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:
Blood River Rising
The Thompson-Crismon Feud of the 1920s
Victoria Pope Hubbell
2017 Finalist
240 Pages
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Non-Fiction - Historical
Blood River Rising: The Thompson-Crismon Feud of the 1920s by Victoria Pope Hubbell, Ph.D. is a historical, nonfiction narrative that considers one of the questions about the Ku Klux Klan that has never been properly considered by any author. Every time people read about the KKK, it is portrayed as an expression of disdain or contempt for the black race or other races by whites. It is a book with a wonderful setting in post-World War I America, and with the KKK becoming more and more notorious. When murders were committed in 1924, someone had to understand why. In this page-turner, the author explains how the Ku Klux Klan set up neighbors against each other, exploring a powerful feud between two families and portraying the KKK agenda as a game of power and not of color. Told in a captivating first person narrative by a rural historian, this book transports readers to the years after WWI and events that would alter the lives of two families. One immediately gets the impression that the story is well-researched and, apart from the excellent writing that brilliantly documents these events, the author provides ample photos and maps that are as significant as the narrative.
Victoria Pope Hubbell is a great storyteller and knows how to make readers feel her story, pulling them irresistibly into the scenes through the power of her descriptive prose. She knows when to use words for dramatic effect and the paragraph breaks are impeccable. For instance, at the start of the narrative she describes an awkward moment in the following words: “The first time I met Hadley Thompson, he said 'Hello' and then nothing else for two hours.” This statement had me intrigued and there were many such moments like this one that pushed me to keep on turning the pages. The characters are well-explored and developed to be interesting to readers. Blood River Rising is a wonderful story that appraises the Ku Klux Klan from a very unique angle, one that will interest both historians and sociologists, and readers looking for an emotionally charged and gripping historical read.
Recommend this book:
If You Were Me and Lived in... Viking Europe
An Introduction to Civilizations Throughout Time (Volume 3)
Carole P. Roman
2017 Silver Medal
76 Pages
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Non-Fiction - Historical
Carole P. Roman and Mateya Markova have created a delightful children’s book in If You Were Me and Lived in… Viking Europe. I have two grandsons who love Vikings, and this book brings many elements of history and culture together in a way that makes children feel that they have experienced Viking times. The colorful illustrations add to the impact of details such as the style of homes and how food was prepared. The author explains Viking words (like Moder for mother) in such an interesting way that even younger children can understand. This book seems to be targeted for elementary age children, but middle school children may enjoy it as well, especially those with an interest in Norse culture or history. At the end, there’s a simple explanation of Norse gods and famous kings and queens.
My favorite aspect of the book is the imaginative way in which the author draws her readers into the narration by using “If you…” This formula is repeated throughout the book and keeps the child reader listening for more details. I also appreciated how the author provides the pronunciation for unusual words or spellings. Here’s an example: “Your name might have been Knut (Kahnoot) or Ulf (Ul-uff) if you were a boy and Sigrid (Seeg-freed) or Hilde (Hill-da) if you were a girl.” I could imagine children using the details from this book to create their own Viking stories or games. Carole P. Roman and Mateya Markova have brought to life a long ago time and a faraway place that will inspire children to learn more. Highly recommended for young readers who love history!
Recommend this book:
Part of the Family
Christadelphians, the Kindertransport, and Rescue from the Holocaust
Jason Hensley
2017 Gold Medal
426 Pages
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Non-Fiction - Historical
Part of the Family: Christadelphians, the Kindertransport, and Rescue from the Holocaust, Volume 1 by Jason Hensley is an ongoing project by the author, an attempt to catalog the lives and experiences of the Jewish refugees who were sheltered by Christadelphians during the 1930s and 1940s. This book gives readers an intrinsic introduction to this small Christian sect and how they responded to WWII, particularly the Holocaust, before moving to the personal experiences of the interviewed Jewish refugees.
Part of the Family is a commendable, well-documented work from Hensley that shows the great effort that he put into his research. It gives an insight into another part of the Holocaust history that I had little knowledge of. The clear cut prose makes the reading easy, informative and touching, especially when each refugee shared both their happy and painful memories in trying to adapt to a new country, culture and language. The story of Rella Adler is the last entry for the refugees’ experiences, as she recalls her reluctance to leave the Christadelphian family that she grew to love before going to the United States to live with her biological aunt. The pictures help readers to see back in time and put faces to names of those that Hensley interviewed, giving a sense of familiarity of how the lives of those refugees turn out in the end. On the whole, this is a great read and I wish Hensley the best for this ongoing collaborative project between him, the interviewees, and their family, as well as the Christadelphian families who housed them. I hope more stories that have never been told before can be discovered and shared with the world.
Recommend this book:
The Pursuit of Wisdom
A Chronological Inquiry of the World's Most Influential Seekers of Wisdom in the Fields of Theology, Philosophy, and Science
Dean Chavooshian
2016 Finalist
446 Pages
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Non-Fiction - Historical
In a very interesting, unique and well thought out treatise on many facets of wisdom throughout history, The Pursuit of Wisdom: A Chronological Inquiry of the World's Most Influential Seekers of Wisdom In the Fields of Theology, Philosophy, and Science by author Dean Chavooshian, will, at the very least, give readers a great deal to think about. Looking at historical truths from philosophy, religion and science, the author has presented a logical basis for how mankind has sought wisdom, and how we can now look at these ideas from the past in a critical and scientific fashion to inform our own basis for wisdom today. Readers will be fully engaged and enthralled in this work, not to mention educated!
I very much enjoyed The Pursuit of Wisdom. Author Dean Chavooshian has done a wonderful job in providing a highly researched and well argued basis for this study of wisdom and historical ways of achieving it. Any reader who enjoys a great read with excellent educational merit and historical credence should absolutely read this book. I highly recommend The Pursuit of Wisdom: A Chronological Inquiry of the World's Most Influential Seekers of Wisdom In the Fields of Theology, Philosophy, and Science and hope that author Dean Chavooshian is already hard at work on his next book as we speak. If it’s anything like this one, it will definitely be worth a read!
Recommend this book:
We Were Soldiers Too
A Historical Look at Germany During the Cold War From the US Soldiers Who Served There, Volume 2
Bob Kern
2016 Honorable Mention
180 Pages
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Non-Fiction - Historical
We Were Soldiers Too: A Historical Look at Germany During the Cold War From the US Soldiers Who Served There (Volume 2) by Bob Kern shows a part of the Cold War that many people know nothing about. The entire world was watching the conflict between the US and Russia, but no one really understood or paid attention to what was happening in Germany. This book really showcases that side of things and the soldiers who served in Germany guarding a passage called the Fulda Gap that Russia and the Warsaw troops would have used to invade Europe. The first chapter begins with Donald Bowman and showcases events and technology used in the war, including the U-2 being shot down and the events of the Tom Hanks' movie, Bridge of Spies, as well as the M59 Armored Personnel Carrier and the Little Joe tank which Don worked on as a mechanic. It continues like this with each chapter, introducing us to a new time period and soldiers who will we follow during events that they served through.
This is truly a book about people, giving us the history and lives of these men and women who were willing to risk everything for their mission. In the event of an invasion, none of them expected to survive, but they were all ready to lay down their lives if necessary. The writing includes a lot of historical information and context, discussing things like the political atmosphere during each soldier's service and other events and wars going on at the same time. I think my favorite chapter was about Juanita Coover, because it showcases just how vital women were to the military, and how much this woman had to go through to earn her place in a sexist institution.
My only true complaint with this entire volume might be that all of these fascinating moments in their lives get only a cursory examination, and I would like to go even further in depth and truly see their stories played out. We Were Soldiers Too by Bob Kern is a real winner, and the stories contained in this volume truly represent the heroism of the soldiers stationed in Germany during this period of unrest.
Recommend this book:
The Strange Case of Jonathan Swift and the Real Long John Silver
Third Edition
Robert A. Prather
2016 Silver Medal
424 Pages
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Non-Fiction - Historical
The third edition of The Strange Case of Jonathan Swift and the Real Long John Silver by Robert A. Prather is a brilliant work that combines historical facts with fiction to offer an investigation that will “wow” readers. Treasure Island is loved by young and old alike, and not only by Americans but readers worldwide, a classic with immortal characters. And who could forget Long John Silver with his cunning and dubious character, and the mysterious aspect of his nature? But what if he isn’t fiction? What if he was blood and flesh, a historical personage? This is the question that Robert A. Prather answers brilliantly, offering clues and facts that point out in a very convincing way that Robert Louis Stevenson’s revered character could have been based on the legendary merchant, Jonathan Swift of Alexandria, Virginia.
Those who have read Treasure Island and have fallen in love with its characters as I have will enjoy Robert A. Prather’s The Strange Case of Jonathan Swift and the Real Long John Silver, an investigation that is as intriguing as it is enjoyable. Readers are introduced to one of America’s old legends: Jonathan Swift. His legendary gold mines have been a subject of interest to many, but did they really exist? Could Swift’s journal entries be believed or were they written after Treasure Island? The answers that readers will find in this book are surprisingly interesting. The author must have spent considerable time doing research, and it is beyond doubt that he knew where to look while researching this work. The writing is elegant, tight, and highly seductive. Prather is a master at helping readers draw the line between history and fiction, while igniting in them a silent yearning for adventure.
Recommend this book:
America's Literary Legends
The Lives and Burial Places of 50 Great Writers
Michael Thomas Barry
2015 Finalist
160 Pages
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Non-Fiction - Historical
What is it that makes a great writer? A great work of literature? When asked this question, perhaps the first name that comes to mind is Shakespeare. But he was not the only great and it might be argued by Shakespearean scholars that perhaps his words were not his own. Besides, there are a lot of 'greats' outside of Great Britain. Even the United States had its great writers. If one is to compare the era of Shakespeare (the sixteenth century), historians will note that the United States was recognizing its own literary beginnings not long after with the poetry of people like Anne Dudley Bradstreet (1612-1672), considered to be one of the earliest noteworthy American poets. Her writings remained unrivaled by any other American woman writer until the emergence of Emily Dickinson in the 19th century. And, along with the early settlers, the pilgrims and the explorers, there were others who wrote letters (a literary work of art in itself), journals, poetry, stories, articles and much more.
So where does one begin in discussing the 'greats' of American literature? With the historical personages like Bradstreet, but also with the American classics like Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, whose epic poem, The Song of Hiawatha, sparked generations of Europeans who relished the romantic ideal of the noble savage. Then there's Harriet Beecher Stowe, whose novel, Uncle Tom's Cabin, sparked the abolitionist cause of the Northern States.
Michael Thomas Barry has done an incredible job bringing together the literary 'greats' of American literature from the first settlers well into the twentieth-century. Did he leave any out? Definitely. His book reveals interesting tidbits, quotes, information, photographs and burial places of fifty American literary 'greats'. It's just a taste to spark the reader's interest. His layout and informative discussions lead the historian, the literary enthusiast, and even the curious reader, through history. It is an easy and enjoyable read for both the intellectual and the general interest audience.
Using author quotes from Washington Irving who wrote, "Great minds have purposes; others have wishes," and Nathaniel Hawthorne who wrote, "Words - so innocent and powerless as they are, as standing in a dictionary, how potent for good and evil they become in the hands of one who knows how to combine them," the author provides the reader with insight into the lives, the literature and the birth and burial places of these literary 'greats'. This is an outstanding, interesting and informative resource on some of America's great literary geniuses.
Recommend this book:
The Capacity To Believe
Race, Media and Politics In The American South
Marcus W. Williams
2015 Honorable Mention
114 Pages
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Non-Fiction - Historical
Most people know about the events and historically documented occurrences of African Americans in the United States as they went from slaves to being free citizens. That, however, is far from all that transpired. The black people of the United States, during the birth of the country and up through the time line, had not had a simple and easy time gaining their "true" freedoms and rights as human beings. Come read about the emotional, trying, disturbing, and heartbreaking times African Americans experienced in gaining their freedom and respect as human beings, and the incredible courage, perseverance, and grit they had when racial issues arose not only among average citizens, but also within the government and media of the United States.
The Capacity To Believe: Race, Media and Politics In The American South by Marcus W. Williams is an incredible time line of historical events, accounts, and experiences pertaining to racial issues in African American culture. Readers can expect much factual information relating to the life of African Americans, from the time of slavery up through present day. Author Marcus W. Williams touches your mind, heart, and soul with the way he presents the information to readers. The text is laid out and written in a very personable and descriptive way, and a reader will feel raw emotion as they read through the historical time line of events of American and black people, especially in the southern states. The Capacity to Believe is not for the faint hearted, although everyone should read this book to gain knowledge of what their fellow African American citizens of the past, or ancestors, had to overcome and mentally work through just to be perceived as "normal" members of society.
Recommend this book:
The Biggest Picture
From the Formation of Atoms to the Emergence of Societies
Wendy Curtis
2015 Bronze Medal
311 Pages
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Non-Fiction - Historical
The Biggest Picture: From the Big Bang to the Development of the Big Bang Theory by Wendy Curtis presents the scientific community’s best theories about major events, from the Big Bang until present times. Beginning with the Big Bang and the creation of the simplest of the elements, it discusses the formation of stars and other heavy elements. Scientific theories of the birth of the sun and the solar system, as well as the concepts of evolution of life on earth are the topics to follow next. The path life takes, from the early dinosaurs to mammals, from control of fire to hunting and agriculture, and from civilization to civilization with different social stratification methodology is addressed both historically and practically, appropriate for any information seeker. The model of the universe presented here, the one evolving through time from a singularity, is in line with the theories extant on the subject.
The Biggest Picture: From the Big Bang to the Development of the Big Bang Theory by Wendy Curtis acquaints the reader with all that has happened in the past that leads to the present, and in a format that retains one's interest. A well formed index and intuitive internal organization of the book make it good for reference. This book is therefore useful both as study material for the uninitiated and as a source of consultation for the well informed. With high quality illustrations and a crisp and lively write up, this book is a worthy addition to the bookshelf of anyone interested in oneself or one's surroundings.
Recommend this book:
American Boys
The True Story of the Lost 74 of the Vietnam War
Louise Esola
2015 Silver Medal
452 Pages
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Non-Fiction - Historical
American Boys: The True Story of the Lost 74 of the Vietnam War, written by Louise Esola, is a non-fiction book about the fate of the USS Frank E. Evans and its crew. It is a profound look at the personal stories of the men who sank with the ship in a 1969 disaster that the US Navy would rather forget. In November 1982, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial was unveiled in Washington. Erected through the efforts of Jack Scruggs, a Vietnam War veteran himself, part of the program is to read the 57,939 names of American soldiers who perished in Vietnam. Ann, whose brother perished with the ship, followed the news about the memorial and through her connections volunteered to read a section of names of the Vietnam dead. To her surprise, her brother’s name, along with the other victims of the sinking of the USS Evans, were not on the list that she would have read aloud at a lectern in the National Cathedral. This is their story.
Louise Esola's book, American Boys: The True Story of the Lost 74 of the Vietnam War, is the untold story of American sailors who perished with the USS Frank E. Evans. Putting together the stories of these 74 men is a remarkable feat, not only because this entailed a lot of research but also because the sinking of the ship is a disaster that the US Navy would rather bury in oblivion. It would have taken a great amount of passion and empathy for the author to come up with the idea of this book, let alone setting out to write it. As the United States of America found itself on the losing end of the Vietnam War, protests broke out in the country, American boys were drafted in an unpopular war and the country was counting its dead. Those who sank with the USS Evans were not even counted as casualties of the Vietnam War and this indignity drove Louise Esola to let the public know the story of each of those who lost their lives in the sinking of this ship. The result is a compelling story of despair, determination, love, injustice and reconciliation that gives tribute where it is long overdue.