top of page

Media & Awards

Network Television

Jennifer Hudson Show

Good Morning America 3 

Good Morning America 3 

Screenshot 2024-09-26 at 12.48.41 AM.png

Today Show 3rd Hour 

Screenshot 2024-09-26 at 12.46.19 AM.png

Today Show 3rd Hour 

Magazines & Newspapers

Variety Headline Vert.jpg
Alex People.jpg
PW Louvre.jpg
Website Press Template.jpg
People Picks copy.jpg
People City Spies.jpg
Parent's Magazine.jpg
PW Renegades Cover.jpg
Week Jr Book Cllub.jpg
50 Books Kids Love Most.jpg
Time For Kids.jpg
USC Alumni Spotlight.jpg
Girls Life.jpg

Podcasts

TRCJamesPonti-Style1.png

National Bestseller Lists

New York Times Bestseller – City Spies

Indie Booksellers Bestseller – City Spies

New York Times Bestseller – Golden Gate

New York Times Bestseller – Forbidden City

New York Times Bestseller – City of the Dead

New York Times Bestseller – Mission Manhattan

USA Today Bestseller – Mission Manhattan

New York Times Bestseller – The Sherlock Society

Indie Booksellers Bestseller – The Sherlock Society

USA Today Bestseller – The Sherlock Society

New York Times Bestseller – London Calling

Indie Booksellers Bestseller – London Calling

USA Today Bestseller – London Calling

New York Times Bestseller – Hurricane Heist

Indie Booksellers Bestseller – Hurricane Heist

USA Today Bestseller – Hurricane Heist

Awards

2016 – Florida Book Award – Bronze Medal – Framed!

2017 – Edgar Award Nominee – Mystery Writers of America – Framed!

2018 – Edgar Award – Mystery Writers of America – Vanished!

2019 – Mark Twain Reader’s Award – Missouri State Readers’ Choice – Framed!

2019 – Nevada Young Readers’ Award – Framed!

2021 – Florida Sunshine State Young Readers Award – City Spies

2021 – Florida Book Award – Bronze Medal – Golden Gate

2022 – President’s Award – Florida Association of Media Educators

2022 – Maryland Black-Eyed Susan Book Award – City Spies

2022 – Sakura Medal – International Schools of Japan Best Book Award - City Spies

2023 – Minnesota Youth Readers Award – City Spies

2023 – Nevada Young Readers’ Award – City Spies

2023 – Young Hoosier Book Award – City Spies

2024 – NÄ“nÄ“ Award – Hawai’i’s Children’s Choice Book Award – City Spies

2024 – Charlie Mae Simon Children’s Book Award – Arkansas – City Spies

2025 – Agatha Award Nominee – The Sherlock Society

Honors

2017 – Bank Street Best Children’s Books of the Year – Vanished!

2018 – Bank Street Best Children’s Books of the Year – Trapped!

2020 – Junior Library Guild Gold Standard – City Spies

2020 – New York Public Library Best Books of 2020 – City Spies

2020 – Parents’ Magazine Best Books of 2020 – City Spies

2020 – Parent’s Choice Recommended Books – City Spies

2021 – Barnes & Noble Children’s Pick of the Month – City Spies

2021 – Indie Next – Golden Gate

2021 – Junior Library Guild Gold Standard – Golden Gate

2022 – Junior Library Guild Gold Standard – Forbidden City

2023 – Junior Library Guild Gold Standard – City of the Dead

2024 – Junior Library Guild Gold Standard – Mission Manhattan

2024 – Junior Library Guild Gold Standard – The Sherlock Society

2024 – Indie Next – The Sherlock Society

2024 – The Week Junior Best Books of the Year – The Sherlock Society

2025 – Junior Library Guild Gold Standard – London Calling

2025 – The Week Junior Best Books of the Year – London Calling

2025 – Junior Library Guild Gold Standard – Hurricane Heist

2025 – Barnes & Noble Children’s Pick of the Month – The Sherlock Society

2026 – Junior Library Guild Gold Standard – Europa

 

Sherlock Society State Award Lists

City Spies State Award Lists

California - CDE Recommended List

Georgia Children's Book Award

Idaho Battle of the Books

Indiana - Young Hoosier Book Award

Louisiana Young Readers’ Choice Award Nominee

Maine Student Book Award

Maryland - Black-Eyed Susan Book Award

Mississippi - Magnolia Award

Missouri - Best New Books for Missouri Students

Nebraska - Golden Sower Award

New Hampshire - Great Stoneface Award

New Mexico Battle of the Books

Tennessee - Volunteer State Book Award

Vermont Golden Dome Book Award

​

Alaska - Battle of the Books

Alaska - Pacific Northwest Library Association Young Reader’s Choice Award 

Arkansas - Charlie May Simon Children’s Book Award

Colorado Children’s Book Award Nominee

Florida - Sunshine State Young Readers Award 

Georgia - Club Tome It List 

Hawaii - NÄ“nÄ“ Award 

Idaho - Pacific Northwest Library Association Young Reader’s Choice Award

Illinois - Rebecca Caudill Young Readers’ Book Award Nominee

Indiana - Read Aloud Indiana Book Award List

Indiana - Young Hoosier Book Award 

Iowa Children’s Choice Award Nominee

Iowa Elementary Battle of the Books

Kansas NEA Reading Circle List Intermediate Title

Kentucky Bluegrass Award

Louisiana Young Readers’ Choice Award Nominee

Maryland - Black-Eyed Susan Book Award

Massachusetts Children’s Book Award nominee

Michigan - Great Lakes Great Book Award Nominee 

Minnesota - Maud Hart Lovelace Award Division I, Winner 

Minnesota - Maud Hart Lovelace Award Division II, Honor 

Missouri - Mark Twain Readers Award Nominee 

Montana - Pacific Northwest Library Association Young Reader’s Choice Award

Nevada Young Readers’ Award

North Carolina - NCSLMA Middle School Battle of the Books 

Pennsylvania Young Reader's Choice Award

Rhode Island Middle School Book Award Nominee

South Caroilina - Junior Book Award Nominee 

Volunteer State Book Awards Nominee – Intermediate Division

Volunteer State Book Awards Nominee – Middle School Division

Texas - Lone Star Reading List 

Virginia Readers’ Choice Award Nominee

Washington - Evergreen Teen Book Award Nominee 

Washington - Pacific Northwest Library Association Young Reader’s Choice Award

Battle of the Books – Elementary Division 

Battle of the Books – Middle Division

Framed! State Award Lists

Connecticut - Nutmeg Book Award Reading List 

Florida - Sunshine State Young Readers Award Nominee, Grades 3-5

Florida - Sunshine State Young Readers Award, Grades 6-8 List

Illinois - Bluestem Book Award Master List

Louisiana Young Readers’s Choice Award Nominee

Maine Student Book Award Reading List

Massachusetts Children’s Book Award Nominee

Minnesota - Maud Hart Lovelace Award Honor Title, Grades 3-5

Minnesota - Maud Hart Lovelace Award Honor Title, Grades 6-8

Missouri Mark Twain Readers’ Award 

Nevada Young Readers’ Award

New York Reads Elementary School Titles

Rhode Island Children’s Book Award Nominee

Tennessee - Volunteer State Book Awards Nominee

Wisconsin - Battle of the Books

Wyoming - Indian Paintbrush Book Award Nominee 

Dead City State Award Lists

Arizona - Grand Canyon Reader Award Nominee

Florida Sunshine State Young Reader Award Nominee

Iowa Middle School Battle of the Books 

Missouri - Truman Reader Award Nominee 

Texas - Bluebonnet Award Nominee 

© 2026 by James Ponti; illustrations by Yaoyao Ma Van As, Jane Mount Paul Hoppe, and Nigel Quarless 

Photos - Elena Seibert Photography

bottom of page