TheGold Shelf

History and real people books for teens

173 award-winning books for teens. True stories, biographies and novels set in the past.

Babies and toddlers0–2Ages 3 to 53–5Ages 6 to 86–8Ages 9 to 129–12TeensTeen
Animals14Adventure102Fantasy and magic85Funny books11Family61Friendship37History and real people173Folktales and fairy tales19Poetry and rhyme26Feelings and big moments111

173 books, the first 120 shown

Cover of Box: Henry Brown Mails Himself to FreedomHonor2021Box: Henry Brown Mails Himself to FreedomCarole Boston Weatherford2021 Newbery Medal Honor BookCover of Catherine's WarHonor2021Catherine's WarJulia Billet2021 Batchelder Award Honor BookCover of Where the World EndsWinner2018Where the World EndsGeraldine McCaughrean2018 Carnegie Medal for Writing winnerCover of Salt to the SeaWinner2017Salt to the SeaRuta Sepetys2017 Carnegie Medal for Writing winnerCover of SoonWinner2016SoonMorris Gleitzman2016 CBCA Book of the Year: Younger Readers winnerCover of Brown Girl DreamingHonor2015Brown Girl DreamingJacqueline Woodson2015 Newbery Medal Honor BookCover of Buffalo SoldierWinner2015Buffalo SoldierTanya Landman2015 Carnegie Medal for Writing winnerCover of The Gospel TruthWinner2015The Gospel TruthCaroline Pignat2015 Governor General's Award (text) winnerCover of The War Within These WallsHonor2014The War Within These WallsAline Sax2014 Batchelder Award Honor BookCover of A Game for Swallows: To Die, To Leave, To ReturnHonor2013A Game for Swallows: To Die, To Leave, To ReturnZeina Abirached2013 Batchelder Award Honor BookCover of Bomb: The Race to Build—and Steal—the World's Most Dangerous WeaponHonor2013Bomb: The Race to Build—and Steal—the World's Most Dangerous WeaponSteve Sheinkin2013 Newbery Medal Honor BookCover of My Family for the WarWinner2013My Family for the WarAnne C. Voorhoeve2013 Batchelder Award winnerCover of A Time of MiraclesWinner2011A Time of MiraclesAnne-Laure Bondoux2011 Batchelder Award winnerCover of Claudette Colvin: Twice Toward JusticeHonor2010Claudette Colvin: Twice Toward JusticePhillip Hoose2010 Newbery Medal Honor BookCover of Bog ChildWinner2009Bog ChildSiobhan Dowd2009 Carnegie Medal for Writing winnerCover of Greener Grass: The Famine YearsWinner2009Greener Grass: The Famine YearsCaroline Pignat2009 Governor General's Award (text) winnerCover of The Surrender Tree: Poems of Cuba's Struggle for FreedomHonor2009The Surrender Tree: Poems of Cuba's Struggle for FreedomMargarita Engle2009 Newbery Medal Honor BookCover of Requiem for a BeastWinner2008Requiem for a BeastMatt Ottley2008 CBCA Picture Book of the Year winnerCover of Hattie Big SkyHonor2007Hattie Big SkyKirby Larson2007 Newbery Medal Honor BookCover of The ArrivalWinner2007The ArrivalShaun Tan2007 CBCA Picture Book of the Year winnerCover of An Innocent SoldierWinner2006An Innocent SoldierJosef Holub2006 Batchelder Award winnerCover of Hitler Youth: Growing Up in Hitler's ShadowHonor2006Hitler Youth: Growing Up in Hitler's ShadowSusan Campbell Bartoletti2006 Newbery Medal Honor BookCover of Scarecrow Army: The ANZACS at GallipoliWinner2006Scarecrow Army: The ANZACS at GallipoliLeon Davidson2006 Eve Pownall Award winnerCover of When I Was a SoldierHonor2006When I Was a SoldierValérie Zenatti2006 Batchelder Award Honor BookCover of Daniel Half Human and the Good NaziHonor2005Daniel Half Human and the Good NaziDavid Chotjewitz2005 Batchelder Award Honor BookCover of Lizzie Bright and the Buckminster BoyHonor2005Lizzie Bright and the Buckminster BoyGary D. Schmidt2005 Newbery Medal Honor BookCover of TamarWinner2005TamarMal Peet2005 Carnegie Medal for Writing winnerCover of The Shadows of GhadamesWinner2005The Shadows of GhadamesJoëlle Stolz2005 Batchelder Award winnerCover of An American Plague: The True and Terrifying Story of the Yellow Fever Epidemic of 1793Honor2004An American Plague: The True and Terrifying Story of the Yellow Fever Epidemic of 1793Jim Murphy2004 Newbery Medal Honor BookCover of A Gathering LightWinner2003A Gathering LightJennifer Donnelly2003 Carnegie Medal for Writing winnerCover of Carver: A Life in PoemsHonor2002Carver: A Life in PoemsMarilyn Nelson2002 Newbery Medal Honor BookCover of Postcards from No Man's LandWinner1999Postcards from No Man's LandAidan Chambers1999 Carnegie Medal for Writing winnerCover of Hostage to War: a True StoryHonor1998Hostage to War: a True StoryTatjana Wassiljewa1998 Batchelder Award Honor BookCover of Out of the DustWinner1998Out of the DustKaren Hesse1998 Newbery Medal winnerCover of The Hollow TreeWinner1998The Hollow TreeJanet Lunn1998 Governor General's Award (text) winnerCover of Damned Strong Love: The True Story of Willi G. And Stephan K.Honor1996Damned Strong Love: The True Story of Willi G. And Stephan K.Lutz van Dijk1996 Batchelder Award Honor BookCover of Pagan's VowsWinner1996Pagan's VowsCatherine Jinks1996 CBCA Book of the Year: Older Readers winnerCover of The Lady with the HatWinner1996The Lady with the HatUri Orlev1996 Batchelder Award winnerCover of Catherine, Called BirdyHonor1995Catherine, Called BirdyKaren Cushman1995 Newbery Medal Honor BookCover of The Boys from St. PetriWinner1995The Boys from St. PetriBjarne Reuter1995 Batchelder Award winnerCover of Anne Frank Beyond the Diary: A Photographic RemembranceHonor1994Anne Frank Beyond the Diary: A Photographic RemembranceRuud van der Rol and Rian Verhoeven1994 Batchelder Award Honor BookCover of Dragon's GateHonor1994Dragon's GateLaurence Yep1994 Newbery Medal Honor BookCover of The Man from the Other SideWinner1992The Man from the Other SideUri Orlev1992 Batchelder Award winnerCover of Strange ObjectsWinner1991Strange ObjectsGary Crew1991 CBCA Book of the Year: Older Readers winnerCover of CrutchesWinner1989CrutchesPeter Härtling1989 Batchelder Award winnerCover of No Hero for the KaiserWinner1987No Hero for the KaiserRudolph Frank1987 Batchelder Award winnerCover of SweetgrassWinner1984SweetgrassJan Hudson1984 Governor General's Award (text) winnerCover of The Battle HorseWinner1982The Battle HorseHarry Kullman1982 Batchelder Award winnerCover of Upon the Head of the Goat: A Childhood in Hungary 1939–1944Honor1982Upon the Head of the Goat: A Childhood in Hungary 1939–1944Aranka Siegal1982 Newbery Medal Honor BookCover of Playing Beatie BowWinner1981Playing Beatie BowRuth Park1981 CBCA Book of the Year: Older Readers winnerCover of The Winter When Time Was FrozenWinner1981The Winter When Time Was FrozenEls Pelgrom1981 Batchelder Award winnerCover of The Road from HomeHonor1980The Road from HomeDavid Kherdian1980 Newbery Medal Honor BookCover of Roll of Thunder, Hear My CryWinner1977Roll of Thunder, Hear My CryMildred D. Taylor1977 Newbery Medal winnerCover of Fly WestWinner1976Fly WestIvan Southall1976 CBCA Book of the Year: Older Readers winnerCover of An Old Tale Carved Out of StoneWinner1975An Old Tale Carved Out of StoneA. Linevskii1975 Batchelder Award winnerCover of My Brother Sam Is DeadHonor1975My Brother Sam Is DeadJames Lincoln Collier & Christopher Collier1975 Newbery Medal Honor BookCover of The Machine GunnersWinner1975The Machine GunnersRobert Westall1975 Carnegie Medal for Writing winnerCover of The Slave DancerWinner1974The Slave DancerPaula Fox1974 Newbery Medal winnerCover of The StrongholdWinner1974The StrongholdMollie Hunter1974 Carnegie Medal for Writing winnerCover of FriedrichWinner1972FriedrichHans Peter Richter1972 Batchelder Award winnerCover of The Many Ways of Seeing: An Introduction to the Pleasures of ArtHonor1970The Many Ways of Seeing: An Introduction to the Pleasures of ArtJanet Gaylord Moore1970 Newbery Medal Honor BookCover of The Edge of the CloudWinner1969The Edge of the CloudK. M. Peyton1969 Carnegie Medal for Writing winnerCover of To Be a SlaveHonor1969To Be a SlaveJulius Lester1969 Newbery Medal Honor BookCover of The King's FifthHonor1967The King's FifthScott O'Dell1967 Newbery Medal Honor BookCover of I, Juan de ParejaWinner1966I, Juan de ParejaElizabeth Borton de Treviño1966 Newbery Medal winnerCover of Across Five AprilsHonor1965Across Five AprilsIrene Hunt1965 Newbery Medal Honor BookCover of Men of AthensHonor1963Men of AthensOlivia Coolidge1963 Newbery Medal Honor BookCover of Time of TrialWinner1963Time of TrialHester Burton1963 Carnegie Medal for Writing winnerCover of The Bronze BowWinner1962The Bronze BowElizabeth George Speare1962 Newbery Medal winnerCover of The Lantern BearersWinner1959The Lantern BearersRosemary Sutcliff1959 Carnegie Medal for Writing winnerCover of The Witch of Blackbird PondWinner1959The Witch of Blackbird PondElizabeth George Speare1959 Newbery Medal winnerCover of Rifles for WatieWinner1958Rifles for WatieHarold Keith1958 Newbery Medal winnerCover of Tom Paine: Freedom's ApostleHonor1958Tom Paine: Freedom's ApostleLeo Gurko1958 Newbery Medal Honor BookCover of Mr. Justice HolmesHonor1957Mr. Justice HolmesClara Ingram Judson1957 Newbery Medal Honor BookCover of Knight CrusaderWinner1954Knight CrusaderRonald Welch1954 Carnegie Medal for Writing winnerCover of The Nor'westersWinner1954The Nor'westersMarjorie Wilkins Campbell1954 Governor General's Award (text) winnerCover of Moccasin TrailHonor1953Moccasin TrailEloise Jarvis McGraw1953 Newbery Medal Honor BookCover of Rebels Ride at NightWinner1953Rebels Ride at NightJohn F. Hayes1953 Governor General's Award (text) winnerCover of A Land DividedWinner1951A Land DividedJohn F. Hayes1951 Governor General's Award (text) winnerCover of Gandhi, Fighter Without a SwordHonor1951Gandhi, Fighter Without a SwordJeanette Eaton1951 Newbery Medal Honor BookCover of Whalers of the Midnight SunWinner1950Whalers of the Midnight SunAlan J. Villiers1950 CBCA Book of the Year: Older Readers winnerCover of Franklin of the ArcticWinner1949Franklin of the ArcticRichard S. Lambert1949 Governor General's Award (text) winnerCover of The Moved-OutersHonor1946The Moved-OutersFlorence Crannell Means1946 Newbery Medal Honor BookCover of Lone Journey: The Life of Roger WilliamsHonor1945Lone Journey: The Life of Roger WilliamsJeanette Eaton1945 Newbery Medal Honor BookCover of The Silver PencilHonor1945The Silver PencilAlice Dalgliesh1945 Newbery Medal Honor BookCover of Johnny TremainWinner1944Johnny TremainEsther Forbes1944 Newbery Medal winnerCover of Leader By Destiny: George Washington, Man and PatriotHonor1939Leader By Destiny: George Washington, Man and PatriotJeanette Eaton1939 Newbery Medal Honor BookCover of PennHonor1939PennElizabeth Gray Vining1939 Newbery Medal Honor BookCover of Pageant of Chinese HistoryHonor1935Pageant of Chinese HistoryElizabeth Seeger1935 Newbery Medal Honor BookCover of The Railroad to Freedom: A Story of the Civil WarHonor1933The Railroad to Freedom: A Story of the Civil WarHildegarde Swift1933 Newbery Medal Honor BookCover of A Daughter of the Seine: The Life of Madame RolandHonor1930A Daughter of the Seine: The Life of Madame RolandJeanette Eaton1930 Newbery Medal Honor BookCover of The Story of MankindWinner1922The Story of MankindHendrik Willem van Loon1922 Newbery Medal winnerStill Alive, Notes from Australia's Immigration Detention SystemSafdar AhmedWinner2022Still Alive, Notes from Australia's Immigration Detention SystemSafdar Ahmed2022 Eve Pownall Award winnerSon of a GunAnne de GraafHonor2013Son of a GunAnne de Graaf2013 Batchelder Award Honor BookRun, Boy, RunUri OrlevWinner2004Run, Boy, RunUri Orlev2004 Batchelder Award winnerThanks to My MotherSchoschana RabinoviciWinner1999Thanks to My MotherSchoschana Rabinovici1999 Batchelder Award winnerEleanor Roosevelt: A Life of DiscoveryRussell FreedmanHonor1994Eleanor Roosevelt: A Life of DiscoveryRussell Freedman1994 Newbery Medal Honor BookA Hand Full of StarsRafik SchamiWinner1991A Hand Full of StarsRafik Schami1991 Batchelder Award winnerThe Island on Bird StreetUri OrlevWinner1985The Island on Bird StreetUri Orlev1985 Batchelder Award winnerPetros' WarAlki ZeiWinner1974Petros' WarAlki Zei1974 Batchelder Award winnerIn the Land of Ur, the Discovery of Ancient MesopotamiaHans BaumannWinner1971In the Land of Ur, the Discovery of Ancient MesopotamiaHans Baumann1971 Batchelder Award winnerWildcat Under GlassAlki ZeiWinner1970Wildcat Under GlassAlki Zei1970 Batchelder Award winnerWhen Jays Fly to BarbmoMargaret BaldersonWinner1969When Jays Fly to BarbmoMargaret Balderson1969 CBCA Book of the Year: Older Readers winnerThe Great AdventureDonalda DickieWinner1950The Great AdventureDonalda Dickie1950 Governor General's Award (text) winnerShackleton's Argonauts: A Saga of the Antarctic IcepacksFrank HurleyWinner1948Shackleton's Argonauts: A Saga of the Antarctic IcepacksFrank Hurley1948 CBCA Book of the Year: Older Readers winnerRunner of the Mountain Tops: The Life of Louis AgassizMabel RobinsonHonor1940Runner of the Mountain Tops: The Life of Louis AgassizMabel Robinson1940 Newbery Medal Honor BookAudubonConstance RourkeHonor1937AudubonConstance Rourke1937 Newbery Medal Honor BookCover of The Door of No ReturnShortlist2024The Door of No ReturnKwame Alexander2024 Carnegie Medal for Writing shortlistedCover of As Long as the Lemon Trees GrowFinalist2023As Long as the Lemon Trees GrowZoulfa Katouh2023 Governor General's Award (text) finalistCover of I Must Betray YouShortlist2023I Must Betray YouRuta Sepetys2023 Carnegie Medal for Writing shortlistedCover of Cane WarriorsShortlist2022Cane WarriorsAlex Wheatle2022 Carnegie Medal for Writing shortlistedCover of The Fountains of SilenceShortlist2021The Fountains of SilenceRuta Sepetys2021 Carnegie Medal for Writing shortlistedCover of A Skinful of ShadowsShortlist2019A Skinful of ShadowsFrances Hardinge2019 Carnegie Medal for Writing shortlistedCover of Bone TalkShortlist2019Bone TalkCandy Gourlay2019 Carnegie Medal for Writing shortlistedCover of Things a Bright Girl Can DoShortlist2019Things a Bright Girl Can DoSally Nicholls2019 Carnegie Medal for Writing shortlistedCover of BeckShortlist2017BeckMal Peet and Meg Rosoff2017 Carnegie Medal for Writing shortlistedCover of Lies We Tell OurselvesShortlist2016Lies We Tell OurselvesRobin Talley2016 Carnegie Medal for Writing shortlistedCover of Once, in a Town Called MothFinalist2016Once, in a Town Called MothTrilby Kent2016 Governor General's Award (text) finalistCover of The Emperor of Any PlaceFinalist2016The Emperor of Any PlaceTim Wynne-Jones2016 Governor General's Award (text) finalistCover of The Lie TreeShortlist2016The Lie TreeFrances Hardinge2016 Carnegie Medal for Writing shortlisted

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