Awards and Distinctions

Letters from a Slave Boy
Historical Fiction Society, Editors’ Choice list, May 2007 (scroll to the middle of page)
Hornbook Recommended Books, American Historical Fiction list and African-American Books list, 2007 
Booklist starred review

Ancient American World
California State Textbook Commission 2005 approved for state history curriculum

Roy Makes a Car
American Folklore Association 2005 Aesop Award
New York Public Library "100 Titles for Reading and Sharing"
Kirkus pointer review
Parent's Choice 2005 Gold Award

Feed the Children First: Irish Memories of the Great Hunger
The Children's Literature Choice List 2002
School Library Journal starred review
The Center for Children's Books: The Best Books of 2001
National Council for the Social Studies 2003 Notable Children's Trade Books for the Social Studies, Selectors' Choice

Knockabeg: A Famine Tale
Voice of Youth Advocate 2001 Best Fantasy Books

Dear Ellen Bee: A Civil War Scrapbook of Two Union Spies
Chosen by the Virginia Center for the Book to represent the state of Virginia at the 2004 National Book Festival in Washington, D.C.
Washington Independent Writers Joan Sugarman Honor Book Award.
2002 Georgia Reading Award List
School Library Journal starred review
New York Public Library One Hundred Books for Reading and Sharing
2002 Virginia Young Readers Award list

African American Artists and Artisans Series
Virginia Library Association 1995 Jefferson Cup Series Award

Talking with Tebé
Kirkus Pointer review
School Library Journal Starred review

The Poison Place
Voice of Youth Advocate 5Q review ("hard to imagine it being better written")
New York Public Library "One Hundred Titles for Reading and Sharing" 
New York Public Library "Best Books for the Teen Age"
State Reading Award Nomination: 1999 Pennsylvania Young Readers Award

Catching the Fire
National Council for the Teachers of English, 1998 Orbis Pictus Award recommended book
Booklist starred review
Booklist Editor's Choice
New York Public Library "One Hundred Titles For Reading and Sharing"
State Reading Award Nomination: 1999 South Carolina Young Readers Award

Painting Dreams
Kirkus Reviews pointer review

The Butter Tree
Child Study Children's Book Committee at Bank Street College 1995 Children's Books of the Year

Keeping Secrets
National Council for the Social Studies Notable Children's Trade Book for the Social Studies
School Library Journal starred review
Child Study Children's Book Committee at Bank Street College 1995 Children's Books of the Year

Master of Mahogany
National Council for the Social Studies Carter G. Woodson Elementary Merit Book Award
Booklist starred review
Booklist Editor's Choice
School Library Journal starred review
National Council for the Social Studies Notable Children's Trade Book for the Social Studies

Deep Blues
New York Public Library Best Book for the Teen Age
National Council for the Social Studies Notable Children's Trade Book for the Social Studies

Starting Home
National Council for the Social Studies Carter G. Woodson Elementary Book Award
American Library Association Notable Book for Children
National Council for the Social Studies Notable Children's Trade Book for the Social Studies

Stitching Stars
National Council for the Social Studies Notable Children's Trade Book for the Social Studies

Letters from a Slave Girl
American Library Association 2003 Popular Paperbacks for Young Adults
Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators Golden Kite Award
Jane Addams Peace Association Honor Book Award
Parent's Choice Notable Book
American Library Association Notable Book for Children
American Library Association Best Book for Young Adults
The Horn Book Magazine Fanfare Book
State Reading Award nominations:
Iowa Young Reader's Choice
Pennsylvania Young Reader's Choice
Wyoming Indian Paint Brush Award
North Carolina Battle of the Books
Virginia Young Readers Award
Georgia State Reading Award

Raw Head, Bloody Bones
National Council for the Social Studies Notable Children's Trade Book for the Social Studies

Sorrow's Kitchen
National Council for the Social Studies Carter G. Woodson Secondary Book Award
Washington Independent Writers Joan Sugarman Award, Honorable Mention
Florida Historical Association Charlton W. Tebeau Award
The Society of School Librarians International Outstanding Social Studies Book Award
American Library Association Recommended Books for Reluctant Young Adult Readers
American Library Association Best Books for Young Adult
International Reading Association Teacher's Choice
New York Public Library Best Books for the Teen Age Reader
The Horn Book Magazine Fanfare Book
Virginia Young Readers' Award master list

FELLOWSHIPS
National Endowment for the Humanities: 1991 Virginia Teacher/Scholar Award
Virginia Foundation for the Humanities: Summer 1991; Spring 1994, Fall 1995, Spring 1999