Awards
The Queen’s Reading Room, Season 11 selection – The Secret Life of Bees 2023
Induction into Georgia Writers Hall of Fame, 2022
Australian Woman’s Day “Great Read Pick”, The Book of Longings 2020
The Book of the Month Club finalist, “Book of the Year” award- The Book of Longings 2020
Goodreads Choice Award 3rd place, Historical Fiction- The Book of Longings 2020
Heather’s Pick, Indigo Books, Canada- The Book of Longings– 2020
Freedom of Spirit Lifetime Achievement Award, conferred by Fetzer Institute 2020
Lucille Lortel Award, Outstanding Musical- The Secret Life of Bees musical- 2020
Gulfshore Woman of the Year award- Naples, FL- 2017
Honorary Doctorate of Letters conferred by Texas Christian University- 2016
International Dublin Literary Award Nominee for The Invention of Wings- 2015
Short listed for Leserpreis, German Book Award for The Invention of Wings-2015
SIBA Award, Fiction (Southern Independent Booksellers) for The Invention of Wings-2015
Florida Book Award, Fiction- The Invention of Wings-2014
Founder’s Award for Exemplary Service to History, Historical Society of Pennsylvania-2014
Goodreads Choice Award runner up, Historical Fiction- The Invention of Wings
Elle Magazine Grand Prix Reader’s Prize – The Invention of Wings- 2014
An Amazon “Best Book” for 2014- The Invention of Wings
A Library Journal “Best Book” for 2014- The Invention of Wings
Audie Award Finalist for best audiobook, The Invention of Wings- 2015
American Library Assoc Listen List for outstanding audiobooks, The Invention of Wings- 2015
Selected for Oprah’s Book Club 2.0, The Invention of Wings- 2014
Induction into South Carolina Academy of Authors Literary Hall of Fame- 2011
Homecoming Award, Oklahoma Center for Poets and Writers, Oklahoma State University- 2010
35th People’s Choice Awards Best Drama & Best Independent Film, The Secret Life of Bees 2009
40th NAACP Image Award- Best Motion Picture, The Secret Life of Bees 2009
International IMPAC Dublin Literary Award Nominee – The Mermaid Chair-2006
Distinguished Alumna of the Year, Texas Christian University- 2006
South Carolina “The Order of the Palmetto” Award- 2006
Quill Award for General Fiction- The Mermaid Chair- 2005
Southeastern Library Association Fiction Award- The Secret Life of Bees-2005
Book Sense Book of the Year, paperback- The Secret Life of Bees-2004
Literature To Life Award from The American Place Theatre- 2004
International IMPAC Dublin Literary Award Nominee- The Secret Life of Bees-2004
Southeastern Booksellers Association’s Book of the Year- The Secret Life of Bees- 2003
Book Sense Book of the Year Award finalist, hardcover- The Secret Life of Bees- 2003
Boeke Prize finalist, South Africa- The Secret Life of Bees- 2003
Orange Prize (longlisted) Nominee, England- The Secret Life of Bees- 2002
Literal Latte Creative Non-Fiction third prize-1999
Poets & Writers Exchange Program winner, Fiction- 1996
Best American Short Stories Citation, 100 Distinguished Stories -1996
South Carolina Fellowship in Literature from the South Carolina Arts Commission- 1994
Best American Short Stories 1994 Citation, 100 Distinguished Stories– The Secret Life of Bees.
Katherine Anne Porter Second Prize in Fiction from the Nimrod/Hardman Awards- 1993
South Carolina Academy of Authors Fellowships in Fiction- 1994 & 1996
Isak Dineson Creative Non-Fiction Award- 1994
South Carolina Fiction Project Winner, South Carolina Arts Commission- 1993, 1995, 1997