Novel | Chicago Public Library Best of the Best source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Best Books | |
| 2022 | Yonder: A Novel | NPR Books We Love source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Books We Love | |
| 2022 | Yonder | Kirkus Best Books of the Year source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Fiction | |
| 2022 | Yonder | New York Times 100 Notable Books source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Fiction & Poetry | |
| 2022 | Yonder | Washington Post Best Books of the Year source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Notable Fiction | |
| 2019 | We Can’t Breathe: On Black Lives, White Lies, and the Art of Survival | PEN America Literary Awards source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Finalist · PEN/Diamonstein-Spielvogel Award for the Art of the Essay | |
| 2016 | Preaching to the Chickens | Kirkus Best Books of the Year source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Picture Books | |
| 2015 | Only The Strong | NPR Books We Love source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Books We Love | |
| 2012 | Fifty Cents and A Dream: Young Booker T. Washington | Chicago Public Library Best of the Best source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Best Informational Books for Younger Readers | |
| 2012 | Fifty Cents and a Dream | Kirkus Best Books of the Year source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Children's | |
| 2012 | Fifty Cents and a Dream: Young Booker T. Washington | School Library Journal Best Books of the Year source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Nonfiction | |
| 2008 | The N Word: Who Can Say It, Who Shouldn’t, and Why | Hurston/Wright Legacy Award source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Finalist · Nonfiction | |
| 2007 | The N Word | Washington Post Best Books of the Year source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Notable Nonfiction | |