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:
Smarter Than You Think:
Accessing Your Personal Powers to Triumph in College
Suzanne Liff
2021 Finalist
194 Pages
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Young Adult - Non-Fiction
Smarter Than You Think: Accessing Your Personal Powers to Triumph in College by Suzanne Liff is a self-empowerment book for young adults who are about to embark on the first stage of their higher educational life. Liff taps into the different aspects necessary for success, all of which are built upon the foundation of social and emotional intelligence (SEI). Broken down into eleven distinct and interconnected chapters, Liff emphasizes the importance of personal capacities that are not often recognized by students or even measured. These include the diverse ways to be smart in Howard Gardner's theory of multiple intelligences, self-awareness and emotional control, time management, accountability, and empathy, among many other dominions.
I wasn't entirely certain what to expect when I picked up Smarter Than You Think, but as a parent with a daughter entering her first year of college in September, the timing of Suzanne Liff's book falling into my lap couldn't have been better. I found genuine value in almost everything contained in these succinct chapters, and the examples and anecdotal stories personalized the book on the whole. My favorite section is titled Turn Your Back on Dangerous Coping Methods, and it is chock-full of alternatives to quitting, self-medicating, or withdrawing when faced with stress. Outlets that channel energy into positive mechanisms are provided, and the advice is universal as it can be applied to my own life as well as my daughter's. Smarter Than You Think is an excellent book with so much to offer and I am so glad to have read it.
Recommend this book:
Dirty Science
How Unscientific Methods Are Blocking Our Cultural Advancement
Bob Gebelein
2021 Honorable Mention
220 Pages
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Young Adult - Non-Fiction
Dirty Science is an unusual and thought-provoking work of non-fiction by author Bob Gebelein, which attempts to explain ‘How Unscientific Methods Are Blocking Our Cultural Advancement’. The book begins a discussion on the nature of the absolute faith we, in the modern day, place in science, and how this can sometimes prove unwise and prevent progress and new philosophical thinking in other areas of the discipline. Whilst science has its place in the world, the examples chosen in this complex read are intended to help its audience see the genuine nature of science and identify the ‘unscientific’ elements where pride, politics, and empiricism may stand in the way of explorations of the mental and spiritual realms in which we also abide.
Though it takes a little while to get your head around the text, the writings and arguments which author Bob Gebelein explores in Dirty Science truly open the mind to possibilities beyond just believing what we are told in the mainstream. The legitimacy of the scientific establishment has often been called into question as an elitist and politically-motivated organization, but Gebelein gives comprehensive and compelling explanations as to why that may be, and what can be done about it to allow science to progress beyond a simple categorization of the physical world around us. I particularly enjoyed the sections on seemingly irrational concepts like precognition and clairvoyance, as well as the comparisons made to a sense of faith in religion. Overall, Dirty Science provides much food for thought in a well-written and accessible format.
Recommend this book:
Liberty-Loving Lafayette
How ‘America’s Favorite Fighting Frenchman’ Helped Win Our Independence
Dorothea Jensen
2021 Bronze Medal
63 Pages
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Young Adult - Non-Fiction
In the wonderfully conceived and magnificently presented Liberty-Loving Lafayette: How 'America’s Favorite Fighting Frenchman' Helped Win Our Independence, Dorothea Jensen presents her theme in visuals and verse, alternating them page by page as she traces Gilbert’s (Lafayette’s) dedicated involvement in America’s Revolutionary War. The visuals are mostly color prints of classic museum paintings of persons and places in the full regalia of the time. The fashion styles are nothing but mind-blowing not only of Lafayette but of King George III, Marie Antoinette, King Louis XVI, and many others. There are also battle scenes with everything chronologically presented. On opposite pages are poems consisting of mostly iambic, rhymed couplets that often raise a smile with some intrusions of modern slang (bro, good to go) that will appeal to the present generation.
If I were a high school teacher presenting American history, this amazing volume would be center front on my desk regarding not only Lafayette but a collection of the war’s other players; Washington, Silas Dean, Rochambeau, and Benedict Arnold. And battles too—Brandywine, Gloucester, Barren Hill, Monmouth, Newport Bay, and Yorktown. And when my students finished with the pictures and verse, I’d refer them to the glossary and scholarly notes at the end. It’s as clear as the Liberty Bell that Dorothea Jensen breathes the history of our colonial period, and her reverence for and joy in the subject will inspire anyone who opens her superb presentation. Besides the history, Liberty-Loving Lafayette by Dorothea Jensen is a joy for the senses that will bring the foundation of our liberty marching proudly to the fore.
Recommend this book:
It's Not Common Cent$
A 30-Day Personal Finance Crash Course for College Students and Young Adults. How to Manage Money, Save Money Fast, Pay off Debt and Invest in the Stock Market.
Aaminah Amin
2021 Silver Medal
278 Pages
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Young Adult - Non-Fiction
It's Not Common Cent$, written by Aaminah Amin, is an inspiring financial how-to book. Her fun, engaging writing style on a topic often deemed dull and boring is entertaining and kept me interested. As I turned the pages, I felt like she was alongside me as I read, encouraging me to make responsible fiscal decisions, and coaching me on how to set a goal of putting debt in my past, where it belongs, instead of my future, where it doesn’t. Using words like depreciation, compound interest, and cash flow, she explains these terms in ways more easily understood than net asset value or the fine print on my home’s purchase agreement. Providing pivot tables and algebraic calculations for everything from tracking transactions to sticking to a budget like a pro, she lays out practical, clear steps to achieve financial freedom. I learned that simply knowing how to add and subtract in order to balance my checkbook does not necessarily mean I handle money well, nor does that knowledge transfer to making wise decisions regarding wealth management.
A cheerleader from beginning to end, Aaminah Amin highlights ways to avoid financial pitfalls. Topics of discussion include purchasing life, home, car, and health insurance; paying taxes; and employing multiple income streams to bring in revenue. She points out the need for an action plan, a budget, and consistency - all key to the building blocks that stack one upon the other to produce prosperity instead of debt. The more I read, the tougher the questions I asked myself became: Am I exhibiting good spending habits? Am I buying necessities and practicing delayed gratification? Am I investing in my future in lieu of impulse buying? By the time I finished reading the last chapter, I was confident I can attain my financial goals and assign my money a task, controlling it, instead of the other way around. Putting a positive spin on budgeting, and properly paced for maximum reading enjoyment, It's Not Common Cent$ is an empowering book written for anyone ready to put their money to work today.
Recommend this book:
The Ultimate College Student Health Handbook
Your Guide for Everything from Hangovers to Homesickness
Jill Grimes, MD
2021 Gold Medal
312 Pages
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Young Adult - Non-Fiction
The Ultimate College Student Health Handbook: Your Guide for Everything from Hangovers to Homesickness by Jill Grimes, MD is a comprehensive guide for students. It is not (as reminded in the Note to readers) a substitute for medical care; far from it. It introduces varied scenarios and the stories of young college students who had to deal with those issues. It is nonetheless classified into topics such as the “head, mouth, neck, chest, stomach, back…” The index will allow the reader to search for specific problems and the references to dig deeper.
The Ultimate College Student Health Handbook by Jill Grimes, MD is a wonderful family book. It is designed for college students but will be useful for all, parents and children alike. I appreciated the tone and voice of this guide: the author knows how to engage her readers. It is as though she were speaking to us and it is extremely appealing. I loved the way each problem is tackled by name first, the one we all give to it, and the medical one, then the symptoms, the treatment(s), the cases in which you should head to the doctor. There are also three additional sections that are a great plus: worst-case scenario, prevention, expert tricks. So we understand that this handbook is not only to be perused in case of need but before such a need should arise.
The sections about prevention and tips are invaluable! It offers comfort, reassurance and helps calm one down. It is the telephone call we would like to have with our family to get advice or the school nurse who always knew how to deal with the situation. It tells us "don't worry/panic, others have been here/through this before, we'll handle this together. You're not alone!" Everything about this guide is perfect: it is clear, to the point, interesting, fun to read. It should be gifted to all college students!
Recommend this book:
Letter to My Dreams for Planet Earth
Pilar Velez
2020 Finalist
84 Pages
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Young Adult - Non-Fiction
Letter to My Dreams for Planet Earth by Pilar Velez is an informative and educational book that will make children realize the importance of protecting the environment using interactive activities and a diary format where readers are the captain of the trip. The magical stories in the diary are real and teach readers to remember, learn, play, be thankful, and see the future. The magic words, hidden worlds, and amazing people in the book make readers see that everything is possible if they set their mind to it. Every person has a different dream and it is imperative that they acknowledge themselves as wonderful people who live on this planet. Let us read this book together and explore the planet where we all live.
This fun and interactive book has a lot of information for readers to learn about planet Earth. I loved Pilar Velez 's approach to the topic. It has been written keeping the child audience in mind, and there are many encouraging messages and concepts for them to stimulate their creativity, critical thinking, and decision making. Letter to My Dreams for Planet Earth can also be looked at as a good tool for creative writing, environmental knowledge and education, and workshops for children. It reaches out to readers of all age groups and develops awareness in readers about the environment they are living in and how they can make changes with their dreams. This is definitely a must-have and must-read because it has wonderful stories that will make young readers think, games and activities, conversations, and other treasures that will leave them enchanted and excited. It can also be used for reference on various topics related to planet Earth.
Recommend this book:
What Matters
Lessons Learned from Life
Phil Rainwater
2020 Honorable Mention
113 Pages
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Young Adult - Non-Fiction
What Matters: Lessons Learned from Life by Phil Rainwater is a motivational book that helps readers to focus on the essential, on what really matters. The book is composed of short, insightful thoughts, axioms, and messages that are designed to help readers improve the quality of their life, increase their levels of fulfillment, and connect more intimately with their purpose. Each thought is accomplished by an illustration from a child's artwork, each one illuminating and deeply inspiring.
In this book the author shares lessons of enlightenment, lessons learned through life, and these cover a variety of topics, including personal development, parenting, making a difference, and a lot more. For instance, about creating a quality life, the author says: “Awareness of dying . . . greatly increases the awareness of living.” When it comes to parenting, the author shares the conviction that when we give time to children, then time for other things just fits in. He has also learned that to make a difference one has to be different.
There are many other thoughts and insights that readers get in this slim, yet refreshing book. The thoughts are conveyed in a style that is evocative and simple. In What Matters: Lessons Learned from Life, you will find the wisdom to bring meaning and quality to every day of your life. It would be best for readers to take one thought from this book and to ponder on it for a day. There is a message for everyone in this inspiring work, no matter what their social status or interests in life.
Recommend this book:
Rental Secrets
Reduce Your Rent - Get Better Value - Create Quality Communities
Justin Pogue
2020 Bronze Medal
142 Pages
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Young Adult - Non-Fiction
Rental Secrets by Justin Pogue is a godsend for those of us who are renters. Not only does the book divulge tips for the renters themselves, but it also is a good source of reading material for the landlords too as a way to create better relationships with their renters and vice versa. The tone of Rental Secrets is very straightforward and easily understandable. It has a 'friend in your ear' kind of charm that resonates well while reading through the pages. Another invaluable facet was the summary points and questions at the end of each chapter to make the reader really think about what is most important to them in terms of renting a space, and what may not be as important. The questions posed were perfectly assembled.
Justin Pogue’s Rental Secrets really affected me in such a way. I come from a family who rents out a townhouse so the information that was provided throughout really is going to be put to some good use, as there were things we didn’t know relating to pet rent fees in addition to pet deposit fees. Being still somewhat new to the game, even nine years in, the information to us is very valuable. What I loved most about Rental Secrets was that it was so easy to comprehend. I wasn’t left scratching my head at any point while reading it. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who has ever rented or is considering renting, as well as landlords.
Recommend this book:
The Upset
Life (Sports), Death...and the Legacy We Leave in the Middle
Tyler Trent, John Driver
2020 Gold Medal
254 Pages
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Young Adult - Non-Fiction
The Upset: Life (Sports), Death...and the Legacy We Leave in the Middle by Tyler Trent and John Driver is an inspiring story and a powerful testament of faith and love; a young soul's journey towards finding meaning in cancer through selflessness and joyful acceptance. It is the story of Tyler Trent, a young sportswriter and fan who, in 2014, is diagnosed with osteosarcoma. It is the first of his three battles with cancer. The young writer captures the emotion at the time when he got the news. When he knew his days were numbered, he lived his mortality in a spirit of faith, finding a purpose in his illness and selflessly allowing himself to walk a path that would inspire others after his death. In this narrative, one thing clearly stands out: Tyler never wanted his death to be in vain, so he gave up the remaining days of his life to fight for the support of cancer research.
The Upset by Tyler Trent and John Driver is beautifully told, allowing different points of view to come out, including the way the young man's parents saw him. The prose is crisp and the tone is upbeat. There are insightful passages that invite readers to reflect on the mystery of life and the place of faith, love, and family in human growth. Tyler writes: "At every turn, the real grace of Jesus for me—and for you—has only required that I keep showing up with my brokenness. When I do, he has promised that he will already be there waiting. Before I was ever a Christ-follower, Christ was a Tyler-chaser." This book brought both tears of sorrow and love to my eyes and I enjoyed the way the humanity of the protagonist is explored. In fact, there is a powerful light flowing through the cracks of his brokenness, a light that points the reader to the essential truth.
Recommend this book:
Careering
The Pocket Guide to Exploring Your Future Career
Tamara S. Raymond
2019 Silver Medal
96 Pages
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Young Adult - Non-Fiction
Careering: The Pocket Guide to Exploring Your Future Career by Tamara S. Raymond is a guide for anyone starting a new career, but it is mostly geared towards high school and college students. It has a workbook in it to help you out. Tamara S. Raymond discusses ways of getting experience with school activities and such. She talks about how to write resumes and how to handle an interview. She also talks about what to do when you do get the job. She has a lot of tips and questions for you to answer to help as well.
I liked how Careering: The Pocket Guide to Exploring Your Future Career by Tamara S. Raymond mentions it is for students starting out in their careers. I think it could also benefit someone older who needs to start a new life, for some reason or other. I loved how she turned it into a workbook so people can write their answers in the book to help them decide on their careers; she gave excellent questions. The interview questions were spot on, and I wish I had known about them when I started out in my career. Tamara S. Raymond even suggests how one should dress for an interview and send thank you cards. I thought that was a great idea; it may seem obvious to some, but not to a teenager. She also had some great tips at the end of each chapter. This is definitely a good checklist to have if you are starting out or starting over in your career.