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:
Ole!
Capturing the Passion of Bullfighters and Aficionados in the 21st Century
Hal Marcovitz (editor)
2014 Bronze Medal
432 Pages
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Non-Fiction - Sports
Ole’! Capturing the Passion of Bullfighters and Aficionados in the 21st Century is a fascinating look at the history and development of the art and skill of bullfighting. But rather than just a how-to book, Ole’! is filled with photos, drawings, and paintings of bullfighting in action, portraits of the greats, and advertisement posters. Bullfighting is best known as a sport in Spain, but is also done in Mexico and South America. Hal Marcovitz, the editor of Ole’!, has compiled stories of bullfighters and how they became famous, and stories of fans and how they “caught the bug” or were “bitten by the worm” of appreciation (and in some cases obsession) over bullfighting. Bullfighting is a very dangerous sport and photos are even shown of toreadors being gored and tossed in the air. Something interesting I learned was that one cannot eat a meal before taking on a bull, since if they were gored in their digestive tract and it was not empty, toxic wastes would get into their blood stream, worsening the chances of a fatal infection.
Hemingway set four of his novels in Spain and involved bullfighting in their plots. Many people think they can read his work and then see a bullfight and understand it better. In fact, Marcovitz states it is better to reverse this order. If I am ever in Mexico or Spain, I will try to see a bullfight, even though I will likely be distraught at the sight of the death of the bull, or even more so in the event of an injury to the bullfighter. Ole’! is very interesting to read, although something about the font made reading difficult. It is easy to pick up and read just one of the more than 60 segments and learn something about this novel sport, and maybe about yourself.
Recommend this book:
The Art Of Pitching
Denny McLain
2014 Silver Medal
94 Pages
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Non-Fiction - Sports
Denny McLain, author of The Art of Pitching, played for the Detroit Tigers. In the introduction, Denny McLain offers some excellent advice for those who want to be Major League pitchers. “First always think about an education. In today’s game they want smart guys, guys that can comprehend and guys who want it badly. First and always think education.” The author addresses Tips and Applications: “Listen and Pay Attention.” In this section he recommends “breaking everything down, one movement at a time.” There are also photographs of the different types of pitches. In the first chapter, the author stresses control. He states that you learn control by practice and that a pitcher should always throw full strength. A pitcher must also take care of their arm and the way to do that is to warm up.
The Art of Pitching is an excellent resource for coaches, parents, athletes and young athletes. There is a vast amount of advice and knowledge in this tiny book of a mere 81 pages. The book discusses the hitter, the extra pitch, playing the game, exercise, equipment and talent. Most young men enjoy playing ball. While not all will make it to the Major Leagues, they will still benefit from The Art of Pitching. The photographs and illustrations are a great addition to this book. Author Denny McLain, two-time winner of the Cy Young Award and MVP with the Detroit Tigers, shares his experience and knowledge on how to be a better pitcher.
Recommend this book:
King of Clubs
The Great Golf Marathon of 1938
Jim Ducibella
2013 Bronze Medal
168 Pages
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Non-Fiction - Sports
This factual story begins with a joint investment in a large piece of barren land by two stockbroker friends, and an early unsolicited large offer for the land. One of the friends Fred Tuerk urges sale, but the other, James Smith “Smitty” Ferebee, declines. The author reveals Ferebee's background revealing the basis of the emotional connection that Ferenbee has to the property. At this point we get to know more about Ferebee. Incredibly active with tremendous endurance, he used to routinely swim 4 1/2 miles through the sea with his father, take a 10 minute break and swim right back another 4 1/2 miles. One day, after a party at the local Golf Club which finished in the early hours of the morning, Ferebee proceeded to play an incredible 90 holes of golf at a stretch by the afternoon. Later, while Ferebee is surrounded by admirers, Tuerk challenges him to play an impossible number of rounds of golf in a short time, with their rights to their property at stake. Ferebee accepts, the bet is placed and, incredibly, Ferebee wins.
The author shows his great passion and his astounding and voluminous research. In this turbulent post recession period of American history, the story reveals eye opening background descriptions of people and places. Ferebee and Tuerk continue, with their friendship and betting, leading up to one of the greatest feats of endurance in the modern era, when Ferebee takes up the challenge to play 601 holes of golf in 8 cities in 4 Days! Anyone who has played 18 rounds of golf at a stretch in midsummer heat knows that it is impossible, but then 'Smitty' was different! The story leading to the 601 hole golf marathon, to my mind, is a great and inspiring tale of human endurance. I see a glowing row of 5 stars while ranking this.
Recommend this book:
The Walk-On
Inside Northwestern's Rise from Cellar Dweller to Big Ten Champ
Matt Stewart
2012 Gold Medal
290 Pages
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Non-Fiction - Sports
I must begin the review of "The Walk-On: Inside Northwestern'S Rise From Cellar Dweller to Big Ten Champ" by Matt Stewartby admitting that I do not know a lot about football. However, this book is about much more than football. My first step was to discover the meaning of the walk-on, which I found in the introduction by Gary Barnett. A walk-on is a football player who has not been recruited or offered a scholarship by the school. Few walk-ons last; it is a lot of hard work and it is time consuming. Matt Stewart was a walk-on that persevered. In high school Matt lacked self-confidence, especially in his ability as an athlete. After reading an article about a football player who “never lost faith in his abilities” Matt had a renewed sense of self-worth and threw everything into football. The difference in his attitude showed during high school football training and college. Matt gives much credit to Coach Gary Barnett for building the self-confidence of the team, the school, and the individuals.
Matt spares little in this book: homesickness, preconceived judgments, pushing himself even when other teammates advised him to slow down, the foul language of many of the players, sex, and booze. In this book Matt is brutally honest about life as a college football player. He shares the highs and lows of the games at Northwestern. Reading between the lines leads to the real story of "The Walk-On", a story of how football, Coach Barnett and the team build character. I have always heard that the team is only as good as the coach and this book to some degree demonstrates that. Though Matt Stewart did not write this book seeking praise, I think he deserves it. He could have given up but he didn’t. What he learned from Coach Barnett followed him the rest of his life. Stewart clearly demonstrates that sports can and does influence the character of its players. If long ago Stewart had not read the article about the football player who refused to lose faith in his own abilities, would Stewart have had what it takes to be the man he is today? Thankfully we will never know.