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:
Solo
Sarah Schofield
2015 Finalist
280 Pages
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Young Adult - Romance
Eliana Davis is no stranger to moving house a lot as her dad is in the army and she has never lived anywhere for more than a few years. She has grown to love her current home in California, however, and is devastated to learn that her dad is being posted overseas so that she and her mum are going to live with her grandparents in the small town of Myrtle Creek in Oregon. Eliana knows that she is only going to be living there for a year, so she doesn’t want to get too close to anyone and she most certainly doesn’t plan to get herself a boyfriend. However, things don’t always go as planned and Eliana finds herself making new friends, a possible boyfriend and discovering that Myrtle Creek can become her home.
"Solo" is a beautiful read, a truly lovely story about discovering the true value of friendship, young love, and the meaning of home. This book perfectly captures what it is like to be a 16 year old girl struggling with friends, high school drama, and falling in love for the first time. I really liked the character of Eliana. She is strong, refusing to be beaten down by her new high school's popular girl and also refusing to retaliate. I loved the relationship she has with her mother, one open and full of trust and also the fact that she spends lots of time with her gramps. Overall, a lovely enjoyable read, perfect for teenagers or those who wish to remember the drama, angst and also life-changing experiences of being a teenager.
Recommend this book:
Shimmer
Breathe Book 2
Elena Dillon
2015 Honorable Mention
293 Pages
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Young Adult - Romance
Shimmer by Elena Dillon is the story of Chandler Raines and her life on the run with her father, trying to escape from the ghosts of the past. Her whole life has become a lie as they travel to new places with new names and a made-up past. After four years of running, however, Chandler ends up in a town she would like to call home. She begins to make a life for herself and realises she is tired of running and assuming new identities, and wants to settle down. The time comes when she has to make the biggest decision of her life; whether to leave everything she is learning to treasure and move on, or stay and face the evil that is chasing her.
This is a really fast-paced story, tense and exciting. The author, Elena Dillon, has done a really good job of writing a piece that at the heart is a romance, but intertwined is a mystery and a touch of thriller. The writing flows well and keeps the reader guessing. The story starts with Chandler and her father leaving in the middle of the night and immediately I was engrossed, wondering about the past - why they were running, who was after them? It was a clever beginning and continued in a similar vein throughout and kept me turning the pages and, at times, unwilling to stop reading. Although classed as a young adult novel, I think this book will appeal to adult readers as well. This is the follow-up story to Elena’s earlier novel, Breathe, which I will now have to read too.
Recommend this book:
Five
Maor series Book 1
Caroline Greyling
2015 Bronze Medal
322 Pages
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Young Adult - Romance
Five is Book One of the Maor Series, a young adult contemporary fantasy written by Caroline Greyling. Shaylee is your typical 16-year-old who has plenty of hopes and dreams. She’s into dancing, has written a story that’s been published in a magazine, and she loves her life in Johannesburg, even if her parents are quite a bit stricter than those of her friends. They've been even more careful about her lately as her 17th birthday gets closer and seem to be taking her to the doctor for the tiniest complaint. When they hear that the nightmares Shaylee was plagued with as a child have returned, her parents unexpectedly make arrangements to ship her back to England to stay with her Nan. Shaylee’s infuriated by the short notice they give her as the dance performance she and her friend Luke had worked so hard on is about to happen, but her parents are committed to their decision, and Shaylee must say goodbye to everything she knows and has grown up with.
Caroline Greyling’s Five, Maor Series, Book One, is a marvelous and well-plotted young adult fantasy. Her characters are finely drawn and very believable, and the mythological premise for the story is beautifully handled. Shaylee is a compelling character whose life has suddenly been taken over by forces she’s totally ignorant of, and it’s hard not to feel involved in her plight. Much of the story takes place in Aylburton in the Forest of Dean, and the descriptions of the woods and natural surroundings are magnificent, lush and luxuriant, evoking a traditional fairy tale atmosphere for this fantasy story. Each chapter is headed with an emotion and five descriptors, which are from Shaylee’s little journal, Five, and she saves them for use in her writing. I found myself looking forward to each perceptive and insightful set. Five is an original and thought-provoking fantasy infused with fairytale and mythological elements. It’s also an inspired coming of age tale, and it’s most highly recommended.
Recommend this book:
Ancient Guardians
The Legacy of the Key, Ancient Guardian Series, Book 1, Volume 1
S.L. Morgan
2015 Silver Medal
371 Pages
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Young Adult - Romance
In The Legacy of the Key, the first book in the Ancient Guardians series, by S.L. Morgan, Reece Bryant and Levi Oxley are from two different worlds…literally. Reece may seem like your average human from Earth until she meets Levi, who introduces her to the beautiful land he is from and makes her realize that she is more special than she ever realized, in more ways than one. Not only does she learn about the different worlds and dimensions she never knew existed, but she also soon falls in love with Levi, a Pemdas Guardian and the son of the emperor. Levi has duties to protect not only his world but Earth as well. However, his growing love for Reece complicates things as their enemies, whose complete focus is on capturing Reece, begin to make their move.
There are two words to describe this book: ABSOLUTELY AMAZING. It is very difficult to put into words how much I enjoyed it. The concept of the different worlds and dimensions among us was unique and very intriguing; it immediately had me hooked. Also, the pacing was perfect; the plot wasn’t rushed at all and it wasn’t slow either. Reece and Levi’s relationship gradually grew, which made it completely realistic, and this brings me to my next point. Only a brilliant writer can have a reader utterly engaged in and captivated by a book to the point where the real world is shut out and all that exists are the fictional characters and their world, which is exactly what happened to me. I felt as if I was right there alongside Reece and experiencing everything she felt and went through. I hopelessly fell in love with Levi as Reece did, which doesn’t happen very often. Their relationship was so heart-warming and touching that I was disappointed to see the book end, but also ecstatic to continue reading the series. A combination of romance, suspense, fantasy, and sci-fi, The Legacy of the Key is exciting, adventurous, romantic, and is certainly a must-read. It is definitely the best book I have read in a long time. S.L. Morgan is an extremely talented storyteller and she has become my new favorite author. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have a sequel to read.
Recommend this book:
Ancient Guardians
Book 2 in the Ancient Guardians Series
S.L. Morgan
2015 Gold Medal
368 Pages
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Young Adult - Romance
Ancient Guardians: The Uninvited is the second book in the Ancient Guardians series by S.L. Morgan. In this part of the story, Reece continues to find her place in Pemdas and this time not just as the treasured guest from Earth, but also as the wife-to-be of the heir to the Pemdas throne. Up until this moment, Reece had been the only one in possession of the genetic map that detailed the location of the Key. However, something unexpected happened and her mind shared the location of the Key with Levi; an event that is not understood by even the wisest of the emperor's advisers and one that is bound to bring complications. As Reece and Levi continue to blossom in the bliss of their love and make plans for the future, their enemies are not just sleeping either; a traitor who was in custody has escaped from Pemdas and allied himself with the one person who seeks to gain access to the Key at whatever cost.
Once again, S.L. Morgan delivers another incredibly compelling classic tale that takes you on an adventure in the magical land of this enchanting world called Pemdas. It is amazing to see the transformation Reece has undergone since she left Earth; from the free spirited jeans clad girl to a magically beautiful ball gowned fiancee of the Pemdas prince. S.L. Morgan brings about this change so vividly and at the same time manages to keep it natural. Ancient Guardians: The Uninvited continues to take you on a beautiful romantic adventure and a journey of discovery into the unique Pemdas traditions and the hypnotizing scenery. I am so happy I got the chance to read this second book in the Ancient Guardians series. Book 1 was a pure thrill and Book 2 even more so. I am eagerly waiting to read the next three books in the series.
Recommend this book:
BION
a CUL8R Time Travel Mystery/Romance
Bob Kat
2014 Bronze Medal
296 Pages
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Young Adult - Romance
BION (Believe It Or Not} Book #3 of the CUL8R Time Travel Mystery/Romance series by Bob Kat is the tale of four high school students: Kelly, Scott, Austin and Zoey. They can talk to the dead and they can travel back in time. In this book, the focus is on Kelly and Zoey. The book gives an overview on how they found Thomas Edison’s invention that allows the teens to talk to dead people. This time they journey to 1927 where they take jobs with the Maxwell Circus. They are searching for a young man named Jesse. His sister contacted them through the “Telephone To The Dead,” seeking their help in locating her missing twin brother. There is a hint of romance with Kelly trying to figure out how she feels about Austin and Zoey and Jesse fall in love at first sight.
BION is a top notch book with top notch writing and a plot that will interest most young adults and many not so young adults. Bob Kat is a master at characterization, taking time to develop the characters, giving them flesh and making them likable. The characters in this book will have readers begging for more books in this series. The plot is interesting and moves along at a nice pace. This book combines time travel, romance, mystery, fantasy, humor and adventure to create a read that is impossible to put down. Bob Kat is the pen name of a husband and wife writing team. It is obvious they make a dynamite team. I highly recommend this book for young adults.
Recommend this book:
Montana in A Minor
Elaine Russell
2014 Silver Medal
170 Pages
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Young Adult - Romance
Montana in A Minor by Elaine Russell is a story with a youthful vibe. Emily Lopez has a lot of things happening in her life and she is not yet seventeen. Her boyfriend breaks up with her and, to top it all, her father who is a famous symphony conductor cancels their summer tour of Europe. To make matters worse, she is forced to go with her mother and step-father to an old cattle ranch in Montana. Emily is not sure that, being from San Francisco, she will enjoy her stay at the old ranch. She has to prepare for the Saint-Saens, a concert that will decide her future. But how will she prepare for it without the guidance of her dad or her cello tutor? A lot of unexpected things await her when she reaches Montana. Emily finds out there are many surprises there which make her stay exciting.
With Emily being a cellist, music is the backdrop of the story. The cadence, rhythm, music and notes give a lyrical quality to the plot. Meeting Breck, the summer ranch hand at Montana, sees the world of this teenager being more colorful at Montana. The book captures the agony of a teenager who finds herself caught in unwanted situations beyond her control. Music is the major ingredient in this plot. The author's portrayal of Emily, her world of music and the problems that bother her are tangible. The rest of the characters in the plot support and complement the character of Emily beautifully. A book that young adults will enjoy reading.
Recommend this book:
Heart Shaped Rock
Laura Roppé
2014 Gold Medal
316 Pages
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Young Adult - Romance
Heart Shaped Rock by Laura Roppé is a coming of age, yet moving tale about a girl named Shaynee. She is sixteen and is still coping with the raw pangs of grief from losing her mom to cancer. Her dad and little brother have their own way of dealing with things, but in the end, only talking and acknowledging their loss as a family helps. Shaynee is lucky as her best friend Tiffany was there for her throughout it all. She manages to get Shaynee a job at a coffee house where she works and this is where she meets her soul-mate, Dean. Things are wonderful until one disastrous night; I suppose true love is never plain sailing. The story plays out a Romeo and Juliet theme - will they or won't they? There is humour, sorrow and happiness all rolled into one.
Laura Roppé has delivered a truly unmissable novel in Heart Shaped Rock. She told the story in a beautiful way that captured my heart from the beginning. I loved the way that the relationships between Shaynee, her dad and little brother Lennox played out. It was so touching and it did bring a tear to my eye, especially when their mom had planned for birthdays after her death. The character of Dean was so wonderful because of his endearing qualities. What I found amazing was that the author has also created unique songs for the book and I can't wait to download them. It gives the book a special touch which is unique. The author's story was incredible as she based some of this book on her own story. She is remarkable in every way! Coming through the difficult battle against cancer and being able to deliver this beautiful piece of literature. Everyone must read this book, it is amazing!!!!!