Lord of the Fries
-short-listed for the Mr. Christie Award
-a New York Public Library Best Books for the Teenager

The Boy in the Burning House
-winner of an Arthur Ellis Award of the Crime Writers of Canada
-winner of an Edgar Award of the Mystery Writers of America.
-short-listed for the Red Maple Awards, Ontario Library Association
-short-listed for The Ruth Schwartz Award of the Ontario Arts Council
-short-listed for the Mr. Christie Award

And from overseas...

The Boy in the Burning House (also known as Il Ragazzo in fiamme ) has won the literary prize "Insula Romana" as the best young adult book of the year in the Umbria region.

The Maestro
-an International Board of Books for Youth (IBBY) Honor Book, 1998
- winner of the Governor General's Award, Children's Literature, 1995
-winner of the Canadian Library Association Young Adult Book of the Year
- short-listed for The City of Toronto Book Award
- short-listed for the Ruth Schwartz Award of the Ontario Arts Council
- short-listed for the Mr. Christie Award
- included on The Hungry Mind Review Children's Books of Distinction
- a New York Public Library Best Books for the Teenager
- a Booklist Editor's Choice.

Mischief City
-included in the "White Raven" catalogue of the Internationale Jugend Bibliotek in Münich, Germany, 1986

Zoom At Sea
-short-listed for the Canada Council Award for text, 1983
- I.O.D.E., Toronto Chapter, Award for best children's book
- the Ruth Schwartz Award of The Canadian Book Sellers Association

The Knot
- short-listed for the City of Toronto Book Award, 1984

The Book of Changes
- short-listed for the Mister Christie Award for, 1994
- named an American Library Association Notable Book for Children
- short-listed for the Silver Birch Award of the Ontario Library Association

Some of The Kinder Planets
- winner of the Governor General's Award, Children's Fiction, 1993
- winner of the Boston Globe/Horn Book Award (first Canadian to win this award)
- named one of the Ten Best Books of the Year, Parenting Magazine (U.S.)
- named a School Library Journal (U.S.) Best Book of the Year.
- winner of the Canadian Library Association Children's Book of the Year
- short-listed for the Mister Christie Award
- winner of the Vicky Metcalf Award for short fiction. ("The Hope Bakery")

Rosie Backstage
-the only Canadian title chosen in 1994 for the "White Raven" Catalogue of the prestigious Internationale Jugend Bibliotek in Münich, Germany

Fastyngange
- runner-up for the Author's Award presented by The Foundation For The Advancement of Canadian Letters, 1989

Odd's End
- winner of the Seal First Novel Award, 1980
-runner-up for the John Creasy Award, Crime Writers Association of Great Britain

St. Anthony's Man
- ACTRA Award, best radio drama, adaptation, 1988