The Red Maple Award celebrates fiction (since 1998) and non-fiction (every other year since 2005) Canadian books for grades 7–8 (ages 12–14) every year.
Out of ten nominated books in each category students must read a minimum of five to vote for their favourite.
The winner is chosen by the most popular book in all participating libraries, schools, groups, etc.
In 2005 a non-fiction subcategory of the Red Maple Award was created.
Carol Matas was the first fiction winner, while Andreas Schroeder was the first non-fiction winner.