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:
Journey to Jumbalot
Ryan Wakefield
2022 Gold Medal
200 Pages
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Children - Preteen
Journey to Jumbalot by Ryan Wakefield takes readers on a gripping adventure with many wonderful creatures. Professor Wizoom is excited to build a doorway into another world, but his cat, Alby, is afraid to lose him since he had lived as a stray cat for two years before meeting him. When the professor suddenly vanishes, Alby walks through the doorway to search for him and discovers he is in the realm of Jumbalot, a world filled with weird creatures: sharks that breathe above water, animals with the features of tigers and kangaroos in the same body, and other interesting hybrids. Alby soon makes friends with a funny "froguar" named Fremmy, who helps him on his search and takes him on a new mission to find a gem that had been stolen from a pyramid palace by an evil tyrant.
Ryan Wakefield brings new fantastic ideas to young readers aged 11 to 14 in Journey to Jumbalot. There's just so much to like in this mix of magical war scenes, captivating adventurous exploits, and creative hybrid animals. Journey to Jumbalot has a strong portrayal of themes of heroism, altruism, revenge, tyranny, and a battle for power between good and evil forces. Each character is distinct and memorable, and the main protagonist is as adorable and cute as a cat character should be. I especially enjoyed the different references to cats, like "nine lives" and "catnaps". Journey to Jumbalot would be great for cat lovers, animal lovers, and readers who enjoy books that immerse them in a world of magic and different types of envisioned creatures.
Recommend this book:
Pharmacy Girl
The Great War, Spanish Influenza, and the Truth about Billy Detwiler
Kate Szegda
2021 Finalist
310 Pages
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Children - Preteen
Pharmacy Girl by Kate Szegda is a story of The Great War, Spanish Influenza, and the Truth about Billy Detwiler. It’s 1918 and a war is raging. The First World War is still being fought but another deadly battle is also being fought, one of the biggest battles we would have to face. A tiny virus, transported in the air, affected a quarter of Americans, killing over 600,000. The Spanish Flu ravaged the States. There was no vaccine to fight it. Hospitals didn’t have medicines or ventilators. Twelve-year-old Josie is liked by everyone. Well, except for Billy Detwiler. He calls Josie 'The Pharmacy Girl' but it’s an insult, not a compliment. She wants to help everyone and, when her mother is struck down with the flu, she jumps into action. She goes up against Billy in the class elections, helps her family, and helps raise money for the Liberty Loan. But, how much can a teenager do? Although Billy is dead against her, all of a sudden, he needs her help. Will Josie give it or will she turn her back on the one person who needs her?
Pharmacy Girl by Kate Szegda is a story of hope, a story so pertinent to the world we live in today it’s almost scary – especially since this book was first published before COVID was even heard of. The characters are wonderful, dishing out the same advice we’ve all come to know so well over the last year or so – stay away from others, wear a mask, wash your hands – advice that some take note of and others choose to ignore. The story is based on real situations drawn from the author’s family and historical facts. It’s heartwarming, funny, and serious all at the same time and all the different threads are drawn seamlessly together at the end. This is one book that perhaps everyone should read, not just the audience it was written for – it may teach a lot of people a few hard lessons!
Recommend this book:
The King's Decree
Fractured & Fabled
Torina Kingsley
2021 Honorable Mention
104 Pages
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Children - Preteen
In The King's Decree by Torina Kingsley, Princess Devina loved to fill everyone's lives with joy but everything changed when she became fifteen. From that day on, the sunshine disappeared from her heart and facing each day became a struggle. Although her parents tried to make her smile, nothing they tried worked. As Devina faced her sixteenth birthday, her father told her that he had a plan to restore her smiles and laughter. The King issued a decree that all eligible princes would be invited to her birthday party and the first to make her smile would win her hand in marriage. On the day of her birthday party, Princess Devina meets Yasmin, a young peasant girl who has just started working in the palace. Yasmin reminds Devina what happiness is and soon they become inseparable. When Devina has to face a devastating personal tragedy, her depression returns, so she turns to the only person that loves her unconditionally, Yasmin. Devina soon realizes that it is okay to live and love freely and express your emotions. We are all unique and we do not always have to fit into societies expectations.
The King's Decree by Torina Kingsley is an enchanting tale that brings a modern and relevant twist to a classic story. The characters of Devina and Yasmin were created with a great deal of consideration and I believe young girls could easily relate to their personalities. Their dialogue exchanges around their emotions were poignant and heartwarming. The story highlights the symptoms of depression and mental health issues in general with realism and sensitivity. I thought the words spoken by her mother regarding Devina's depression were incredible, “You have to be strong to feel the weight of the world so heavily and still continue to live in it.” Princess Devina's caring personality also came through powerfully when she considered pretending she was happy so no-one had to worry about her. I loved how the barriers of class were removed as a peasant girl and a princess found friendship, love and mutual respect. Unlike traditional fairy tales, where a princess is rescued by a prince, The King's Decree is about two mutual friends supporting one another, finding love and enhancing each other's lives.
Recommend this book:
The Old House By The Woods
Detective Ria Robertson Mystery Stories
Soma Kar
2021 Bronze Medal
Kindle Edition
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Children - Preteen
Soma Kar’s young adult mystery novel, The Old House By The Woods: Detective Ria Robertson Mystery Stories, offers readers an intriguing tale. It appears to be an unusual request: to solve a mystery of paranormal activity at an old house in Mistgrove Forest. But when Private Detective Ria Robertson is hired by Eve to solve this mystery, little does she realize the danger that she will soon face and the murder mystery she’ll have to solve – that is, before anyone else gets hurt. No one is safe, at least not in the house or in this forest. Not until the mystery is resolved once and for all.
Soma Kar’s The Old House By The Woods: Detective Ria Robertson Mystery Stories, has all the makings of a good mystery, thriller, and even a paranormal story. Take a mixture of Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys and you have an excellent novel for the younger 'young adult' section of the market. This is an easy read; most of the story is told through dialogue. The characters, setting, and drama evolve through dialogue and a marginal use of descriptive narrative. The author leans heavily on telling the story instead of inviting the reader into the story to make them feel connected. The colorful illustrations are bold and certainly add to the growing tension of the mystery. Using good sleuthing skills, the protagonist and her team, which consists of her teenage sister, Jenny, and best friend, Andy, the mystery reaches a satisfactory climax before the final chapter resolution which reveals all. I found the story interesting and well-paced.
Recommend this book:
The Christmas Feast
A Fishy Tale
Diana Pishner Walker
2021 Silver Medal
32 Pages
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Children - Preteen
The Christmas Feast: A Fishy Tale by Diana Pishner Walker is the story of two Italian boys who are cousins. Their fishermen fathers taught them the skill, but one year, just before Christmas, the fathers become incapacitated and were unable to fish. So the boys decided to go catch the fish that were needed for the Christmas celebrations, even though they were too young to safely go out by themselves. A storm arose, but a bright light appeared in the sky and helped guide the boys back to safety. The book includes the background story of the “Feast of the Seven Fishes” and recipes for cooking cod and calamari. It is illustrated by Headline Kids Group. The book is for pre-teen readers.
I enjoyed reading The Christmas Feast: A Fishy Tale. The book is a “feel good” story with a happy ending and fits a niche because of being aimed at a pre-teen audience. Children of that age might enjoy trying the included recipes with their parents. What I liked most about this book is the insight it provides into Italian culture. Author Diana Pishner Walker is Italian in heritage and clearly proud of it. The beautiful illustrations tell the story just as well as the text does; the text and illustrations complement each other perfectly. The importance of family and community are also emphasized. Everyone, whether pre-teen or older, will enjoy learning about the “Feast of the Seven Fishes.” I’m happy to recommend The Christmas Feast: A Fishy Tale.
Recommend this book:
Ben Archer and the Toreq Son
The Alien Skill Series, Book 6
Rae Knightly
2021 Gold Medal
413 Pages
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Children - Preteen
Ben Archer and the Toreq Son by Rae Knightly is the sixth book in The Alien Skill series. Ben Archer has been imprisoned on an alien warship, accused of the theft of an Alien Translation skill, and can only watch as the Earth is blasted with natural disasters by the Toreq. Floods, droughts, and hurricanes wreak havoc and Ben has no idea how he is going to save the planet. Mesmo, an alien friend of Ben, is the only one who could persuade the Toreq to stop but he has disappeared. Where is he? Ben needs to get out of prison, persuade the Toreq that the translation skill was given to him by Mesmo’s daughter, and save the planet from destruction. He’s just 13 years old – can he do it? Can he stop the Alien General from carrying out his evil plans? This is Ben’s toughest adventure yet and he must win otherwise the world is doomed.
Ben Archer and Toreq Son by Rae Knightly is part of a series and I would strongly recommend reading the entire series in order to fully understand the characters and the references to previous events. However, I read it as a standalone and was more than satisfied that I could grasp the whole story. More than a teenage sci-fi story, this is about overcoming obstacles in life, learning to communicate, and taking responsibility for our actions, all wrapped up in a neat story with plenty of action and no small amount of twists and turns. The story grabs you right from the start and takes you on a rollercoaster journey with some pretty cool characters. It is an engaging, exciting, and fun story with a good ending and if you enjoy this, I encourage you to read the series in order.
Recommend this book:
Poseidon's Academy
Sarah A Vogler
2020 Finalist
330 Pages
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Children - Preteen
Poseidon's Academy by Sarah A Vogler is a young adult epic fantasy that will thrill fans of Rick Riordan and readers who enjoy Greek mythology. Hailey is plunged into a world and a conflict she never envisaged for her first year in high school — a world of monsters, dangerous sea nymphs, and other awful creatures. She can’t accept the fact that she is the only Zeus in over a century and gifted with unimaginable powers. A child whose only dream is a normal life is at the center of a prophecy. Can she wield her powers properly and save the world from impending doom?
The narrative begins with unusual events — kids down the street displaying unusual powers. But the protagonist holds a letter in her hand, one she is hesitant to open because it will tell her whether she’s been accepted to the coveted Poseidon’s Academy. The author wastes no time in telling readers about the setting. So, from the very first page, the reader is introduced to the protagonist and to the mythical hints of the story. We quickly learn that Poseidon’s Academy isn’t an ordinary high school but an underwater palace that had once been the Olympian god Poseidon’s home.
Fast-paced and neatly written, Poseidon's Academy is a powerful and gripping story filled with surprises. Readers will love the adventure, the intense action, the strong conflict, and the deft handling of character. Sarah A Vogler creates a fascinating world for readers to enjoy and uses the elements of nature so masterfully to weave the fabric of her story. Hailey is an ingeniously developed character. When readers meet her, she is, curiously, an ordinary girl, but as the story progresses, her personality comes out and her character develops with the mission forced on her. The humor enriches the narrative and the protagonist’s stream of consciousness makes for great entertainment. This is a page-turner for fans of epic fantasy.
Recommend this book:
The Shadow of the Two Princes
Shadows from the Past (book 10)
Wendy Leighton-Porter
2020 Honorable Mention
270 Pages
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Children - Preteen
Follow Max, Joe, Jemima, and Charlie as they travel back to 1483 London in The Shadow of the Two Princes by Wendy Leighton-Porter. Jemima hears strange voices in the night, pleading for her to help save them from their evil Uncle Richard. At first, Jemima thinks that they are talking about her uncle and it frightens her. Why would Uncle Richard want to kill her and Joe? Then, the voices tell her that they are trapped in a tower and their uncle plans on killing them. Were the voices just an awful dream? Max didn't hear the mysterious voices. Maybe it was just a dreadful dream. But Jemima is certain that the young boys she'd talked to were more than a scary dream, like Joe says. She is certain it was a plea for help sent through the reaches of time, calling them on a mission that could change the course of history. It takes her a while to convince Charlie and Joe that she really did hear voices, until something exciting happens that changes their minds. Join the young time travelers on another exciting adventure as they search for two princes that disappeared over five hundred years ago. Can they, with the help of a kindly doctor, his servant, and an unlikely new friend change the course of history? Or will they perish in the effort to protect and save the two young princes? Will Jemima and Joe find their missing parents before they die in the past? The eighth book in The Shadows From The Past series, The Shadow of the Two Princes is a must-read!
I loved reading The Shadow of the Two Princes by Wendy Leighton-Porter. Like the other adventures featuring Jemima, Max, Joe and Charlie, this book was filled with adventure, rich in history, and packed with excitement. I could hardly put the book down! I love how the author introduces history in a way that is so subtle children won't even realize that they are learning. I was thrilled to see that in this book they went to London close to the time of the War of Roses. I had struggled to understand what the War of The Roses was about when learning it in school. For some reason, it just didn't "click." So when the author explained it so simply, I wanted to hug her! She strips away all the political mumbo-jumbo and gives the reader the bare facts and then builds on them in a way that helps the reader learn while going on a historical adventure.
In the back of the book, the author clearly states what is fact and what she made up for her story, including the history behind her factual characters, so that there is no confusion for the reader. As a parent, when my children read I want them to know whether the stories are real or made-up. As a child, I would get frustrated with a historical fiction book that would twist history for the sake of the book, and then not tell the reader what was real and what was "poetic license." Wendy Leighton-Porter writes beautifully and creates exciting story worlds without altering history. I cannot recommend The Shadows From The Past Series enough! The author has written the books in a way that also makes them an excellent teaching resource. I would recommend this book for children ages 7-12. It is a chapter book with beautiful historical pictures as reference.
Recommend this book:
Landry in Like
Landry's True Colors Series, Book 3
Krysten Lindsay Hager
2020 Bronze Medal
Kindle Edition
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Children - Preteen
Landry in Like: Landry's True Colors Series, Book 3 is a young adult and preteen coming of age novel written by Krysten Lindsay Hager. Fourteen-year-old Landry's life seemed to be finally looking up. She had been chosen to appear in an ad for the American Ingenue modeling contest and had been kissed by her boyfriend, Vladi Yagudin. Finally, she would be someone interesting at school, and she could share her exciting news with her friends. Then reality struck as she looked at herself in the mirror and saw that her face had broken out from the makeup they used during the shoot. Things at school didn't go much better. Some of her friends acted strangely around her, and they seemed to change the subject whenever she tried to tell them about her modeling. Worse yet, Yasmin was outright rude about her and made nasty jokes with Stuart, another eighth grader in their group. The friends she grew up with and cared about seemed to be distancing themselves, and her best friend Ashanti's acceptance into the clique of high school cheerleaders seemed to threaten her and Landry's friendship in a big way. Eighth grade was hard enough, so how would she survive the move to high school?
Krysten Lindsay Hager's young adult and preteen coming of age story, Landry in Like: Landry's True Colors Series, Book 3, continues the story of Landry and her friends in their last year of middle school. Hager touches on the many social issues facing young teens, including self-esteem, meanness and bullying, and transitioning from middle school into the high school atmosphere. Her main character, Landry, shares her deepest fears about losing her friends and her conflict between wanting to stay at home and play video games or go out to a teen club. This is the third book in Hager's True Colors Series, but I felt instantly at home with the story even though I hadn't read the first two books in the series. This novel should go a long way towards helping adolescent readers realize that they're not alone in having to cope with the mean girls and rude boys who seem to be targeting them, and help those being bullied understand why and learn to develop their own coping strategies. Landry in Like is well-written and while boyfriends, kisses and dancing are inevitably part of any coming of age tale, this story is squeaky clean and recommended for preteens as well as young adults.
Recommend this book:
The Eye of Zeus
Legends Of Olympus, Book One
Alane Adams
2020 Silver Medal
312 Pages
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Children - Preteen
The Eye of Zeus by Alane Adams is the first book in the Legends of Olympus series. Phoebe Katz has spent her whole life in the foster system and has moved from place to place with only her social worker Carl looking out for her. Between a bully making her life miserable and strange incidents that always seem to come her way, she’s facing possible expulsion from her new school and a move to a new foster home. One startling discovery later and suddenly she’s fighting for her life in Olympus. Worse than that, she’s having to go up against the god of war, Ares, who has taken Carl, and she must confront several dangerous trials in a place where even the Fates are against her. Along with her two closest friends, she sets off for Olympus to save her social worker while also working to prove the prophecy wrong.
Alane Adams delivers a sensational twist on Greek mythology with an adventure full of heart, action-packed moments fit for the legends, an emotional journey, and the strength of friendship. Adams cleverly builds to the origins reveal by weaving in mythological elements through various incidents and strange sights that seem to follow Phoebe wherever she goes. Adams blends these elements into ordinary situations that are then twisted into these bizarre visions that set Phoebe up for an adventure in Olympus. Her two friends Damian and Angie are by her side through every trial faced and every creature fought with each moment pushing her to understand who she is. Her friends aid her through their skills and mythology knowledge, which are used to help her navigate this world of myths and legends while also helping her become smarter and stronger. Adams breathes new life into Greek mythology with classic beings and gods. The Eye of Zeus is the perfect adventure that will give children a passion for mythology, a love of adventure, and introduces them to fun twists on classic myths.