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/Novella
- 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 - Science/Technology
- Non-Fiction - Self Help
- Non-Fiction - Short Story/Novella
- 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:
Merlin's Revelation
Footnail Book 3
Akorede Adekoya, Howard Haugom
2024 Bronze Medal
Kindle Edition
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Young Adult - Religious Theme

Action fantasy lovers are in for a treat this Christmas, for Akorede Adekoya and Howard Haugom have brought them the third installment of The Footnail Series, Merlin's Revelation. Following the events of Forging the Sword, Genesis Isherwood (Gen) has grown into the role of the Nailbearer, who together with her protector Mark Reynolds, leads a close-knit group united under extraordinary circumstances. But a new threat is brewing as a corrupt soul gets his hands on the Crown of Thorns. As Myrddin sets off to tackle the potential calamity, he finds himself robbed of his powers. He must seek help from his old friend, as a descendant of a past enemy is determined to exact revenge. Meanwhile, a member of the Citadel is on a mission to eliminate Lucilius. Can Gen and her friends prevail?
Merlin's Revelation has undoubtedly been my favorite book of the series. Akorede Adekoya and Howard Haugom's plotting seems much more intricate, while the characters feel even more fleshed-out than ever before. Merlin plays a key role in this story, and this is the first book in the series where he gets a significant portion of page time with a fully formed backstory that has ramifications for the present. The narrative switches between two timelines and multiple characters, which keeps the plot moving at a blistering pace. The different factions are seamlessly woven into the narrative, and as a reader, you will find yourself invested from the outset. A stellar saga for fantasy fans.
Recommend this book:
Nina Winter and the Age of Darkness
T.S. Maynard
2024 Silver Medal
200 Pages
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Young Adult - Religious Theme

Nina Winter and the Age of Darkness by T.S. Maynard is a dark and exciting story about a young girl, Nina, whose life in the Dark Ages revolves around her struggle to cope with the loss of her father while growing up in a small village. One day, a horrific event changes everything. After the dreadful attack by a ferocious beast on her village and her neighbors, panic and fear took over their almost idyllic rural life. Nina and the remaining villagers had to seek refuge in the reigning lord’s castle. Dark days descended on the people and the nobility, as they now had to do whatever they could to survive. Nina had to be careful where to put her trust to protect her mother and the rest of the villagers, in a place where safety was merely an illusion while fighting the darkness to survive.
T.S. Maynard pulls the reader into a dark time when human life was not valued as much, while, at the same time, creating danger that is almost invisible to the human eye. Nina Winter and the Age of Darkness is a story of survival, love, and care for one another. Maynard eloquently explores different states of human nature in unexpected and life-threatening situations. The character of Nina slowly grows from a scared young girl to that same girl finding her strength and power while facing imminent danger, which results in a culmination of events that lead to a surprising ending. Nina’s story is not for the faint of heart; however, it will take the reader to a different world than ours, making them envision and better understand the characters in this powerful story of love, loss, and finding one's strength.
Recommend this book:
Thrown to the Wind
A Country for Castoffs
Amanda M. Cetas
2024 Gold Medal
Kindle Edition
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Young Adult - Religious Theme

In Thrown to the Wind: A Country for Castoffs by Amanda M. Cetas, many in the population of La Rochelle are Huguenots. The previous king had allowed them to be, but the current king wants everyone to conform to the Catholic religion and sends his musketeers to enforce the new rules. Etienne has always wanted to be part of this elite force, but his Protestant roots stand in the way. His best friend has offered a way for Etienne to remain in La Rochelle and maybe even become a musketeer, as he has always wanted. But in a sudden twist of events, the family has to embark on a dangerous journey to start afresh in Amsterdam. How will Etienne deal with his dilemma? Will he accept his friend's offer or follow his family to this new place to avoid persecution?
One of the themes that stand out in Thrown to the Wind by Amanda. M. Cetas is the role of religion in society. The dynamics of power and control also become apparent, and one can't help but question to what extent governments should get involved in religion and the role of religious leaders in interpreting the scriptures. This thought-provoking work also aroused my curiosity about history and Calvinism. I cannot wait to read more about the Huguenots. The characters were well-developed, and the author subtly ensured that the narrative was effective in passing on the intended message without alienating anyone. All the events and places were vividly described, which helped to capture my imagination. I also loved the steady narration, which kept me intrigued.
Recommend this book:
I Fail at the Afterlife
The Afterlife Trilogy Book 1
Anni Sezate
2023 Finalist
Kindle Edition
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Young Adult - Religious Theme

When you die and become an angel, you don't expect there to be so much paperwork. David Garcia fell to his death at age seventeen. He spent his first ten years filing papers for dead people, boring in the extreme, until the archdemon of angels threw his uneventful afterlife into chaos. Inexperienced and frozen with terror, David could not prevent the demon Malum from escaping. Blaming himself, he joins a group of demon hunters intent on recapturing Malum before he destroys the world. Armed with ten years of receptionist training, mediocre fighting skills, and non-stop self-deprecating sarcasm, David soon learns he is in way over his head.
Following the brilliant success of her first books in The Aurella Trilogy, Anni Sezate hits the ground running with book one of her new Afterlife Trilogy — I Fail at the Afterlife. Weaving intrigue, world-building, and fast-paced action with humor and a sense of realism through her first-person narratives, Ms. Sezate shows a firm grasp of what it's like being a teenager thrown into serious adult life and "death-like" situations. The first-person narrative is hard to write; trust me. Sezate, however, writes it with ease and a style that demonstrates her talent to the fullest. Another hurdle for many authors writing in the YA genre is actually getting into the heads of the younger characters and here again, the maturity of her writing skills shines through.
Recommend this book:
Into the Spotlight
Leslea Wahl
2023 Bronze Medal
226 Pages
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Young Adult - Religious Theme

Into the Spotlight, by award-winning Leslea Wahl, is an intense and energetic YA faith-based novel about how a bad summer for teen Josie turns into possibility and hope for the future. She thinks she knows who she is, but situations present themselves that enable her to look deeper within to find what she's really about and what's important to her. She is sixteen and deeply humiliated at school, faced with challenging peer pressure, so she runs to an aunt who lives on an island in South Carolina and plans to stay for the summer. This chance at a new future leads to friendship and romance. A string of thefts presents thrills, but she is blindsided by a terrible incident that leaves her realizing what's most important in life. She is determined to get to the bottom of a mystery she's involved in and has to lean on her faith as she accepts the lessons God has to teach her about who she really is.
Even though this premise sounds serious, the novel turns out to be a fun, uplifting read. There is a good balance of heavy subject matter and lighthearted themes. The humor helps soften the somber themes, and this balance is what Wahl is good at. Just like life itself, this book portrays the ups and downs, romance, and heartache that touch us all. This story could be called the perfect example of a beach read or summer read, but really, it would be enjoyable in any location, during any season. She also balances faith with adventure, which should appeal to almost any teenage reader looking to identify with faith-based novels that are fun, romantic, and exciting. The characters are interesting and believable, the writing is energetic, and the situations are intriguing. If you're looking for a solid YA novel with good character growth, be sure to read Into the Spotlight, by award-winning Leslea Wahl.
Recommend this book:
In Search of Rohan Chang
Lincoln Lee
2023 Silver Medal
Kindle Edition
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Young Adult - Religious Theme

In Search of Rohan Chang is a work of fiction in the Christian sci-fi and fantasy, adventure, and cross-cultural writing subgenres. It is intended for the young adult reading audience but can be enjoyed by adult readers and mature middle-grade readers too. Penned by author Lincoln Lee, this immersive and accomplished work follows an Asian-American teenager, the titular Rohan Chang, as a series of mysterious murders sends his world into disarray. Rohan begins to hear mysterious voices in his head, a serial killer stalks New York, and high school sweetheart drama rears its head at the most inopportune times in this incredibly magical and spiritual tale of self-discovery.
Author Lincoln Lee has penned an incredible work of young adult fiction that will quickly become a favorite read for so many young people and also adults that appreciate accomplished adventure works with plenty of depth and poignant themes. One of the major highlights of the work for me was the exploration of the immigrant experience and the clashing and melding of cultures that Rohan experiences as an Asian-American. This is penned in an emotive and natural way that makes the experience so accessible to readers and would be a fantastic talking point in any classroom or youth group. Beyond this, the mystery, suspense, and crime elements of the tale blend seamlessly into the magical realism and fantasy plotlines, giving an immersive and entertaining reading experience grounded in a core emotional concept. Overall, I would not hesitate to recommend In Search of Rohan Chang to any reader anywhere, as it offers so much to so many different audiences.
Recommend this book:
The Mental Fight of Your Life
Freddie Floyd Jr
2023 Gold Medal
62 Pages
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Young Adult - Religious Theme

Men are meant to protect and shelter their families against harm. There has always been an urge in our minds not to give up. And when faced with confrontation, it can lead to situations that create dysfunction within our minds. The Mental Fight of Your Life is a self-help guidebook by Freddie Floyd Jr. that shows you the ways habitual patterns can be disrespectful in relationships and how you can replace them with responsible and mutually satisfying ways of relating. Complemented by Biblical teachings, the author explores the qualities of a loyal partner, which include maturity, contentment, self-control, value, respect, love, and trust. For a marriage to function seamlessly, both husband and wife must be committed to one another and work toward a true partnership that is beneficial to the family.
With statistics of divorce rates hitting record numbers all over the world in recent years, books like The Mental Fight of Your Life are a blessing in disguise for all couples out there. In this book, author Freddie Floyd Jr. discusses the importance of equal influence over important decisions between a husband and a wife, with an equal commitment to the relationship between them. He also emphasizes the need to strive for common goals and has some valuable insights for both men and women on how they can improve upon their existing states by following the lessons of the Bible to lead fulfilling lives together. Overall, I found the book to be very educational and illuminating, and highly recommend it to anyone who is in a relationship.
Recommend this book:
Land Without Shame
A Cody Musket Jr. Thriller
James Nathaniel Miller II
2022 Silver Medal
Kindle Edition
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Young Adult - Religious Theme

Land Without Shame is the fourth book in James Nathaniel Miller II's Cody Musket series. This novel is about faith, forgiveness, rescuing helpless children, with a splash of romance. Cody Musket Jr. missed his secret contact when he takes a chance to save an infant that was thrown away like trash. The plane he is on is hijacked remotely and then crashes into the ocean. Diamond Casper is a selfish actress that has much to learn about herself when she wakes up on a beach after the crash. Cody's calm demeanor and faith in God throws Diamond as he has to take charge of the few survivors. Why would the island they find themselves on have armed guards? Who is the angel that is supplying them with food? Why is a shipload of children being dropped off at the island?
James Nathaniel Miller II writes with a purpose and passion. Land Without Shame shows through training, faith, and drive a man can make a difference in the lives of others. Cody brings out the best in others while helping them to accept themselves. His integrity and honor credit the way a Christian man should act. Diamond's new views in life when people were no longer fawning over her were humorous. I loved the fullness of the characters as the story unfolds into unseen adventures. Overall, I found this novel very well written. It has a serious message about child slavery but skillfully laced through the story. It is a gripping and densely packed thriller that periodically had you laughing out loud.
Recommend this book:
Forbidden
Book 4 of the Forlorn series
Gina Detwiler
2022 Bronze Medal
364 Pages
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Young Adult - Religious Theme

Forbidden is the fourth book in the Forlorn Series by Gina Detwiler. Following the events in Forgiven, the Watchers have been freed as the Abyss has been opened. Jared’s Watcher father, Azazel, is among the fugitives from the Abyss and is now bent on making Earth fall under his control. Jared Lorn and Grace Fortune are also among those who have escaped, but they want nothing to do with the sinister schemes of the Watchers. They find themselves facing dark forces as they try to get to the spiritual realm of the Other Side. They will have to join forces with the remaining few known as the Forbidden, who are trying to prevent the spread of evil. And Grace has the gift of Song that will be useful against the Watchers.
Forbidden is a colorful eschatological fable that draws its storyline from Judeo-Christian elements. Its elaborate plot that involves warring angels has a clear premise, and it’s easy to understand what drives them to take sides. As angels are currently proliferating in popular culture, Gina Detwiler skillfully wraps up her tale with a powerful message of faith and hope. The shifting narrative between Grace and Jared gives you a wider view of the plot as you are provided with two perspectives. This may strike you as high fantasy, but the fact that this plot equally proliferates with human characters makes it an attention-grabbing story that puts the fate of mankind at the center of it all. Lovers of Christian fantasy will enjoy this powerful adventure, and you will eagerly await the next installment.
Recommend this book:
The Gatekeeper's Descendants
Johanna Frank
2022 Honorable Mention
Kindle Edition
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Young Adult - Religious Theme

A Christian fantasy science-fiction novel that delves into the riddles of life and death, The Gatekeeper’s Descendants by Johanna Frank is bold and imaginative. Pipiera arrived in the form of a curious young teenager and is still reluctant to enter the gate to the kingdom. This catches the attention of Megalos, the head gatekeeper. Megalos needs a favor as he is all worked up by a situation that requires intervention for a boy named Matthew. Pipiera accepts the task to help Matthew get his life back on track. Interventions are not her thing, and Matthew will not realize what is happening at the beginning. Things will not turn out the way Pipiera intended them to be. Matthew's life will seem to go from bad to worse. Will Pipiera still go the extra lengths to save a fledgling earth-dwelling boy, and will he ever get any assistance from Megalos?
The Gatekeeper’s Descendants will take you to the emotional brink, and it is moving enough to push you over. It ends on a convincing and happy note, but not in a formulaic resolution. Johanna Frank decodes an enticing allegory about the human soul and how good and evil battle to have custody. What happens to Pipiera and Matthew in the story is like nothing you have ever read before. It provides a reflective moment on the mysteries of death and how we fit into the grand scheme of things. I finished reading sensing something that I cannot explain, but I appreciate it. I recommend you to read it because this is a story that has something to impart to even the most cynical among us.