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!)

Amazon.com: Offsides: 9781637971062: Scott, Lori Z.: Books

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!

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