TheGold Shelf

Adventure books for teens

102 award-winning books for teens. Journeys, quests, shipwrecks and survival.

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

102 books

Cover of The End of the World is Bigger than LoveWinner2021The End of the World is Bigger than LoveDavina Bell2021 CBCA Book of the Year: Older Readers winnerCover of The Murderer's ApeWinner2018The Murderer's ApeJakob Wegelius2018 Batchelder Award winnerCover of Where the World EndsWinner2018Where the World EndsGeraldine McCaughrean2018 Carnegie Medal for Writing winnerCover of The Marrow ThievesWinner2017The Marrow ThievesCherie Dimaline2017 Governor General's Award (text) winnerCover of The Bunker DiaryWinner2014The Bunker DiaryKevin Brooks2014 Carnegie Medal for Writing winnerCover of A Time of MiraclesWinner2011A Time of MiraclesAnne-Laure Bondoux2011 Batchelder Award winnerCover of Monsters of MenWinner2011Monsters of MenPatrick Ness2011 Carnegie Medal for Writing winnerCover of Moribito II: Guardian of the DarknessHonor2010Moribito II: Guardian of the DarknessNahoko Uehashi2010 Batchelder Award Honor BookCover of Brave StoryWinner2008Brave StoryMiyuki Miyabe2008 Batchelder Award winnerCover of Pirate's PassageWinner2006Pirate's PassageWilliam Gilkerson2006 Governor General's Award (text) winnerCover of AirbornWinner2004AirbornKenneth Oppel2004 Governor General's Award (text) winnerCover of Ultimate GameHonor2001Ultimate GameChristian Lehmann2001 Batchelder Award Honor BookCover of Asphalt AngelsHonor2000Asphalt AngelsIneke Holtwijk2000 Batchelder Award Honor BookCover of The Baboon KingWinner2000The Baboon KingAnton Quintana2000 Batchelder Award winnerCover of A Girl Named DisasterHonor1997A Girl Named DisasterNancy Farmer1997 Newbery Medal Honor BookCover of The ThiefHonor1997The ThiefMegan Whalen Turner1997 Newbery Medal Honor BookCover of Northern LightsWinner1995Northern LightsPhilip Pullman1995 Carnegie Medal for Writing winnerCover of The Ear, the Eye and the ArmHonor1995The Ear, the Eye and the ArmNancy Farmer1995 Newbery Medal Honor BookCover of The MaestroWinner1995The MaestroTim Wynne-Jones1995 Governor General's Award (text) winnerCover of Angel's GateWinner1994Angel's GateGary Crew1994 CBCA Book of the Year: Older Readers winnerCover of Stone ColdWinner1993Stone ColdRobert Swindells1993 Carnegie Medal for Writing winnerCover of WolfWinner1990WolfGillian Cross1990 Carnegie Medal for Writing winnerCover of DogsongHonor1986DogsongGary Paulsen1986 Newbery Medal Honor BookCover of Hunter in the DarkWinner1982Hunter in the DarkMonica Hughes1982 Governor General's Award (text) winnerCover of TulkuWinner1979TulkuPeter Dickinson1979 Carnegie Medal for Writing winnerCover of An Old Tale Carved Out of StoneWinner1975An Old Tale Carved Out of StoneA. Linevskii1975 Batchelder Award winnerCover of Julie of the WolvesWinner1973Julie of the WolvesJean Craighead George1973 Newbery Medal winnerCover of PulgaWinner1973PulgaS. R. Van Iterson1973 Batchelder Award winnerCover of Watership DownWinner1972Watership DownRichard Adams1972 Carnegie Medal for Writing winnerCover of To the Wild SkyWinner1968To the Wild SkyIvan Southall1968 CBCA Book of the Year: Older Readers winnerCover of The King's FifthHonor1967The King's FifthScott O'Dell1967 Newbery Medal Honor BookCover of Ash RoadWinner1966Ash RoadIvan Southall1966 CBCA Book of the Year: Older Readers winnerCover of Banner in the SkyHonor1955Banner in the SkyJames Ullman1955 Newbery Medal Honor BookCover of Knight CrusaderWinner1954Knight CrusaderRonald Welch1954 Carnegie Medal for Writing winnerCover 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 Sea ChangeWinner1948Sea ChangeRichard Armstrong1948 Carnegie Medal for Writing winnerCover of The Dark FrigateWinner1924The Dark FrigateCharles Boardman Hawes1924 Newbery Medal winnerThe Blue Book of NeboManon Steffan RosWinner2023The Blue Book of NeboManon Steffan Ros2023 Carnegie Medal for Writing winnerRun for Your LifeSilvana GandolfiHonor2019Run for Your LifeSilvana Gandolfi2019 Batchelder Award Honor BookMoribito: Guardian of the SpiritNahoko UehashiWinner2009Moribito: Guardian of the SpiritNahoko Uehashi2009 Batchelder Award winnerRun, Boy, RunUri OrlevWinner2004Run, Boy, RunUri Orlev2004 Batchelder Award winnerThe MessengerMarkus ZusakWinner2003The MessengerMarkus Zusak2003 CBCA Book of the Year: Older Readers winnerForestSonya HartnettWinner2002ForestSonya Hartnett2002 CBCA Book of the Year: Older Readers winnerThe Island on Bird StreetUri OrlevWinner1985The Island on Bird StreetUri Orlev1985 Batchelder Award 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 winnerThe Great QuestCharles Boardman HawesHonor1922The Great QuestCharles Boardman Hawes1922 Newbery Medal Honor BookCover of Lord of the Flies: The Graphic NovelShortlist2026Lord of the Flies: The Graphic NovelWilliam Golding, adapted by Aimée de Jongh2026 Carnegie Medal for Illustration shortlistedCover of Treacle TownShortlist2025Treacle TownBrian Conaghan2025 Carnegie Medal for Writing shortlistedCover of Nowhere on EarthShortlist2020Nowhere on EarthNick Lake2020 Carnegie Medal for Writing shortlistedCover of Cold White SunFinalist2019Cold White SunSue Farrell Holler2019 Governor General's Award (text) finalistCover of Saint DeathShortlist2018Saint DeathMarcus Sedgwick2018 Carnegie Medal for Writing shortlistedCover of Hit the Ground RunningFinalist2017Hit the Ground RunningAlison Hughes2017 Governor General's Award (text) finalistCover of RailheadShortlist2017RailheadPhilip Reeve2017 Carnegie Medal for Writing shortlistedCover of Those Who Run in the SkyFinalist2017Those Who Run in the SkyAviaq Johnston2017 Governor General's Award (text) finalistCover of There Will Be LiesShortlist2016There Will Be LiesNick Lake2016 Carnegie Medal for Writing shortlistedCover of Dark Satanic MillsShortlist2015Dark Satanic MillsMarcus Sedgwick and Julian Sedgwick2015 Carnegie Medal for Illustration shortlistedCover of Becoming HolmesFinalist2013Becoming HolmesShane Peacock2013 Governor General's Award (text) finalistCover of The Grave Robber's ApprenticeFinalist2012The Grave Robber's ApprenticeAllan Stratton2012 Governor General's Award (text) finalistCover of TrashShortlist2012TrashAndy Mulligan2012 Carnegie Medal for Writing shortlistedCover of Blink & CautionFinalist2011Blink & CautionTim Wynne-Jones2011 Governor General's Award (text) finalistCover of The Bride's FarewellShortlist2011The Bride's FarewellMeg Rosoff2011 Carnegie Medal for Writing shortlistedCover of This Dark EndeavourFinalist2011This Dark EndeavourKenneth Oppel2011 Governor General's Award (text) finalistCover of Fever CrumbShortlist2010Fever CrumbPhilip Reeve2010 Carnegie Medal for Writing shortlistedCover of NationShortlist2010NationTerry Pratchett2010 Carnegie Medal for Writing shortlistedCover of RevolverShortlist2010RevolverMarcus Sedgwick2010 Carnegie Medal for Writing shortlistedCover of The Ask and the AnswerShortlist2010The Ask and the AnswerPatrick Ness2010 Carnegie Medal for Writing shortlistedCover of The Vanishing of Katharina LindenShortlist2010The Vanishing of Katharina LindenHelen Grant2010 Carnegie Medal for Writing shortlistedCover of AirmanShortlist2009AirmanEoin Colfer2009 Carnegie Medal for Writing shortlistedCover of Black Rabbit SummerShortlist2009Black Rabbit SummerKevin Brooks2009 Carnegie Medal for Writing shortlistedCover of The Knife of Never Letting GoShortlist2009The Knife of Never Letting GoPatrick Ness2009 Carnegie Medal for Writing shortlistedCover of The UninvitedFinalist2009The UninvitedTim Wynne-Jones2009 Governor General's Award (text) finalistCover of Gatty's TaleShortlist2008Gatty's TaleKevin Crossley-Holland2008 Carnegie Medal for Writing shortlistedCover of The Alchemist's DreamFinalist2007The Alchemist's DreamJohn Wilson2007 Governor General's Award (text) finalistCover of The Road of the DeadShortlist2007The Road of the DeadKevin Brooks2007 Carnegie Medal for Writing shortlistedCover of The White DarknessShortlist2005The White DarknessGeraldine McCaughrean2005 Carnegie Medal for Writing shortlistedCover of The Garbage KingShortlist2003The Garbage KingElizabeth Laird2003 Carnegie Medal for Writing shortlistedCover of The Amber SpyglassHighly commended2000The Amber SpyglassPhilip Pullman2000 Carnegie Medal for Writing highly commendedCover of The Baby and Fly PieHighly commended1993The Baby and Fly PieMelvin Burgess1993 Carnegie Medal for Writing highly commendedCover of Treasure IslandShortlist1992Treasure Islandan edition of the 1883 classic by Robert Louis Stevenson1992 Carnegie Medal for Illustration shortlistedCover of A Map of NowhereHighly commended1988A Map of NowhereGillian Cross1988 Carnegie Medal for Writing highly commendedCover of Going to the DogsFinalist1987Going to the DogsRussell McRae1987 Governor General's Award (text) finalistCover of Running ScaredCommended1986Running ScaredBernard Ashley1986 Carnegie Medal for Writing commendedCover of Brother in the LandHighly commended1984Brother in the LandRobert Swindells1984 Carnegie Medal for Writing highly commendedCover of A Wild Kind of JusticeCommended1979A Wild Kind of JusticeBernard Ashley1979 Carnegie Medal for Writing commendedCover of The Dancing BearCommended1972The Dancing BearPeter Dickinson1972 Carnegie Medal for Writing commendedCover of The Devil's ChildrenCommended1970The Devil's ChildrenPeter Dickinson1970 Carnegie Medal for Writing commendedCover of The IntruderCommended1969The IntruderJohn Rowe Townsend1969 Carnegie Medal for Writing commendedCover of Black JackCommended1968Black JackLeon Garfield1968 Carnegie Medal for Writing commendedCover of SmithCommended1967SmithLeon Garfield1967 Carnegie Medal for Writing commendedCover of The Maplin BirdCommended1964The Maplin BirdK. M. Peyton1964 Carnegie Medal for Writing commendedCover of The Silver BranchCommended1957The Silver BranchRosemary Sutcliff1957 Carnegie Medal for Writing commendedCover of The Shield RingCommended1956The Shield RingRosemary Sutcliff1956 Carnegie Medal for Writing commendedCover of The Eagle of the NinthCommended1954The Eagle of the NinthRosemary Sutcliff1954 Carnegie Medal for Writing commendedThe Song WalkerZillah BethellShortlist2024The Song WalkerZillah Bethell2024 Carnegie Medal for Writing shortlistedGirl. Boy. Sea.Chris VickShortlist2020Girl. Boy. Sea.Chris Vick2020 Carnegie Medal for Writing shortlistedThe Grey SistersJo TreggiariFinalist2019The Grey SistersJo Treggiari2019 Governor General's Award (text) finalistOstrich BoysKeith GrayShortlist2009Ostrich BoysKeith Gray2009 Carnegie Medal for Writing shortlistedThe Loyall VirginianGeorge FinkelCommended1969The Loyall VirginianGeorge Finkel1969 CBCA Book of the Year: Older Readers commendedThe Plan for BirdmarshK. M. PeytonCommended1965The Plan for BirdmarshK. M. Peyton1965 Carnegie Medal for Writing commendedWindfallK. M. PeytonCommended1962WindfallK. M. Peyton1962 Carnegie Medal for Writing commendedAnzac AdventureDale CollinsCommended1960Anzac AdventureDale Collins1960 CBCA Book of the Year: Older Readers commended