| 2024 | The Secret Library | Chicago Public Library Best of the Best source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Best Fiction for Older Readers | |
| 2023 | Chester Keene Cracks the Code | Edgar Allan Poe Awards source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Nominee · Best Juvenile | |
| 2023 | Ketanji: Justice Jackson's Journey to the U.S. Supreme Court | Chicago Public Library Best of the Best source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Best Informational Books for Younger Readers | |
| 2022 | Revolution in Our Time: The Black Panther Party's Promise to the People | Coretta Scott King Book Awards source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Honor · Author | |
| 2022 | Revolution in Our Time: The Black Panther Party's Promise to the People | Michael L. Printz Award source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Honor · Young Adult Literature | |
| 2022 | Chester Keene Cracks the Code | School Library Journal Best Books of the Year source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Middle Grade | |
| 2021 | Revolution in Our Time: The Black Panther Party’s Promise to the People | Los Angeles Times Book Prizes source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Finalist · Young Adult Literature | |
| 2021 | Revolution in Our Time: The Black Panther Party’s Promise to the People | National Book Awards source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Finalist · Young People's Literature | |
| 2021 | Revolution in Our Time | New York Public Library Best Books source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Best Books for Teens | |
| 2021 | Revolution in Our Time: The Black Panther Party’s Promise to the People | NPR Books We Love source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Books We Love | |
| 2021 | Revolution in Our Time: The Black Panther Party’s Promise to the People | Horn Book Fanfare source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Nonfiction | |
| 2021 | Revolution in Our Time: The Black Panther Party’s Promise to the People | School Library Journal Best Books of the Year source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Nonfiction | |
| 2021 | The Highest Tribute: Thurgood Marshall’s Life, Leadership, and Legacy | School Library Journal Best Books of the Year source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Nonfiction | |
| 2021 | Revolution in Our Time | Kirkus Best Books of the Year source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Teen | |
| 2021 | Revolution in Our Time: The Black Panther Party's Promise to the People | Publishers Weekly Best Books source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Young Adult | |
| 2019 | The Season of Styx Malone | Boston Globe–Horn Book Awards source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Winner · Fiction and Poetry | |
| 2019 | The Season of Styx Malone | Coretta Scott King Book Awards source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Honor · Author | |
| 2019 | Light It up | Chicago Public Library Best of the Best source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Best Teen Fiction | |
| 2019 | Light It Up | Kirkus Best Books of the Year source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Teen | |
| 2019 | Light It Up | School Library Journal Best Books of the Year source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Young Adult | |
| 2018 | The Season Of Styx Malone | NPR Books We Love source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Books We Love | |
| 2018 | The Season of Styx Malone | Horn Book Fanfare source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Fiction | |
| 2018 | The Season of Styx Malone | Kirkus Best Books of the Year source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Middle Grade | |
| 2018 | The Season of Styx Malone | School Library Journal Best Books of the Year source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Middle Grade | |
| 2016 | X: A Novel | Coretta Scott King Book Awards source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Honor · Author | |
| 2015 | How It Went Down | Coretta Scott King Book Awards source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Honor · Author | |
| 2015 | X: A Novel | National Book Awards source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Longlist · Young People's Literature | |
| 2015 | X | Booklist Editors' Choice source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Books for Youth: Fiction, Older Readers | |
| 2015 | X: A Novel | Publishers Weekly Best Books source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Young Adult | |
| 2014 | How It Went Down | New York Public Library Best Books source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Best Books for Teens | |
| 2014 | How It Went Down | Kirkus Best Books of the Year source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Teen | |
| 2014 | How It Went Down | BookPage Best Books of the Year source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Young Adult | |
| 2012 | Fire in the Streets | Booklist Editors' Choice source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Books for Youth: Fiction, Older Readers | |
| 2012 | Fire in the Streets | Kirkus Best Books of the Year source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Teen | |
| 2011 | Camo Girl | Chicago Public Library Best of the Best source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Best Fiction for Older Readers | |
| 2011 | Camo Girl | Kirkus Best Books of the Year source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Children's | |
| 2010 | The Rock and the River | Coretta Scott King Book Awards source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Winner · John Steptoe New Talent | |
| 2009 | The Rock and the River | Chicago Public Library Best of the Best source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Best Fiction for Older Readers | |