| 2017 | Writing Radar: Using your Journal to Snoop Out and Craft Great Stories | Chicago Public Library Best of the Best source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Best Informational Books for Older Readers | |
| 2015 | The Trouble in Me | School Library Journal Best Books of the Year source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Young Adult | |
| 2014 | The Key That Swallowed Joey Pigza | Kirkus Prize source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Finalist · Young Readers' Literature | |
| 2014 | The Key That Swallowed Joey Pigza | Booklist Editors' Choice source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Books for Youth: Fiction, Middle Readers | |
| 2014 | The Key That Swallowed Joey Pigza | Horn Book Fanfare source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Fiction | |
| 2014 | The Key That Swallowed Joey Pigza | Kirkus Best Books of the Year source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Middle Grade | |
| 2013 | From Norvelt to Nowhere | Publishers Weekly Best Books source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Children's Fiction | |
| 2012 | Dead End in Norvelt | John Newbery Medal source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Winner · Children's Literature | |
| 2012 | Dead End in Norvelt | Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Winner · Historical Fiction | |
| 2011 | Dead End in Norvelt | Chicago Public Library Best of the Best source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Best Fiction for Older Readers | |
| 2011 | Dead End in Norvelt | Kirkus Best Books of the Year source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Children's | |
| 2011 | Dead End in Norvelt | Publishers Weekly Best Books source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Children's Fiction | |
| 2011 | Dead End in Norvelt | Horn Book Fanfare source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Fiction | |
| 2011 | Dead End in Norvelt | BookPage Best Books of the Year source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Middle Grade | |
| 2007 | I Am Not Joey Pigza | School Library Journal Best Books of the Year source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Best Books | |