
Finalists 2023
Below is a list of the 2023 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, 2024.
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:
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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Digging Deep by Dexter Hutt
She can cope with murder -
but what about betrayal?
Amazon
Sammie and Pumpkin
An adopted dog learns
how to make new friends.
Amazon
Look 'N Up Invasion
Celebrate diversity by
imagining a world without it.
looknup.us
Hecatomb of the Vampire
5 horror tales link in book 1
of The Dark Rituals Saga
Amazon
CLOUDY WITH CHANCE OF ANSWERS
"Crazy family. Endless cold
case. Then there's a clue!"
Amazon
The Great Migration
Survive valley. Stop outbreak.
Or watch the kingdom burn.
Amazon
Soar: A Soul's Quest
A young eagle on a quest of
self-discovery & enlightenment
Amazon
Of Mountains and Seas
A multigenerational urban
fantasy mystery.
Amazon
Into The Shadows
Journey from naïve university
student to a great spy.
marinemoments.uk
The Nephilem
A Sun-soaked setting
with a difference.
www.exquil.com
The Lost Heir Book 1 and 2
Mash Princess Bride
+ dash of GOT
Amazon
Crossing Borders
American memoir on prospects
for peace in Palestine/Israel
christabruhn.com
I Never Said I Love You
A story of travel, friendship,
forgiveness, & roads not taken
Amazon
SKY ICE
Demon hunters. Slow-burn
romance. Hidden world.
Amazon
Jemma and the Raven
A luminous adventure in
this epic YA fantasy debut
Amazon
Then We'll Say Goodnight
How would you get your
unruly puppies back to bed?
Amazon
Arni's Adventures
Pet dinosaur, bear, cat story
for the young reader.
Ashok
The Boy and the Jaguar
A magical Mayan tale
for middle-grade readers.
Amazon
What Is the Shape of My Egg?
Introducing children to shape.
"An excellent STEM resource!"
Amazon
Just Janey's Way
Janey wants EVERYTHING her way
Is Janey a STUBBORN BULLY?
Amazon
Soul Release
An epic fantasy action
adventure in a world of magic.
Amazon
A Mixing Colour Adventure
Colour mixing, teamwork &
perseverance for 3 - 7 yr olds
Amazon
Wild Atlantic Way Anthology
Characters along Ireland’s
Majestic Coast
Amazon
SECRET SKY
Everybody wishes they could
fly - until it happens
books2read.com
THREE DETAIL STORIES audiobks
Where storytime is an
adventure designed by kids
threedetailaudiobooks
BROKEN
A victim to survivor love
story with a twist.
Amazon
Crowded platforms Window Seats
One family's adventures
around Europe by train.
Amazon
Alphamind
Embark on a journey into the
depths of the human spirit!
Amazon
Glitching Souls - Steve Kenney
Neil can read minds...
He can't turn them off.
Amazon
LIKE A HERO
Being a superhero WITHOUT
powers is never easy!
books2read
Marlon and the Scary Something
Scaredy cat finds courage,
foils fear, wins friend
Amazon
My Year at the Good Bean Cafe
A riveting tale of unlikely
and inexplicable events.
Amazon
The Last Spiritwalker
Blood, magic, myths &
a badass female lead
Amazon
Arctic Dinosaurs
Her first Arctic year -
middle grade - free activities
Fathom Publishing
When Secrets Come to Light
A novel of love, mystery
friendships, and murder
www.georgerhopkins.com
Winkle and Aster
Urban fantasy that takes
imagination to its limits
books2read
❜Twas the Day of Christmas
Join Marco, Pet Pom Dog
and Santa for the Holidays
Amazon
JOYFUL LIFE PRESS
Books and workbooks that
entertain, support and inspire
www.joyfullifepress.com
The Shadow and the Scream
Stranger Things meets
Alice in Wonderland.
Amazon
Epistolary
Mandy writes about her
life until tragedy strikes.
Amazon
Exclusion Zone
The VORKOSIGAN SAGA
meets DIE HARD.
Amazon
A Cauldron of Uncanny Dreams
13 creepy award-winning
stories for a cold, dark night
Amazon
Book Love
YOUNG READERS become
WORLD LEADERS
Lorilyn Roberts
MEMOIR OF A MANGLED MIND
Three minds. One body.
And nobody is safe.
Amazon
The Boy from the Night Sky
Thrilling fantasy adventure
for all ages.
Amazon
THE GREAT MOSQUITO HUNT
Hunting the world for
the causes of disease
Amazon
TOUCH
Gritty coming-of-age
fiction with a purpose
Amazon
BEHIND THE PICKLE JAR
A fun, relatable,
emotionally powerful read!
Amazon
Captain Polo Saving the Planet
"Eco-adventure comics
for middle graders"
www.alanhesse.com
The B-17 Tomahawk Warrior
"This happened in 1944 but
honored 80 years later!"
Amazon
DON'T DOUBT THE RAINBOW series
Crime-busting teen
detective adventures!
www.crownhouse.co.uk
Social Media & Mental Health
‘’Empower your child to be
safe in the digital world’’
Amazon
FIGHT
Thought-provoking poems encou-
raging us to fight for justice
YouTube
The Last Professional
A hobo, a wanderer, a madman-
their lives are on the line!
www.eddavisbooks.com
THE COIN
CAN FINDING A COIN
GET YOU KILLED?
books2read
THE CURIST
Abby Steel hunts an evil
killer. Can he be caught?
Amazon
Hieroglyph
A fantastical mix of history &
fantasy. GOLD medal winner!
Amazon
FIGHT
Thought-provoking poems encou-
raging us to fight for justice
YouTube
Angry Arthur
and The Run Around Trick
Learn to manage big feelings
Amazon