TheGold Shelf

History and real people books for ages 9 to 12

398 award-winning books for ages 9 to 12. 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
Animals112Adventure205Fantasy and magic203Funny books85Family182Friendship87History and real people398Nature and science57Folktales and fairy tales62Poetry and rhyme48Feelings and big moments101

398 books, the first 120 shown

Cover of The Teacher of Nomad Land: A World War II StoryHonor2026The Teacher of Nomad Land: A World War II StoryDaniel Nayeri2026 Newbery Medal Honor BookCover of Across So Many SeasHonor2025Across So Many SeasRuth Behar2025 Newbery Medal Honor BookCover of One Big Open SkyHonor2025One Big Open SkyLesa Cline-Ransome2025 Newbery Medal Honor BookCover of Choosing Brave: How Mamie Till-Mobley and Emmitt Till Sparked the Civil Rights MovementHonor2023Choosing Brave: How Mamie Till-Mobley and Emmitt Till Sparked the Civil Rights MovementJanelle Washington2023 Caldecott Medal Honor BookCover of Different: A Story of the Spanish Civil WarHonor2023Different: A Story of the Spanish Civil WarMónica Montañés2023 Batchelder Award Honor BookCover of FreewaterWinner2023FreewaterAmina Luqman-Dawson2023 Newbery Medal winnerCover of Just a Girl: A True Story of World War IIWinner2023Just a Girl: A True Story of World War IILia Levi2023 Batchelder Award winnerCover of Unspeakable: The Tulsa Race MassacreHonor2022Unspeakable: The Tulsa Race MassacreFloyd Cooper2022 Caldecott Medal Honor BookCover of All Thirteen: The Incredible Cave Rescue of the Thai Boys' Soccer TeamHonor2021All Thirteen: The Incredible Cave Rescue of the Thai Boys' Soccer TeamChristina Soontornvat2021 Newbery Medal Honor BookCover 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 The UndefeatedWinner2020The UndefeatedKwame Alexander2020 Caldecott Medal winnerCover of Young Dark Emu: A truer historyWinner2020Young Dark Emu: A truer historyBruce Pascoe2020 Eve Pownall Award winnerCover of His Name Was WalterWinner2019His Name Was WalterEmily Rodda2019 CBCA Book of the Year: Younger Readers winnerCover of The Book of BoyHonor2019The Book of BoyCatherine Gilbert Murdock2019 Newbery Medal Honor BookCover of The Night DiaryHonor2019The Night DiaryVeera Hiranandani2019 Newbery Medal Honor BookCover of Malala: Activist for Girls' EducationHonor2018Malala: Activist for Girls' EducationRaphaёle Frier2018 Batchelder Award Honor BookCover of Sweep: The Story of a Girl and Her MonsterWinner2018Sweep: The Story of a Girl and Her MonsterJonathan Auxier2018 Governor General's Award (text) winnerCover of Where the World EndsWinner2018Where the World EndsGeraldine McCaughrean2018 Carnegie Medal for Writing winnerCover of Freedom Over Me: Eleven Slaves, Their Lives and Dreams Brought to Life by Ashley BryanHonor2017Freedom Over Me: Eleven Slaves, Their Lives and Dreams Brought to Life by Ashley BryanAshley Bryan2017 Newbery Medal Honor BookCover of The Inquisitor's Tale: Or, The Three Magical Children and Their Holy DogHonor2017The Inquisitor's Tale: Or, The Three Magical Children and Their Holy DogAdam Gidwitz2017 Newbery Medal Honor BookCover of Wolf HollowHonor2017Wolf HollowLauren Wolk2017 Newbery Medal Honor BookCover of Adam and ThomasHonor2016Adam and ThomasAharon Appelfeld2016 Batchelder Award Honor BookCover of EchoHonor2016EchoPam Muñoz Ryan2016 Newbery Medal Honor BookCover of SoonWinner2016SoonMorris Gleitzman2016 CBCA Book of the Year: Younger Readers winnerCover of The War That Saved My LifeHonor2016The War That Saved My LifeKimberly Brubaker Bradley2016 Newbery Medal Honor BookCover of Voice of Freedom: Fannie Lou Hamer, Spirit of the Civil Rights MovementHonor2016Voice of Freedom: Fannie Lou Hamer, Spirit of the Civil Rights MovementEkua Holmes2016 Caldecott Medal Honor BookCover of A-Z of Convicts in Van Diemen's LandWinner2015A-Z of Convicts in Van Diemen's LandSimon Barnard2015 Eve Pownall Award winnerCover of Brown Girl DreamingHonor2015Brown Girl DreamingJacqueline Woodson2015 Newbery Medal Honor BookCover of Hidden: A Child's Story of the HolocaustHonor2015Hidden: A Child's Story of the HolocaustLoïc Dauvillier2015 Batchelder Award Honor BookCover of Shackleton's JourneyWinner2015Shackleton's JourneyWilliam Grill2015 Carnegie Medal for Illustration winnerCover of Mister OrangeWinner2014Mister OrangeTruus Matti2014 Batchelder Award winnerCover of One Came HomeHonor2014One Came HomeAmy Timberlake2014 Newbery Medal 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 Northwest PassageWinner2013Northwest PassageStan Rogers2013 Governor General's Award (illustration) winnerCover of The Children of the KingWinner2013The Children of the KingSonya Hartnett2013 CBCA Book of the Year: Younger Readers winnerCover of Breaking Stalin's NoseHonor2012Breaking Stalin's NoseEugene Yelchin2012 Newbery Medal Honor BookCover of Dead End in NorveltWinner2012Dead End in NorveltJack Gantos2012 Newbery Medal winnerCover of Inside Out & Back AgainHonor2012Inside Out & Back AgainThanhha Lai2012 Newbery Medal Honor BookCover of Soldier BearWinner2012Soldier BearBibi Dumon Tak2012 Batchelder Award winnerCover of The Lily PondHonor2012The Lily PondAnnika Thor2012 Batchelder Award Honor BookCover of From Then to Now: A Short History of the WorldWinner2011From Then to Now: A Short History of the WorldChristopher Moore2011 Governor General's Award (text) winnerCover of Heart of a SamuraiHonor2011Heart of a SamuraiMargi Preus2011 Newbery Medal Honor BookCover of Moon Over ManifestWinner2011Moon Over ManifestClare Vanderpool2011 Newbery Medal winnerCover of One Crazy SummerHonor2011One Crazy SummerRita Williams-Garcia2011 Newbery Medal Honor BookCover of The Midnight ZooWinner2011The Midnight ZooSonya Hartnett2011 CBCA Book of the Year: Older Readers winnerCover of The Return of the Word SpyWinner2011The Return of the Word SpyUrsula Dubosarsky2011 Eve Pownall Award winnerCover of Turtle in ParadiseHonor2011Turtle in ParadiseJennifer L. Holm2011 Newbery Medal Honor BookCover of A Faraway IslandWinner2010A Faraway IslandAnnika Thor2010 Batchelder Award winnerCover of Claudette Colvin: Twice Toward JusticeHonor2010Claudette Colvin: Twice Toward JusticePhillip Hoose2010 Newbery Medal Honor BookCover of The Mostly True Adventures of Homer P. FiggHonor2010The Mostly True Adventures of Homer P. FiggRodman Philbrick2010 Newbery Medal Honor BookCover of Elijah of BuxtonHonor2008Elijah of BuxtonChristopher Paul Curtis2008 Newbery Medal Honor BookCover of Good Masters! Sweet Ladies! Voices from a Medieval VillageWinner2008Good Masters! Sweet Ladies! Voices from a Medieval VillageLaura Amy Schlitz2008 Newbery Medal winnerCover of The Invention of Hugo CabretWinner2008The Invention of Hugo CabretBrian Selznick2008 Caldecott Medal winnerCover of The Wall: Growing Up Behind the Iron CurtainHonor2008The Wall: Growing Up Behind the Iron CurtainPeter Sís2008 Caldecott Medal Honor BookCover of Hattie Big SkyHonor2007Hattie Big SkyKirby Larson2007 Newbery Medal Honor BookCover of The ArrivalWinner2007The ArrivalShaun Tan2007 CBCA Picture Book of the Year winnerCover of Scarecrow Army: The ANZACS at GallipoliWinner2006Scarecrow Army: The ANZACS at GallipoliLeon Davidson2006 Eve Pownall Award winnerCover of Al Capone Does My ShirtsHonor2005Al Capone Does My ShirtsGennifer Choldenko2005 Newbery Medal Honor BookCover of Lizzie Bright and the Buckminster BoyHonor2005Lizzie Bright and the Buckminster BoyGary D. Schmidt2005 Newbery Medal Honor BookCover of The Shadows of GhadamesWinner2005The Shadows of GhadamesJoëlle Stolz2005 Batchelder Award winnerCover of The Silver DonkeyWinner2005The Silver DonkeySonya Hartnett2005 CBCA Book of the Year: Younger Readers winnerCover of The Voice That Challenged a Nation: Marian Anderson and the Struggle for Equal RightsHonor2005The Voice That Challenged a Nation: Marian Anderson and the Struggle for Equal RightsRussell Freedman2005 Newbery Medal Honor BookCover 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 The Man Who Went to the Far Side of the Moon: The Story of Apollo 11 Astronaut Michael CollinsHonor2004The Man Who Went to the Far Side of the Moon: The Story of Apollo 11 Astronaut Michael CollinsBea Uusma Schyffert2004 Batchelder Award Honor BookCover of Crispin: The Cross of LeadWinner2003Crispin: The Cross of LeadAvi2003 Newbery Medal winnerCover of A Single ShardWinner2002A Single ShardLinda Sue Park2002 Newbery Medal winnerCover of Carver: A Life in PoemsHonor2002Carver: A Life in PoemsMarilyn Nelson2002 Newbery Medal Honor BookCover of How I Became an AmericanWinner2002How I Became an AmericanKarin Gündisch2002 Batchelder Award winnerCover of Papunya School Book of Country and HistoryWinner2002Papunya School Book of Country and HistoryPapunya School Publishing Committee2002 Eve Pownall Award winnerCover of Olympia: Warrior Athletes of Ancient GreeceWinner2001Olympia: Warrior Athletes of Ancient GreeceDyan Blacklock2001 Eve Pownall Award winnerCover of Pirate Diary: The Journal of Jake CarpenterWinner2001Pirate Diary: The Journal of Jake CarpenterRichard Platt2001 Carnegie Medal for Illustration winnerCover of Bud, Not BuddyWinner2000Bud, Not BuddyChristopher Paul Curtis2000 Newbery Medal winnerCover of Fishing for Islands: Traditional Boats and Seafarers of the PacificWinner2000Fishing for Islands: Traditional Boats and Seafarers of the PacificJohn Nicholson2000 Eve Pownall Award winnerCover of Hitler's DaughterWinner2000Hitler's DaughterJackie French2000 CBCA Book of the Year: Younger Readers winnerCover of Our Only May AmeliaHonor2000Our Only May AmeliaJennifer L. Holm2000 Newbery Medal Honor BookCover of The Other Side of TruthWinner2000The Other Side of TruthBeverley Naidoo2000 Carnegie Medal for Writing winnerCover of The RabbitsWinner1999The RabbitsJohn Marsden1999 Eve Pownall Award winnerCover of Tibet: Through the Red BoxHonor1999Tibet: Through the Red BoxPeter Sís1999 Caldecott Medal Honor BookCover of A Home Among the Gum Trees: The Story of Australian HousesWinner1998A Home Among the Gum Trees: The Story of Australian HousesJohn Nicholson1998 Eve Pownall Award winnerCover of Lily's CrossingHonor1998Lily's CrossingPatricia Reilly Giff1998 Newbery Medal 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 Ghost TrainWinner1996Ghost TrainPaul Yee1996 Governor General's Award (text) winnerCover of The First Fleet: A New Beginning in an Old LandWinner1996The First Fleet: A New Beginning in an Old LandJohn Nicholson1996 Eve Pownall Award winnerCover of The Great FireHonor1996The Great FireJim Murphy1996 Newbery Medal Honor BookCover of The Midwife's ApprenticeWinner1996The Midwife's ApprenticeKaren Cushman1996 Newbery Medal winnerCover of The Watsons Go to Birmingham – 1963Honor1996The Watsons Go to Birmingham – 1963Christopher Paul Curtis1996 Newbery Medal Honor BookCover of Catherine, Called BirdyHonor1995Catherine, Called BirdyKaren Cushman1995 Newbery Medal Honor BookCover of Sister Shako and Kolo the Goat: Memories of My Childhood in TurkeyHonor1995Sister Shako and Kolo the Goat: Memories of My Childhood in TurkeyVedat Dalokay1995 Batchelder Award Honor BookCover 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 ApprenticeWinner1994The ApprenticePilar Molina Llorente1994 Batchelder Award winnerCover of The Bamboo FluteWinner1993The Bamboo FluteGarry Disher1993 CBCA Book of the Year: Younger Readers winnerCover of The Man from the Other SideWinner1992The Man from the Other SideUri Orlev1992 Batchelder Award winnerCover of The Wright Brothers: How They Invented the AirplaneHonor1992The Wright Brothers: How They Invented the AirplaneRussell Freedman1992 Newbery Medal Honor BookCover of The True Confessions of Charlotte DoyleHonor1991The True Confessions of Charlotte DoyleAvi1991 Newbery Medal Honor BookCover of Bill Peet: An AutobiographyHonor1990Bill Peet: An AutobiographyBill Peet1990 Caldecott Medal Honor BookCover of Number the StarsWinner1990Number the StarsLois Lowry1990 Newbery Medal winnerCover of CrutchesWinner1989CrutchesPeter Härtling1989 Batchelder Award winnerCover of My PlaceWinner1988My PlaceNadia Wheatley and Donna Rawlins1988 Eve Pownall Award winnerCover of No Hero for the KaiserWinner1987No Hero for the KaiserRudolph Frank1987 Batchelder Award winnerCover of Commodore Perry in the Land of the ShogunHonor1986Commodore Perry in the Land of the ShogunRhoda Blumberg1986 Newbery Medal Honor BookCover of Rose BlancheWinner1986Rose BlancheChristophe Gallaz and Roberto Innocenti1986 Batchelder Award winnerCover of Sarah, Plain and TallWinner1986Sarah, Plain and TallPatricia MacLachlan1986 Newbery Medal winnerCover of SweetgrassWinner1984SweetgrassJan Hudson1984 Governor General's Award (text) winnerCover of The Sign of the BeaverHonor1984The Sign of the BeaverElizabeth George Speare1984 Newbery Medal Honor BookCover of Hiroshima No PikaWinner1983Hiroshima No PikaToshi Maruki1983 Batchelder Award winnerCover of Homesick: My Own StoryHonor1983Homesick: My Own StoryJean Fritz1983 Newbery Medal Honor BookCover of The Ghost Horse of the MountiesWinner1983The Ghost Horse of the MountiesSean O'Huigin1983 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 A Gathering of Days: A New England Girl's JournalWinner1980A Gathering of Days: A New England Girl's JournalJoan Blos1980 Newbery Medal winnerCover of Days of TerrorWinner1979Days of TerrorBarbara Smucker1979 Governor General's Award (text) winnerCover of CastleHonor1978CastleDavid Macaulay1978 Caldecott Medal Honor BookCover of The Exeter BlitzWinner1978The Exeter BlitzDavid Rees1978 Carnegie Medal for Writing winnerCover of Roll of Thunder, Hear My CryWinner1977Roll of Thunder, Hear My CryMildred D. Taylor1977 Newbery Medal winner

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