| 2022 | Monkey Boy | American Book Awards source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Winner · Book | |
| 2022 | Monkey Boy | Pulitzer Prize for Fiction source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Finalist · Fiction | |
| 2021 | Monkey Boy: A Novel | NPR Books We Love source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Books We Love | |
| 2021 | Monkey Boy | The Boston Globe Best Books of the Year source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Fiction | |
| 2021 | Monkey Boy | Kirkus Best Books of the Year source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Fiction | |
| 2014 | The Interior Circuit: A Mexico City Chronicle | Los Angeles Times Best Books of the Year source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Best Books | |
| 2013 | Say Her Name | Dublin Literary Award source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Longlist · Fiction | |
| 2012 | Say Her Name | Andrew Carnegie Medals for Excellence source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Longlist · Fiction | |
| 2011 | Say Her Name | The Boston Globe Best Books of the Year source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Fiction | |
| 2011 | Say Her Name | Publishers Weekly Best Books source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Fiction | |
| 2011 | Say Her Name | Entertainment Weekly Best Books source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Fiction | |
| 2011 | Say Her Name | New York Times 100 Notable Books source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Fiction & Poetry | |
| 2011 | Say Her Name | The Globe and Mail Globe 100 source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Non-Fiction | |
| 2008 | The Art of Political MurdeR: Who Killed Bishop Gerardi | CWA Daggers source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Shortlist · ALCS Gold Dagger for Non-Fiction | |
| 2007 | The Art of Political Murder | New York Times 100 Notable Books source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Nonfiction | |
| 2007 | The Art of Political Murder | Washington Post Best Books of the Year source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Notable Nonfiction | |
| 2007 | The Art of Political Murder: Who Killed the Bishop? | The Economist Books of the Year source ↗ (opens in a new tab) | Selection · Politics and current affairs | |