Finalists 2022
Below is a list of the 2022 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, 2023.
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)
- Category 7: Audio Book - Children/Young Adult
- Category 8: Audio Book - Adult
- Category 9: Best Book Cover - Children/Young Adult
- Category 10: Best Book Cover - Adult
- Red Ribbon Bands
If you happen to be looking for a good read, the readers at The Wishing Shelf Awards thoroughly recommend the following:

Benny the Brave in The First Day Jitters
Author: Julie Anne Penn and Darren Penn
Illustrator: Sergio De Giorgi

The Dragon and the Unicorn: The Magic of Friendship,
Author: Charly Froh
Illustrator: Zuzana Svobodova

Novo, The Space Robot, How to Solve the Mystery of Crying
Author: Charly Froh
Illustrator: Zuzanna Svobodova

Super Kena - A Girl Made Fierce with Hearing Aids
Author: Becky Cymbaluk
Illustrator: Zuzana Svobodova
A Red Ribbon is awarded to a book that did NOT get over 25/35 to be a finalist, but was still very much enjoyed by the readers.
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Glitching Souls - Steve Kenney
Neil can read minds...
He can't turn them off.
Amazon
THE PEBBLE CHAMPION
A stirring tale
of sadness and self-discovery.
Amazon
The Pathology of Graphology
Two citizens of the lower
depths kill an aging DJ.
by David Milnes
NEW TRAILS
A queer portal fantasy of
magic, courage, and home
books2read
Secrets of a Social Butterfly
How I unstuck my life
and you can too.
Lynn Bruines
THE FISH TANK - short stories
NARRATIVES ABOUT LIFE, EXILE,
GHOSTS…AND MURDER.
books2read
Growing up Hadley
A story to shatter your heart
then mend it anew.
danawritesbooks
The Fungus Among Us
Encourage children to explore
and connect to nature
Amazon
Millie’s Magic
The little mouse
with a big heart.
Amazon
Sprout's Surprise!
A humorous story with
a gentle ecofriendly message
Amazon
The Lonely Lighthouse Bogle
A quirky rhyming tale honoring
the magic of friendship
Amazon
JUST RIVER
Hilarious and grave.
A story of resilience.
Amazon
OUT OF TIME
Love at 78? Life has a
time limit. Love doesn't.
M. Jacqueline Murray
THEY'RE ALL BARKING
Springer Spaniel's eye-opening
view of human behaviour
Amazon
The Pathology of Graphology
Two citizens of the lower
depths kill an aging DJ.
by David Milnes
The Lonely Lighthouse Bogle
A quirky tale celebrating
the magic of friendship.
Amazon
Prescription for Frozen Heart
Pride & Prejudice meets
Grey's Anatomy - medical rom.
by Jo-Anne Duffett
The Book of Jack
Candid and inspiring story of
coming to terms with suicide.
F. Scott Service
THOSE DARN STRIPES
A genuine read opening the
doors on love, life, & meaning
Amazon
The Mystery of the Lost Avenge
Multilevel story/ghost/romance
forensics/WWII/espionage
Linda Maria Frank
MILLIE'S RAINBOW
Beautiful picture book.
Kindness and rainbows.
by Hilary Hawkes
The Word Gobblers
A handbook for parents with
children struggling to read
by Catherine Matthias
Naked in the Now
What if presence felt like
being seduced by life?
Amazon
A Lion's Head
Myth brought to life.
A fantasy novel for YA.
by D.M. De Alwis
Truth Was Once Taboo
New humanity, ancient
wisdom: spirituality reborn.
Amazon
DISCOVER YOUR NEXT INDIE
OBSESSION - Find & follow
indie books you'll love.
INDIEGUANA
Clouds on the Ground
Poems exploring natural beauty
and the realm of dreams
Amazon
Confidently Mindful
Answers to your most asked
mindfulness questions.
Amazon
THE PHILOSOPHER & THE ASSASSIN
campus novel, moral
philosophy, and murder mystery
Amazon
If Roses Were Blue
A stolen dog, lady of
light, 3 rescues—Inspiring!
Amazon
REVOLUTION
A contemporary
satirical novel
Amazon
The Shadow Deception
Can a pranking pixie and a
grumpy angel save the world?
Amazon
DRAGONDAH (9 - 12 year olds)
Solving ancient mysteries and
outwitting scheming villains!
Amazon
Shadow Apprentice
Fast-paced MG steampunk
with an intrepid girl mechanic
by Linda Browne
The Graffiti Killer
A mind unhinged on
the fulcrum of our age.
by David Milnes
The Broken Wife
A gripping tale of love,
loss, and BETRAYAL.
Amazon
CHARCOAL BOY
Tudor London, boy, entangled
in politics, wins through
Amazon
ANGEL OF ASHES
Award-winning epic YA
fantasy adventure series!
Amazon
My Year at the Good Bean Cafe
A riveting tale of unlikely
and inexplicable events.
Amazon
Nantucket Monsters
Island monsters on the sly,
live in the corner your eye
B. LAWSON HULL
The Monster Bones of...
A time travel mystery about
an ancient skeleton for kids.
by Linda Maria Frank
MaryLou
"An engaging, well-crafted
family drama" TWSA
Amazon
The Gates of Dark Death
A gripping, faced-pace,
Tudor-period thriller
by Alan Reynolds
Escape From Peconic Bay
A fast-paced, historical novel
set during the run up to WW2
books2read
ONE FOOL'S GOLD
Is that nugget you seek gold,
or only fool's gold?
Amazon
ELLA'S WAR
Heart-stopping, spirit-lifting
award-winning historical novel
vineleavespress
“Hatch Chile Willie”
offers children a heartwarming
tale of friendship
Amazon
S.O.S. by Sue C Dugan
An exciting, time-travel
adventure for middle graders
Amazon
Arctic Dinosaurs
Her first Arctic year -
middle grade - free activities
Fathom Publishing
The Pond of Reflection
A Fantasy Adventure - Teamwork
Friendship & Self-Discovery
Amazon
Into the Thicket
Boy finds an injured rabbit
sparks heartfelt journey
Amazon
LADY IN RED
Teen sleuths search for
a missing masterpiece.
Amazon
MY SHADOW
A storybook for children
of parents with epilepsy
lulu.com
DEAR JAMES
I know it's been 20 years, but
I needed to tell you I'm sorry
Amazon
The Faces She Sees
A thrilling mind-freak of a
mystery - Kirkus Review
by Elizabeth Scozzari
JUST RIVER
Hilarious and grave.
A story of resilience.
Amazon
My Year at the Good Bean Cafe
A riveting tale of unlikely
and inexplicable events.
Amazon
A Rage To Live
A true boys' coming of age
story set during the Holocaust
Amazon



















































































































































































































































































































































































































































