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TheGold Shelf

Feelings and big moments books for teens

111 award-winning books for teens. Grief, fear, moving house, growing up.

Babies and toddlers0–2 Ages 3 to 53–5 Ages 6 to 86–8 Ages 9 to 129–12 TeensTeen

Animals14 Adventure102 Fantasy and magic85 Funny books11 Family61 Friendship37 History and real people173 Folktales and fairy tales19 Poetry and rhyme26 Feelings and big moments111

111 books

Cover of Crash Landing

Winner2024Crash LandingLi Charmaine Anne2024 Governor General's Award (text) winner

Cover of Grace Notes

Winner2024Grace NotesKaren Comer2024 CBCA Book of the Year: Older Readers winner

Cover of Pardalita

Honor2024PardalitaJoana Estrela2024 Batchelder Award Honor Book

Cover of Ain't Burned All the Bright

Honor2023Ain't Burned All the BrightJason Reynolds2023 Caldecott Medal Honor Book

Cover of Long Way Down

Winner2022Long Way DownJason Reynolds2022 Carnegie Medal for Illustration winner

Cover of The Poet X

Winner2019The Poet XElizabeth Acevedo2019 Carnegie Medal for Writing winner

Cover of Piecing Me Together

Honor2018Piecing Me TogetherRenée Watson2018 Newbery Medal Honor Book

Cover of Calvin

Winner2016CalvinMartine Leavitt2016 Governor General's Award (text) winner

Cover of Cloudwish

Winner2016CloudwishFiona Wood2016 CBCA Book of the Year: Older Readers winner

Cover of When Everything Feels Like the Movies

Winner2014When Everything Feels Like the MoviesRaziel Reid2014 Governor General's Award (text) winner

Cover of Wildlife

Winner2014WildlifeFiona Wood2014 CBCA Book of the Year: Older Readers winner

Cover of The Unlikely Hero of Room 13B

Winner2013The Unlikely Hero of Room 13BTeresa Toten2013 Governor General's Award (text) winner

Cover of A Monster Calls

Winner2012A Monster CallsPatrick Ness2012 Carnegie Medal for Illustration winner

Cover of The Dead I Know

Winner2012The Dead I KnowScot Gardner2012 CBCA Book of the Year: Older Readers winner

Cover of The Reluctant Journal of Henry K. Larsen

Winner2012The Reluctant Journal of Henry K. LarsenSusin Nielsen2012 Governor General's Award (text) winner

Cover of Fishtailing

Winner2010FishtailingWendy Phillips2010 Governor General's Award (text) winner

Cover of Requiem for a Beast

Winner2008Requiem for a BeastMatt Ottley2008 CBCA Picture Book of the Year winner

Cover of The Ghost's Child

Winner2008The Ghost's ChildSonya Hartnett2008 CBCA Book of the Year: Older Readers winner

Cover of Just in Case

Winner2007Just in CaseMeg Rosoff2007 Carnegie Medal for Writing winner

Cover of The Arrival

Winner2007The ArrivalShaun Tan2007 CBCA Picture Book of the Year winner

Cover of The Killer's Tears

Honor2007The Killer's TearsAnne-Laure Bondoux2007 Batchelder Award Honor Book

Cover of The Running Man

Winner2005The Running ManMichael Gerard Bauer2005 CBCA Book of the Year: Older Readers winner

Cover of Saving Francesca

Winner2004Saving FrancescaMelina Marchetta2004 CBCA Book of the Year: Older Readers winner

Cover of True Confessions of a Heartless Girl

Winner2002True Confessions of a Heartless GirlMartha Brooks2002 Governor General's Award (text) winner

Cover of Hope Was Here

Honor2001Hope Was HereJoan Bauer2001 Newbery Medal Honor Book

Cover of River Boy

Winner1997River BoyTim Bowler1997 Carnegie Medal for Writing winner

Cover of Junk

Winner1996JunkMelvin Burgess1996 Carnegie Medal for Writing winner

Cover of Adam and Eve and Pinch-Me

Winner1994Adam and Eve and Pinch-MeJulie Johnston1994 Governor General's Award (text) winner

Cover of Looking for Alibrandi

Winner1993Looking for AlibrandiMelina Marchetta1993 CBCA Book of the Year: Older Readers winner

Cover of Nothing But The Truth: a Documentary Novel

Honor1992Nothing But The Truth: a Documentary NovelAvi1992 Newbery Medal Honor Book

Cover of Dear Nobody

Winner1991Dear NobodyBerlie Doherty1991 Carnegie Medal for Writing winner

Cover of Came Back to Show You I Could Fly

Winner1990Came Back to Show You I Could FlyRobin Klein1990 CBCA Book of the Year: Older Readers winner

Cover of Crutches

Winner1989CrutchesPeter Härtling1989 Batchelder Award winner

Cover of Scorpions

Honor1989ScorpionsWalter Dean Myers1989 Newbery Medal Honor Book

Cover of After the Rain

Honor1988After the RainNorma Fox Mazer1988 Newbery Medal Honor Book

Cover of So Much to Tell You

Winner1988So Much to Tell YouJohn Marsden1988 CBCA Book of the Year: Older Readers winner

Cover of Hunter in the Dark

Winner1982Hunter in the DarkMonica Hughes1982 Governor General's Award (text) winner

Cover of A Ring of Endless Light

Honor1981A Ring of Endless LightMadeleine L'Engle1981 Newbery Medal Honor Book

Cover of Friedrich

Winner1972FriedrichHans Peter Richter1972 Batchelder Award winner

Cover of Bread and Honey

Winner1971Bread and HoneyIvan Southall1971 CBCA Book of the Year: Older Readers winner Darkest Night, Brightest StarBarry JonsbergWinner2026Darkest Night, Brightest StarBarry Jonsberg2026 CBCA Book of the Year: Older Readers winner I'm Not Really HereGary LonesboroughWinner2025I'm Not Really HereGary Lonesborough2025 CBCA Book of the Year: Older Readers winner The Summer of Bitter and SweetJen FergusonWinner2022The Summer of Bitter and SweetJen Ferguson2022 Governor General's Award (text) winner This Is How We Change the EndingVikki WakefieldWinner2020This Is How We Change the EndingVikki Wakefield2020 CBCA Book of the Year: Older Readers winner Between UsClare AtkinsWinner2019Between UsClare Atkins2019 CBCA Book of the Year: Older Readers winner CicadaShaun TanWinner2019CicadaShaun Tan2019 CBCA Picture Book of the Year winner The ProtectedClaire ZornWinner2015The ProtectedClaire Zorn2015 CBCA Book of the Year: Older Readers winner NothingJanne TellerHonor2011NothingJanne Teller2011 Batchelder Award Honor Book The Story of Tom BrennanJ. C. BurkeWinner2006The Story of Tom BrennanJ. C. Burke2006 CBCA Book of the Year: Older Readers winner A Hand Full of StarsRafik SchamiWinner1991A Hand Full of StarsRafik Schami1991 Batchelder Award winner Don't Take TeddyBabbis Friis-BaastadWinner1969Don't Take TeddyBabbis Friis-Baastad1969 Batchelder Award winner

Cover of Twenty-Four Seconds from Now

Shortlist2026Twenty-Four Seconds from NowJason Reynolds2026 Carnegie Medal for Writing shortlisted

Cover of Homebody

Shortlist2025HomebodyTheo Parish2025 Carnegie Medal for Illustration shortlisted

Cover of Everyone Dies Famous in a Small Town

Shortlist2022Everyone Dies Famous in a Small TownBonnie-Sue Hitchcock2022 Carnegie Medal for Writing shortlisted

Cover of Punching the Air

Shortlist2022Punching the AirIbi Zoboi and Yusef Salaam2022 Carnegie Medal for Writing shortlisted

Cover of On the Come Up

Shortlist2020On the Come UpAngie Thomas2020 Carnegie Medal for Writing shortlisted

Cover of The Black Flamingo

Shortlist2020The Black FlamingoDean Atta2020 Carnegie Medal for Writing shortlisted

Cover of After the Fire

Shortlist2018After the FireWill Hill2018 Carnegie Medal for Writing shortlisted

Cover of Learning to Breathe

Finalist2018Learning to BreatheJanice Lynn Mather2018 Governor General's Award (text) finalist

Cover of Night Shift

Shortlist2018Night ShiftDebi Gliori2018 Carnegie Medal for Illustration shortlisted

Cover of Release

Shortlist2018ReleasePatrick Ness2018 Carnegie Medal for Writing shortlisted

Cover of The Hate U Give

Shortlist2018The Hate U GiveAngie Thomas2018 Carnegie Medal for Writing shortlisted

Cover of Everything Beautiful Is Not Ruined

Finalist2017Everything Beautiful Is Not RuinedDanielle Younge-Ullman2017 Governor General's Award (text) finalist

Cover of The Stars at Oktober Bend

Shortlist2017The Stars at Oktober BendGlenda Millard2017 Carnegie Medal for Writing shortlisted

Cover of When Mr Dog Bites

Shortlist2015When Mr Dog BitesBrian Conaghan2015 Carnegie Medal for Writing shortlisted

Cover of Young Man with Camera

Finalist2015Young Man with CameraEmil Sher2015 Governor General's Award (text) finalist

Cover of All the Truth That's in Me

Shortlist2014All the Truth That's in MeJulie Berry2014 Carnegie Medal for Writing shortlisted

Cover of Blood Family

Shortlist2014Blood FamilyAnne Fine2014 Carnegie Medal for Writing shortlisted

Cover of Jeremy Stone

Finalist2014Jeremy StoneLesley Choyce2014 Governor General's Award (text) finalist

Cover of The Weight of Water

Shortlist2013The Weight of WaterSarah Crossan2013 Carnegie Medal for Writing shortlisted

Cover of The White Bicycle

Finalist2013The White BicycleBeverley Brenna2013 Governor General's Award (text) finalist

Cover of Under the Moon

Finalist2012Under the MoonDeborah Kerbel2012 Governor General's Award (text) finalist

Cover of Me, Myself and Ike

Finalist2010Me, Myself and IkeK. L. Denman2010 Governor General's Award (text) finalist

Cover of Scars

Finalist2010ScarsCheryl Rainfield2010 Governor General's Award (text) finalist

Cover of Tyranny

Finalist2010TyrannyLesley Fairfield2010 Governor General's Award (text) finalist

Cover of Sister Wife

Finalist2009Sister WifeShelley Hrdlitschka2009 Governor General's Award (text) finalist

Cover of The Savage

Shortlist2009The SavageDavid Almond2009 Carnegie Medal for Illustration shortlisted

Cover of Skim

Finalist2008SkimMariko Tamaki2008 Governor General's Award (text) finalist

Cover of A Swift Pure Cry

Shortlist2007A Swift Pure CrySiobhan Dowd2007 Carnegie Medal for Writing shortlisted

Cover of After

Finalist2005AfterFrancis Chalifour2005 Governor General's Award (text) finalist

Cover of Swimming in the Monsoon Sea

Finalist2005Swimming in the Monsoon SeaShyam Selvadurai2005 Governor General's Award (text) finalist

Cover of Heck Superhero

Finalist2004Heck SuperheroMartine Leavitt2004 Governor General's Award (text) finalist

Cover of Looking for JJ

Shortlist2004Looking for JJAnne Cassidy2004 Carnegie Medal for Writing shortlisted

Cover of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time

Shortlist2003The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-TimeMark Haddon2003 Carnegie Medal for Writing shortlisted

Cover of Theories of Relativity

Finalist2003Theories of RelativityBarbara Haworth-Attard2003 Governor General's Award (text) finalist

Cover of The Game

Finalist2001The GameTeresa Toten2001 Governor General's Award (text) finalist

Cover of Hate You

Finalist1999Hate YouGraham McNamee1999 Governor General's Award (text) finalist

Cover of Bottom Drawer

Finalist1996Bottom DrawerDavid Boyd1996 Governor General's Award (text) finalist

Cover of Out of the Dark

Finalist1995Out of the DarkWelwyn Wilton Katz1995 Governor General's Award (text) finalist

Cover of Bryna Means Courage

Finalist1993Bryna Means CourageMitzi Dale1993 Governor General's Award (text) finalist

Cover of Gulf

Highly commended1992GulfRobert Westall1992 Carnegie Medal for Writing highly commended

Cover of Two Moons in August

Finalist1991Two Moons in AugustMartha Brooks1991 Governor General's Award (text) finalist

Cover of The Charlie Barber Treatment

Highly commended1989The Charlie Barber TreatmentCarole Lloyd1989 Carnegie Medal for Writing highly commended

Cover of Paradise Café and Other Stories

Finalist1988Paradise Café and Other StoriesMartha Brooks1988 Governor General's Award (text) finalist

Cover of Red Sky in the Morning

Highly commended1988Red Sky in the MorningElizabeth Laird1988 Carnegie Medal for Writing highly commended

Cover of Memory

Highly commended1987MemoryMargaret Mahy1987 Carnegie Medal for Writing highly commended

Cover of Chartbreaker

Commended1986ChartbreakerGillian Cross1986 Carnegie Medal for Writing commended

Cover of Goodnight Mister Tom

Commended1981Goodnight Mister TomMichelle Magorian1981 Carnegie Medal for Writing commended

Cover of A Sense of Shame

Commended1980A Sense of ShameJan Needle1980 Carnegie Medal for Writing commended

Cover of The Fox in Winter

Commended1980The Fox in WinterJohn Branfield1980 Carnegie Medal for Writing commended The Boy I LoveWilliam HusseyShortlist2026The Boy I LoveWilliam Hussey2026 Carnegie Medal for Writing shortlisted A Drop in the OceanLéa TarantoFinalist2025A Drop in the OceanLéa Taranto2025 Governor General's Award (text) finalist Little BangKelly McCaughrainShortlist2025Little BangKelly McCaughrain2025 Carnegie Medal for Writing shortlisted The Things We Leave BehindClare FurnissShortlist2025The Things We Leave BehindClare Furniss2025 Carnegie Medal for Writing shortlisted The GulfAdam de SouzaFinalist2024The GulfAdam de Souza2024 Governor General's Award (illustration) finalist NeedlePatrice LawrenceShortlist2023NeedlePatrice Lawrence2023 Carnegie Medal for Writing shortlisted The CrossingManjeet MannShortlist2022The CrossingManjeet Mann2022 Carnegie Medal for Writing shortlisted Run, RebelManjeet MannShortlist2021Run, RebelManjeet Mann2021 Carnegie Medal for Writing shortlisted Break in Case of EmergencyBrian FrancisFinalist2019Break in Case of EmergencyBrian Francis2019 Governor General's Award (text) finalist Free as a BirdGina McMurchy-BarberFinalist2010Free as a BirdGina McMurchy-Barber2010 Governor General's Award (text) finalist Finn's FollyIvan SouthallCommended1970Finn's FollyIvan Southall1970 CBCA Book of the Year: Older Readers commended