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:
Forensics
The Science Behind the Deaths of Famous People
Harry A. Milman

2021 Finalist
386 Pages
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Non-Fiction - Health - Medical

Forensics: The Science Behind the Deaths of Famous People by Harry A. Milman Ph.D. is an unusual book, yet captivating from the first chapter. The author gives an introduction, explaining what brought about the need and interest in forensics, mainly the victims of Jack the Ripper and the famous Sherlock Holmes series by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. There were key discoveries throughout the years that bring us to the stage where almost every death leaves specific clues as to the cause of death. Some answers are hindered by families’ refusal of certain tests, crime scenes not being fully secured, or even the order in which drugs and alcohol are consumed. But the author’s skill in breaking down the autopsies into terms everyone can understand makes this book mesmerizing. Though some information can be found on the internet, many deaths of famous people have several theories that are written as facts, confusing the truth. Dr. Milman takes the facts and explains them while addressing the myths of conspiracy.
Dr. Harry A. Milman keeps his medical book, Forensics, well organized and interesting. I learned much about the effects drugs have on the body and the pull it has on those whose career is in entertainment. With footnotes, an index, and a glossary of the drugs mentioned, you will find everything well documented and explained. I felt motivated to keep my body in excellent condition as I read about people that are leaders in their craft who abuse and neglect theirs. Overall, the author answers several provoking questions asked by the public. He shows the truth about what drugs and alcohol do to a body and the quality of life. I shared most of what I read with those around me because the author makes it so engrossing.
Recommend this book:
H.O.P.E. for the Alzheimer’s Journey
Help, Organization, Preparation, and Education for the Road Ahead
Carol B. Amos

2021 Honorable Mention
262 Pages
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Non-Fiction - Health - Medical

In the introduction to H.O.P.E. for the Alzheimer’s Journey: Help, Organization, Preparation, and Education for the Road Ahead, Carol B. Amos states: “My brothers and I were devastated when our mother began displaying signs of Alzheimer's disease, also referred to as Alzheimer's. We became part of the estimated ten million unpaid family members caring for a person with Alzheimer's in the United States.” Thus began her journey in search of understanding what comes with the condition, a journey which took her to support groups, workshops, to eventually becoming a CARES Dementia Specialist. This book documents what the author has learned along the way, offering readers and caregivers to patients of Alzheimer’s the knowledge, wisdom, and the tools they need to make the journey less painful and more meaningful.
Carol isn’t just a wise and wonderful person, but also a great communicator, a woman who has learned tons from experience and has amassed a wealth of knowledge. She possesses the gift of communicating that knowledge in language that is accessible and in a voice that is both empathic and compassionate. In this book, readers will find a heart-to-heart conversation with readers looking for help in dealing with patients with Alzheimer’s. The use of the epistolary style in this book also makes its message intimate and more compelling. H.O.P.E. for the Alzheimer’s Journey is a great tool, a handbook that everyone with a parent or a family member having memory problems should read. It’s packed with information, insights, and actionable steps to transform the caregiving experience into one that enriches both the lives of the caregiver and the patient.
Recommend this book:
Optimize Your Immune System
Create Health and Resilience with a Kitchen Pharmacy
Marie Ruggles

2021 Bronze Medal
180 Pages
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Non-Fiction - Health - Medical

Optimize Your Immune System: Create Health and Resilience with a Kitchen Pharmacy by Marie Ruggles, RD, CN is an insightful and engaging book about wellness that supports the crucial function of the immune system, very helpful when it comes to maintaining health. The book is a handy guide to transform a corner of the pantry into a kitchen pharmacy, stocked with healing foods and supplements that will give immune-boosting solutions when required. The techniques and strategies in the book will help optimize the body's internal defense system thereby enabling readers to have good health all year long. The three steps for optimization are Act Now, Be Ready, and Take Control and the book shows readers how to accomplish these three steps in the best way possible.
The approach to a commonly discussed topic is original and interesting and will help readers choose a diet that fits their lifestyle after addressing their core imbalances. Marie Ruggles speaks about the topic extensively and covers all the aspects readers need to know so that they can take care of their immune system properly. Optimize Your Immune System can be kept in the kitchen as a reference guide and gives hope and encouragement to readers while guiding them to take preventive measures. Her writing style is neat, simple, and elegant, and she makes it easy for readers to understand complex information too. She also addresses concerns about storage containers and how they can leach harmful compounds into the bloodstream that in time can disrupt the immune activity.
Recommend this book:
How My Brain Works
A Guide to Understanding It Better and Keeping It Healthy
Barbara Koltuska-Haskin

2021 Silver Medal
133 Pages
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Non-Fiction - Health - Medical

Dr. Barbara Koltuska-Haskin is a neuropsychologist who has graciously shared her vast knowledge and experience on the brain’s functioning with us in How My Brain Works. This may sound boring to most of you, but trust me, it is not. Barbara has taken a scientific and academic subject and transformed it into an exciting read for everyone. Those interested in psychology will especially enjoy the way Barbara breaks down the various reasons people are referred for neuropsychological testing. In addition, professionals in the psychological field will thrill at the help neuropsychological testing can extend to them and be encouraged to take advantage of the testing. The mind is fascinating, and this book shares an abundance of knowledge about the way it works. Barbara’s goal is to help all readers understand more about the functioning of the mind and how to keep it healthy. Every step of the testing is covered, from the initial interview to the exit session.
Dr. Barbara Koltuska-Haskin has written an invaluable book in How My Brain Works. Even though she has vast experience in the science of neuropsychology, she has made this complex subject easy to understand by the average layman. She has chosen to author a helpful book for medical doctors, psychologists, therapists, and the patients themselves. She takes time to explain each concept and how neuropsychology will help in a myriad of circumstances. By explaining what to expect, Barbara soothes any anxiety for someone who needs testing. She also includes ideas for treatment and how to improve brain function. This book is a must-read for anyone in the field or interested in brain function. All the knowledge is presented positively. She also reminds her readers that even though they may have some shortcomings, everyone has strengths.
Recommend this book:
Off Our Chests
A Candid Tour Through the World of Cancer
Liza Marshall and Dr. John Marshall

2021 Gold Medal
335 Pages
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Non-Fiction - Health - Medical

Off Our Chests: A Candid Tour Through the World of Cancer, by Liza Marshall and Dr. John Marshall, is an intimate, honest memoir and self-help book about what it's like to have cancer. Featured in The Washington Post's 10 Books to Read in May 2021, these two authors are husband and wife who help others by sharing their own perspectives of breast cancer and advocacy. I love the alternating POVs as it brings you into the hearts and minds of Liza and John. If you've never known someone personally who's dealt with breast cancer, or wonder how you would handle it, this book can act as a reference/advice guide, but also a personal account of what you may expect on an emotional, physical, mental, and spiritual level.
This book takes you inside Liza's diagnosis, treatment, and what follows after a double mastectomy. These issues aren't simple and can be overwhelming for those going through them, but their true stories may help you when you need it most. Even though John was chief of oncology, he endured tremendous pain in fearing that he may lose his young wife and mother of their children. He understood the medical aspects of what to expect and what they were going through, but he was in no way prepared for the emotional journey of a husband, father, and caregiver. I think the reading audience will appreciate his inside view of research, expensive healthcare, and how tough it is to maneuver the gauntlet of cancer care. Liza too was unprepared for the impact cancer would have on her own life.
At times their story is painful, but the uplifting parts far outweigh the hurt. One part stands out as honest and real, and that is that they both went through the experience separately, not necessarily together or by the book--but in an individual way. As a former social worker, I highly recommend this book. For a private look inside cancer and the professional and personal issues associated with it, Off Our Chests by Liza Marshall and Dr. John Marshall is a must-read.
Recommend this book:
Stories from the Tenth-Floor Clinic
A Nurse Practitioner Remembers
Marianna Crane

2020 Finalist
230 Pages
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Non-Fiction - Health - Medical

Stories from the Tenth-Floor Clinic: A Nurse Practitioner Remembers is a work of non-fiction and medical memoir penned by author Marianna Crane. Set during the 1980s, this highly emotive and truly fascinating memoir takes us into the world of senior care in a poorer area of Chicago. Our central character is a nurse practitioner working in a clinic inside a senior housing building, and the narrative takes us through the trials and tribulations of her job, not only in caring for the various patients themselves but protecting them from scam artists, unruly visitors, and even their family members. What results is a fascinating slice of life with a deeply personal and generous narrative, one that teaches us much about the faults in our elderly care system, and also about the pure kind-heartedness that the human spirit is capable of.
Author Marianna Crane does not set out with any particular agenda or mission, but rather the narrative unfolds by itself and leaves us to make our own conclusions about the nature of the wealth gap in the U.S.A. and the consequences that it has on elderly care. What is evident throughout the reading experience is an accomplished narrative that tells its story concisely, but also leaves room for an honest emotional reaction from its author. This is an admirable expression of truth which engenders a huge amount of respect for Crane, and the very difficult job that she and many others across the country have to take on every day. One of the most impressive feats in the writing is the way in which Crane brings to life the many people whom she sees come and go from the clinic, and each one is treated to a fully descriptive character moment that we may also fall in love with as the reading audience. Overall, I would highly recommend Stories from the Tenth-Floor Clinic to anyone seeking a heartfelt new memoir read.
Recommend this book:
H.O.P.E. for the Alzheimer’s Journey
Help, Organization, Preparation, and Education for the Road Ahead
Carol B. Amos

2020 Honorable Mention
262 Pages
Check current price
Non-Fiction - Health - Medical

In the introduction to H.O.P.E. for the Alzheimer’s Journey: Help, Organization, Preparation, and Education for the Road Ahead, Carol B. Amos states: “My brothers and I were devastated when our mother began displaying signs of Alzheimer's disease, also referred to as Alzheimer's. We became part of the estimated ten million unpaid family members caring for a person with Alzheimer's in the United States.” Thus began her journey in search of understanding what comes with the condition, a journey which took her to support groups, workshops, to eventually becoming a CARES Dementia Specialist. This book documents what the author has learned along the way, offering readers and caregivers to patients of Alzheimer’s the knowledge, wisdom, and the tools they need to make the journey less painful and more meaningful.
Carol isn’t just a wise and wonderful person, but also a great communicator, a woman who has learned tons from experience and has amassed a wealth of knowledge. She possesses the gift of communicating that knowledge in language that is accessible and in a voice that is both empathic and compassionate. In this book, readers will find a heart-to-heart conversation with readers looking for help in dealing with patients with Alzheimer’s. The use of the epistolary style in this book also makes its message intimate and more compelling. H.O.P.E. for the Alzheimer’s Journey is a great tool, a handbook that everyone with a parent or a family member having memory problems should read. It’s packed with information, insights, and actionable steps to transform the caregiving experience into one that enriches both the lives of the caregiver and the patient.
Recommend this book:
Your Precious Sight
An Optometrist's Most Memorable Cases
Eichin Chang-Lim

2020 Bronze Medal
219 Pages
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Non-Fiction - Health - Medical

When we’re young and feeling invincible, unless we have cause, we don’t give a lot of thought to our health, let alone our eyes. That all changes as we age and begin to notice we aren’t seeing as clearly as we once did, or we need stronger glasses, or one eye seems blurrier than the other. That’s what makes a book like Your Precious Sight by Dr. Eichin Chang-Lim a “must read”. Quite frankly, waiting until we have a reason to read it might just be too late. Dr. Chang-Lim’s book is not only a delight, thanks to the conversational style and a copious number of true-life anecdotes, but more importantly for the information it provides in easy-to-understand layman’s terms.
Learn not just about cataracts, glaucoma, epi-membrane issues (my own worrisome problem) but find out why some folks have color blindness, what those strange flashes we sometimes see in the dark mean, how diabetes affects the eyes, how retinas become detached, and even about the damage caused by smoking and drug use. If reading information like “...an estimated 2.4 million eye injuries occur in the United States each year. Notably, forty percent of eye injuries happen at home, and ten to twenty percent of injuries will cause temporary or permanent vision loss...”
If this doesn’t compel you to be more careful in your everyday environment and give you a good reason to wear protective glasses, perhaps Dr. Chang-Lim can. She has included a wonderful glossary of terms at the end of the book, along with plenty of active links in the digital version to take you to websites that expand on what she presents. Believe me, you are bound to learn much you didn’t know and you cannot come away from Your Precious Sight without being grateful that Dr. Eichin Chang-Lim took the time to write this for us all. Highly recommended.
Recommend this book:
I'm Still Here
A Memoir
Martina Reaves

2020 Silver Medal
264 Pages
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Non-Fiction - Health - Medical

I'm Still Here: A Memoir by Martina Reaves is an engrossing memoir with strong themes, well-written and inspiring. The memoir starts with Martina meeting her streetcar driver, an Episcopal priest, who eventually becomes a significant person in her life. But she comes out and meets Tanya, who becomes her life partner. They have a son through artificial insemination. In 2008 Martina is diagnosed with tongue cancer and a year later, she is informed the cancer is terminal. I’m Still Here is the story of her fight with a terminal disease and her survival, a book that makes a powerful statement about life and hope.
I'm Still Here is written with courage and utter honesty. It is interesting that the protagonist came out in the 1980s and at a time when lesbians started having children. The shifts in the story are intelligently designed, moving from the past to the present between chapters, with episodes and scenes that are arresting. It is a memoir of survival, healing, hope, love, and family. The author writes in a style that is simple and moving. I loved how she describes the commune where she lived, her interactions with people, and how she reconstructs the dialogues. What makes Martina Reaves’ story a must-read is the transformation that happens to her after being diagnosed with cancer. The reader understands the challenges of knowing that one has a terminal disease. But Martina refuses to die. I'm Still Here: A Memoir captures her fears and hopes, her decision to live with the disease, and to heal. As one reads from page to page, one learns about a courageous woman who allows the power of love, hope, and family to heal and strengthen her.
Recommend this book:
The Art of Healthcare Innovation
Interviews and Industry Insights from 35 Game-Changing Pioneers
Christina D. Warner

2020 Gold Medal
231 Pages
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Non-Fiction - Health - Medical

The Art of Healthcare Innovation: Interviews and Industry Insights from 35 Game-Changing Pioneers by Christina D. Warner is designed to revolutionize the healthcare experience for patients, articulating on the different points in the journey, including awareness, diagnosis, treatment, lifestyle change, and ongoing care. The book also provides critical advice to healthcare professionals, advice that will definitely accompany them through entrepreneurship, career development, and the technology that enables them to be on par with contemporary healthcare challenges. This book features interviews and input from icons in the medical field, each of them bringing a strong and unique perspective, offering innovative methods in diagnosing and treating a variety of health issues.
Dr. Sina Habibi, an expert in cognitive neuroscience, brilliantly talks about “the integrated cognitive assessment (ICA) tool (that) looks for the earliest signs of impairment by testing the performance of large areas of the brain.” Dennis Grishin shares their company’s mission to “drive the adoption of personal genome sequencing and the sharing of genomic data.” Dr. Hitesh Tolani comes across as an innovative thinker when it comes to population health, understanding the challenges and perils of our inter-connectedness, and offering solutions that make for convenience for patients. There are many experts in different healthcare fields that contribute to this book, offering insight, advice, and paths that will change the way readers approach healthcare. It is an understatement to say that this book is well-researched and beautifully written. In The Art of Healthcare Innovation: Interviews and Industry Insights from 35 Game-Changing Pioneers, Christina D. Warner delivers 'need to know' complex concepts and tools in a language that is widely accessible and a tone that is confident and assuring.
