Geoffrey Bilson Award

The Geoffrey Bilson Award for Historical Fiction for Young People is a Canadian literary award that goes to the best work of historical fiction written for youth each year. The award is named after Geoffrey Bilson, a writer of historical fiction for youth and a history professor at the University of Saskatchewan who died suddenly in 1987.

The Geoffrey Bilson Award is selected by a jury chosen by the Canadian Children's Book Centre. Award winners must be Canadian authors, and the winning novel must have been published in the previous calendar year. Each year's winner receives a $1000 (C$) prize.

The award is one of several presented by the Canadian Children's Book Centre each year; others include the Marilyn Baillie Picture Book Award, the Norma Fleck Award for Canadian Children's Non-Fiction and the TD Canadian Children's Literature Award.[1]

Honourees

Geoffrey Bilson Award winners and finalists[2]
Year Author Title Result Ref.
1988 Carol Matas Lisa Winner [3]
Bill Freeman Danger on the Tracks Finalist
Margaret Maloney, illustrated by Lazlo Gal The Goodman of Ballengeich Finalist
Bernice Thurman Hunter Lamplighter Finalist
Mary Razzell Salmonberry Wine Finalist
Myra Paperny Take A Giant Step Finalist
1989 Martyn Godfrey Mystery in the Frozen Lands Winner [4]
Ann Blades Moses, Me and Murder Finalist
Dorothy Perkyns Rachel's Revolution
Robert Sutherland Son of the Hounds
1990 Kit Pearson The Sky is Falling Winner [5]
Kevin Major Blood Red Ochre Finalist
Carol Matas Jesper
Peter Cumming, illustrated by P. John Burden Mogul and Me
Constance Horne Nykola and Granny
Paul Yee, illustrated by Simon Ng Tales From Gold Mountain
1991 Marianne Brandis The Sign of the Scales Winner [6]
Jan Hudson Dawn Rider Finalist
Catherine Lalonde and Louise Burchell, illustrated by Carol Sargent Eliza’s Best Wednesday
Lyn Cook The Hiding Place
Barbara Smucker Incredible Jumbo
Elona Malterre The Last Wolf of Ireland
Joyce Barkhouse, illustrated by Henry Van der Linde Pit Pony
Barbara Greenwood Spy in the Shadows
1992 Award deferred
1993 Celia Barker Lottridge Ticket to Curlew Winner
John Ibbitson Jeremy's War 1812 Finalist
Ainslie Manson, illustrated by Ann Blades A Dog Came, Too
Joyce Barkhouse Yesterday's Children
1994 Kit Pearson The Lights Go On Again Winner
Carol Matas Daniel's Story Finalist
John Ibbitson The Night Hazel Come To Town
Margaret Bunel Edwards, illustrated by Linda Potts The Ocean Between
David Richards Soldier Boys
1995 Joan Clark The Dream Carvers Winner
Carol Matas The Burning Time Finalist
Jean Booker Ellen's Secret
Jean Little His Banner Over Me
Sharon Gibson Palmero The Lie That Had to Be
Connie Brummel Crook Nellie L.
Lillian Boraks-Nemetz The Old Brown Suitcase: A Teenager's Story of War and Peace
Dorothy Perkyn Signal Across the Sea
Hazel Hutchins Within a Painted Past
1996 Marianne Brandis Rebellion: A Novel of Upper Canada Winner
Bernice Thurman Hunter Amy's Promise Finalist
Eva Wiseman A Place Not Home
Judith Silverthorne The Secret of Sentinel Rock
Barbara K. Nickel The Secret Wish of Nannerl Mozart
Martha Attema A Time to Choose
Constance Horne, illustrated by Linda Heslop Trapped by Coal
1997 Janet McNaughton To Dance at the Palais Royale Winner
Carol Matas After the War Finalist
Jean Little The Belonging Place
Dayle Campbell Gaetz The Golden Rose
Janet Lunn The Hollow Tree
Barbara Haworth-Attard Home Child
Linda Holeman Promise Song
Monica Hughes The Seven Magpies
Karleen Bradford Shadows of a Sword
Susan E. Merritt The Stone Orchard
Alison Acheson Thunder Ice
Celia Barker Lottridge Wings to Fly
1998 Irene N. Watts Good-Bye Marianne Winner
John Wilson Across Frozen Seas Finalist
Elaine Breault Hammond Beyond the Waterfall
Sharon Stewart The Dark Tower
Carol Matas The Garden
Dayle Campbell Gaetz Living Freight
Janet McNaughton Make or Break Spring
Connie Brummel Crook Nellie's Quest
Bill Freeman Prairie Fire!
Eric Walters War of the Eagles
James Heneghan Wish Me Luck
1999 Iain Lawrence The Wreckers Winner
Joan Weir The Brideship Finalist
Ann Walsh The Doctor's Apprentice: A Barkerville Mystery
Susan Vande Griek, illustrated by Mary Jane Gerber The Gift for Ampato
Carol Matas Greater Than Angels
Eric Walters The Hydrofoil Mystery
Bernice Thurman Hunter Janey's Choice
Julie Johnston The Only Outcast
Kathy Kacer The Secret of Gabi's Dresser
Judi Coburn The Shacklands
2000 Deferred to the following year
2001 Sharon E. McKay Charlie Wilcox Winner
Troon Harrison A Bushel of Light Finalist
James Heneghan The Grave
Carol Matas In My Enemy's House
Barbara Haworth-Attard Love-Lies-Bleeding
2002 Virginia Frances Schwartz If I Just Had Two Wings Winner
Brian Doyle Mary Ann Alice Finalist
Connie Colker Steiner, illustrated by Denis Rodier Shoes for Amélie
Maxine Trottier Under a Shooting Star
Carol Matas The War Within
2003 Joan Clark The Word for Home Winner
Deborah Ellis A Company of Fools Finalist
Irene N. Watts Finding Sophie
Barbara Haworth-Attard Irish Chain
Linda Holeman Search of the Moon King's Daughter
2004 Brian Doyle Boy O'Boy Winner
Kevin Major, illustrated by David Blackwood Anne and Seamus Finalist
Jean Little Brothers Far From Home: The World War I Diary of Eliza Bates
Priscilla Galloway The Courtesan's Daughter
Ted Stenhouse A Dirty Deed
2005 Michel Noël Good for Nothing Winner
Karleen Bradford Angeline Finalist
Sharon E. McKay Esther
Anne Laurel Carter Last Chance Bay
Carol Matas Play Ball!
2006 Pamela Porter The Crazy Man Winner
Maxine Trottier The Death of My Country: The Plains of Abraham Diary of Geneviève Aubuchon Finalist
Barbara Haworth-Attard Forget-Me-Not
John Wilson Four Steps to Death
Carol Matas Turned Away: The World War II Diary of Devorah Bernstein
2007 Eva Wiseman Kanada Winner
Connie Brummel Crook Meyers' Rebellion Finalist
Janet Lunn A Rebel's Daughter: The 1837 Rebellion Diary of Arabella Stevenson
Penny Draper Terror at Turtle Mountain
John Wilson Where Soldiers Lie
2008 Christopher Paul Curtis Elijah of Buxton Winner
John Wilson The Alchemist's Dream Finalist
Shane Peacock Eye of the Crow: The Boy Sherlock Holmes, His First Case
Henry T. Aubin Rise of the Golden Cobra
Shannon Cowan Tin Angel
2009 John Ibbitson The Landing Winner [7]
Jack Mitchell The Ancient Ocean Blues Finalist
Melanie Little The Apprentice's Masterpiece: A Story of Medieval Spain
Shenaaz Nanji Child of Dandelions
Caroline Pignat Greener Grass: The Famine Years
2010 Shane Peacock Vanishing Girl Winner [8][9]
Laura Best Bitter, Sweet Finalist
John Wilson Crusade
Barbara Haworth-Attard Haunted
Nancy Hartry Watching Jimmy
2011 Valerie Sherrard The Glory Wind Winner [10]
Jean Little Exiles from the War: The War Guests Diary of Charlotte Mary Twiss Finalist
Marthe Jocelyn Folly
Martha Brooks Queen of Hearts
Caroline Pignat Wild Geese
2012 Kate Cayley The Hangman in the Mirror Winner [11][12]
Pamela Porter I’ll Be Watching Finalist [13]
John Wilson Shot at Dawn: World War I
Kenneth Oppel This Dark Endeavour: The Apprenticeship of Victor Frankenstein
Kit Pearson The Whole Truth
2013 Elizabeth Stewart The Lynching of Louie Sam Winner [14]
Gillian Chan I Am Canada: A Call to Battle Finalist [15]
Marsha Forchuk Skrypuch Making Bombs for Hitler
Amy McAuley Violins of Autumn
Pat Bourke Yesterday’s Dead
2014 Karen Bass Graffiti Knight Winner [16]
Don Cummer Brothers at War Finalist [17]
Julie Johnston Little Red Lies
Caroline Stellings The Manager
Philip Roy Me & Mr. Bell
2015 Marsha Forchuk Skrypuch Dance of the Banished Winner [18][19]
Patrick Bowman Arrow Through the Axes Finalist [20]
Caroline Pignat The Gospel Truth
Marsha Forchuk Skrypuch Underground Soldier
Caroline Pignat Unspeakable
2016 Karen Bass Uncertain Soldier Winner [21]
Kelley Armstrong The Unquiet Past Finalist [22]
Sara Henstra Mad Miss Mimic
Gisela Tobien Sherman The Farmerettes
Frieda Wishinsky, illustrated by Willow Dawson Avis Dolphin
2017 Kevin Sands The Mark of the Plague Winner [23][24]
Kenneth Oppel Every Hidden Thing Finalist [25][26]
Arushi Raina When Morning Comes
Ellen Schwartz Heart of a Champion
Caroline Stellings Freedom’s Just Another Word
2018 Kevin Sands The Assassin's Curse Winner [27]
Heather Smith The Agony of Bun O’Keefe Finalist [28]
Julie Lawson A Blinding Light
Heather Camlot Clutch
Uma Krishnaswami Step Up to the Plate, Maria Singh
2019 Christopher Paul Curtis The Journey of Little Charlie Winner [29][30]
Marsha Forchuk Skrypuch Don't Tell the Enemy Finalist [31]
Beryl Young Miles to Go
Jacqueline Halsey Piper
Kathy Kacer The Sound of Freedom
2020 Tina Athaide Orange for the Sunsets Winner [32]
Virginia Frances Schwartz Among the Fallen Finalist [33]
Kit Pearson Be My Love
Lisa Harrington The Big Dog
Harriet Zaidman City on Strike
Monique Polak Room for One More
2021 Jordyn Taylor The Paper Girl of Paris Winner [34]
Heather Smith Barry Squires, Full Tilt Finalist [35]
Kathy Kacer The Brushmaker’s Daughter
Nadine Neema and Archie Beaverho (illus.) Journal of a Travelling Girl
Heather Stemp Under Amelia’s Wing
2022 Harriet Zaidman Second Chances Winner [36][37]
Barbara Nickel Dear Peter, Dear Ulla Finalist [38]
Leslie Gentile Elvis, Me, and the Lemonade Stand Summer
J. Torres and David Namisato (illus.) Stealing Home
Marsha Forchuk Skrypuch Traitors Among Us
2023 Kim Spencer Weird Rules to Follow Winner [39][40]
Kathy Kacer Hidden on the High Wire: A Holocaust Remembrance Book for Young Readers Finalist [41]
Jane Baird Warren How to Be a Goldfish
Lori Weber The Ribbon Leaf
Salma Hussain The Secret Diary of Mona Hasan
2024 Jessica Outram Bernice and the Georgian Bay Gold Winner [42][43]
Julie Lawson Out of the Dark Finalist [44][45]
Kate Leth Mall Goth
Tho Pham and Sandra MacTavish The Cricket War
Amanda West Lewis Focus. Click. Wind.
2025 Shari Green Song of Freedom, Song of Dreams Winner [46]
Rosena Fung Age 16 Finalist [47]
Anna Rosner Eyes on the Ice
Jennifer Maruno The Go-Between
Tina Athaide Wings to Soar
2026 Kim Spencer I Won’t Feel This Way Forever Finalist [48][49]
Jacqueline Halsey Joe and the Wreck of the Tribune
Gregor Craigie Saving Wolfgang
Michelle Kadarusman Seabird
Carol Matas A Storm Unleashed

References

  1. ↑ "Sask., Man. writers win for children's books" Archived 2024-12-22 at the Wayback Machine . CBC, November 11, 2010.
  2. ↑ "Geoffrey Bilson Award for Historical Fiction for Young People". Canadian Children's Book Centre. Archived from the original on December 9, 2022. Retrieved May 20, 2023.
  3. ↑ "1988 Geoffrey Bilson Award for Historical Fiction for Young People Recipient: Carol Matas". Canadian Children's Book Centre. Archived from the original on January 28, 2023. Retrieved May 20, 2023.
  4. ↑ "1989 Geoffrey Bilson Award for Historical Fiction for Young People Recipient: Martyn Godfrey". Canadian Children's Book Centre. Archived from the original on September 25, 2022. Retrieved May 20, 2023.
  5. ↑ "1990 Geoffrey Bilson Award for Historical Fiction for Young People Recipient: Kit Pearson". Canadian Children's Book Centre. Archived from the original on October 4, 2022. Retrieved May 20, 2023.
  6. ↑ "1991 Geoffrey Bilson Award for Historical Fiction for Young People Recipient: Marianne Brandis". Canadian Children's Book Centre. Archived from the original on May 20, 2023. Retrieved May 20, 2023.
  7. ↑ "2009 Geoffrey Bilson Award for Historical Fiction for Young People Recipient: John Ibbitson". Canadian Children's Book Centre. Archived from the original on October 3, 2022. Retrieved May 20, 2023.
  8. ↑ "Awards: Canadian Children's Literature Awards". Shelf Awareness. November 12, 2010. Archived from the original on October 2, 2017. Retrieved May 14, 2023.
  9. ↑ "2010 Geoffrey Bilson Award for Historical Fiction for Young People Recipient: Shane Peacock". Canadian Children's Book Centre. Archived from the original on September 29, 2022. Retrieved May 14, 2023.
  10. ↑ Carter, Sue (October 5, 2011). "Erin Bow's Plain Kate wins TD Canadian Children's Literature Award". Quill and Quire. Archived from the original on October 5, 2022. Retrieved May 20, 2023.
  11. ↑ "Awards: Canadian Children's Literature". Shelf Awareness. November 26, 2012. Archived from the original on May 18, 2022. Retrieved May 14, 2023.
  12. ↑ Jinje, Safa (November 22, 2012). "Winners of the 2012 Canadian Children's Literature Awards". Quill and Quire. Archived from the original on July 20, 2019. Retrieved August 30, 2026.
  13. ↑ Carter, Sue (June 21, 2012). "Canadian Children's Book Centre releases award shortlists". Quill and Quire. Archived from the original on September 22, 2015. Retrieved August 30, 2026.
  14. ↑ Baldassi, Julie (October 23, 2013). "Canadian Children's Literature Award winners announced". Quill and Quire. Archived from the original on December 9, 2019. Retrieved August 30, 2026.
  15. ↑ Baldassi, Julie (September 11, 2013). "Canadian Children's Book Centre Awards finalists announced". Quill and Quire. Retrieved August 30, 2026.
  16. ↑ Robertson, Becky (November 7, 2014). "Canadian Children's Literature Award winners announced". Quill and Quire. Archived from the original on May 24, 2025. Retrieved August 30, 2026.
  17. ↑ Cerny, Dory (September 3, 2014). "Finalists announced for Canadian Children's Book Centre Awards". Quill and Quire. Archived from the original on January 28, 2023. Retrieved August 30, 2026.
  18. ↑ Medley, Mark (November 19, 2015). "Jonathan Auxier wins big at the Canadian Children's Book Centre awards". The Globe and Mail. Archived from the original on May 28, 2025. Retrieved August 29, 2026.
  19. ↑ Cerny, Dory (November 19, 2015). "Jonathan Auxier wins big at CCBC Book Awards". Quill and Quire. Archived from the original on March 18, 2023. Retrieved August 30, 2026.
  20. ↑ Robertson, Becky (September 10, 2015). "Marianne Dubuc, Eric Walters, Cybele Young among 2015 Canadian Children's Book Centre Awards finalists". Quill and Quire. Archived from the original on March 18, 2023. Retrieved August 30, 2026.
  21. ↑ Cerny, Dory (November 18, 2016). "Florence, Thisdale win TD Canadian Children's Literature Award". Quill and Quire. Archived from the original on June 23, 2025. Retrieved August 29, 2026.
  22. ↑ Robertson, Becky (September 8, 2016). "Awards: Kelley Armstrong‚ Willow Dawson‚ Ken Oppel among CCBC finalists". Quill and Quire. Archived from the original on June 14, 2025. Retrieved August 30, 2026.
  23. ↑ Godfrey, Laura (November 22, 2017). "'Great Auk' Wins TD Canadian Children's Literature Award". Publishers Weekly. Archived from the original on August 11, 2022. Retrieved August 29, 2026.
  24. ↑ Toromoreno, Rodrigo (November 21, 2017). "Jan Thornhill wins $30K award for best Canadian children's book". CBC Books. Archived from the original on January 3, 2026. Retrieved August 28, 2026.
  25. ↑ Robertson, Becky (September 7, 2017). "Jon Klassen, Julie Flett, Chris Hadfield among CCBC Award finalists". Quill and Quire. Archived from the original on January 21, 2025. Retrieved August 29, 2026.
  26. ↑ van Koeverden, Jane (September 7, 2017). "Chris Hadfield among finalists for Canadian children's book awards". CBC Books. Archived from the original on September 10, 2018. Retrieved August 28, 2026.
  27. ↑ Deziel, Shanda (October 30, 2018). "Town is by the Sea, The Marrow Thieves, When the Moon Comes honoured at TD Canadian Children's Literature Awards". Quill and Quire. Archived from the original on December 7, 2021. Retrieved August 29, 2026.
  28. ↑ Deziel, Shanda (September 6, 2018). "Wendy Orr, Cherie Demaline, and Monique Gray Smith among CCBC Award finalists". Quill and Quire. Archived from the original on September 7, 2018. Retrieved August 29, 2026.
  29. ↑ "36 Canadian books that won awards in the second half of 2019". CBC Books. December 30, 2019. Archived from the original on May 28, 2025. Retrieved August 28, 2026.
  30. ↑ van Koeverden, Jane (October 15, 2019). "Ebb & Flow by Heather Smith wins $50K TD Canadian Children's Literature Award". CBC Books. Archived from the original on December 18, 2025. Retrieved August 26, 2026.
  31. ↑ van Koeverden, Jane (September 5, 2019). "Jillian Tamaki, Kelley Armstrong, Janice Lynn Mather among Canadian Children's Book Centre finalists". CBC Books. Archived from the original on May 28, 2025. Retrieved August 28, 2026.
  32. ↑ "Julie Flett wins $50K TD Canadian Children's Literature Award for picture book Birdsong". CBC Books. November 2, 2020. Archived from the original on December 4, 2022. Retrieved August 28, 2026.
  33. ↑ "Julie Flett, Sydney Smith among finalists for $50K TD Canadian Children's Literature Award". CBC Books. September 15, 2020. Archived from the original on October 10, 2022. Retrieved August 28, 2026.
  34. ↑ Deogun, Inderjit (November 3, 2021). "Winners of the 2021 CCBC Book Awards revealed". Quill and Quire. Archived from the original on June 15, 2023. Retrieved August 29, 2026.
  35. ↑ Deogun, Inderjit (September 14, 2021). "CCBC Book Awards announces 2021 shortlist". Quill and Quire. Archived from the original on December 2, 2022. Retrieved August 29, 2026.
  36. ↑ Deogun, Inderjit (September 30, 2022). "Winners of the 2022 CCBC Book Awards revealed". Quill and Quire. Archived from the original on December 3, 2022. Retrieved August 29, 2026.
  37. ↑ "On the Trapline by David A. Robertson and Julie Flett wins $50K TD Canadian Children's Literature Award". CBC Books. October 3, 2022. Archived from the original on December 4, 2022. Retrieved August 28, 2026.
  38. ↑ "David A. Robertson, Xiran Jay Zhao & Christian Allaire among finalists for top Canadian children's book awards". CBC Books. September 12, 2022. Archived from the original on September 13, 2022. Retrieved August 28, 2026.
  39. ↑ "Kim Spencer takes home three CCBC Awards". Quill and Quire. October 24, 2023. Archived from the original on November 25, 2023. Retrieved November 25, 2023.
  40. ↑ Karagiannis, Zoie (October 24, 2023). "Kim Spencer wins $50K Canadian children's book award for first novel Weird Rules to Follow". CBC Books. Archived from the original on July 11, 2024. Retrieved August 28, 2026.
  41. ↑ "Canadian Children's Book Centre 2023 awards shortlists announced". Quill and Quire. September 12, 2023. Archived from the original on September 25, 2023. Retrieved August 29, 2026.
  42. ↑ "Jean E. Pendziwol and Jack Wong among winners for Canadian children's book awards". CBC Books. October 29, 2024. Archived from the original on November 29, 2024. Retrieved August 28, 2026.
  43. ↑ Deogun, Inderjit (October 29, 2024). "Winners of the 2024 CCBC Book Awards revealed". Quill and Quire. Archived from the original on October 10, 2025. Retrieved August 29, 2026.
  44. ↑ Vilkoff, Natalie (October 8, 2024). "Jack Wong, Sydney Smith and Liselle Sambury among finalists for top Canadian children's book awards". CBC Books. Archived from the original on November 30, 2024. Retrieved August 28, 2026.
  45. ↑ Deogun, Inderjit (October 1, 2024). "Canadian Children's Book Centre 2024 awards shortlists announced". Quill and Quire. Archived from the original on February 17, 2025. Retrieved August 29, 2026.
  46. ↑ Deogun, Inderjit (October 28, 2025). "Winners of the 2025 CCBC Book Awards revealed". Quill and Quire. Retrieved August 29, 2026.
  47. ↑ Deogun, Inderjit (August 27, 2025). "Canadian Children's Book Centre 2025 awards finalists announced". Quill and Quire. Archived from the original on October 12, 2025. Retrieved August 29, 2026.
  48. ↑ "Finalists announced for the 2026 Canadian Children's Book Centre awards". CBC Books. August 25, 2026. Retrieved August 28, 2026.
  49. ↑ Deogun, Inderjit (August 25, 2026). "Canadian Children's Book Centre 2026 awards finalists announced". Quill and Quire. Retrieved August 29, 2026.
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