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:
EN
A Girl Energy-Bending between Worlds (The Girl, the Pendant & the Portal Book 1)
Michelle Reynoso
2019 Finalist
239 Pages
Check current price
Young Adult - Fantasy - Urban
EN: A Girl Energy-Bending between Worlds by Michelle Reynoso is the first book in The Girl, the Pendant, and the Portal series. Faith's entire life changed when her mother died. Now she's living in her brother's house under his guardianship and she's stuck at a new school away from her best friend. She does her best to avoid the other students just to get through every day. For some reason, her brother seems to think she messes everything up, which makes her all the more determined to prove him wrong. When she ends up grounded on the anniversary of her mother's death, her best friend surprises her and the two sneak out to a house in the middle of nowhere which starts a series of strange events. After she finds a mysterious necklace, her life takes a turn with strange threats from a school bully and blackout trips to another world where she discovers not only does she have the ability to manipulate energy (EN) but a mysterious being has set his eyes on her.
Faith is still trying to navigate her new life after her mother's death. At first, she thinks she's losing her mind as she finds herself suddenly in other places and then back to find hours have passed. The mystery of her sudden displacements quickly builds up until she discovers she's not losing her mind but visiting this other world which revolves around energy. Michelle Reynoso bends time and energy to create this other world which has Faith as the key to solving their problems. But finding answers isn't so simple as Reynoso weaves in a hero's journey in which Faith must first learn to harness her new powers under the guidance of The Girl who takes on a teaching role.
The other characters stem from her old life which helps keep her connected to who she is. Her best friend Kiara is her rock and helps keep her living life by sneaking out and bending the rules. Reynoso incorporates a touch of romance when she reconnects with Paul and things seem to be picking up where they left off. This adds a touch of normalcy and lightness to the sudden chaotic turn in her life. The tone of voice is spot-on, channeling the attitude of a teenager where at times she's a bit hardened after all she's gone through. EN is a brilliant YA adventure exploring themes of changes, friendship, family, loss, and the power it takes to become a hero.
Recommend this book:
The Clan Calling
Chronicle Two - Sadie in the Adventures of Jason Lex
Wendy Terrien
2019 Honorable Mention
362 Pages
Check current price
Young Adult - Fantasy - Urban
The Clan Calling: Chronicle Two – Sadie by Wendy Terrien is part of the Adventures of Jason Lex series. Sadie's life is just getting back to normal when her best friend, Jason, and his uncle suddenly take off for London and her grandmother becomes mysteriously ill. Her grandmother insists everything is fine, but how can everything be fine if she's sleeping all the time and having nightmares? When a stranger shows up, a devastating family secret is revealed and forces Sadie to deal with a new reality. When everyone seemingly starts to fall asleep around her, she begins to question if she's the cause. Turning to Jason's old friend, Brandon, for help, the two dig into her family's past and find help from a surprising source.
Sadie's story balances out Jason's journey in The League of Governors, revealing what happened while he's in London. Wendy Terrien works in the same beginning and end as Jason's story, tying the two together and allowing for a chance to see both sides of this one larger story. Sadie goes through an emotional journey that revolves around her family and secrets that change the way she views everything, even herself. She has to learn how to accept who her family is now that she knows their startling secret, which is something she never thought was possible. She has a moment where she spirals, feeling like everything is her fault and that she's a monster, but slowly she learns how these secrets really change her. She has a deeply personal journey of self discovery, as she searches for her voice and her role in this new family she's discovered. Sadie has a lot to navigate with everything seeming to be all on her shoulders, with this whole family she didn't know anything about suddenly expecting her to make this decision that will change their future. She's also dealing with being a teenager with a potential crush and wondering why her best friend hasn't responded to any of her messages.
Sadie's story has several moments where she's feeling alone and taking a majority of the responsibility on herself. When her grandmother is sick, she's terrified of being left alone and so makes a lot of decisions on her own on how to handle everything. She has a strong protective instinct and doesn't cower away from anything when her grandmother is threatened. Over time she realizes she has this deeper bond with Jason's family, which helps her with the decisions she'll need to make going forward after the end of this journey. The Clan Calling is an emotional journey of self-discovery, focusing on the power and bond of family.
Recommend this book:
The Mark of Fallen Flame
Weapon of Fire and Ash Book 1
Brittany Matsen
2019 Bronze Medal
356 Pages
Check current price
Young Adult - Fantasy - Urban
The Mark of Fallen Flame is the first book in the Weapon of Fire and Ash series by Brittany Matsen and it is an explosive opening for an urban fantasy novel with hints of coming of age. Emma Duvall is just two days away from senior year when she is attacked by creatures of the shadows. She is entangled with creatures that are venomous and have beautiful voices, and a wicked beast with red eyes. The strange thing is that the dark power from these creatures flows into her when she touches them and this power awakens a thirst in her that is uncontrollable. But a boy in school has caught her attention and she can’t understand why she hurts so much when she gets close to him. Emma must hide her powers but how can she when the Giborim who hunt the monsters think she is dangerous? Emma is drawn into an ancient conflict and may become the ultimate sacrifice. But can she save the world when a threat knocks at its doors?
Here is a novel that will appeal to fans of I Am Number Four; a narrative that is developed in two conflicting settings, a world with pure humans and one inhabited by monsters. The author does an impeccable job of handling the juxtaposition between the two worlds. Characters are well developed, including Blaze, an ancient man with a deep grudge. His role in the narrative is strong and I was keen to see how he could help Emma in her dilemma. Brittany Matsen's prose is elegant, flowing flawlessly, and the author does an impeccable job with the scenes, capturing the viewpoints of characters so readers enjoy the story. The Mark of Fallen Flame has a strong premise, a powerful conflict, and memorable, elaborately developed characters. A good read for fans of urban fantasy.
Recommend this book:
The Secrets of Hawthorne House
Donald Firesmith
2019 Silver Medal
424 Pages
Check current price
Young Adult - Fantasy - Urban
Fifteen-year-old Matt Mitchell lost his mother in an accident caused by a drunk driver. His devastated father moved him and his twin sister, Tina, from the Oregon coast to the small town of Hawthorne in rural Indiana. As he is the new kid in school, three bullies are determined to make Matt's life miserable from day one. He also learns that the old recluse who lives in the dilapidated Victorian mansion next door is Lady Vivianne Hawthorne, the town’s infamous witch and murderer. Things become more strange and interesting when Lady Hawthorne's niece, Gwendolyn Hawthorne, and her three children come to live with her. Matt forms an unlikely friendship with Gerallt, Gwendolyn's teenage son, and discovers their secret culture and belief, magic, and eventually gets involved in the search for the Hawthornes' lost treasure.
Rudy Parfaite’s cover art is the first attractive feature of Donald Firesmith’s The Secrets of Hawthorne House. It’s beautifully done and complements the story well. Engaging readers from the start, Firesmith doesn’t rush the story development, making the narrative flow deftly. It was easy for me to immerse myself in this coming-of-age urban fantasy combined with Celtic mythology. I was invested in the characters, their successes, and predicaments. The Hawthornes’ peculiarities are instantly intriguing, especially when Matt gets to know more about them through his friendship with Gerallt. The plot is well thought out, substantiated with imperative messages to the targeted readers on dealing with life’s hardships, the loss of a parent, bullying, and financial stress. There’s also the matter of dealing with discrimination and respecting others’ beliefs. As an adult, I found The Secrets of Hawthorne House truly enjoyable even though it’s for teen readers. A commendable work from Donald Firesmith and I look forward to the sequel.
Recommend this book:
Do Not Open Until Halloween
C.A. King
2019 Gold Medal
185 Pages
Check current price
Young Adult - Fantasy - Urban
Caitlin isn’t a little girl anymore. The intense love of fairytales and magic she carried throughout her childhood has given way to an analytical mind and a heady crush on fellow high school senior Justin. She grew up in a highly sterilized and orderly home with parents who are nothing less than the picture of suburban sophistication. There’s just no room in Caitlin’s life for anything that cannot fit within the neat and orderly lines of logic. So when her eccentric Aunt Petunia sweeps in with a well-paying house-sitting gig and an advance copy of her latest fantasy book, things are bound to get complicated. There’s something weird about Aunt Petunia’s house, and with an unchaperoned party in the works, Caitlin’s about to get a crash course in magic. Do Not Open Until Halloween will draw you into C.A. King’s world even if you’ve never read anything by her before.
Do Not Open Until Halloween’s prologue is a stroke of genius. In one fell swoop, the important lore is established and C.A. King has successfully set the stage for the magic of dreams and the rules of real life to overlap. Aunt Petunia is delightfully lost in her own world, her thoughts marching along to a tune all her own and making little sense to Caitlin. This skewed perspective makes for quite a bit of fun as the story progresses, especially once a special salt barrier is disrupted. Do Not Open Until Halloween is an incredibly fast-paced romp through the absurd and the serious, taking turns that in the end left me truly surprised and kept me on my toes. It definitely bears mentioning that though the conflict is often quickly resolved and thus perhaps more suited to teenage readers, I definitely would recommend Do Not Open Until Halloween to anyone looking for a fantasy you can enjoy without diving into every nitty-gritty detail. King has crafted a fun read with references galore and all sorts of new takes on ideas that are sure to be loved.
Recommend this book:
Aaru
Book 1: The Aaru Cycle
David Meredith
2018 Finalist
295 Pages
Check current price
Young Adult - Fantasy - Urban
Rose is dying, and especially Rose herself knows this. The events of the novel Aaru by David Meredith begin with Rose being in hospital, and a mysterious man who is neither a doctor nor a priest offers Rose a chance to be saved. While Rose does not believe in being saved in any way, she gives it a go - for her sister, Koren. When Rose dies, her last thoughts are about how another treatment has let her down. But then she wakes up in a new world: the world after. It is called Aaru, and Rose is one of the first people to have the good fortune to be part of it. When Koren is connected to Aaru via a screen for the first time to talk to Rose, it is the beginning of her time as a celebrity. Aaru's makers had chosen Rose because of Koren. They wanted Koren as the face for their marketing campaign. After all, who would be more appealing than a suffering, attractive young girl? Koren agrees to become the face of Aaru, as she thinks it's great that people will never truly have to die any longer. But her new fame comes with a high price. Not everyone thinks eternal life is something good, especially not the ones who believe that God should have the final word.
When I picked up Aaru by David Meredith, I was worried that it would be a sentimental, soppy story - like many stories about dying people are, so I usually avoid books about the topic "sister/brother/father/etc. die of cancer and someone is left behind." However, I was intrigued by the idea of brain scans and a person being transformed into a computer system. So I hoped this would be good. Fortunately, it was good indeed! I finished the book in only one and a half days because it was hard to put down (and it is not really a short book). I found the pace of the book very well done: you didn't spend too long on one plot point, but the story was always moving forward in a way.
The villain who eventually - to my surprise - turns up is fairly creepy, so that was quite a feat to achieve, too. I didn't expect the story to develop that way, and the additional challenge for Koren and Rose was a welcome surprise which made the reading even more exciting. Rose's disease and passing, of course, play a vital part in the novel. It's what sets everything in motion, but everything surrounding that issue isn't soppy in any way. It's well done, and fairly realistic with all the raw emotions the reader sees Koren go through. I'd recommend this book to everyone who is fascinated by ideas that surround the brain and its compatibility with computers. But it's also a story about how fame affects a young girl who has just lost one of the most important people in her life.
Recommend this book:
The League of Governors
Chronicle Two - Jason in the Adventures of Jason Lex
Wendy Terrien
2018 Honorable Mention
382 Pages
Check current price
Young Adult - Fantasy - Urban
The League of Governors: Chronicle Two – Jason by Wendy Terrien is an Adventures of Jason Lex novel. Jason saved the world, but he wasn't able to save his mom. He's trying to get his life back together now that he knows a secret world of cryptids exists, but his little sister only seems to be getting worse. After his dad takes Della to London to see the League of Governors, they stop responding to Jason's phone calls. Add to that a mysterious coin that glows, and Jason knows there's more going on than meets the eye. When he and his Uncle Alexander travel to London for answers, they find a deeper conspiracy. Suddenly Jason's been rescued and held captive by the League. Everyone around him behaves strangely and no one will give him clear answers. Even his dad has a personality change. As he digs into the League's motives, he uncovers a plan to take over the world and a shocking family secret.
Jason's adventures are far from over after seemingly stopping his mother's plans. Some might say his troubles have only just begun. Most of the focus is on the conspiracy within the League, as they pose the greatest threat to Jason and his family. When Jason's drawn into the League, he's not sure who to trust so everyone around him looks suspicious, which makes him feel trapped and alone. He has a realistic outlook on everything happening around him as he goes through quite an emotional journey, filled with anger and despair but also strength and hope. His hero's journey has only just started as he continues to fight back, even in small ways, while also having to consistently pick himself up and keep moving forward.
The League is presented in an interesting way, with a chilling appearance of an Utopia with Jason directly in the middle of it, alone and confused, trying to figure out who to trust and how to get out. On the surface it seems almost perfect and merry, with everything - even punishments - being viewed as a good thing. With every turn Jason uncovers a bit more that deepens the conspiracy in dark and twisted ways. Wendy Terrien creates a faux Utopia in a perfectly creepy way that ups the danger the further Jason unravels and continues to work in Terrien's twist on cryptids. Family is at the heart of Jason's journey as he struggles to protect those he loves and everything he knew is threatened. The League of Governors is a nerve-wracking, suspenseful read from beginning to end, a hero's journey with twists on cryptids and a dark conspiracy.
Recommend this book:
Raptor
B.A. Bostick
2018 Honorable Mention
520 Pages
Check current price
Young Adult - Fantasy - Urban
Raptor by B.A. Bostick is a delightful fantasy story for young adult readers, a story that features the proverbial battle between good and evil. To be able to dominate humankind, demons have resorted to a more subtle kind of deception. They are disguising themselves as humans and infiltrating human society, taking key positions in governments and organizations. The good news is that there is also a secret society of Guardians, invested with the power to detect and thwart the plans of these demons. They have used highly skilled beings called the Raptors to do the incredible job of protecting humankind. Unknown to humans, raptors live amongst them and protect them.
Ariel is a raptor in one of the big mid-western cities, and when Detective Frank Bishop is in grave danger of being killed by a demon, she has no choice but to come to Frank's rescue, hence revealing her true nature to Frank. Now, as the pair works tirelessly to uncover the reason behind the disappearances of children and the homeless in the city, Frank is irrevocably drawn into the raptor’s world, understanding that she isn’t an ordinary woman. Now Frank is immersed in a world where light encounters the worst forms of darkness.
This is a beautiful story with interesting characters and an intriguing plot. I enjoyed the originality in the concept and in the plot, and there were moments I started believing that there are demons ruling among men, disguised as men, like some dictators this century has known. B.A. Bostick makes readers care about the characters and sells the idea of fighting for what is good in a brilliant way. The novel features great writing, a fast-paced plot, a huge conflict, and a setting that feels like some place readers already know. It was an enjoyable read.
Recommend this book:
The Rampart Guards
Chronicle One in the Adventures of Jason Lex
Wendy Terrien
2018 Bronze Medal
298 Pages
Check current price
Young Adult - Fantasy - Urban
The Rampart Guards by Wendy Terrien is Chronicle One in the Adventures of Jason Lex. After Jason Lex's mom disappears one night, his dad decides to move him and his siblings closer to their grandma and the uncle their mom never wanted them to meet. When he starts seeing flying creatures, he turns to his uncle for answers and discovers a family secret. The flying creatures are called skyfish, and exist unseen with several other cryptids, including the Mongolian Death Worm. Not sure who he can trust, Jason has to fight against a surprising enemy in order to save his family and find his destiny.
Wendy Terrien brings to life a world where cryptids are real, and connects to well-known history with fun twists. The skyfish are fascinating creatures that are said to be playful and are unable to be seen by the human eye, yet Jason's destiny begins when he sees them. This is just the beginning of his journey as he overcomes tragedy and danger. The end is just the beginning as it's clear that there's more to come for Jason to fulfill his destiny. Jason's life is flipped upside down when his mom mysteriously vanishes, and he's uprooted to a new town. Sadie gives him a friend, a confidant, and connects him to this new place where she knows everyone. Secrets are everywhere as Jason discovers why his mom didn't want his uncle around, why she left that night, and the startling secret that his brother has been keeping. The Rampart Guards is a brilliant story of a young hero's journey, with family secrets, betrayal, tragedy, and friendship. Aimed at young adults, but perfect for anyone who loves adventure and cryptozoology!
Recommend this book:
Fury Frayed
Of Fates and Furies Book 1
Melissa Haag
2018 Silver Medal
308 Pages
Check current price
Young Adult - Fantasy - Urban
Fury Frayed by Melissa Haag is a wonderfully written urban fantasy for young adults that is suitable for any age group. Being the first book in a series, it really sets the tone for what is going be an awesome series. The story begins with Megan Smith getting into trouble at school for fighting. She is always getting into fights, she is always angry. When Megan arrives home, she finds that her mother has told her to pack once again, because they are moving. They get to their new destination, a run-down house with an overgrown yard in a small town in Maine. After they spend the first night there, Megan wakes up alone. She finds a note fromher mother, informing Megan that she is now on her own. The house is hers and she has been left with a hefty sum of money to survive on until she finds a way to earn her own money. She finds out that she has been enrolled in a special academy called Girderon, a school for mythical non-humans to learn how to blend into human society. While waiting to begin school, she meets a few of the main characters in the story, which include werewolves, a griffon, and a succubus that become her best friends. Megan has caught the eye of a certain werewolf named Fenris, who has his own pack of she-wolves. With Aubrey as the rival territorial queen bee, Megan has allies in Oanan the griffon, and Eliane the succubus, her best friends who have her back and can help with her anger issues.
Ms. Haag moves this story along at an amazing pace and it quickly becomes filled with murder mysteries, secrets, as well as fantastical creatures that have existed throughout time, bred out of legends and gods. This story, with its cast of characters, at once reminded me of a cross between Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief and the sci-fi channel series Lost Girl that introduces the idea of the Faery world co-existing with humans. Plenty of action, suspense, and even provocative love interests. The characters' personalities are just so well developed, especially Megan. She has a sarcastic sense of humor that is just irresistible, and will make you laugh out loud and often. When she is listed as a suspect for two bodies that were found in her presence, Megan wants answers, and decides to find out her lineage by sneaking into the school after hours. Fury Frayed delivers on all levels from page one, and all the way to the end. It is really hard to put down. All I can say is wow! I cannot wait for the next installment from Melissa Haag. Brava!