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:
An Open Wound
O Persaud
2021 Finalist
96 Pages
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Poetry - Love/Romance
Since the times of Adam and Eve, relationships between humans have been fraught with an array of emotions. An Open Wound by O Persaud examines the complexities of finding true love, losing the one you love and the love you feel is not being returned. The feelings of joy, guilt, shame, anger, resentment, frustration, and regret are inevitable when we embark on relationships. They can make our world complete or place us in a dark place of despair. But relationships in all their forms bring us life experiences and tell us so much about who we are. We each have a different perception of the same event - that is what makes mankind unique and the world so interesting. The journey through life is about experiencing joy and overcoming obstacles; it shapes us and helps us grow.
This collection of poetry evokes such powerful emotions, the language is vivid and really packs a punch to your heart. The descriptions throughout are so colorful and visually vibrant. I loved the clever use of metaphors in some of the poems, such as, "harmed like old wounds festering under soiled gauze." The reference to Adam and Eve in the beginning sent a clear message to me that the painful experiences we all endure in life have been endured since time began and future generations will not be exempt from heartbreak, pain, or rejection either. In each exquisite poem, the author presents attitudes, thoughts, and feelings so realistically, it seems the poems are written especially for our lived experience. An Open Wound by O Persaud is such a captivating and compelling collection, it would make such a wonderful gift for anyone who appreciates the fine art of poetry and the psychology behind human behavior.
Recommend this book:
Ellipsism
Alex Zivic
2021 Honorable Mention
173 Pages
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Poetry - Love/Romance
There are not many things that can explore the human soul as effectively and deeply as poetry. When a poet takes the time to analyze his feelings and put them on paper, a miracle happens. This miracle also occurs in Alex Zivic's poetry collection, Ellipsism. Ellipsism, in the poet's own words, "is my abstract comprehension of existence." The poems of this collection are often short but stand out in their heartfelt sincerity. In what can be considered a journey into the void, Zivic focuses his attention on this particular human condition and offers a sad but refined picture of it.
What particularly struck me during my reading of Ellipsism was Alex Zivic's emotional straightforwardness. His poetry is remarkable for its candor and emotional honesty. Even if there were no other qualities in it (but, fortunately, there are), these elements would be enough to make you appreciate the entire collection. Zivic makes his readers realize the sense of sadness that accompanies the void in a simple and unequivocal way. He is tactful when he presents these delicate themes, which is a sign of great sensitivity, and he also invites readers to reflect and sympathize. The verses often have an essential structure (with some exceptions, usually a few words suffice), but I consider this a strong point of Ellipsism. Indeed, the conciseness of the verses has the power to impress readers on a deep level. I am sure that the message of the entire collection will remain in their minds long after they finish reading it. Definitely, this voyage into the void is something worth doing.
Recommend this book:
The Soprano, the Monster, and the Dragonslayer
Vashti Stopher Klein
2021 Bronze Medal
104 Pages
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Poetry - Love/Romance
If you think poetry collections are all the same and that it is difficult, perhaps impossible, to find an innovative one, you will have to reconsider your opinion. I had one of the most pleasant surprises myself when I found Vashti Stopher Klein's The Soprano, the Monster, and the Dragonslayer. The book begins with an allegory. An ill Soprano dreams about an evil monster, seeks a healer, and discovers that the only man who can save her and give her back her voice is the Dragonslayer. After her successful healing, the Soprano starts singing again. As a bonus for readers, some of the poems have hyperlinks that allow you to listen to them recorded as songs.
The Soprano, the Monster, and the Dragonslayer is a collection that effectively blends words, music, and images (you find artistic designs by Carol Collett before each poem). I wrote above that Stopher Klein's book is innovative, and the perfect interweaving of all these elements gives it originality and charm. Each of the poems of The Soprano, the Monster, and the Dragonslayer is remarkable for the story it tells. They are detailed pictures, and whether you listen to the recordings or read the words, they will mesmerize you. I consider them as delightful pieces of a wonderful puzzle. The Soprano, the Monster, and the Dragonslayer is one of the best collections of poems I have read in recent times. I cannot wait to read more work by Vashti Stopher Klein, and I hope it will happen soon.
Recommend this book:
Seasons (I'll Be Seeing You)
A collection of poems about heartbreak, healing, and redemption
Pam R. Johnson Davis
2021 Silver Medal
68 Pages
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Poetry - Love/Romance
In Pam R. Johnson Davis’s book of poetry, Seasons (I’ll Be Seeing You), her poems follow seven years in her life in which she experiences heartbreak, healing, and redemption. Following a broken relationship, she experiences grief and depression which are beautifully represented in poems like “Descent” and “Worthless”. As she started to recover, Davis wrote poetry that expresses a mixture of painful learning and glimmers of hope. In the poem Oblivion, she writes about her efforts to recover: “I climb up and up, and down I go, adding to my wounds”. The last section of the book presents powerful and timely poems about being African American. The message that you cannot know or understand unless you are actually black in America is clear and compelling. The last poem of the book, “That Girl”, changes “That girl” at the beginning to “This girl” at the end, representing the transformation from who she was to who she has become.
The poems in Seasons (I’ll Be Seeing You) by Pam R. Johnson Davis capture the very raw pain of loss, the transition to healing, and the uplifting joy that comes from surviving a difficult human experience and finding love again. The poems bravely and openly share pain and healing that is simultaneously extremely personal and universal. I found the repetition of words or phrases particularly powerful like the word “still” in “Are You There” and “mess made” in “The Mess I Made”. Some of the repetition seemed to symbolize the repeated efforts to come back and recover. I was moved by the poems in the last section of the book. In today’s America, the poems about being black could not be more timely. Beautifully written, Davis’s words remind us of how impossible it is to understand someone else’s experience and of how far we still need to go.
Recommend this book:
Tainted Lionheart
Christine Weimer
2021 Gold Medal
78 Pages
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Poetry - Love/Romance
Tainted Lionheart by Christine Weimer is a compilation of the author's original poetry, narrated in three phases through which the poetess has traversed while navigating the aftermath of absolute heartbreak. The first part of the anthology, Bruising, begins with the hope and optimism that springs from an emotional well even when we know the territory we are entering is dangerous. There is blame cast and longing still, our hearts raw from the foolishness that leads to inevitable destruction. There is pain. It's agony, really. Agony with such depth that we see no way out. Weimer follows this with part two, Brooding, wherein we see a transition to anger and awareness that begins the process of setting blame on the one who claims to be blameless. Finally, Weimer takes us to Breathing in part three, where a shift in power is reinstated in the spurned party with pieces such as Chaos that reads, “I am the ruler here, I am the master of the domain that upheaval thinks it can rest in...”
To put how moved I was reading the work of Christine Weimer into perspective, Tainted Lionheart is the 418th book I have reviewed. This collection of poetry is the most poignant, most touching, most profoundly raw I have read in a very, very long time. It's not easy or comfortable—and it's not meant to be. The first two sections will resonate deeply with readers who, at some point in their lives, found themselves crawling on the floor, sobbing. The final phase reveals the evolution toward acceptance despite not always being in possession of understanding, and in spite of the fact that we will likely never be whole again. And that's okay. My favorite poem is in part two, Brooding, and is called Pumps. In it, Weimer latches onto the potency of a counterblow when an injured party rises to eclipse the shiny novelty of the one they've been replaced with, at which time it is simply too late. There will be no more hitching of wagons to Weimer's shooting star. This is a fantastic book of poetry. Very highly recommended.
Recommend this book:
Blu Diamonds
Kevin Hollingsworth
2020 Gold Medal
93 Pages
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Poetry - Love/Romance
Poetry is not just words. Poetry is an expression of words and language that stimulates an emotion or feeling. Through these emotions and feelings arises a potpourri of thoughts; this is what helps to create poetry. By reading Blu Diamonds by Kevin Hollingsworth, I must warn you to get ready for the expression of rawness from love, life, and passion to romance. The author takes the reader on a romantic vacation to their favorite place whether it's on the French Riviera, in the Virgin Islands, Paris, or Puerto Vallarta through poetry and images. Accompanying each poem are beautiful images from featured illustrators and photographers to help tell the story. Along with the poems, the reader will see images ranging from women to nature to help create the backdrop of the poem.
I love poetry and I really liked the touch that the author used in combining images with poetry. Over the centuries poetry has been the way to express a range of feelings from love and sadness to hate. Kevin Hollingsworth touched on a variety of subjects to connect with the reader. The reader may enjoy and be touched by poems like Imagined, My Love and One Last Time. Each poem will allow the reader to walk with the author through the words of expression of emotional bliss. If you are looking for poetry being expressed differently, Blu Diamonds by Kevin Hollingsworth is the book for you.
Recommend this book:
Burning the Bacon
L. Austen Johnson
2020 Bronze Medal
73 Pages
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Poetry - Love/Romance
Burning the Bacon by L. Austen Johnson comprises four distinct sections of poetry – Gravity, In Memoriam, Entropy, and Parthenogenesis. These titles fascinated me before I began to read. The title poem, Burning the Bacon, is a declaration of love whilst Molded, one line of many says it all. “It's there in the spot you must have reserved for me in the shadows of your mind.” Nighttime Routine describes preparing for bed, but it’s included in In Memoriam – "I care for myself because you certainly didn't care for me." Entropy and Parthenogenesis are shorter than the first two sections, and each of the four is illustrated. All the poems are written freestyle in a way that allows the reader glimpses into the writer’s mind – very brave and incredibly clever.
Of all the poems L. Austen Johnson has included in Burning the Bacon, my absolute favorite is The Passion. It is based on The Lord’s Prayer, with a personal commentary after each line. Intriguingly, it ends with Amen, omitting “for thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory, for ever and ever”. Burning the Bacon is different from any other poetry book I’ve read. No way is it a “coffee table” book. Its place is in a private bedside cabinet where it’s handy when alone. Dip into Anticipation, Perspective: eight lines below the title of a poem by Walter Whitman, or Known. Burning the Bacon by L. Austen Johnson is a five-star must-have for poetry lovers and anyone ready to dip into something different.
Recommend this book:
The Collection
A poetic exploration of friendship, love, fantasies and the soulmate
Jacqueline Belle
2020 Honorable Mention
100 Pages
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Poetry - Love/Romance
The Collection by Jacqueline Belle features elegant and passionate poems that explore themes about love, hope, nature, and sadness. The third poem, “I Know,” combines the soft, invigorating feelings from nature with the unspoken words and lingering questions between two people. In the poem “Reach Up,” the narrator inspires the need to reflect upon dreams and imaginations and to allow one to live and savor life’s different moments: “Let reality's sounds, smells, flavors and textures to surround you/ Engulf you.” While some poems are passionate, others are striking and realistic, exploring different aspects of love. In the poem “My Heart Lays Open,” the narrator experiences heart-rending pain from those they care about while the poem “Cherish” is about an enduring love that remains steadfast through times of happiness and darkness.
The poems drew me in by their clever use of language that engages the senses, such as in the first poem “My Morning Coffee”: “Steam curls upward/ creeping slowly/ under my chin/ I breathe in the thick/ musky smell.” Others employ metaphors to portray various circumstances. The symbolism held my attention as I worked on deriving the meaning of the poem. In “The Tree,” for instance, a boy picks the fruits of a tree without regard for the well-being of the tree. Personification utilized in the collection allowed me to connect even deeper with the themes explored in the poems such as in the poem “Sadness” that presents the feeling of sadness as a living thing that whispers and has ghostly fingers. Jacqueline Belle’s The Collection brings together poems that empower and inspire the imagination.
Recommend this book:
Tenebrae
A Memoir of Love and Death
Dan Flanigan
2020 Finalist
74 Pages
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Poetry - Love/Romance
Tenebrae: A Memoir of Love and Death by Dan Flanigan is a collection of emotional poems that speaks about the death of his wife, and brings together beauty and suffering in a creative and aesthetic way. Written in free verse and as prose poems, they capture the feelings, emotions, and thoughts of the poet brilliantly and leave readers feeling poignant and mournful. The title 'Tenebrae' depicts the poet's melancholic mood and the twists and turns of his life. It is a collection that will hit readers hard and leave them teary-eyed as they read about life and death. This well-worded collection speaks about other areas of the poet's life, revealing his perception of life and humanity.
The poems are reminiscent of the poet's anguish and he captures the time between living and dying. The poem 72nd & Amsterdam evokes feelings of nostalgia as the poet speaks about his wife's illness and his fear and despair. Briar Rose is heartrending and the poet describes the last day of his wife's life through a prose poem. Every poem in the collection speaks about the poet's pain and it is indeed amazing how he chose to put his pain and anguish into words as they not only speak about life and death but also about other issues of loss, growth, change, and more. There are poems that deal with family, history, the poet's Irish background, and the confessional tone in the poems adds to the personal tone and reveals the poet's deeper emotions and intense thoughts.
Recommend this book:
Composition of a Woman
Christine E. Ray
2019 Bronze Medal
210 Pages
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Poetry - Love/Romance
Christine E. Ray's Composition of a Woman is a compelling collection of poetry that focuses on a stimulating subject: woman. Composed of five chapters titled Nerve, Brain, Breast, Rib and Blood, this collection is stirringly sincere. Nerve is playful and humorous; 'the transformation/was so slow/so gradual/that I was unaware/that bones had turned glass/' from the poem The Lost Key. In stark contrast, it is followed by the fittingly melancholic and despondent poems of the section on Brain. And as we sadly view the broken pieces of a woman around us, the tactile and sensuous poems in Breast slowly start by stirring our hearts and reminding us of that woozy and wobbly feeling of being truly in love. Nostalgic and lonesome, the Rib poems are both painful and beautiful while the poems in the final chapter called Blood try to unify the kindred spirits with an enigmatic smile.
Composition of a Woman by Christine E. Ray is a book of poetry and prose written by a woman about women. Christine Ray certainly has something to say and she's saying it in a voice that is unique, humorous and provocative, also poignant. It is an extraordinary voice that describes, dissects and debates the quintessence of being a woman, that beautiful creature that can be vulnerable or powerful, but always beautiful. And while we go on a fascinating journey in a woman's mind, body, and soul through these poems, the experience is thought provoking and fascinating, like every woman should be!