| 2025 | Original Sins | Goodreads Choice Awards source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Nominee · History & Biography | |
| 2025 | Original Sins | The New Yorker Best Books of the Year source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Also Recommended | |
| 2025 | Original Sins | Esquire Best Books of the Year source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Best Books | |
| 2025 | Exceptional X-Men, Vol. 1: Duty Calls | New York Public Library Best Books source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Best Books for Teens | |
| 2025 | Original Sins: The (mis)education of Black and Native Children and the Construction of American Racism | Chicago Public Library Best of the Best source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Must-Read Books: Nonfiction | |
| 2025 | Original Sins: The (mis)education of Black and Native Children and the Construction of American Racism | Chicago Public Library Best of the Best source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Our Favorite Books | |
| 2025 | Original Sins: The (Mis)education of Black and Native Children and the Construction of American Racism | Library Journal Best Books source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Social Sciences | |
| 2021 | Maya and the Robot | New York Public Library Best Books source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Best Books for Kids | |
| 2021 | Maya and the Robot | Chicago Public Library Best of the Best source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Best Fiction for Older Readers | |
| 2021 | Maya and the Robot | Kirkus Best Books of the Year source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Middle Grade | |
| 2021 | Maya and the Robot | School Library Journal Best Books of the Year source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Middle Grade | |
| 2020 | 1919 | Hurston/Wright Legacy Award source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Finalist · Poetry | |
| 2019 | 1919 | Chicago Public Library Best of the Best source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Best Books | |
| 2019 | 1919 | NPR Books We Love source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Books We Love | |
| 2018 | Electric Arches | Alex Awards source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Winner · Adult Books for Teens | |
| 2018 | Ghosts in the Schoolyard: Racism and School Closings on Chicago’s South Side | Booklist Editors' Choice source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Adult Books: Social Sciences | |
| 2018 | Ghosts In The Schoolyard: Racism And School Closings On Chicago's South Side | NPR Books We Love source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Books We Love | |
| 2017 | Electric Arches | Goodreads Choice Awards source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Nominee · Poetry | |
| 2017 | Electric Arches | Chicago Tribune Best Books of the Year source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Best Books | |
| 2017 | Electric Arches | Chicago Public Library Best of the Best source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Best Books | |
| 2017 | Electric Arches | Chicago Public Library Best of the Best source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Best Books: Top Ten | |
| 2017 | Electric Arches | NPR Books We Love source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Books We Love | |