150 Award Genres
Children
- Children - Action
- Children - Adventure
- Children - Animals
- Children - Audiobook
- Children - Christian
- Children - Coming of Age
- Children - Concept
- Children - Educational
- Children - Fable
- Children - Fantasy/Sci-Fi
- Children - General
- Children - Grade 4th-6th
- Children - Grade K-3rd
- Children - Mystery
- Children - Mythology/Fairy Tale
- Children - Non-Fiction
- Children - Picture Book
- Children - Preschool
- Children - Preteen
- Children - Religious Theme
- Children - Social Issues
Christian
- Christian - Amish
- Christian - Biblical Counseling
- Christian - Devotion/Study
- Christian - Fantasy/Sci-Fi
- Christian - Fiction
- Christian - General
- Christian - Historical Fiction
- Christian - Living
- Christian - Non-Fiction
- Christian - Romance - Contemporary
- Christian - Romance - General
- Christian - Romance - Historical
- Christian - Thriller
Fiction
- Fiction - Action
- Fiction - Adventure
- Fiction - Animals
- Fiction - Anthology
- Fiction - Audiobook
- Fiction - Chick Lit
- Fiction - Crime
- Fiction - Cultural
- Fiction - Drama
- Fiction - Dystopia
- Fiction - Fantasy - Epic
- Fiction - Fantasy - General
- Fiction - Fantasy - Urban
- Fiction - General
- Fiction - Graphic Novel/Comic
- Fiction - Historical - Event/Era
- Fiction - Historical - Personage
- Fiction - Holiday
- Fiction - Horror
- Fiction - Humor/Comedy
- Fiction - Inspirational
- Fiction - Intrigue
- Fiction - LGBTQ
- Fiction - Literary
- Fiction - Magic/Wizardry
- Fiction - Military
- Fiction - Mystery - General
- Fiction - Mystery - Historical
- Fiction - Mystery - Legal
- Fiction - Mystery - Murder
- Fiction - Mystery - Sleuth
- Fiction - Mythology
- Fiction - New Adult
- Fiction - Paranormal
- Fiction - Realistic
- Fiction - Religious Theme
- Fiction - Science Fiction
- Fiction - Short Story/Novela
- Fiction - Social Issues
- Fiction - Southern
- Fiction - Sports
- Fiction - Supernatural
- Fiction - Suspense
- Fiction - Tall Tale
- Fiction - Thriller - Conspiracy
- Fiction - Thriller - Environmental
- Fiction - Thriller - Espionage
- Fiction - Thriller - General
- Fiction - Thriller - Legal
- Fiction - Thriller - Medical
- Fiction - Thriller - Political
- Fiction - Thriller - Psychological
- Fiction - Thriller - Terrorist
- Fiction - Time Travel
- Fiction - Urban
- Fiction - Visionary
- Fiction - Western
- Fiction - Womens
Non-Fiction
- Non-Fiction - Adventure
- Non-Fiction - Animals
- Non-Fiction - Anthology
- Non-Fiction - Art/Photography
- Non-Fiction - Audiobook
- Non-Fiction - Autobiography
- Non-Fiction - Biography
- Non-Fiction - Business/Finance
- Non-Fiction - Cooking/Food
- Non-Fiction - Cultural
- Non-Fiction - Drama
- Non-Fiction - Education
- Non-Fiction - Environment
- Non-Fiction - Genealogy
- Non-Fiction - General
- Non-Fiction - Gov/Politics
- Non-Fiction - Grief/Hardship
- Non-Fiction - Health - Fitness
- Non-Fiction - Health - Medical
- Non-Fiction - Historical
- Non-Fiction - Hobby
- Non-Fiction - Home/Crafts
- Non-Fiction - Humor/Comedy
- Non-Fiction - Inspirational
- Non-Fiction - LGBTQ
- Non-Fiction - Marketing
- Non-Fiction - Memoir
- Non-Fiction - Military
- Non-Fiction - Motivational
- Non-Fiction - Music/Entertainment
- Non-Fiction - New Age
- Non-Fiction - Occupational
- Non-Fiction - Parenting
- Non-Fiction - Relationships
- Non-Fiction - Religion/Philosophy
- Non-Fiction - Retirement
- Non-Fiction - Self Help
- Non-Fiction - Short Story/Novela
- Non-Fiction - Social Issues
- Non-Fiction - Spiritual/Supernatural
- Non-Fiction - Sports
- Non-Fiction - Travel
- Non-Fiction - True Crime
- Non-Fiction - Womens
- Non-Fiction - Writing/Publishing
Poetry
Romance
Young Adult
- Young Adult - Action
- Young Adult - Adventure
- Young Adult - Coming of Age
- Young Adult - Fantasy - Epic
- Young Adult - Fantasy - General
- Young Adult - Fantasy - Urban
- Young Adult - General
- Young Adult - Horror
- Young Adult - Mystery
- Young Adult - Mythology/Fairy Tale
- Young Adult - Non-Fiction
- Young Adult - Paranormal
- Young Adult - Religious Theme
- Young Adult - Romance
- Young Adult - Sci-Fi
- Young Adult - Social Issues
- Young Adult - Thriller
Illustration Award
Recommend this book:
Mup
The Complete Graphic Novel
Raea Gragg
2021 Gold Medal
282 Pages
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Fiction - Graphic Novel/Comic
Mup, written and illustrated by Raea Gragg, is a graphic novel with beautiful and eye-catching illustrations, and the topics about being environmentally conscious, the angst of turning into a teenager, and family are timely and creative. Mup is a cheerful and high-spirited young girl who does not have a care in the world. She meets up with her teenaged self, Arianna, who only cares about how popular and pretty she is. Arianna’s world is a dreary place, with all the plants now dead, but her father, a botanist as well as a contagious optimist, is on a mission to Africa to find the hidden valley where a cure can be found to reverse all the damage. There, Mup, her future self, and their father, as well as a few other lively characters meet the evil villain whose only mission is to drill for oil and get rich. Mup by Raea Gragg is a fantastic way to introduce important social issues to children.
I was impressed with the creative storyline and gorgeous eye-popping graphic designs and illustrations in Mup by Raea Gragg. The pages came to life from the first to the last, and relevant social issues are revealed in a fun and non-threatening way. This is a story for all ages: the young, to introduce them to the important issue of conservation; the teenager, to soothe their anxiety about leaving childhood behind; the adult, for a gentle reminder about the feelings of being a teenager and the importance of holding onto the family. Raea Gragg is truly a dynamo and I expect to see more work from this talented author and illustrator.
Recommend this book:
Astral Evolution
Jay Magnum and Brian Augustyn
2020 Bronze Medal
128 Pages
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Fiction - Graphic Novel/Comic
Astral Evolution is a work of comic book fiction with graphic novel illustrations and was created by author team Jay Magnum and Brian Augustyn, and an extensive team of artists. Penned as the exciting sequel to the high-quality Astral Genesis, we find ourselves with Colonol DeVane and a fantastic superhero whose origins make her a princess from ancient Egypt. Evil is afoot in this lavish thriller story that also has plenty of science fiction and true comic book genre hits, including rough and ready heroes versus glamorous wicked types, epic fight scenes and gorgeously drawn heroines who also know how to kick their enemies to the curb.
Stylish and filled with substance, this is another fantastic work from the Astral series team, led by author duo Jay Magnum and Brian Augustyn. Lila was my favorite in this piece: a capable and intelligent glamazon of a woman with plenty of light and dark in her storyline. It was wonderful to see such character development for her and the surrounding cast, and even in the relatively short space of a graphic novel, we can feel attached to these characters and treat them as real individuals with relatable emotions. The art style with line drawings from Ariel Medel is truly stunning, creating dynamic action scenes that add to the complex and intriguing plot of the tale. Overall, Astral Evolution is an excellent addition to the series and an extremely high-quality graphic novel that every fan and collector ought to own.
Recommend this book:
Mega Awesome Notebook
Kevin Minor
2020 Silver Medal
112 Pages
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Fiction - Graphic Novel/Comic
The Mega Awesome Notebook by Kevin Minor is an awesome graphic novel about an equally awesome graphic novel. It tells the story of a teenage cartoonist whose drawings come to life through a radioactive cloud of awesomeness after he accidentally microwaves his notebook at breakfast. Radioactivity, however, is the least of his worries as he is faced with boring algebra, bullies and a lack of self-confidence in what seems to be a normal day for him. Dud, the main drawing in his notebook, quickly forms a love-hate relationship with the artist in an attempt to become independent. Through their spats, more details about the boy’s life are revealed to the reader – a crush, divorced parents who don’t seem to have much time for their child and an incapacity to deal with these issues appropriately.
Both written and illustrated by Kevin Minor, this touching glimpse into the mind of an angst-ridden teen is nothing short of brilliant. The Mega Awesome Notebook delighted me in its ingenuity and creativity and delivered a laugh on every page despite its sometimes emotionally charged subject matter. Minor’s capacity to switch from one artistic style to another at the stroke of a pencil is quite remarkable and the mark of true artistic talent. The main characters, both the teen and Dud, were touching, entertaining and brought the story to life in the way only very beautiful drawings can. I feel that this graphic novel is suited to readers of all ages with its life-like art and brilliant social commentary. I am blown away by the sheer talent of Kevin Minor - he has a new fan in me!
Recommend this book:
The Watcher's Tale
Mary Morgan's Journal Book 3
R. M. Wilburn
2020 Gold Medal
69 Pages
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Fiction - Graphic Novel/Comic
The Watcher's Tale: Mary Morgan's Journal Book 3 is a post-apocalyptic science fiction graphic novel written and illustrated by R. M. Wilburn. While Mary Morgan and her companions-at-arms had been successful in their efforts to free those imprisoned for their opposition to Herr Bigly’s Rump’s reign of awfulness, they soon realized that they had underestimated the lengths to which the orange monster would go to establish and maintain an iron grip on his plan for world domination. His secret weapon was soon revealed to be devastatingly simple and sinister. The announcements heralding Bigly Rump’s generous offer of free education to all children indicated that it was not only generous but also mandatory. What better way to create a dictatorship that endures than by brainwashing the young? This and other new developments made it even more urgent for Mary and her crew to regroup and plan their next moves.
The Watcher's Tale presents the reader with an awful vision that will seem terribly familiar to anyone who’s ever dared to look at an independently published newspaper or kept up with current events. Wilburn’s illustrations continue to delight and amaze. I love the imaginative use of the hand-written journal pages which seem torn, stapled together and bearing coffee stains and dirt. Pages are deckle-edged, giving them an ancient and tattered impression and making one wonder just how far in the past these entries were penned. Mary’s compatriots hail from all over the galaxy, and their varied and unusual appearances compound the post-apocalyptic nature of the work. I also appreciated how she weaves a photographic journal throughout the work, again one that is dire and foreboding in nature and steeped in our past. Wilburn’s work gives one a lot to think about, especially considering the Constitutional crisis facing the nation today. The Watcher's Tale: Mary Morgan's Journal Book 3 is most highly recommended.
Recommend this book:
Ziggy Zig-Zags The Light and Dark Fantastic
Ron Baxley, Jr.
2019 Finalist
56 Pages
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Fiction - Graphic Novel/Comic
Ziggy Zig-Zags The Light and Dark Fantastic is a graphic fantasy novel written by Ron Baxley, Jr., with illustrations by Vincent Myrand and lettering by Ali Tavakoly. Few people know, in this day and age, the epic history of the Pembroke Welsh Corgi breed. These stalwart and intelligent big dogs in small bodies were used as battle steeds for elvish warriors. But their utility was not restricted to times of war. Elves and other small magical creatures found the Corgis to be the perfect partners for everyday tasks and journeys. Some say that the white markings Welsh Pembroke Corgis bear to this day are the places where the elvish saddles and stirrups left their marks. Ziggy is such a Pembroke Welsh Corgi; one who was entrusted by the elves with some vital and important missions. The first was to rescue a Lost Boy from Neverland. Armed with pixie dust carefully packaged by the elves, and with his inimitable buoyancy and good cheer, Ziggy followed the star signs and landed in Neverland, where he found Tiddle, the lost boy who was now found.
Ziggy Zig-Zags The Light and Dark Fantastic introduces a new canine hero of truly epic proportions, and I’ll never look at Corgis in quite the same way again. Baxley’s admiration for the breed, after he adopted his rescued Pembroke Corgi, shines out on every panel of this enthralling two-story graphic novel. Vincent Myrand’s marvelous illustrations really capture the dog’s facial expressions as he considers his challenges and gets past all manner of obstructions and dangers. I loved revisiting Neverland, and a quick trip to Oz was a rare treat indeed. Baxley’s stories are well plotted and exciting, and Myrand’s line and wash illustrations are superb. Each drawing is a visual feast and works so well with the story line. I had the grandest time reading this book, which offers the daring reader fantasy, evil elves, helpful monkeys and even an arch villain or two. Ziggy Zig-Zags The Light and Dark Fantastic is most highly recommended.
Recommend this book:
The Rescuer's Tale
Mary Morgan's Journal, Book 2
R. M. Wilburn
2019 Honorable Mention
71 Pages
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Fiction - Graphic Novel/Comic
Well, well, well, what has R.M. Wilburn created here? Although her book, The Rescuer’s Tale, is the second in a series - Mary Morgan’s Journal - the elements of my incredulous (as in knocked my socks off) observations must have found their genesis in volume one. Is this a mystery? A satire? An adventure? A puzzle? An incredible delight? Yes, yes, yes, yes, and most assuredly, YES! At heart, this is a detective story, and presumably one might well believe it is intended for the young, and maybe even-younger, adult; perhaps even for some precocious child, but this old man hereby claims it for himself.
Two things will astound you when delving into The Rescuer’s Tale by R.M. Wilburn. First, each page reveals a deeply intriguing collage of absolutely gorgeous, monstrously creative illustrations by the author. These images, purely artistic in themselves, lead the reader’s eye through an inclusive dialogue-of-words as if he is rummaging through a detective’s comprehensive file, making him feel like he alone in discovering all these mysterious clues, putting together improbable scenarios, and coming to his ultimate conclusions with no outside help. This evokes the sensation of non-linear reading, and such has never been more pleasing or accessible. Second, content does unfold quite story-like, despite the seeming hodge-podge, for this apparent randomness of images is entirely strategic.
The story may be fantastical, including sci-fi elements and Harry Potterish magic, but it is also ripe with contemporary politics (a recently ousted leader named Herr Bigly Rump bears too many familiar and thoroughly nasty traits), making the attached newspaper clippings deliciously relevant and timely. Final word: The Rescuer’s Tale is Uncommonly Smart & Unbelievably Creative.
Recommend this book:
The Iron Heel
Bix Santana
2019 Bronze Medal
174 Pages
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Fiction - Graphic Novel/Comic
The Iron Heel is an exciting and visually stunning graphic novel written by author Bix Santana and illustrated by Ryan Gutierrez. Focusing on radical social change in a future world seven centuries from now, this thrilling, dark sci-fi tale tells the story of a society threatening to collapse as a new world order looms on the horizon. Caught in the crossfire of this changing world is Anthony Meredith, a typical noir cynical hero whose primary job is to create virtual entertainment stories to keep the masses quiet. But when Meredith is pulled into the rebellion against the elites, he discovers the true exploitation underlying the current system and sets about a method to ignite the fire of revolution across the world.
I loved this story to bits. There are so many references to excellent and intelligent political science fiction of the past, for example the parallels between Huxley’s ‘feelies’ and the ‘verties’ that Meredith creates, as well as the more modern story lines of classics like The Matrix. Bix Santana weaves these old tropes into a powerful new form, delivering a fresh and exciting world that reflects our own in terms of the temptation of corruption and the power of rebellion against it. This is accompanied by Ryan Gutierrez’s stunning illustrative work, which brings the emotive elements of the characters to life and the noir setting of the world to its fullest, most sinister potential. Overall, The Iron Heel will appeal to V For Vendetta style revenge and revolution fans. A lavish must-read for the graphic novel genre.
Recommend this book:
Astral Genesis
Ivan M. Cohen and Jay Magnum
2019 Silver Medal
128 Pages
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Fiction - Graphic Novel/Comic
Astral Genesis by Ivan M. Cohen and Jay Magnum is a graphic novel dealing with science fiction themes, space aliens, disgraced astronauts, and your typical politicians with huge egos and attitude problems. Our disgraced hero, DeVane, is given a straightforward mission, or so it would seem. But when things go backward, that’s where the action really begins. Add a beautiful super alien into the mix and you have a story. At least here you do. This is a wild, action-packed adventurous romp for those who like alien graphic novels with some predictable parts, but also with some twists. Who is the real good guy and who isn’t? What’s the real plan of the government, and what are the aliens doing? This kept the story moving along at a rapid pace.
The artwork of Astral Genesis is what you’d expect in a Marvel or DC work—it’s that good. The colors and details blend in well with the story’s plot and really bring it to life. The professionalism shows throughout. This graphic novel is geared toward the older reader: I would say teens and above, so parental guidance is strongly suggested for the younger age group. I thought the characters were fleshed out enough so they seemed three-dimensional and believable. Although the story is complete in and of itself with a satisfying ending, there is obviously more to come in these action-packed space adventures. I recommend this graphic novel for those who enjoy fast action space adventures.
Recommend this book:
The Cautioner's Tale
R. M. Wilburn
2018 Bronze Medal
48 Pages
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Fiction - Graphic Novel/Comic
The Cautioner's Tale is a post-apocalyptic graphic novel written and illustrated by R.M. Wilburn. Mary Morgan is a woman with a special gift -- she travels through time, and she’s seen things in the future that would stagger the imagination of most people. Her journal recounts the events that take place in the near future, the year is 2047 as is noted on the diner receipt which lies near a poem entitled The Dying Man. It all begins with a rigged election and ends with disaster. Mary’s mentor and friend, Dr. Parsimonious Creed, has been dead for two years now. He had been the hope of a people still reeling from the impact of the Last Great War, but was found in his home, which had obviously been ransacked, his files missing. Creed had been compiling evidence against billionaire Herr Bigly Rump, whose offer to make the world a better place was one that had to be accepted under pain of exile to the Arctic; an offer that was made suspiciously soon after Creed’s death. Rump claimed he alone could fix this, yet things had gotten very much worse indeed since his assumption of power.
In the introduction to The Cautioner's Tale, R.M. Wilburn states that “Any resemblance to real persons or places is an absolute fluke”, and indeed, it may very well be a case of art spontaneously imitating life, but most readers will find ominous and terrifying parallels between the nightmare world Mary is a part of and the present state of affairs in the United States. That said, The Cautioner’s Tale is a marvelous blend of fact, fiction and dark fantasy presented in a cunningly designed format that echoes the dysfunction and chaos of a nightmarish Rump dictatorship over a broken world. Each page of this graphic novel is a delight to read, examine and wonder over. I’m not sure how Wilburn put this amazingly crafted work together, especially considering the reference, at one point, to recent history, but perhaps, like Mary, the author has been doing some time-traveling of her own. This is a work that’s both grim and gorgeous, with just a hint of hope to leaven the dark storm brewing overhead. The Cautioner's Tale is most highly recommended.
Recommend this book:
Sonora Pass
Jaime Olmos
2018 Honorable Mention
102 Pages
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Fiction - Graphic Novel/Comic
Sonora Pass is a graphic novel written by Jaime Olmos and illustrated by Kevin Nichols. Who killed Celia after the Jabberwocky Band reunion -- and why did they do it? Celia and Esteban had made plans to start a new life together in California after he finished an engineering job in Montreal where she had been living. At first, the twenty-year reunion of friends and fellow musicians had been brilliant, but Celia had seen something or someone that had startled her while she was performing. When she was found dead in Esteban’s hotel room, the police had no choice but to presume that Esteban’s flight was an admission of his guilt. Jonah, his friend and fellow Jabberwocky member, was determined to use his skills as a private investigator to find out the truth, wherever it might lead him.
Jaime Olmos’ graphic novel, Sonora Pass, is an enthralling sleuth mystery that takes Jonah on a search that goes back twenty years to discover who Celia was and what happened to her. While in graphic novel format, this story is a fully-fledged mystery with compelling, well-developed characters and any number of red herrings for the armchair sleuth to consider. Kevin Nichols’ illustrations are marvelous! Each panel is brightly colored and lushly inked. His skill in portraying facial expressions is masterful, and the amount of work he put into making those characters feel real is impressive indeed. I especially loved his nature art showing Esteban on his bike in the mountains or driving off into the sunset. The scenes depicting Jonah’s visit to Azul in the Huixtlacan Province in Central America are inspired and the railway stations and other architectural drawings are superb. Sonora Pass is an intellectual and visual feast, and it’s most highly recommended.