TheGold Shelf

Friendship books for teens

37 award-winning books for teens. Making friends, keeping them, and being kind.

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

37 books

Cover of Glasgow BoysWinner2025Glasgow BoysMargaret McDonald2025 Carnegie Medal for Writing winnerCover of PardalitaHonor2024PardalitaJoana Estrela2024 Batchelder Award Honor BookCover of Take Three GirlsWinner2018Take Three GirlsCath Crowley, Fiona Wood, and Simmone Howell2018 CBCA Book of the Year: Older Readers winnerCover of This One SummerWinner2014This One SummerMariko Tamaki2014 Governor General's Award (illustration) winnerCover of WildlifeWinner2014WildlifeFiona Wood2014 CBCA Book of the Year: Older Readers winnerCover of After Tupac and D FosterHonor2009After Tupac and D FosterJacqueline Woodson2009 Newbery Medal 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 The Running ManWinner2005The Running ManMichael Gerard Bauer2005 CBCA Book of the Year: Older Readers winnerCover of StitchesWinner2003StitchesGlen Huser2003 Governor General's Award (text) winnerCover of Deadly, Unna?Winner1999Deadly, Unna?Phillip Gwynne1999 CBCA Book of the Year: Older Readers winnerCover of Came Back to Show You I Could FlyWinner1990Came Back to Show You I Could FlyRobin Klein1990 CBCA Book of the Year: Older Readers winnerCover of Bad BoyWinner1989Bad BoyDiana Wieler1989 Governor General's Award (text) winnerCover of CrutchesWinner1989CrutchesPeter Härtling1989 Batchelder Award winnerCover of All We KnowWinner1987All We KnowSimon French1987 CBCA Book of the Year: Older Readers winnerCover of The Moves Make the ManHonor1985The Moves Make the ManBruce Brooks1985 Newbery Medal Honor BookCover of The Battle HorseWinner1982The Battle HorseHarry Kullman1982 Batchelder Award winnerCover of FriedrichWinner1972FriedrichHans Peter Richter1972 Batchelder Award winnerCover of The Planet of Junior BrownHonor1972The Planet of Junior BrownVirginia Hamilton1972 Newbery Medal Honor BookJarvis 24David MetzenthenWinner2010Jarvis 24David Metzenthen2010 CBCA Book of the Year: Older Readers winnerThe LandingJohn IbbitsonWinner2008The LandingJohn Ibbitson2008 Governor General's Award (text) winnerCover of When Shadows FallShortlist2023When Shadows FallSita Brahmachari2023 Carnegie Medal for Writing shortlistedCover of Guard Your HeartShortlist2022Guard Your HeartSue Divin2022 Carnegie Medal for Writing shortlistedCover of The Bone SparrowShortlist2017The Bone SparrowZana Fraillon2017 Carnegie Medal for Writing shortlistedCover of Counting Back from NineFinalist2013Counting Back from NineValerie Sherrard2013 Governor General's Award (text) finalistCover of What I WasShortlist2008What I WasMeg Rosoff2008 Carnegie Medal for Writing shortlistedCover of FriendshipsFinalist2006FriendshipsBudge Wilson2006 Governor General's Award (text) finalistCover of Me and the BlondesFinalist2006Me and the BlondesTeresa Toten2006 Governor General's Award (text) finalistCover of Skinnybones and the Wrinkle QueenFinalist2006Skinnybones and the Wrinkle QueenGlen Huser2006 Governor General's Award (text) finalistCover of The Losers' ClubFinalist2002The Losers' ClubJohn Lekich2002 Governor General's Award (text) finalistCover of Up On Cloud NineHighly commended2002Up On Cloud NineAnne Fine2002 Carnegie Medal for Writing highly commendedCover of Being with HenryFinalist2000Being with HenryMartha Brooks2000 Governor General's Award (text) finalistCover of Glory Days and Other StoriesFinalist1996Glory Days and Other StoriesGillian Chan1996 Governor General's Award (text) finalistCover of RanVan A Worthy OpponentFinalist1995RanVan A Worthy OpponentDiana Wieler1995 Governor General's Award (text) finalistCover of Easy AvenueFinalist1988Easy AvenueBrian Doyle1988 Governor General's Award (text) finalistCover of The Fox in WinterCommended1980The Fox in WinterJohn Branfield1980 Carnegie Medal for Writing commendedOstrich BoysKeith GrayShortlist2009Ostrich BoysKeith Gray2009 Carnegie Medal for Writing shortlisted