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Press & Awards

Network Television

Good Morning America 3 

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Today Show 3rd Hour 

Good Morning America 3 

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Today Show 3rd Hour 

Magazines

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People City Spies.jpg
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50 Books Kids Love Most.jpg
Parent's Magazine.jpg
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Week Jr Book Cllub.jpg
USC Alumni Spotlight.jpg
Time For Kids.jpg
Girls Life.jpg

Podcasts

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National Bestseller Lists

New York Times Bestseller – City Spies

Indie Booksellers Bestseller – City Spies

New York Times Bestseller – Golden Gate

New York Times Bestseller – Forbidden City

New York Times Bestseller – City of the Dead

New York Times Bestseller – Mission Manhattan

USA Today Bestseller – Mission Manhattan

New York Times Bestseller – The Sherlock Society - #2

Indie Booksellers Bestseller – The Sherlock Society - #1

USA Today Bestseller – The Sherlock Society

Awards

2016 – Florida Book Award – Bronze Medal – Framed!

2017 – Edgar Award Nominee – Mystery Writers of America – Framed!

2018 – Edgar Award – Mystery Writers of America – Vanished!

2019 – Mark Twain Reader’s Award – Missouri State Readers’ Choice – Framed!

2019 – Nevada Young Readers’ Award – Framed!

2021 – Florida Sunshine State Young Readers Award – City Spies

2021 – Florida Book Award – Bronze Medal – Golden Gate

2022 – President’s Award – Florida Association of Media Educators

2022 – Maryland Black-Eyed Susan Book Award – City Spies

2022 – Sakura Medal – International Schools of Japan Best Book Award - City Spies

2023 – Minnesota Youth Readers Award – City Spies

2023 – Nevada Young Readers’ Award – City Spies

2023 – Young Hoosier Book Award – City Spies

2024 – NÄ“nÄ“ Award – Hawai’i’s Children’s Choice Book Award – City Spies

2024 – Charlie May Simon Children's Book Award – Arkansas – City Spies

Honors

2017 – Bank Street Best Children’s Books of the Year – Vanished!

2018 – Bank Street Best Children’s Books of the Year – Trapped!

2020 – Junior Library Guild Gold Standard – City Spies

2020 – New York Public Library Best Books of 2020 – City Spies

2020 – Parents’ Magazine Best Books of 2020 – City Spies

2020 – Parent’s Choice Recommended Books – City Spies

2021 – Indie Next – Golden Gate

2021 – Junior Library Guild Gold Standard – Golden Gate

2022 – Junior Library Guild Gold Standard – Forbidden City

2023 – Junior Library Guild Gold Standard – City of the Dead

2024 – Junior Library Guild Gold Standard – Mission Manhattan

2024 – Junior Library Guild Gold Standard – The Sherlock Society

2024 – Indie Next – The Sherlock Society

City Spies State Award Lists

Battle of the Books (AK)

Pacific Northwest Library Association Young Reader’s Choice Award (AK, ID, MT, WA)

Charlie May Simon Children’s Book Award (AR)

Colorado Children’s Book Award Nominee

Sunshine State Young Readers Award (FL)

Club Tome It List (GA)

Nēnē Award (HI)

Rebecca Caudill Young Readers’ Book Award Nominee (IL)

Read Aloud Indiana Book Award List

Young Hoosier Book Award (IN)

Iowa Children’s Choice Award Nominee

Iowa Elementary Battle of the Books

Kansas NEA Reading Circle List Intermediate Title

Kentucky Bluegrass Award

Louisiana Young Readers’ Choice Award Nominee

Black-Eyed Susan Book Award (MD)

Massachusetts Children’s Book Award nominee

Great Lakes Great Book Award Nominee (MI)

Maud Hart Lovelace Award Division I, Winner (MN)

Maud Hart Lovelace Award Division II, Honor (MN)

Mark Twain Readers Award Nominee (MO)

Nevada Young Readers’ Award

NCSLMA Middle School Battle of the Books (NC)

Rhode Island Middle School Book Award Nominee

Junior Book Award Nominee (SC)

Volunteer State Book Awards Nominee – Intermediate Division

Volunteer State Book Awards Nominee – Middle School Division

Lone Star Reading List (TX)

Virginia Readers’ Choice Award Nominee

Evergreen Teen Book Award Nominee (WA)

Battle of the Books – Elementary Division (WI)

Battle of the Books – Middle Division (WI)

Framed! State Award Lists

Nutmeg Book Award Reading List (CT)

Sunshine State Young Readers Award Nominee, Grades 3-5 (FL)

Sunshine State Young Readers Award, Grades 6-8 List (FL)

Bluestem Book Award Master List (IL)

Louisiana Young Readers’s Choice Award Nominee

Maine Student Book Award Reading List

Massachusetts Children’s Book Award Nominee

Maud Hart Lovelace Award Honor Title, Grades 3-5 (MN)

Maud Hart Lovelace Award Honor Title, Grades 6-8 (MN)

Mark Twain Readers’ Award (MO)

Nevada Young Readers’ Award

New York Reads Elementary School Titles

Rhode Island Children’s Book Award Nominee

Volunteer State Book Awards Nominee (TN)

Battle of the Books (WI)

Indian Paintbrush Book Award Nominee (WY)

Dead City State Award Lists

Grand Canyon Reader Award Nominee (AZ)

Sunshine State Young Reader Award Nominee (FL)

Iowa Middle School Battle of the Books (IA)

Truman Reader Award Nominee (MO)

Bluebonnet Award Nominee (TX)

© 2024 by James Ponti; illustrations by Yaoyao Ma Van As, Jane Mount Paul Hoppe, and Nigel Quarless 

Photos - Elena Seibert Photography

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