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
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Iphigenia Murphy
Sara Hosey
2020 Silver Medal
284 Pages
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Young Adult - Social Issues
Iphigenia Murphy by Sara Hosey is an edgy YA novel that you'll long remember. The main character is a young teenage girl named Iphigenia out to find a missing mother and escape things going on at home. But things go from bad to worse as she encounters homelessness, hunger, and dangerous strangers in Queens, New York. She trades troubles at home for troubles on the streets, and all she wants is peace and safety. She soon discovers that not all strangers are dangerous. Some are kindred spirits and want to help her survive and get by. Iphigenia's story shows that family isn't always about biology. It's about heart and compassion. The friends she meets in the park are a lot like her--looking for acceptance and the chance to belong. If she doesn't have enough problems, she might be having a baby too. Where will her search for her mother lead? More importantly, will she find herself or will she always be adrift?
Sara Hosey cuts to the chase in the life of a 15-year-old girl who has a lot to deal with at home, along with a mother she needs to find. Hosey's writing is tough but tender, and she treats the social issues with detail and respect. As you read, you won't get the feeling she's exploiting the situations or characters, because they ring very true. The friendships Iffy makes are flesh-and-bone realistic, and her bonding with the dog Angel is amazing. You really feel for the characters, and you want the best for them. This story opens your eyes to the reality of how it is at home for millions of teenagers, and why they run. We all yearn for acceptance and a way to fit in. This book takes you on an unflinching odyssey of heart and strength, and the ending will leave tears in your eyes. Sara Hosey is the new S.E. Hinton, and Iphigenia Murphy is a book that should be in the hands of every YA fan.
Recommend this book:
Dear Jane
Marina DelVecchio
2020 Gold Medal
171 Pages
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Young Adult - Social Issues
When Kit Kat is adopted by the middle-aged, childless Anna, what Kit Kat wants most, apart from love, is an identity...her own, including her sad past as the abandoned, unwanted Elektra, daughter of a Greek prostitute. But while Anna looks after all Kit Kat’s physical and intellectual needs, she ignores her mental need to be heard, understood and recognized for herself. In fact, Anna is so intent on eradicating Elektra’s past, she even renames her Kathryn and will not allow Kit Kat to speak of her past at all.
Bit by bit, Kit Kat gives up on having a closer, open and loving relationship with her adopted mother. She stays silent and eventually loses herself and memories of her past through books until she discovers Jane Eyre. Jane’s story hits her hard. She recognizes the similarity of Jane’s struggles to her own. But what she comes to understand most from Jane’s story is that when there is no-one else to rely on, you have to rely on yourself. By doing so, you become strong. Ultimately, Kit Kat finds her own strength through Jane’s story and Elektra surfaces again...feisty, self-sufficient and in control of her own life
Have you ever watched a movie or read a book that hit you so hard you could see yourself in the protagonist...a story with an impact so strong it ultimately altered your perceptions of yourself and of those involved in your upbringing? That’s what happens to Kit Kat in the young adult novel Dear Jane by Marina DelVecchio. Dear Jane is an engaging, very touching story told in an unusual way. Kit Kat finds solace by journaling. She journals through letters to Jane Eyre, pointing out the similarities and differences between them. She knows the only replies she will ever get from Jane are the insights she gets into herself but, in doing so, she becomes her own therapist. Kit Kat’s story of her past will make some readers squirm. It’s awful. But just as Kit Kat relates to Jane, the number of women worldwide today with similar stories is immeasurable. Perhaps some of them will discover Dear Jane and take back control of their lives. Well worth reading!
Recommend this book:
Spoken
A Novel
Melanie Weiss
2019 Bronze Medal
200 Pages
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Young Adult - Social Issues
Roman is living the good life and he knows it, but it isn’t any different than the lives of all of his friends. Backyard swimming pools, indoor screening rooms, and expensive sports cars for everyone are a common thing. It is a good life. And then it happens. Roman’s mother pulls another famous stunt and Roman finds himself thrust back to Chicago to live with his grandparents in their average, ordinary neighborhood. As Roman dreams of returning to California, he is surprised to realize that average and ordinary are actually not bad. When he learns about Spoken Word, he finds his niche. He is a natural born poet. As his mother begins to evolve into a better, grown-up version of herself, Roman finds his birth father, helping her to resolve a past that will impact Roman’s life forever.
Spoken, a novel by Melanie Weiss, is a true rite of passage in the life of a fifteen-year-old boy. In this world of broken relationships and unresolved family issues, Weiss finds a way to successfully alter the life of the main character, but also bring a secondary character to her own epiphany. The language is fresh and the theme of Spoken is an interesting addition to YA fiction. While a story of self-discovery, Spoken lends itself to a different curricular option for teachers, a world of possibilities to young readers, and a special inspiration to biological parents. I really enjoyed Spoken and look forward to future storytelling from Melanie Weiss.
Recommend this book:
Born This Way
Tammy Ferebee
2019 Honorable Mention
133 Pages
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Young Adult - Social Issues
Born This Way by Tammy Ferebee is a heart-wrenching novella about a boy that's not allowed to be who he really is. The son of a pastor in a religious southern American small town, Joseph realized that he was attracted to people of the same sex. This is not a choice that is available to him and he always knew that it was taboo in his family and community. Desperate for acceptance and support, he finds solace on the internet in the person of Bruce, but things do not turn out the way he had always dreamed they would.
Tammy Ferebee's Born This Way is a unique coming of age story that focuses on a highly relevant social issue. Narrated in the first person voice, it is emotionally gripping to the point that it could even feel physically exhausting for sensitive readers. And this is what makes the story unforgettable and one of a kind. What is more disturbing is that Joseph's painful struggles are not that unique really. These are repeated countless times in more ways than one in thousands of communities all over the world.
Tammy Ferebee's commentary on an all-pervasive social issue definitely touches a sensitive nerve and so it should. Melancholic but straight to the point, we follow Joseph's story and it is dark and saddening but through it all, there is always a hint of some kind of hope. Hope that there are friends around you that will accept you, warts and all, and for this acceptance, life is worth living. Born this Way is a gripping short story that will stay in readers' hearts forever.
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Love and the Sea and Everything in Between
Brian McBride
2019 Finalist
303 Pages
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Young Adult - Social Issues
As Adam balances himself on the icy iron rails of the Golden Gate Bridge, he contemplates the forces that brought him to this point. It isn’t as if he hasn’t thought about suicide before. This day just seems to be a good end to a worthless existence. Because that is all he does. He exists. He doesn’t live, love, or even aspire to either. Just as he counts down his final seconds on Earth, Adam thinks of his mother and realizes that his will to live and his will to die are still in conflict. Maybe today isn’t the day to end it all. His life is devoid of any motivated purpose, but there has to be something else out there. All he wants is what he views in others. Family. Friends. Love. Success. Happiness. Enter Liz, equally as damaged as he is, but with a healing spirit that draws him into a newfound sunshine and the hopeful rumblings of a future. But when Liz loses her own personal battle within herself, Adam cannot face another minute of mere existence.
Love and the Sea and Everything in Between by Brian McBride is the breathtaking account of entering into the darkness that lies on the edge of depression. McBride draws the reader into an unforgiving ride of heartache, first love, spiritual reckoning, and personal blame. McBride’s characters are fully defined and highly relatable. The short chapters keep the reader mesmerized while comfortable narrative provides thought-provoking contemplation. I believe I actually stopped breathing more than once before completing this book. Wow. Just wow. You will be glad you took the time to consume this story. Remarkable!
Recommend this book:
Till it Stops Beating
Hannah R. Goodman
2019 Silver Medal
215 Pages
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Young Adult - Social Issues
Till it Stops Beating by Hannah R. Goodman is the fourth book in a series. Maddie Hickman is 17 and is about to enter her senior year. An old flame turns up, a member of her family is diagnosed with cancer, and she’s hit with anxiety and panic attacks. In the midst of all this, Maddie is trying to live a normal life, trying to keep up with all her friends and get her college applications in. The stress is proving too much for her though and, eventually, it all comes to a head. Her heart is beating fast and it’s time she listened. A road trip offers her the chance to see that if she really wants to live her life, she must risk everything.
Till it Stops Beating by Hannah R. Goodman is a mixed bag of emotion! I haven’t read any of the others in the series but I found myself falling into this book as though I had. There is plenty of laughter, tears, shock, and surprise in this book and no reader will be able to stop themselves running through almost every emotion known. It is the perfect story of teenage angst and emotion and the characters are both funny and very vulnerable; relatable and people that we can all identify with. It’s a fun story with plenty of ups, downs and sideways moves that will keep you reading until the end. I feel that Hannah has done a great job at dealing with all that teens have to face these days. Loved it and I think it’s a great book, not just for teens but for adults too.
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No Fences in Alaska
Glen Sobey
2019 Gold Medal
381 Pages
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Young Adult - Social Issues
A rebellious teenage girl leaves her Texas home to live with her ailing grandfather in the rural mountains of Alaska in the thrilling YA novel, No Fences in Alaska by Glen Sobey. When her principal father has her expelled from his school for something she isn't guilty of, sixteen-year-old Harper Lyons goes on the defensive. Living in a tightly structured home environment, Harper looks forward to the nights when she can bask in a drug-hazed sexual encounter with her boyfriend. However, when Harper's parents find out about her secret rendezvous with her boyfriend, they clamp down even harder on her personal boundaries. Things escalate when Harper realizes she is pregnant and her boyfriend wants nothing do with her. Harper's problems have now reached a critical stage. Too young to have an abortion without parental consent, Harper doesn't know where to turn for help, until she remembers her estranged grandfather who is living in Alaska. Wanting to escape her miserable family life and at the same time rid herself of her baby, Harper blackmails her parents into paying for her airfare. But will Alaska be the haven Harper is expecting? Can she escape the consequences of her misdeeds?
No Fences in Alaska by Glen Sobey is a stunning literary piece of work and a brilliant YA novel realistically portraying the trials of a dysfunctional family. The raw and untamed wilderness of Alaska is a beautiful backdrop and perfectly sets the mood for the story. I was enamored with the setting and impressed with how it perceptively symbolizes the ultimate expression of freedom and living life in the extreme. With the possibility of danger hidden within the deceptive beauty, the imagery mirrors the reality of living life on the edge. I loved Cooper's character and was inspired by his philosophy. His premise embraces unconditional love despite circumstances and actions, encouraging us to consider extending beyond our ego and accepting others' unwise decisions without faulting them. It is a profound and thought-provoking concept. Filled with love, romance, danger, rebellion, betrayal, and redemption, this exciting and stirring story will thrill everyone over the age of sixteen who likes strong characters who push their limits and face the odds.
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The Shoeshine of Kabul
Zahra Omar Shansab
2018 Finalist
80 Pages
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Young Adult - Social Issues
Twelve-year-old Malik had to flee when his village in Afghanistan was bombed. Now he lives in a corner of a bombed-out school with other refugees in Kabul. The Shoeshine of Kabul by Zahra Omar Shansab paints a portrait of Malik and his 16-year-old friend Nahim’s lives as they eke out a living shining shoes, earning just enough to buy their daily bread. Life is bleak and Malik has constant flashbacks and daydreams of his former life. And if the trauma he has already experienced isn’t enough, as an orphan Malik is terrified of being kidnapped or, even worse, being killed for his organs. Then one day a chance encounter with a six-year-old boy collecting trash leads to new purpose and a glimmer of hope.
Zahra Omar Shansab’s writing is poignant and clear. She writes as someone who has lived through the devastation of war and, in fact, she herself fled Afghanistan during the Soviet occupation. In The Shoeshine of Kabul, the reader gets a glimpse of what the Afghanistan war is like for children and it is heartbreaking. The Shoeshine of Kabul would be a powerful book to use as part of a middle school curriculum to enlarge kids’ perspectives and show a picture of life for kids in very different circumstances. Reading this book, I couldn’t imagine what might give Malik hope, but Zahra Omar Shansab achieves hope and purpose in a very believable, even if tragic way. Highly recommended.
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Persimmon Takes On Humanity
The Enlightenment Adventures: Book One
Christopher Locke
2018 Finalist
492 Pages
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Young Adult - Social Issues
Persimmon Takes on Humanity is the first book in The Enlightenment Adventures by Christopher Locke and it is both inspirational and thoughtful, a great story that will undoubtedly be hailed by animal lovers. It awakens a deep sense of compassion in readers for animals that suffer from human cruelty and abuse. Persimmon is a daring, utterly adventurous raccoon who is disillusioned at the way humans treat animals when she first visits the veal farm at the edge of the forest. She gathers a group of friends to help, but they quickly discover that more animals are in similar conditions and, buoyed up with excitement, they decide to fight against this evil. From veal farms to circuses, they are determined to free every victim, but do they know the extent of the fight they are taking on and do they have what it takes to break this cycle of abuse?
In a language that is captivating, with a unique phraseology and witticism that is rare, Christopher Locke takes readers on an adventure of a lifetime with exciting, somewhat quirky characters. It takes skill to imbue a work of this nature with the personification that makes it real, but this author’s ability to anthropomorphize combines with his crisp prose and storytelling skills to create a work that resonates with readers and strikes chords of compassion and sympathy in them. It is poignant, with deep emotional layers, sprinkled with dialogues that reflect the author’s gift for wit and realism in writing. Persimmon Takes on Humanity is hugely exciting and thought-provoking, but it is also a work filled with pathos. The narrative is done in a clear and exciting tone, and the characters are so well developed it will be hard for readers not to feel as though they were also part of the animal world. You’ll have a new way of treating animals — no matter which ones they are. A page-turner you can’t resist; this book left me emotionally rattled and hugely entertained.
Recommend this book:
I Like You Like This
Heather Cumiskey
2018 Honorable Mention
256 Pages
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Young Adult - Social Issues
Sixteen-year-old Hannah Zandana is not a conventional good looker. She has a spotty complexion and wild hair. Her parents also make her feel ugly and constantly criticize her looks. Her father calls her a dirty harlot and her mother always turns her back on Hannah. I Like You Like This: A Novel by Heather Cumiskey is set in 1984 in Connecticut. Hannah wants to change herself and her life. Hannah wants to be appreciated, she wants to have friends, and she tries to be accepted by covering her face with makeup and wearing nice clothes. Things take a turn when she catches the attention of the rich and handsome Deacon Giroux who sells drugs in the school. Deacon is a neglected child and drugs give him power. Hannah gets caught up in Deacon’s dark world when she buys drugs from him.
The story is about rejection, addiction, acceptance, bullying, and attention seeking. It is also about the struggle of a teen and what she undergoes in her quest to be noticed and accepted by everyone around her. Cumiskey takes readers into a world of drugs, addiction, and self harm. What stands out in the story is the physical and mental abuse the two main characters endure in their lives. Hannah and Deacon are well portrayed and they come across as real, and the problems they face are relatable. It is heartrending to see them both go through angst, pain, and rejection in their lives, and how they find comfort and solace together. The romance between Hannah and Deacon, the unexpected ending, and Hannah's transformation make this book a compelling read.