
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
Sponsored Ads
Puppy Pals and Puppy Tales
Letters from the family
dog’s point of view, 5-9 yrs.
Amazon
More Future Dreams/Nightmares
Award-winning SF short
stories of AIs and robots.
Donald Firesmith
Arctic Dinosaurs
Her first Arctic year -
middle grade - free activities
Fathom Publishing
Growing up Hadley
A story to shatter your heart
then mend it anew.
danawritesbooks
THE REPROBATES
Do you remember suffering
from a death of the soul?
www.benjamingrose.co.uk
Top Psychological Thriller
Two couples befriend each
other with tragic consequences
Amazon
Nemesis Rising
"Survival comes with a cost
for Sam … his humanity."
Amazon
The Putaway Monster
A delightful mystery to
solve as toys disappear.
Amazon
Moonshine Mesa
Why are bees, crows, & humans
dying at Moonshine Mesa?
Amazon
Mirrors & Smoke: A War of 1812
'A smartly plotted, character
novel set in 1800s Canada' WSA
Amazon/Audible
Crossing Borders
American memoir on prospects
for peace in Palestine/Israel
christabruhn.com
Literary Historical Fiction
Karma and horses drive one
family through 2500 Years.
Amazon
Harvey's Hutch
A man, nearly seventy,
looks back on his life.
Amazon
Lucy Wants To go To School
Perfect for apprehensive
children starting school
Amazon
Sophia and Sinclair Get Lost!
A rabbit and a turtle get
lost in a hay maze!
Amazon
THE DARK PLACES NOVELS
Paranormal thrillers to
get your pulse racing
kimgravell.com
VR,AR &AI in Special Education
Tech transforming special ed:
benefits, risks & apps
Amazon
THE DARKWOLF SAGA (YA)
Embark on a harrowing journey
into fantasy and adventure.
Amazon
TWO LEFT WINGS - Safety Averse
4 kids - heart-warming / funny
friendship and self-growth
Amazon
Writing in a Nutshell
Writing Workshops to
Improve Your Craft
Amazon
A Lady Newspaperman's Dilemma
Alex’s goal: succeed in a 1926
male world of news reporting
Amazon
The Toad from Outer Space
A cautionary tale about a
toad-ily historic space flight
www.childrensfunnybooks.co.uk
Winkle and Aster
Urban fantasy that takes
imagination to its limits
books2read
THE SAD PRINCESS
Refinding joy with our
children is not a fairy tale
Amazon
THE GRAVITY OF LIES
WHAT IF YOUR WHOLE LIFE
WAS BASED ON LIES?
Amazon
Hanna’s Ascent
A lyrical story of transgender
history and triumph
www.bedazzledink.com
THE SOCIETY
A NATION is on the brink...
Only 1 woman can stop it
Amazon
A Rage To Live
A true boys' coming of age
story set during the Holocaust
Amazon
Escape From Peconic Bay
A fast-paced, historical novel
set during the run up to WW2
books2read
A Good Day and Other...
A wide-ranging collection
of imaginative, funny stories.
Amazon
The Third Estate
WHEN THE TRUTH SURFACES
AND THE LIES are REVEALED
Amazon
BROKEN
A victim to survivor love
story with a twist.
Amazon
Ian's Realm Saga
A 7 book adventure fantasy
series for the family.
gardnersart.com
Look 'N Up Invasion
Celebrate diversity by
imagining a world without it.
looknup.us
SKY ICE
Demon hunters. Slow-burn
romance. Hidden world.
Amazon
CLOUDY WITH CHANCE OF ANSWERS
"Crazy family. Endless cold
case. Then there's a clue!"
Amazon
The Nephilem
A Sun-soaked setting
with a difference.
www.exquil.com
Captain Polo Saving the Planet
"Eco-adventure comics
for middle graders"
www.alanhesse.com
The Last Professional
A hobo, a wanderer, a madman-
their lives are on the line!
www.eddavisbooks.com
Harmony Dances On
Helping children navigate the
journey through grief
Amazon
WHEN JESUS CALLS
A Story of Undeniable Faith.
TWSA 2023 FINALIST
marthagayle
THEY'RE ALL BARKING
Springer Spaniel's eye-opening
view of human behaviour
Amazon
What You Cannot See
A woman trying to navigate
and understand her life
Amazon
THE CURIST
Abby Steel hunts an evil
killer. Can he be caught?
Amazon
I FEEL YOUR STARE
An Autobiography by Cheryl
Gillespie - Book Award Winner!
Amazon
Your Words Your Love
A dazzling explosion
of beauty for your soul.
books2read
THE TRALL SERIES
Middle-grade portal
fantasies set in Australia.
by Gayle Torrens
Tatiana and the Russian Wolves
A Russian émigré reconciles
tragic family secrets
www.stephenevansjordan.com
Lead the Competition
Read 100 Livestreaming &
Digital Media Predictions.
Amazon
Epistolary
Mandy writes about her
life until tragedy strikes.
Amazon
Fenix and the Firework Fliers
Can Fenix save the Fireworks
when a firefly gets sick?
creativemovementstories.com
Secrets of a Social Butterfly
How I unstuck my life
and you can too.
Lynn Bruines
Millie’s Magic
The little mouse
with a big heart.
Amazon
Into The Shadows
Journey from naïve university
student to a great spy.
marinemoments.uk
Sammie and Pumpkin
An adopted dog learns
how to make new friends.
Amazon
No Death in Finding Nemo
Stories of mundane lives which
change in surprising ways
www.jeffreyfeingold.com
The Last Lumenian
Most princesses need saving.
This one saves you.
Amazon
The Halloween Candy MONSTER
Jimmy teaches the Halloween
candy monster a lesson
Amazon
Finn's Funny Feelings
Helping children to manage
emotions in a healthy way
Amazon