
Finalists 2018
Below is a list of the 2018 FINALISTS in The Wishing Shelf Book Awards. The children's books were read and judged by children in 8 UK primary and secondary schools, the adult books by 2 Reading Groups, 1 in London and 1 in Stockholm. The books were marked according to EDITING, THEME, STYLE, COVER and, in the case of many of the children's books, ILLUSTRATIONS.
The WINNERS will be announced on April 1st, 2019.
Jump straight to:
- Category 1: Pre-school picture books
- Category 2: Books for 6 - 8 year olds
- Category 3: Books for 9 - 12 year olds
- Category 4: Books for Teenagers
- Category 5: Books for adults (fiction)
- Category 6: Books for Adults (non-fiction)
- Red Ribbon Bands
If you happen to be looking for a good read, the readers at The Wishing Shelf Awards thoroughly recommend the following:

Golden Sparkles: An Introduction to Mindfulness
Author: Catarina R Peterson
Illustrator: Mateya Arkova

Responsive Dementia Care: Fewer Behaviors Fewer Drugs
Author: Helen Buell Whitworth, James A Whitworth
A Red Ribbon is awarded to a book that did NOT get over 30/40 to be a finalist, but was still very much enjoyed by the readers.

Red Ribbon
STUFF, The Fortunes, Foibles, and Fiascos of Those Who Sought to Understand Matter
Author: George Graybill
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SOUTH KOREA
A nuanced & engaging analysis
of Korea's rise to prominence.
Amazon
The Great Billy Butlin Race
First and only footrace from
John O’Groats to Land’s End
Stairwellbooks
Changing Tide
A Thrilling First
Contact Novel
www.cougarproductions.com
The Puppet Maker's Daughter
Marika protects her family &
orphaned children from Nazis.
Amazon
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Find easy to understand
answers, top tips & more.
oldmatemedia
THE WAY OF WATER
Brilliant YA Fantasy with
Magic, Mystery & Romance
Amazon
The Crooked Ladder
It's time to climb...
or die
Amazon
Touch of the Whimsy
Witty fantasy, this Castaway
romance is an enigma!
Amazon
The War Ongoing: Knightfall
Knights embark on adventure
where sci-fi & fantasy collide
Amazon
REVOLUTION: A NOVEL
Comical misadventures in
modern Los Angeles
Amazon
The Campbell Sisters
3 sisters work towards very
different goals in 1955 NYC
Amazon
The Boy and the Big White Rock
'...rewarding memoir of coming
of age in the 1960s.' KIRKUS
Barnes and Noble
THE FISH TANK - short stories
NARRATIVES ABOUT LIFE, EXILE,
GHOSTS…AND MURDER.
books2read
A Mixing Colour Adventure
Colour mixing, teamwork &
perseverance for 3 - 7 yr olds
Amazon
THE TRALL SERIES
Middle-grade portal
fantasies set in Australia.
by Gayle Torrens
The Stranger of Ul Darak BK 1
A new intriguing epic
high fantasy series
sceston.com
I Never Said I Love You
A story of travel, friendship,
forgiveness, & roads not taken
Amazon
NUDGES FROM THE OTHER SIDE
Must-read for those who grieve
or curious about the afterlife
Amazon
Guiding Kids Through Anger
Parenting chaos
meets humor therapy
Amazon
THE COIN
CAN FINDING A COIN
GET YOU KILLED?
books2read
Butterfly with a Broken Wing
Children's mental health story
It's ok NOT to be ok
Amazon
The Accidental Boyfriend
Slightly steamy, fake dating,
celebrity young adult romcom
lorifreeland
DEAR JAMES
I know it's been 20 years, but
I needed to tell you I'm sorry
Amazon
THE SOCIETY
A NATION is on the brink...
Only 1 woman can stop it
Amazon
A Cauldron of Uncanny Dreams
13 creepy award-winning
stories for a cold, dark night
Amazon
Then We'll Say Goodnight
How would you get your
unruly puppies back to bed?
Amazon
LADY REAPER
Disorderly ghosts. Dejected
fays. Dreadful elves.
books2read.com
Sara My Sara
A moving tale of friendship,
loss, and the gifts of grief.
Amazon
What Death Taught Terrence
A man reviews life from the
beyond. What will he learn?
Amazon
THE FOUNDLING
A foundling rises to
reclaim his stolen birthright
Amazon
The Pond of Reflection
A Fantasy Adventure - Teamwork
Friendship & Self-Discovery
Amazon
The Great Migration
Survive valley. Stop outbreak.
Or watch the kingdom burn.
Amazon
Thar She Blows
Brian got swallowed by
a whale. Mom’ll be mad.
www.books2read.com
MUMMY TRUMPS
A rhyming flatulent book that
is fun for all of the family.
Amazon
SECRET SKY
Everybody wishes they could
fly - until it happens
books2read.com
From Patriarchy to Paradise
The script is flipped:
Women steer back to garden.
expandjoy
A Vampire's Tooth Fairy Chase
A vampire with flat teeth
searches for the Tooth Fairy.
Amazon
Winds of Discontent
Gun running, investigative
reporter and Yvonne
Amazon
Dinosaur Symphony
A Guide to Dinosaurs
and Classical Music
Amazon
Wartime Secrets, Family Lies
London to life in Washington
in a family of secrets
Amazon
Winkle and Aster
Urban fantasy that takes
imagination to its limits
books2read
Perfect Middle Grade Series
Montana and her friends
save the forest animals!
Amazon
Chronicles of MatiLou/PerryAnn
Through it all the girls work
to save Mother Earth.
Amazon
Harmony Dances On
Helping children navigate the
journey through grief
Amazon
Discovery of Elizabeth Sawyer
The ‘Witch of Edmonton’
overturns Jacobean London
www.jonathanvischer.com
RAIN FALLING ON EMBERS
A grieving, fish out of water
teen struggles to survive.
KatieMcCabeSeries.com
Popina & Slumberina
Join in a Magical Journey of
Growth and Self Discovery
Amazon
A Rage To Live
A true boys' coming of age
story set during the Holocaust
Amazon
THE REPROBATES
Do you remember suffering
from a death of the soul?
www.benjamingrose.co.uk
NEW TRAILS
One step changed his world.
One man changed his heart.
Amazon
The Nephilem
A Sun-soaked setting
with a difference.
www.exquil.com
Just Janey's Way
Janey wants EVERYTHING her way
Is Janey a STUBBORN BULLY?
Amazon
A Lady Newspaperman's Dilemma
Alex’s goal: succeed in a 1926
male world of news reporting
Amazon
Moving Men by Karene Horst
A modern novel, relationships
% the scars they leave behind
Flying Trees Publishing
CHARLES DARWIN...
An entertaining learning
resource for curious kids.
www.alanhesse.com
CHARCOAL BOY
Tudor London, boy, entangled
in politics, wins through
Amazon
Dislodged
“An LGBTQ+ thriller and a
tale for the working class…â€
Amazon
Truth Was Once Taboo
New humanity, ancient
wisdom: spirituality reborn.
Amazon
THE WAY OF WATER
Brilliant YA Fantasy with
Magic, Mystery & Romance
Amazon