The Junior Division awards started in 2000; before that, awards were given for Youth and Senior divisions. View that list here.
2017
- (Winner) El Deafo by Cece Bell
- Absolutely Almost by Lisa Graff
- Loot by Jude Watson
- The Fourteenth Goldfish by Jennifer Holm
- Rain Reign by Ann M. Martin
- The Thickety: A Path Begins by J.A. White
- New Kid by Tim Green
- The Circus Dogs of Prague by Rachelle Delaney
2016
- (Winner) Escape from Mr. Lemoncello’s Library by Christ Grabenstein
- Loki’s Wolves by K.L Armstrong & M.A. Marr
- Colossus Rises – Peter Lerangis
- Flora & Ulysses: The Illuminated Adventures by Kate DiCamillo
- Middle School: My Brother is a Big, Fat Liar by James Patterson
- County by 7s by Holly Goldberg Sloan
- The Creature Department by Rober Paul Weston
- Never Say Die by Will Hobbs
2015
- (Winner) Wonder by R.J. Palacio
- Ungifted by Gordon Korman
- The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate
- Chomp by Carl Hiaasen
- Three Times Lucky by Sheila Turnage
- Starry River of the Sky by Grace Lin
- Who Could That be at This Hour? by Lemony Snicket
- Fairest of All by Sarah Mlynowski
2014
- (Winner) Cabin Fever by Jeff Kinney
- Wonderstruck by Brian Selznick
- 13 Gifts by Wendy Mass
- The Worst Years of my Life by James Patterson
- Darth Paper Strikes Back by Tom Angleberger
- The Last Council by Kazu Kibuishi
- Big Nate Out Loud by Lincoln Peirce
- The Medusa Plot by Gordon Korman
2013
- (Winner) The Lost Hero by Rick Riordan
- 13 Treasures by Michelle Harrison
- Big Nate: In a Class by Himself by Lincoln Peirce
- Fatty Legs by Christy Jordan-Fenton
- Lone Wolf by Kathryn Lasky
- The Mysterious Howling by Maryrose Wood
- The Strange Case of the Origami Yoda by Tom Angleberger
- Theodore Book: Kid Lawer by John Grisham
2012
- (Winner) 11 Birthdays by Wendy Mass
- The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate by Jaqueline Kelly
- Happenstance Found by P.W. Catanese
- Jake Ransom and the Skull King’s Shadow by James Rollins
- Scat by Carl Hiaasen
- Three Cups of Tea by Sarah L. Thomson
- When the Cherry Blossoms Fell by Jennifer Maruno
- Where the Mountain Meets the Moon by Grace Lin
- Watching Jimmy by Nancy Hartry
2011
- (Winner) Amulet: The Stonekeeper by Kazu Kibuishi
- Dog Lost by Ingrid Lee
- Found by Margaret Peterson Haddix
- Ignatius MacFarland: Frequenaut! by Paul Feig
- The Maze of Bones by Rick Riordan
- Savvy by Ingrid Law
- The Seer of Shadows by Avi
- Swindle by Gordon Korman
2010
- (Winner) Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Greg Heffley’s Journal by Jeff KinneyThe
- Candy Shop War by Brandon Mull
- Elijah of Buxton by Christopher Paul Curtis
- Igraine the Brave by Cornelia Funke
- Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick
- Marley: A Dog Like No Other by John Grogan
- Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart
- No Talking by Andrew Clements
2009
- (Winner) The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane by Kate Dicamillo
- Gossamer by Lois Lowry
- The Higher Power of Lucky by Susan Patron
- The Homework Machine by Dan Gutman
- The Dance by Siena Cherson Siegal
- Room One: A Mystery or Two by Andrew Clements
- Rules by Cynthia Lord
- The Year of the Dog by Grace Lin
2008
- (Winner) A Dog’s Life: The Autobiography of a Stray by Ann M. Martin
- The Day Joanie Frankenhauser Became a Boy by Francess Lin Lantz
- Double Identity by Margaret Peterson Haddix
- Listening for Lions by Gloria Whelan
- Princess Academy by Shannon Hale
- The Scarecrow and his Servant by Philip Pullman
- Shakespeare’s Secret by Elise Broach
- Whales on Stilts! By M.T. Anderson
2007
- (Winner) Dragon Rider by Cornelia Caroline Funke
- Charlie Bone and the Invisible Boy by Jenny Nimmo
- Chasing Vermeer by Blue Balliett
- Heartbeat by Sharon Creech
- Ida B and Her Plans to Maximize Fun Avoid Disaster, And (Possibly) Save The World by Katherine Hannigan
- Indigo’s Star by Hilary McKay
- Peter and the Starcatchers by Dave
- Barry and Ridley Pearson
- Star of Kazan by Eva Ibbotson
2006
- (Winner) The Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo
- Granny Torrelli Makes Soup by Sharon Creech
- Gregor the Overlander by Suzanne Collins
- Kensuke’s Kingdom by Michael Morpurgo
- The Mayor of Central Park by Avi
- Olive’s Ocean by Kevin Henkes
- Rodzina by Karen Cushman
- Sahara Special by Esme Raji Codell
2005
- (Winner) Thief Lord by Cornelia Funke
- The Runt by Marion Dane Bauer
- The Beloved Dearly by Doug Cooney
- The Secret Life of Owen Skye by Alan Cumyn
- Coraline by Neil Gaiman
- Hoot by Carl Hiaasen
- Saffy’s Angel by Hilary McKay
- Camp X by Eric Walters
2004
- (Winner) Skeleton Man by Joseph Bruchac
- Dial-A-Ghost by Eva Ibbotson
- Everything on a Waffle by Polly Horvath
- Love That Dog by Sharon Creech
- Rowan of Rin by Emily Rodda
- Parsifal’s Page by Gerald Morris
- The School Story by Andrew Clements
- Walk Across the Sea by Susan Fletcher
2003
- After Hamelin by Bill Richardson
- The Austere Academy by Lemony Snicket
- Because of Winn-Dixie by Kate Dicamillo
- The Doll People by Ann M. Martin
- Don’t Tell Anyone by Peg Kehret
- I Was A Rat! by Phillip Pullman
- Joey Pigza Loses Control by Jack Gantos
- Nory Ryan’s Song by Patricia Reilly Giff
2002
- (Winner) Bud, Not Buddy by Christopher Paul Curtis
- Birchbark House by Louise Erdrich
- Bunnicula Strikes Again by James Howe
- The Landry News by Andrew Clements
- Our Only May Amelia by Jennifer L. Holm
- Ramona’s World by Beverly Cleary
- Tucket’s Gold by Gary Paulsen
- Zooman Sam by Lois Lowry
2001
- (Winner) Holes by Louis Sachar
- Among the Hidden by Margaret Peterson Haddix
- Bat 6 by Virginia Euwer Wolff
- Bloomability by Sharon Creech
- Case of the Lion Dance by Laurence Yep
- Great Turkey Walk by Kathleen Karr
- Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (a.k.a. The Philosopher’s Stone) by J. K. Rowling
- Janey’s Girl by Gayle Friesen
- Joey Pigza Swallowed the Key by Jack Gantos
- A Long Way from Chicago by Richard Peck
- Nose from Jupiter by Richard Scrimger
- Sasquatch by Roland Smith
2000
- (Winner) A Mouse Called Wolf by Dick King-Smith
- Across the Wide and Lonesome Prairie by Kristiana Gregory
- Chasing Redbird by Sharon Creech
- Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine
- The Iron Ring by Lloyd Alexander
- Out of the Dust by Karen Hesse
- The Schernoff Discoveries by Gary Paulsen
- Searching for Candlestick Park by Peg Kehret
- The Skull of Truth by Bruce Coville
- The Virtual War by Gloria Skurzynski
- Wings to Fly by Celia Barker Lottridge
- Wringer by Jerry Spinelli