Geoffrey Bilson Award for Historical Fiction for Young People
Past Winners and Finalists

Weird Rules to Follow
Written by KimSpencer
Orca Book Publishers, 2022

Hidden on the Hire Wire
(A Holocaust Remembrance Book for Young Readers)
Written by Kathy Kacer
Second Story Press, 2022
 

How to Be a Goldfish
Written by Jane Baird Warren
Scholasic Canada, 2022

The Ribbon Leaf
Written by Lori Weber
Red Deer Press, 2022

The Secret Diary of Mona Hasan
Written by Salma Hussain
Tundra Books, 2022
 

Second Chances
Written by Harriet Zaidman
Red Deer Press, 2021
 

Dear Peter, Dear Ulla
Written by Barbara Nickel
Thistledown Press, 2021
 

Elvis, Me, and the Lemonade Stand Summer
Written by Leslie Gentile
DCB Young Readers, 2021
 

Stealing Home
Written by J. Torres
Illustrated by David Namisato
Kids Can Press, 2021
 

Traitors Among Us
Written by Marsha Forchuk Skrypuch
Scholastic Press, 2021
 

The Paper Girl of Paris
Written by Jordyn Taylor
HarperTeen, 2020

Barry Squires, Full Tilt
Written by Heather Smith
Penguin Teen Canada, 2020

The Brushmaker's Daughter
(A Holocaust Remembrance Book for Young Readers)
Written by Kathy Kacer
Second Story Press, 2020
 

Journal of a Travelling Girl
Written by Nadine Neema
Illustrated by Archie Beaverho
Wandering Fox Books, 2021

Under Amelia's Wing
(Ginny Ross)
Written by Heather Stemp
Nimbus Publishing, 2021
 

Orange for the Sunsets
Written by Tina Athaide
Katherine Tegen Books, 2019

Among the Fallen
Written by Virginia Frances Schwartz
Holiday House, 2019

Be My Love
Written by Kit Pearson
HarperTrophy Canada, 2019
 

The Big Dig
Written by Lisa Harrington
Nimbus Publishing, 2019
 

City on Strike
Written by Harriet Zaidman
Red Deer Press, 2019
 

Room for One More
Written by Monique Polak
Kar-Ben Publishing, 2019
 

The Journey of Little Charlie
Written by Christopher Paul Curtis
Scholastic Canada, 2018
 

Don't Tell the Enemy
Written by Marsha Forchuk Skrypuch
Scholastic Canada, 2018

Miles to Go
Written by Beryl Young
Wandering Fox Books, 2018

Piper
Written by Jacqueline Halsey
Nimbus Publishing, 2018

The Sound of Freedom
(The Heroes Quartet)
Written by Kathy Kacer
Annick Press, 2018
 

The Assassin’s Curse
(Blackthorn Key)
Written by Kevin Sands
Aladdin, 2017
 

The Agony of Bun O'Keefe
Written by Heather Smith
Penguin Teen Canada, 2017

A Blinding Light
Written by Julie Lawson
Nimbus Publishing, 2017

Clutch
Written by Heather Camlot
Red Deer Press, 2017

Step Up to the Plate, Maria Singh
Written by Uma Krishnaswami
Tu Books/Lee & Low, 2017
 

The Mark of the Plague
(Blackthorn Key)
Written by Kevin Sands
Aladdin, 2016

Every Hidden Thing
Written by Kenneth Oppel
HarperCollins Publishers, 2016
 

Freedom's Just Another Word
Written by Caroline Stellings
Second Story Press, 2016
 

Heart of a Champion
Written by Ellen Schwartz
Tundra Books, 2016
 

When Morning Comes
Written by Arushi Raina
Tradewind Books, 2016
 

Uncertain Soldier
Written by Karen Bass
Pajama Press, 2015

Avis Dolphin
Written by Frieda Wishinsky
Illustrated by Willow Dawson
Groundwood Books, 2015
 

The Farmerettes
Written by Gisela Tobien Sherman
Second Story Press, 2015
 

Mad Miss Mimic
Written by Sarah Henstra
Razorbill Canada, 2015

The Unquiet Past
(Secrets)
Written by Kelley Armstrong
Orca Book Publishers, 2015
 

Dance of the Banished
Written by Marsha Forchuk Skrypuch
Pajama Press, 2014
 

Arrow Through the Axes
(Odyssey of a Slave)
Written by Patrick Bowman
Ronsdale Press, 2014

The Gospel Truth
Written by Caroline Pignat
Red Deer Press, 2015

Underground Soldier
Written by Marsha Forchuk Skrypuch
Scholastic Canada, 2014
 

Unspeakable
Written by Caroline Pignat
Razorbill Canada, 2014

Graffiti Knight
Written by Karen Bass
Pajama Press, 2013

Brothers at War
Written by Don Cummer
Scholastic Canada, 2013

Little Red Lies
Written by Julie Johnston
Tundra Books, 2013
 

The Manager
Written by Caroline Stellings
Cape Breton University Press, 2013
 

Me & Mr. Bell
Written by Philip Roy
Cape Breton University Press, 2013
 

The Lynching of Louie Sam
Written by Elizabeth Stewart
Annick Press, 2012

A Call to Battle
(I Am Canada)
Written by Gillian Chan
Scholastic Canada, 2012

Making Bombs for Hitler
Written by Marsha Forchuk Skrypuch
Scholastic Canada, 2012
 

Violins of Autumn
Written by Amy McAuley
Walker Publishing Company, 2012
 

Yesterday's Dead
Written by Pat Bourke
Second Story Press, 2012

The Hangman in the Mirror. 
Written by Kate Cayley
Annick Press, 2011
 

I'll Be Watching
Written by Pamela Porter
Groundwood Books, 2011

Shot at Dawn: World War I
(I Am Canada)
Written by John Wilson
Scholastic Canada, 2011
 

This Dark Endeavour: The Apprenticeship of Victor Frankenstein
Written by Kenneth Oppel
HarperCollins Publishers, 2011
 

The Whole Truth
Written by Kit Pearson
HarperCollins Canada, 2011

The Glory Wind
Written by Valerie Sherrard
Fitzhenry & Whiteside, 2010

Exiles from the War: The War Guests Diary of Charlotte Mary Twiss
(Dear Canada)
Written by Jean Little
Scholastic Canada, 2010
 

Folly
Written by Marthe Jocelyn
Tundra Books, 2010

Queen of Hearts
Written by Martha Brooks
Groundwood Books, 2010

Wild Geese
Written by Caroline Pignat
Red Deer Press, 2010

Vanishing Girl: The Boy Sherlock Holmes, His Third Case
Written by Shane Peacock
Tundra Books, 2009
 

Bitter, Sweet
Written by Laura Best
Nimbus Publishing, 2009

Crusade
(The Heretic's Secret)
Written by John Wilson
Key Porter Books, 2009
 

Haunted
Written by Barbara Haworth-Attard
HarperTrophy Canada, 2009
 

Watching Jimmy
Written Nancy Hartry
Tundra Books, 2009

The Landing
Written by John Ibbitson
Kids Can Press, 2008
 

The Ancient Ocean Blues
Written by Jack Mitchell
Tundra Books, 2008

The Apprentice's Masterpiece: A Story of Medieval Spain
Written by Melanie Little
Annick Press, 2008
 

Child of Dandelions
Written by Shenaaz Nanji
Second Story Press, 2008
 

Greener Grass: The Famine Years
Written by Caroline Pignat
Red Deer Press, 2008
 

Elijah of Buxton
Written by Christopher Paul Curtis
Scholastic Canada, 2007

The Alchemist's Dream
Written by John Wilson
Key Porter Books, 2007

Eye of the Crow: The Boy Sherlock Holmes, His First Case
Written by Shane Peacock
Tundra Books, 2007
 

Rise of the Golden Cobra
Written by Henry T. Aubin
Annick Press, 2007

Tin Angel
Written by Shannon Cowan
Lobster Press, 2007
 

Kanada
Written by Eva Wiseman
Tundra Books, 2006

Meyers' Rebellion
Written by Connie Brummel Crook
Fitzhenry & Whiteside, 2006
 

A Rebel’s Daughter: The 1837 Rebellion Diary of Arabella Stevenson 
(Dear Canada)
Written by Janet Lunn
Scholastic Canada, 2006
 

Terror at Turtle Mountain
Written by Penny Draper
Coteau Books, 2006

Where Soldiers Lie
Written by John Wilson
Key Porter Books, 2006

The Crazy Man
Written by Pamela Porter
Groundwood Books, 2005

The Death of My Country: The Plains of Abraham Diary of Geneviève Aubuchon
(Dear Canada)
Written by Maxine Trottier
Scholastic Canada, 2005
 

Forget-Me-Not
Written by Barbara Haworth-Attard
HarperTrophy Canada, 2005

Four Steps to Death
Written by John Wilson
Kids Can Press, 2005

Turned Away: The World War II Diary of Devorah Bernstein
(Dear Canada)
Written by Carol Matas
Scholastic Canada, 2005
 

Good for Nothing
Written by Michel Noël
Groundwood Books, 2004

Angeline
Written by Karleen Bradford
HarperTrophy Canada, 2004
 

Esther
Written by Sharon E. McKay
Penguin Group (Canada), 2004
 

Last Chance Bay
Written by Anne Laurel Carter
Penguin Group (Canada), 2004
 

Play Ball!
Written by Carol Matas
Key Porter Books, 2004
 

Boy O'Boy
Written by Brian Doyle
Groundwood Books, 2003
 

Anne and Seamus
Written by Kevin Major
Illustrated by David Blackwood
Groundwood Books, 2003
 

Brothers Far From Home: The World War I Diary of Eliza Bates
(Dear Canada)
Written by Jean Little
Scholastic Canada, 2003
 

The Courtesan’s Daughter
Written by Priscilla Galloway
Penguin Canada, 2003
 

A Dirty Deed
Written y Ted Stenhouse
Kids Can Press, 2003
 

The Word for Home
Written by Joan Clark
Penguin Books, 2002
 

A Company of Fools
Written by Deborah Ellis
Fitzhenry & Whiteside, 2002
 

Finding Sophie
Written by Irene N. Watts
Tundra Book, 2002

Irish Chain
Written by Barbara Haworth-Attard
HarperCollins Canada, 2002
 

Search of the Moon King's Daughter
Written by Linda Holeman
Tundra Book, 2002
 

If I Just had Two Wings
Written by Virginia Frances Schwartz
Stoddart Kids, 2001

Mary Ann Alice
Written by Brian Doyle
Groundwood Books, 2001

Shoes for Amélie
Written by Connie Colker Steiner
Illustrated by Denis Rodier
Lobster Press, 2001
 

Under a Shooting Star
Written by Maxine Trottier
Stoddart Kids, 2001

The War Within
Written by Carol Matas
Scholastic Canada, 2001
 

Charlie Wilcox
Written by Sharon E. McKay
Stoddart Kids, 2000

A Bushel of Light
Written by Troon Harrison
Stoddart Kids, 2001

The Grave
Written by James Heneghan
Groundwood Books, 2000
 

In My Enemy's House
Written by Carol Matas
Scholastic Canada, 1999
 

Love-Lies-Bleeding 
Written by Barbara Haworth-Attard
Roussan Publishers, 1999
 

AWARD DEFERRED

The Wrecker
Written by Iain Lawrence
Delacorte Press, 1998

 

The Brideship
Written by Joan Weir
Stoddart Kids, 1998
 

The Doctor's Apprentice: A Barkerville Mystery
Written by Ann Walsh
Beach Holme Publishing, 1998
 

The Gift for Ampato
Written by Susan Vande Griek
Illustrated by Mary Jane Gerber
Groundwood Books, 1999
 

Greater Than Angels
Written by Carol Matas
Scholastic Canada, 1998

The Hydrofoil Mystery
Written by Eric Walters
Penguin Books Canada, 1999
 

Janey's Choice
Written by Bernice Thurman Hunter
Scholastic Canada, 1998
 

The Only Outcast
Written by Julie Johnston
Tundra Books, 1998

The Secret of Gabi's Dresser
(A Holocaust Remembrance Book for Young Readers)
Written by Kathy Kacer
Second Story Press, 1999
 

The Shacklands
Written by Judi Coburn
Second Story Press, 1998

Good-bye Marianne: A Story of Growing Up in Nazi Germany
Written by Irene N. Watts
Tundra Books, 1998
 

Across Frozen Seas
Written by John Wilson
Beach Holme Publishing, 1997
 

Beyond the Waterfall
Written by Elaine Breault Hammond
Ragweed Press, 1997
 

The Dark Tower
Written by Sharon Stewart
Scholastic Canada, 1998

The Garden
Written by Carol Matas
Scholastic Canada, 1997

Living Freight
Written by Dayle Campbell Gaetz
Roussan Publishers, 1998
 

Make or Break Spring
Written by Janet McNaughton
Tuckamore Books, 1998

Nellie's Quest
Written by Connie Brummel Crook
Stoddart Kids, 1998
 

Prairie Fire!
Written by Bill Freeman
James Lorimer & Co., 1998

War of the Eagles
Written by Eric Walters
Orca Book Publishers, 1998
 

Wish Me Luck
Written by James Heneghan
Frances Foster Books, 1997
 

To Dance at the Palais Royale
Written by Janet McNaughton
Tuckamore Books, 1996
 

After the War
Written by Carol Matas
Scholastic Canada, 1996

The Belonging Place
Written by Jean Little
Viking, 1997

The Golden Rose
Written by Dayle Campbell Gaetz
Pacific Educational Press, 1996
 

The Hollow Tree
Written by Janet Lunn
Alfred A. Knopf Canada, 1997

Home Child
Written by Barbara Haworth-Attard
Roussan Publishers, 1996
 

Promise Song
Written by Linda Holeman
Tundra Books, 1997

The Seven Magpies
Written by Monica Hughes
HarperCollins Publishers, 1996

Shadows of a Sword
Written by Karleen Bradford
HarperCollins Publishers, 1996
 

The Stone Orchard
Written by Susan E. Merritt
Vanwell Publishing, 1996

Thunder Ice
Written by Alison Acheson
Coteau Books, 1996

Wings to Fly
Written by Celia Barker Lottridge
Groundwood Books, 1997
 

Rebellion: A Novel of Upper Canada
Written by Marianne Brandis
Illustrated by Gerard Brender à Brandis
Porcupine's Quill, 1996
 

Amy's Promise
Written by Bernice Thurman Hunter
Scholastic Canada, 1995

A Place Not Home
Written by Eva Wiseman
Stoddart Publishing, 1996

The Secret of Sentinel Rock
Written by Judith Silverthorne
Coteau Books, 1996
 

The Secret Wish of Nannerl Mozart
Written by Barbara K. Nickel
Second Story Press, 1996
 

A Time to Choose
Written by Martha Attema
Orca Book Publishers, 1995
 

Trapped by Coal
Written by Constance Horne
Illustrated by Linda Heslop
Vancouver Educational Press, 1994
 

The Dream Carvers
Written by Joan Clark
Viking, 1995

The Burning Time
Written by Carol Matas
HarperCollins, 1994

 

Ellen's Secret
Written by Jean Booker
Scholastic Canada, 1994

 

His Banner Over Me
Written by Jean Little
Viking, 1995

 

The Lie That Had to Be
Written by Sharon Gibson Palmero
Thistledown Press, 1995
 

Nellie L.
Written by Connie Brummel Crook
Stoddart, 1994
 

The Old Brown Suitcase: A Teenager's Story of War and Peace
Written by Lillian Boraks-Nemetz
Ben-Simon Publications, 1994
 

Signal Across the Sea
Written by Dorothy Perkyn
Lancelot Press, 1994
 

Within a Painted Past
Written by Hazel Hutchins
Annick Press, 1994
 

The Lights Go On Again
(Guests of War, Book 3)
Written by Kit Pearson
Viking Kestrel, 1993
 

Daniel's Story
Written by Carol Matas
Scholastic Canada, 1993
 

The Night Hazel Come To Town
Written by John Ibbitson
Maxwell Macmillan Canada, 1993
 

The Ocean Between
Written by Margaret Bunel Edwards
Illustrated by Linda Potts
Napoleon Publishing, 1993
 

Soldier Boys
Written by David Richards
Thistledown Press, 1993
 

Ticket to Curlew
Written by Celia Barker Lottridge
Groundwood Books, 1992
 

Jeremy's War 1812
Written by John Ibbitson
Maxwell Macmillan Canada, 1991
 

A Dog Came, Too
Written by Ainslie Manson
Illustrated by Ann Blades
Groundwood Books, 1992
 

Yesterday's Children
Written by Joyce Barkhouse
Lancelot Press, 1992
 

AWARD DEFERRED