Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction

The Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction is an annual American children's book award that recognizes historical fiction. It was established in 1982 by Scott O'Dell, author of Island of the Blue Dolphins and 25 other children's books, in hopes of increasing young readers' interest in the history that shaped their nation and their world. Eligibility for the award requires that a book be written in English for children or young adults, published by an American publisher, and the author must be a United States citizen. The award is recognized in the United States by publishers of children's literature and young adult literature, the American Library Association, and the Assembly for Literature of Adolescents.

Award nomination Books may be submitted throughout the year to the Award Committee. Award nomination forms must be submitted with the required information for each title a publisher, literary agent, or author wish to bring to the attention of the Award Committee.

Selection committee The annual selection from qualifying books is made by the O'Dell Committee. Zena Sutherland — who was Professor Emeritus of Children's Literature at the University of Chicago — headed the committee from its formation in 1982 until her death in 2002. The home of The Scott O’Dell Award for Historical Fiction was moved in 2022 to the Reinberger Children’s Library Center at the Kent State University iSchool in Kent, Ohio. In partnership with Kent State University, the O'Dell family and matriarchs Elizabeth Hall (Scott's widow) and Lauren Anderson Gerber (Scott's granddaughter) continue to administer and fund the annual award.

The 2024 Committee includes:

Maria Trivisonno (Chair), Family Engagement Specialist, Cuyahoga County Public Library, Parma, OH Kristen Blackshear, Social Studies Teacher, Glenwood School, Smiths Station, AL, and Adjunct History Instructor, Southern Union State Community College, Opelika, AL Marianne Martens, Ph.D., Professor, Kent State University School of Information, Kent, OH Mary Anne Nichols, Senior Lecturer, Kent State University School of Information, Kent, OH Uma Nori, Head, Youth Services, Thomas Ford Memorial Library, Western Springs, IL Debra Liddell Quarles, Library and Information Specialist, Shaker Heights City Schools, Shaker Heights, OH Mike Rogalla, Children's Services Manager, Champaign Public Library, Champaign, IL Kerry Shelton, Principal, St. Gabriel Consolidated School, Glendale, OH.

History No award was given in 1982 and 1983, as the committee felt that "no books of sufficient merit had been published". Elizabeth George Speare was the first recipient, receiving the award for her book, The Sign of the Beaver, a tale of wilderness survival. The award has been presented every year since 1984. O'Dell himself won the award in 1987 for Streams to the River, River to the Sea, his fictional retelling of the story of Sacagawea. Louise Erdrich has won the award twice, in 2006 and in 2013.

Winners Year Recipient Book Title Publisher2026María Dolores ÁguilaA Sea of Lemon Trees: The Corrido of Roberto AlvarezRoaring Press Book2025Kim JohnsonThe Color of a LieRandom House Books for Young Readers2024L. M. ElliottBea and the New Deal HorseKatherine Tegen Books2023Irene Latham and Charles WatersAfrican TownG.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers2022Justina IrelandOphie’s GhostsBalzer + Bray2021Helen FrostAll He KnewFarrar Straus and Giroux2020Thanhhà LạiButterfly YellowHarperCollins2019Lesa Cline-RansomeFinding LangstonHoliday House2018Lauren WolkBeyond the Bright SeaDutton Books for Young Readers2017Jennifer L. HolmFull of BeansRandom House2016 Laura Amy SchlitzThe Hired GirlCandlewick Press2015 Kirby LarsonDash Scholastic2014 Kirkpatrick Hill Bo at Ballard Creek Henry Holt and Co.2013 Louise Erdrich Chickadee HarperCollins2012 Jack Gantos Dead End in Norvelt Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR) 2011 Rita Williams-Garcia One Crazy Summer Amistad2010 Matt Phelan The Storm in the Barn Candlewick 2009 Laurie Halse Anderson Chains Simon & Schuster 2008 Christopher Paul Curtis Elijah of Buxton Scholastic Press 2007 Ellen Klages The Green Glass Sea Viking Children's Books 2006 Louise Erdrich The Game of Silence HarperCollins Children's Books 2005 A LaFaye Worth Simon & Schuster 2004 Richard Peck The River Between Us Dial Press 2003 Shelley Pearsall Trouble Don't Last Alfred A Knopf 2002 Mildred D. Taylor The Land Phyllis Fogelman Books 2001 Janet Taylor Lisle The Art of Keeping Cool A Richard Jackson Book/Atheneum 2000 Miriam Bat-Ami Two Suns in the Sky Front Street/Cricket Books 1999 Harriette Robinet Forty Acres and Maybe a Mule Jean Fritz/Atheneum 1998 Karen Hesse Out of the Dust Scholastic 1997 Katherine Paterson Jip, His Story Dutton 1996 Theodore Taylor The Bomb Harcourt, Brace 1995 Graham Salisbury Under the Blood Red Sun Delacorte 1994 Paul Fleischman Bull Run Laura Geringer/Harper-Collins 1993 Michael Dorris Morning Girl Hyperion 1992 Mary Downing Hahn Stepping on the Cracks Clarion 1991 Pieter Van Raven A Time of Troubles Charles Scribner's Sons 1990 Carolyn Reeder Shades of Gray Macmillan 1989 Lyll Becerra de Jenkins The Honorable Prison Lodestar/Dutton 1988 Patricia Beatty Charley Skedaddle Morrow 1987 Scott O'Dell Streams to the River, River to the Sea Houghton Mifflin 1986 Patricia MacLachlan Sarah, Plain and Tall Harper & Row 1985 Avi The Fighting Ground Lippincott 1984 Elizabeth George Speare The Sign of the Beaver Houghton Mifflin

Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction

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