Freeman Book Awards, 2016-2024
Resources for titles recognized by this award since its inception in 2016 -- identifying quality books for children and young adults that contribute meaningfully to an understanding of East and Southeast Asia

- 1,330 Resources including
- 93 Videos
- 71 Book Readings
- 93 Lesson Plans
- List Analysis Report
Showing 1-48 of 121 book results

All Thirteen: The Incredible Cave Rescue of the Thai Boys' Soccer Team
(Commended, 2020)
46 Resources18 Awards





Thirty Minutes Over Oregon: A Japanese Pilot's World War II Story
by Marc Tyler Nobleman and Melissa Iwai
(Honor, 2018)
25 Resources6 Awards


A Thousand Beginnings and Endings
by Ellen Oh, Elsie Chapman, Renée Ahdieh, and Sona Charaipotra
(Honor, 2018)
23 Resources5 Awards

Banned Book Club
by Kim Hyun Sook, Ryan Estrada, and Ko Hyung-Ju
(Commended, 2020)
23 Resources5 Awards



Magic Ramen: The Story of Momofuku Ando
by Andrea Wang and Kana Urbanowicz
(Honor, 2019)
20 Resources3 Awards

Noodles on a Bicycle
by Kyo Maclear and Gracey Zhang
(Children's Commended, 2024)
19 Resources9 Awards

Up, Up, Ever Up!: Junko Tabei: A Life in the Mountains
by Anita Yasuda and Yuko Shimizu
(Children's Commended, 2024)
19 Resources10 Awards

The Ocean Calls: A Haenyeo Mermaid Story
by Tina Cho and Jess X. Snow
(Honor, 2020)
18 Resources3 Awards


The Floating Field: How a Group of Thai Boys Built Their Own Soccer Field
by Scott Riley, Phùng Nguyên Quang, and Kim Lien
(Winner, 2021)
17 Resources2 Awards



Pearl
by Sherri L. Smith and Christine Norrie
(Graphic Novels Commended, 2024)
16 Resources10 Awards

Every Falling Star: The True Story of How I Survived and Escaped North Korea
by Sungju Lee and Susan McClelland
(Winner, 2016)
15 Resources5 Awards


Are You an Echo?: The Lost Poetry of Misuzu Kaneko
by Misuzu Kaneko, Toshikado Hajiri, David Jacobson, and Sally Ito
(Honor, 2016)
14 Resources2 Awards





The House Before Falling Into the Sea
by Ann Suk Wang and Hanna Cha
(Children's Winner, 2024)
14 Resources7 Awards

The Other Side of Tomorrow
by Tina Cho and Deb JJ Lee
(Graphic Novels Honor, 2024)
14 Resources4 Awards

Too Young to Escape: A Vietnamese Girl Waits to Be Reunited with Her Family
by Van Ho and Marsha Forchuk Skrypuch
(Honor, 2018)
13 Resources4 Awards


Yukie's Island: My Family's World War II Story
by Yukie Kimura, Kõdo Kimura, and Steve Sheinkin
(Commended, 2023)
13 Resources4 Awards

No Steps Behind: Beate Sirota Gordon's Battle for Women's Rights in Japan
by Jeff Gottesfeld and Shiella Witanto
(Winner, 2020)
12 Resources3 Awards






Moth and Wasp, Soil and Ocean: Remembering Chinese Scientist Pu Zhelong's Work for Sustainable Farming
by Sigrid Schmalzer and Melanie Linden Chan
(Winner, 2018)
11 Resources3 Awards

The Phone Booth in Mr. Hirota's Garden
by Heather Smith and Rachel Wada
(Winner, 2019)
11 Resources6 Awards

Rats to the Rescue: The Unlikely Heroes Making Cambodia Safe
by Scott Riley, Sambat Meas, and Huy Voun Lee
(Children's Honor, 2024)
11 Resources4 Awards

