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:
A Window to Young Minds
Short Stories by Young Writers Volume 1
Lune Spark
2018 Gold Medal
142 Pages
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Children - Preteen
A pirate ship that floats in the air instead of the water, a young warrior who chooses a pen as a weapon (or more accurately, the pen chooses the warrior), the choices we make are not always about winning in a chess game or winning at anything else, for that matter. Deep visions in fantasy, science fiction, history, adventure and just life itself are what stories are made of. The art of storytelling is a gift, one that is not nurtured enough in this day and age. The next generation will have a difficult time being creative if they’re not given the tools to nurture the gift and the joy found in the written word.
Profound visions and thoughts are not only found in adult writers; they’re found in children as well, sometimes as young as nine and ten. Having taught creative writing to students of all ages, I particularly enjoy working with young children. Their creative energies and freedoms of expression are awe inspiring, inspirational. But, their ability to express their ideas, diverse and intense as they are, is something that needs to be nurtured. With the decline of arts education and the sad demise of teaching the basics of spelling and grammar, students today are at a disadvantage when it comes to constructing a good short story. But all is not lost. Lune Spark’s collection of short stories, A Window to Young Minds: Short Stories by Young Writers Volume 1, provides an amazing insight into the creative powers of young writers.
As Pawan Mishra writes in this book’s introduction, “Our future depends on stories. … The support young writers receive is vital to whether they keep writing, and it fuels the stories yet to come.” We need more people, more organizations that value the creative energies of our young people and are willing to help these young people nurture their gifts so that they can tell many more stories in the years to come. This is a wonderful representation of what young writers can achieve, even at the age of ten. If I hadn’t been told these stories were written by young people, I wouldn’t have known. There is such an intensity and fresh imagination that fuels each of these stories. The young writers should be applauded and I hope they write many more stories in their lives.
Recommend this book:
Evil Speaks
Warriors and Watchers Saga - Volume 1
S. Woffington
2017 Finalist
394 Pages
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Children - Preteen
Evil Speaks by S. Woffington is Volume 1 of the Warriors and Watchers Saga. Benny is fifteen years old and has moved to a new place often. Each move is a new life and, on his seventh life, he decides that he is going to run away. His mother is paranoid and has been moving herself and Benny around for years, ever since his father disappeared when he was just three years old. Benny can’t remember it though; all he remembers is strange dreams of a dragon and a firestorm. He packs his bags after a fight with his mother and, all of a sudden, the house explodes. Benny finds himself in a strange world, uniting him with six teenagers that he thinks he remembers. On the day Benny’s father disappeared, all six lost their mothers and this unites them to find out what happened, following the one and only clue they have – Domenico H. Adez, Benny’s dangerous grandfather.
Evil Speaks: Warriors and Watchers Saga Volume 1 by S. Woffington is an incredibly different kind of story. It is a very involved plot, but in a way that young adults will find easy to follow. This is a fast moving story with plenty of action that is more than just a mythological tale. It teaches young adults of the importance of working together, of being a part of a team to achieve results. The first books in a series are always the hardest in my opinion because they have to set the scene for the following books. This has been achieved admirably here with plenty of character background that will make the next book easier to grasp. I highly recommend this to any young adult with an interest in mythology.
Recommend this book:
Doc Christmas and The Magic of Trains
Neil Enock
2017 Honorable Mention
230 Pages
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Children - Preteen
Doc Christmas and the Magic of Trains by Neil Enock is a wonderful story about how a doctor saved Christmas! An epidemic has invaded the North Pole; all of the elves are sick and are not responding to any known medical cures. Christmas is right around the corner and there is no one to help make and distribute the Christmas presents. Nick and DJ are desperately trying to figure out the cause of the outbreak, but are completely nonplussed. There is only one man that they know of who can save them, but he has lost the magic of Christmas. Dr. Archibald Stevens had been a train enthusiast and with the help of his wife, Marilee, and daughter, Vicki, had built a magnificent train world. After Marilee died, he closed himself off from his family, friends, and the magic of the trains. Nick and DJ have to convince him to remember the magic and help save the elves. Will they be able to do it in time?
Doc Christmas and the Magic of Trains by Neil Enock is an enchanting story about one man's journey and how it affected the world. Doc had an amazing friend and family support system that he couldn't even acknowledge through his own pain. Vicki, Jeanette and Helga were warm-hearted and caring characters and I loved how they lovingly and subtly coerced Doc back into believing in magic and living again. With their belief and love behind him, Doc was able to break through the unbelief and try to help Nick with the crisis. I was so caught up in the story that it never occurred to me that not everybody believes in magic. Neil Enock has created a story that extends beyond Christmas and brings magic to every single day. This book will be a much-loved part of my Christmas library from now on. I recommend it to all those who love a good Christmas North Pole story and to those who love trains.
Recommend this book:
Koolura and the Mayans
Koolura Series Volume 3
Michael Thal
2017 Bronze Medal
131 Pages
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Children - Preteen
Koolura and the Mayans by Michael Thal is the third book in the Koolura series, an exciting story that will take readers on a historic ride back into the old Maya civilization. Koolura and her friend, Leila, are just two young teens visiting Mexico. They stumble on a device that allows them to travel back in time. They are thrust into an early Maya civilization, whose people are enslaved by the Aquari. The people hope for a goddess who could set them free. Could Koolura be this goddess?
Although Koolura and the Mayans is written for a pre-teen audience, it was fun to read as an adult. Michael Thal’s characters are awesome and I enjoyed Koolura and Leila, two girls who are smart and very ingenious. They make a great team. Readers will enjoy watching them evolve through the story. The author seems to create a whole new culture around the Maya and the story feels so real, reading about the people and the challenges they face. At the level of style, this book is beautifully accomplished. First off, the reader will notice the gorgeous accessible writing, composed of short and easy-to-understand sentences. The writing also features great descriptions of characters and setting. The descriptive prose creates powerful images in the minds of readers. I enjoyed the well-crafted dialogues which make the characters come to life. Readers will love the adventure, the drama, the conflict, and the entertaining nature of this story. I enjoyed it!
Recommend this book:
Vampire Boy
The Adventures of Alex Vambarey
Aric Cushing
2017 Silver Medal
218 Pages
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Children - Preteen
Vampire Boy: The Adventures of Alex Vambarey by Aric Cushing is a stellar fantasy that will thrill the hearts of many young readers, a story that begins in the midst of action. Like many other kids in the Carpathian Academy, Alex Vambarey is working hard to figure out what the Magus riddle signifies, and this will lead him to great adventures and stunning discoveries. Can Alex, barely in his first year, figure it out? Readers are introduced to intriguing characters, vampires and weird creatures, and it is more exciting to discover these creatures together with the protagonist.
There is a lot to enjoy in this book. I read it through the night and my heart was captured by the beautiful prose. Aric Cushing has a gift for descriptions and conveys humor in a very poignant way. Here is one such powerful description: “The explosion was immediate, intimidating, and quite colorful. Professor David Whitlock, the magus of the Carpathian Academy, stepped out of the vapors, and into the tall grass below. He brushed off his cape calmly, and looked up. 'I hate it when that happens,' he said, for he was clearly covered in glitter, 'I never get that spell right.'”
Vampire Boy: The Adventures of Alex Vambarey is a masterpiece, a story written for young readers, but with the power to enthrall adult readers too. Things of beauty are hard to describe, and this story is one of those things. They are better experienced. The fast-paced plot, the well-developed characters, the suspense, and the humor, are just a few of the powerful signatures of the author. This is the best children’s book I have read in years after Rick Riordan.
Recommend this book:
Dotty and the Chimney Thief
Emma Warner-Reed
2017 Silver Medal
245 Pages
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Children - Preteen
Dotty and the Chimney Thief is a children’s book written by Emma Warner-Reed. Whilst in Skype chat with her best friend, Sylvia, Dotty Parsons is aggrieved to discover that one of her best friends, Joe, has disappeared. In trying to consult with her Great Uncle Winchester (Winny) and Pip – two people who know the Sweep network better than most – Dotty is constantly watched and followed and scrutinized by Winny’s sleazy assistant, Strake, who seems to try to roadblock every move she makes. After it is discovered that the evil Vagabond King is behind Joe’s kidnapping, Dotty realizes that the only person who can lead Dotty to Joe’s whereabouts is an imprisoned chimney thief, Skitter, and he’s not talking until his sister, Sarah, is by his side. Desperate to save her friend, Dotty embarks on a dangerous, yet exciting adventure, with one aim in mind: Find Sarah and convince her to visit Skitter so that he will disclose the Vagabond King’s location. It might all seem simple, but time is not on Dotty's side, as the Sweep’s Council are about to hand down their decision on Skitter’s fate for his crimes.
Emma Warner-Reed’s adventurous tale of young Dotty Parsons is extremely well written, but with so much information to take in, I believe that it is imperative for readers to read the first book in the series, titled Dotty and the Calendar House Key, in order to fully appreciate the story behind all of the characters in the book. Dotty and the Chimney Thief is a story of bravery and strength, with Dotty having to overcome all of her fears and any obstacles which come in the way so that she can save her friend, Joe. With the forces of good working with her, one can easily mistake Dotty’s task as simple. The evil inside the Calendar House, in the form of Strake, however, as well as that within the chimney sweep network, creates obstacles which at times seem insurmountable. I enjoyed the strong message of love and friendship, as Dotty does what she can to bring her friend safely home, and recommend Dotty and the Chimney Thief to readers who love action, humor, dedication and fun in this suspenseful and dramatic adventure.
Recommend this book:
O.K. Is Great
David Tiefenthaler
2016 Bronze Medal
204 Pages
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Children - Preteen
O.K. Is Great is a preteen coming of age novel written and illustrated by David Tiefenthaler. Otis Kalshwonkee's been known by the nickname "OK" for as long as he can remember. He hates it because it seems to symbolize the fact that he's just average in everything he does. His big brother Stu is a gifted sports animal and can do everything better than he does. His sister Ella is a talented pianist and even composes her own songs. Otis is hoping that starting seventh grade in a new school will give him a chance to shine and forget about that nickname and everything it stands for, once and for all. His mom and dad are moving the family to a house in the suburbs, and the new school is for both junior and senior high students. This means, of course, that big brother Stu will make sure everyone knows about the nickname, but Otis still isn't giving up on his dream of being the greatest.
David Tiefenthaler's preteen novel, O.K. Is Great, is funny, inspirational and exciting all at once. Tiefenthaler's illustrations make this story feel like a graphic novel, even if it does have more words than one normally finds in that genre, and the drawings work so incredibly well with the plot. I loved the pictures of big brother Stu, especially the one illustrating the dreaded nocturnal elbow drop. Otis and Leo's training sessions are marvelous and the sports aspect of the story works wonderfully. Tiefenthaler also addresses the subject of bullying and cyber-bullying in a way that is supportive and positive. I had a lot of fun reading O.K. Is Great. Otis is an awesome character, and I'm hoping that the author will keep us up to date on Otis's further adventures. O.K. Is Great is most highly recommended.
Recommend this book:
Davey & Derek Junior Detectives
The Case of the Missing Cell Phone (Book 1)
Janice Spina
2016 Honorable Mention
160 Pages
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Children - Preteen
The Case of the Missing Cell Phone is the first book in the Davey & Derek: Junior Detectives book series written by Janice Spina. Davey and Derek Donato are ten-year-old non-identical twins. After receiving some sleuthing books for their tenth birthday, the boys decide to imitate the detectives in the stories as they read. The young detectives’ assistant, Mickey (The Cat), had been teaching sign language to Derek for some time. Although Mickey hears well, his younger sister, Jennie, is Deaf and the family communicates in sign language. After Christine Sanders misplaces her expensive cell phone, the twins are on the case, rounding up suspects and investigating the phone’s disappearance. When the police make an appearance at the school, the group of gumshoes challenge themselves to solve the case before the police solve it to solidify their reputations as detectives who get the job done.
Being a fan of good mystery stories, I was keen to read Janice Spina’s new book series starring Davey and Derek. The Case of the Missing Cell Phone was the perfect way to start their detective careers and earn the trust and respect of their peers at school. I was easily able to picture each scene through the eyes of the young detectives, including the nervous reactions of those who were interviewed. Each turn of the page carried new clues, new excitement, and new adventure as Davey, Derek, Mickey and their assistants leave no stone unturned in trying to solve the puzzle. This book is one of the most fun and delightful sleuthing tales I have read in a long time. This book would be great for young readers in the 7-12 age group, and would also do well in school libraries as it teaches children how to assert themselves against bullies while having their friends’ backs at all times.
Recommend this book:
Elizabeth's War
D.L. Finn
2016 Finalist
128 Pages
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Children - Preteen
Elizabeth's War is a young adult historical novel written by D.L. Finn. When Elizabeth was 11 years old, her life was fairly idyllic. Her older sister, Pearl, doted on her, and life on her family's farm was filled with adventure and fun. It was 1917, and while she knew about the outbreak of World War I, it seemed to be far away from her insulated world. Everything changed when her father announced that he had volunteered to help train the officers who would be fighting overseas. Then Simon, Pearl's best friend and boyfriend, volunteered for service and would be leaving on the same train as Elizabeth's dad. Simon was her best friend Sarah's brother, and seeing him as well as her father go off to the war effort was frightening. Soon, she learned about the things people at home could do to help the war effort, and she and her family got involved.
D.L. Finn's young adult historical novel is a marvelous coming of age story about an exceptional young girl whose reality changes dramatically and who meets every challenge coming her way with enthusiasm and perseverance. I loved reading about the sacrifices and volunteer work Americans at home made to help the soldiers; especially the knitting projects done by classes in school, and I laughed with the clumsy and domestically challenged young Elizabeth as she learns to cook and knit. Finn's writing is smooth and her story flows beautifully. I was involved in the plot from the first page and found it hard to put the story down until I had finished it. Elizabeth's War is highly recommended.
Recommend this book:
Hieroglyph
TC's Adventures, Book 1
WJ Scott
2016 Silver Medal
109 Pages
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Children - Preteen
Hieroglyph: TC's Adventures, Book 1 is a children's and preteen historical adventure novel written by W.J. Scott and illustrated by John Helle-Nielsen. TC lives with her Aunt Letty who's been her guardian, more or less, since the disappearance of her archaeologist parents. Letty is committed to saving the planet, and she's about to embark on a mission to save some stranded whales on the East Coast of New Zealand. While she's gone, she's arranged for TC to fly to Australia to stay with her Uncle Max, Letty's twin brother, who is an entrepreneurial archaeologist. When she heard the news, TC immediately conjured up visions of long sandy beaches, water slides and some of Max's typical crazy adventures, so she's a bit disappointed when he tells her that she'll be heading out to an archaeological site with a bunch of kids from a convention he's attending. TC has done her share of dusty sites, and she's not crazy about making new friends while she's in Australia. But this site is a little different.
W.J. Scott's historical adventure novel, Hieroglyph: TC's Adventures, Book 1, is exciting and fast-paced. TC wears gloves all the time, as she possesses some strange powers that allow her to travel back in time when she touches artifacts. In this story, her travels are especially fascinating. I loved following along as she channels the story of the ancient Egyptians on their trip to Australia, and I found myself engrossed in the lives of Kanefer and Setka. TC and Max are marvelous characters who are fun to read about, and I vicariously enjoyed the week that TC spends with her Uncle Max. Scott also brings the sights, sounds and wildlife of Australia to life in this story, and I was particularly intrigued by the traditional campfire bread that Max makes when they're camping out. Helle-Nielsen's illustrations are superb! They are precise and minimalist, and exactly suited to the story. Hieroglyph: TC's Adventures, Book 1 is most highly recommended for adventure lovers of all ages.