
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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The Devil has Spoken
2020: The Devil has created a
virus that won't discriminate
Everand
An Enemy Like Me
What would you do for love?
3 POV WWII HistFic Saga
www.terimbrown.com
WHINGEY WILLIAMS Term 1
Follow Whingey on her FIRST
adventure on Gower
Amazon
BROKEN
A victim to survivor love
story with a twist.
Amazon
PICTURE THE ALPHABET
Find over 150 objects, learn
letters & build vocabulary.
Amazon
Millie’s Magic
The little mouse
with a big heart.
Amazon
Tatiana and the Russian Wolves
A Russian émigré reconciles
tragic family secrets
www.stephenevansjordan.com
Forever Boy
Isaac comes to realize his new
friend harbors dark secrets.
books2read
Glitching Souls
Award-winning, Mind-bending,
Technothriller
Amazon
Bentley Makes a Dump Cake
A delightful, messy adventure
with joy, teamwork, & color
Miki Taylor
Lead the Competition
Read 100 Livestreaming &
Digital Media Predictions.
Amazon
FALSE NEUTRAL
One chance to finally
make sense of it all.
Amazon
MaryLou
"An engaging, well-crafted
family drama" TWSA
Amazon
The Last Lumenian
Most princesses need saving.
This one saves you.
Amazon
LIKE A HERO
Being a superhero WITHOUT
powers is never easy!
books2read
S.O.S. by Sue C Dugan
An exciting, time-travel
adventure for middle graders
Amazon
I FEEL YOUR STARE
An Autobiography
BOOK AWARD WINNER!
Amazon
REVOLUTION
A contemporary
satirical novel
Amazon
Me and My Shadow
Honest reflection how cancer
took a boy to death’s door.
Amazon
Harvey's Hutch
A man, nearly seventy,
looks back on his life.
Amazon
The Beast Keepers
A young vet discovers a
world of mythical creatures
Amazon
Fit to Eat
Empower yourself to age
without chronic diseases.
Amazon
A Bloody Hot Summer
Bloody murders occur in 1920s
England during a heatwave
Amazon
Pumpkin King Saves Christmas
How Santa became jolly with
the help of the Pumpkin King.
Amazon
Demons to Champions
A tale of neurodivergent
awakening and triumph.
Amazon
The Tree of Life
Come with Lord Robert %
seek out an unknown 5th gospel
Amazon
HEALER'S BLADE
Can a young woman change
the fate of England?
StoryOrigin
How We Healed
A vivid family saga and an
unforgettable healing odyssey
Amazon
LIKE NO OTHER - Cry.
Laugh.
Think.
www.fontreal.com
Crossing Borders
American memoir on prospects
for peace in Palestine/Israel
christabruhn.com
Into the BeanStalk
Corrupt megacity, broken world
A girl hiding from her past
Amazon
BURT, THE AIRPORT CAT
Follow Burt, the black cat,
on a fun family adventure
Amazon
HUNGRY TRAILS
‘A…culturally rich family
chronicle.’ Kirkus Review
Amazon
DEAR JAMES
I know it's been 20 years, but
I needed to tell you I'm sorry
Amazon
THE TIFFIN
Lost tiffin. Note gone astray.
A boy's search for family.
Amazon
HENRY
Inspiring WWII Nonfiction
survival account
Amazon
Exclusion Zone
The VORKOSIGAN SAGA
meets DIE HARD.
Amazon
My Year at the Good Bean Cafe
A riveting tale of unlikely
and inexplicable events.
Amazon
Wild Asses of Mojave Desert
“Funny & tender, moving &
poetic" Recommended US Review
books2read.com
Escape From Peconic Bay
A novel of love, impending
war, and espionage.
books2read
SECRET SKY
Everybody wishes they could
fly - until it happens
books2read.com
The Accidental Boyfriend
Slightly steamy, fake dating,
celebrity young adult romcom
lorifreeland
The Monarchs
"A thought-provoking spiritual
quest" - Kirkus Reviews
Amazon
Arctic Dinosaurs
Her first Arctic year -
middle grade - free activities
Fathom Publishing
A First Book of Microbiology
A fun learning journey
down the microscope lens.
Amazon
THE S.O.U.R.C.E.
Marine Animals, Kids
Miracle Escape, Powerful Messa
Amazon
Tuskie’s Travels
Tuskie teaches his crew to
dissolve upsets in 30 seconds!
www.thekidcode.ca
The Open Book
A family memoir of adventure,
trauma, & resilience
Amazon
Finn's Funny Feelings
Helping children to manage
emotions in a healthy way
Amazon
In Other Words, Poetic Journey
Explore life through the eyes
of a tireless wanderer
Amazon
Pebbles and the Biggest Number
A butterfly’s quest to
find the largest number
Amazon
Beyond the Brink
Teleportation is just the
beginning...
Amazon
The Boy and the Big White Rock
'...rewarding memoir of coming
of age in the 1960s.' KIRKUS
Barnes and Noble
The Antunite Chronicles
An allegory for our time,
a thrillogy for all ages.
Amazon
THE GRAVITY OF LIES
WHAT IF YOUR WHOLE LIFE
WAS BASED ON LIES?
Amazon
Rainbow Bridge
Ever wondered where your
dog ends up after this life?
Amazon
The Stranger of Ul Darak BK 1
A new intriguing epic
high fantasy series
sceston.com
The Gemini Connection
An intriguing thriller that
will keep you hooked.
Amazon
THE SAD PRINCESS
Refinding joy with our
children is not a fairy tale
Amazon