Christy Award-Winning Books: A Guide to the Christian Book Awards
A guide to the most prestigious Christian book awards, its categories, and the history of their winners over the years.
What are the christy awards?
The Christy Awards were started in 2000 and were named after author Catherine Marshall's bestselling novel, Christy. The awards seek to honor and support written works of various genres from a Christian worldview.
Overseen by the Evangelical Christian Publishing Association (ECPA), a non-profit trade organization involved in the distribution and publishing of Christian content worldwide. The winning books of each category are determined yearly at the Christy Awards Gala, held every November.
Book of the year winners
2024: Indigo Isle by T I Lowe (Just announced!)
2023: Within These Walls of Sorrow: A Novel of World War II Poland by Amanda Barratt
2022: The Secret Keepers of Old Depot Grocery by Amanda Cox
2021: The Edge of Belonging by Amanda Cox
2020: Whose Waves These Are by Amanda Dykes
2019: Becoming Mrs. Lewis by Patti Callahan
2018: True to You by Becky Wade
2017: Long Way Gone by Charles Martin
2016: The Five Times I Met Myself by James L Rubart
2015: Thief of Glory by Sigmund Brouwer
2014: Burning Sky: A Novel of the American Frontier by Lori Benton
Amplify award winners
2024: The American Queen: A Novel Based on the True Story of Appalachia's Kingdom of the Happy Land by Vanessa Miller (Just announced!)
2023: The Star That Always Stays by Anna Rose Johnson
2022: In Search of a Prince by Toni Shiloh
First novel winners
2024: An American Immigrant by Johanna Rojas Vann (Just announced!)
2023: The Extraordinary Deaths of Mrs. Kip by Sara Brunsvold
2023: The Forgotten Life of Eva Gordon by Linda MacKillop
2022: All That Is Secret by Patricia Raybon
2021: The Edge of Belonging by Amanda Cox
2020: A Long Time Comin' by Robin W Pearson
2019: The Baggage Handler by David Rawlings
2018: Missing Isaac by Valerie Fraser Luesse
2017: Stars in the Grass by Ann Marie Stewart
2016: Irish Meadows by Susan Anne Mason
2015: Feast for Thieves: A Rowdy Slater Novel by Marcus Brotherton
2014: Burning Sky: A Novel of the American Frontier by Lori Benton
2013: Into the Free by Julie Cantrell
2012: Words by Ginny L Yttrup
2011: Heartless by Anne Elisabeth Stengl
2010: Fireflies in December by Jennifer Erin Valent
2009: Blue Hole Back Home by Joy Jordan-Lake
2008: The Stones Cry Out by Sibella Giorello
2007: Where Mercy Flows by Karen Harter
2006: This Heavy Silence by Nicole Mazzarella
2005: The Mending String by Cliff Coon
2004: Welcome to Fred by Brad Whittington
2003: A Place Called Wiregrass by Michael Morris
2002: Ezekiel's Shadow by David Ryan Long
2001: Passing by Samaria by Sharon Ewell Foster
young adult WInners
2024: Sky of Seven Colors by Rachelle Nelson (Just announced!)
2024: Offsides by Lori Z. Scott (Just announced!)
2023: This Dreamer by Sara Watterson
2022: Shadow by Kara Swanson
2021: Mortal Sight by Sandra Fernandez Rhoads
2020: The Means That Make Us Strangers by Christine Kindberg
2019: The Warrior Maiden by Melanie Dickerson
2018: The Delusion: We All Have Our Demons by Laura Gallier
2017: The Silent Songbird by Melanie Dickerson
2016: The Choosing by Rachelle Dekker
2015: Storm Siren by Mary Weber
2013: Child of the Mountains by Marilyn Sue Shank
2012: Waterfall by Lisa T Bergren
2011: Motorcycles, Sushi and One Strange Book by Nancy N Rue
2010: North! or Be Eaten by Andrew Peterson - Joe Sutphin
2009: I Have Seen Him in the Watchfires by Cathy Gohlke
2008: Hollywood Nobody by Lisa Samson
2007: William Henry Is a Fine Name by Cathy Gohlke
general fiction winners
2024: The Wind Blows in Sleeping Grass by Katie Powner (Just announced!)
2023: Where the Blue Sky Begins by Katie Powner
2022: The Secret Keepers of Old Depot Grocery by Amanda Cox
2021: The Way It Should Be by Christina Suzann Nelson
2020: Whose Waves These Are by Amanda Dykes
2019: No One Ever Asked by Katie Ganshert
2018: Life After by Katie Ganshert
2017: The Promise of Jesse Woods by Chris Fabry
Contemporary romance winners
2024: Indigo Isle by T I Lowe (Just announced!)
2023: To Win a Prince by Toni Shiloh
2022: All That Really Matters by Nicole Deese
2021: Stay with Me by Becky Wade
2020: Now and Then and Always: A Maple Valley Romance by Melissa Tagg
2019: Falling for You by Becky Wade
2018: True to You by Becky Wade
2017: Her One and Only by Becky Wade
2016: The Wedding Chapel by Rachel Hauck
2015: A Broken Kind of Beautiful by Katie Ganshert
2014: Dangerous Passage by Lisa Harris
2013: The Breath of Dawn by Kristen Heitzmann
2012: Wolfsbane: Volume 3 (Discarded Heroes) by Ronie Kendig
2011: Sworn to Protect by DiAnn Mills
2010: Breach of Trust by DiAnn Mills
2009: Beyond the Night by Marlo Schalesky
2008: Remembered by Tamera Alexander
2007: Measure of a Lady by Deeanne Gist
2006: Bride Most Begrudging by Deeanne Gist
2005: Secrets by Kristen Heitzmann
2004: Hideaway by Hannah Alexander
2003: True Honor by Dee Henderson
2002: The Guardian by Dee Henderson
2001: A Touch of Betrayal by Catherine Palmer
2000: Whispers from Yesterday by Robin Lee Hatcher
historical romance winners
2024: Of Love and Treason by Jamie Ogle (Just announced!)
2023: The Rose and the Thistle by Laura Frantz
2022: Until Leaves Fall in Paris by Sarah Sundin
2021: A Portrait of Loyalty by Roseanna M White
2020: The Painted Castle by Kristy Cambron
2019: Becoming Mrs. Lewis by Patti Callahan
2019: With This Pledge by Tamera Alexander
2018: The Lacemaker by Laura Frantz
2017: A Note Yet Unsung by Tamera Alexander
2016: Luther and Katharina: A Novel of Love and Rebellion by Jody Hedlund
2015: Thief of Glory by Sigmund Brouwer
2014: Harvest of Gold by Tessa Afshar
2013: Against the Tide by Elizabeth Camden
2012: The Maid of Fairbourne Hall by Julie Klassen
2011: The Girl in the Gatehouse by Julie Klassen
2010: The Silent Governess by Julie Klassen
2009: From a Distance by Tamera Alexander
historical winners
2024: The Warsaw Sisters: A Novel of WWII Poland by Amanda Barratt (Just announced!)
2023: Within These Walls of Sorrow: A Novel of World War II Poland by Amanda Barratt
2022: Drawn by the Current by Jocelyn Green
2021: The White Rose Resists: A Novel of the German Students Who Defied Hitler by Amanda Barratt
2020: The Medallion by Cathy Gohlke
2019: Shelter of the Most High by Connilyn Cossette
2018: Isaiah's Daughter: A Novel of Prophets and Kings by Mesu Andrews
2017: The Mark of the King by Jocelyn Green
2016: Secrets She Kept by Cathy Gohlke
2015: The Sentinels of Andersonville by Tracy Groot
2014: Burning Sky: A Novel of the American Frontier by Lori Benton
2013: Flame of Resistance by Tracy Groot
2012: Wonderland Creek by Lynn Austin
2011: While We're Far Apart by Lynn Austin
2010: Though Waters Roar by Lynn Austin
2009: Until We Reach Home by Lynn Austin
2008: A Proper Pursuit by Lynn Austin
2007: Madman by Tracy Groot
2006: Whence Came a Prince by Liz Curtis Higgs
2005: King's Ransom by Jan Beazely - Thom Lemmons
2004: Fire by Night by Lynn Austin
mystery/suspense/thriller winners
2024: The Vanishing at Castle Moreau by Jaime Jo Wright (Just announced!)
2023: Cold Light of Day by Elizabeth Goddard
2022: Aftermath by Terri Blackstock
2021: Relative Silence by Carrie Stuart Parks
2020: The Girl Behind the Red Rope by Ted Dekker - Rachelle Dekker
2019: Every Wicked Man by Steven James
2018: The House on Foster Hill by Jaime Jo Wright
2017: When Death Draws Near by Carrie Stuart Parks
2016: Twisted Innocence by Terri Blackstock
2015: The Color of Justice by Ace Collins
2014: Outlaw by Ted Dekker
2013: Rare Earth by Davis Bunn
2012: The Queen: A Patrick Bowers Thriller by Steven James
2011: The Bishop by Steven James
2010: Lost Mission by Athol Dickson
2009: The Rook by Steven James
2008: The Cure by Athol Dickson
2007: Plague Maker by Tim Downs
2006: River Rising by Athol Dickson
2005: Tiger in the Shadows by Debbie Wilson
2004: Thr3e by Ted Dekker
2003: Directed Verdict by Randy D Singer
2002: Drummer in the Dark by T Davis Bunn
2001: The Great Divide by T Davis Bunn
2000: Final Witness by James Scott Bell
Speculative winners
2024: In This Moment by Gabrielle Meyer (Just announced!)
2023: Dream of Kings by Sharon Hinck
2022: Windward Shore by Sharon Hinck
2021: Forsaken Island by Sharon Hinck
short form winners
2024: Star of Wonder (included in We Three Kings) by Crystal Caudill (Just announced!)
2023: Always a Lady (included in A Return to Hawthorne House) by Kristi Ann Hunter
2022: A Texas Christmas Carol (included in Under the Texas Mistletoe) by Karen Witemeyer
2021: Joy to the World: Far as the Curse is Found by Amanda Barratt
2020: A Christmas Haven: An Amish Christmas Romance by Cindy Woodsmall - Erin Woodsmall
2019: Catching Christmas by Terri Blackstock
2018: 12 Days at Bleakly Manor: Book 1 in Once Upon a Dickens Christmas by Michelle Griep
2017: Looking Into You by Chris Fabry
Jump in and get reading
Even if you aren't a Christian, the Christy Awards stand as one of the most reputable book awards ever. With the 2024 winners just announced, it's the perfect time to jump into this list. Have fun reading!