Finalists 2024
Below is a list of the 2024 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, 2025.
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.

Red Ribbon
'They're All Barking,' A Dog's Guide to Human Behaviour
Author: Professor Daniel Springer-Spaniel

Red Ribbon
Sweet Peas and Bees: Life at the Flower Farm
Author: Mary Murphy
Illustrator: Fiona Van Housen

Red Ribbon
Wanderer's Journey: A Refugee's Search for a Home in the Beautiful Game Author
Author: Vedran Dedic
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MaryLou
"An engaging, well-crafted
family drama" TWSA
Amazon
Ghoul of Sherwood
Robin Hood and his men solve
a grisly murder near a nunnery
Amazon
LIKE A HERO
Being a superhero WITHOUT
powers is never easy!
books2read
Arctic Dinosaurs
Her first Arctic year -
middle grade - free activities
Fathom Publishing
The Beast Keepers
A young vet discovers a
world of mythical creatures
Amazon
Mirrors & Smoke: A War of 1812
'A smartly plotted, character
novel set in 1800s Canada' WSA
Amazon/Audible
THE MAGIC OF KINDNESS
Join the adventure with
the cat witches here:
Amazon
Oscar and Friends...
will help you along, sharing
a world where everyone belongs
mollyarbuthnott
TOUCH
Gritty coming-of-age
fiction with a purpose
Amazon
Moving Men by Karene Horst
A modern novel, relationships
% the scars they leave behind
Flying Trees Publishing
THE FOUNDLING
A foundling rises to
reclaim his stolen birthright
Amazon
SOUL WALK
Unexpected Gifts of Grief and
Connection to Those in Spirit
Amazon
WHEN JESUS CALLS
A Story of Undeniable Faith.
TWSA 2023 FINALIST
marthagayle
Nantucket Monsters
Island monsters on the sly,
live in the corner your eye
B. LAWSON HULL
MERCY'S VIEW: BLACKOUT
Memoir - A runaway's reckless
re-entry into society
Amazon
I FEEL YOUR STARE
An Autobiography by Cheryl
Gillespie - Book Award Winner!
Amazon
THE TRALL SERIES
Middle-grade portal
fantasies set in Australia.
by Gayle Torrens
Lead the Competition
Read 100 Livestreaming &
Digital Media Predictions.
Amazon
2024... Your Year of More
is a meaningful self-help
book for wise readers.
Amazon
A Misfortunate Misfit
Incredible true story of a
man saving his own life
Amazon
Anna and the Adders
A rhyming counting book
to get little ones learning
Amazon
From Patriarchy to Paradise
The script is flipped:
Women steer back to garden.
expandjoy
Glitching Souls - Steve Kenney
Neil can read minds...
He can't turn them off.
Amazon
Captain Polo Saving the Planet
"Eco-adventure comics
for middle graders"
www.alanhesse.com
Azoria's Blade
They attacked her homeland.
Now, Azoria seeks her revenge.
Amazon
GOING UNDER THE RADAR
Honest, insightful, battling
autism/mental health - TWSA
Amazon
THE SOCIETY
Elizabeth Grant Thriller-woman
embroiled in a conspiracy
Amazon
Forever Boy
Isaac comes to realize his new
friend harbors dark secrets.
books2read
Little Puppy's Great Adventure
Adorable story. Great for
both parents as well as kids.
Amazon
THE PORTAL KEEPER
Enter a world of Fantastic
Creatures and Magic!
books2read
Marco & Me
Stories & photos of the
adventures of a real dog
Amazon
Confidently Mindful
Answers to your most asked
mindfulness questions.
Amazon
SEA CHANGE
Gay romance and adventure
on a yacht at sea
Nick Bamford
I FEEL YOUR STARE
An Autobiography
BOOK AWARD WINNER!
Amazon
CHARCOAL BOY
Tudor London, boy, entangled
in politics, wins through
Amazon
Prescription for Frozen Heart
Pride & Prejudice meets
Grey's Anatomy - medical rom.
by Jo-Anne Duffett
Angry Arthur
and The Run Around Trick
Learn to manage big feelings
Amazon
Digging Deep by Dexter Hutt
She can cope with murder -
but what about betrayal?
Amazon
Crossing Borders
American memoir on prospects
for peace in Palestine/Israel
christabruhn.com
Don't Look Too Tasty
Hungry aliens, missing
friends. Who can you trust?
Amazon
DAUGHTER OF SPIES
Wartime Secrets, Family Lies
A FINALIST in TWSA
Amazon
The Girl Who Looked Beyond...
13 yrs old. How can she have
a destiny to save the world?
Amazon
Of Mountains and Seas
A multigenerational urban
fantasy mystery.
Amazon
Look 'N Up Invasion
Celebrate diversity by
imagining a world without it.
looknup.us
Look 'N Up Invasion
A clever mix of fantasy,
family drama & cultural debate
Goodreads
SKY ICE
Demon hunters. Slow-burn
romance. Hidden world.
Amazon
Escape From Peconic Bay
A fast-paced, historical novel
set during the run up to WW2
books2read
MEMOIR OF A MANGLED MIND
Steve's 2 other personalities
wreak havoc all around him
Amazon
More Future Dreams/Nightmares
Award-winning SF short
stories of AIs and robots.
Donald Firesmith
BELIEVING IN HORSES
Ride away with the
Believing in Horses books!
Amazon
The Pivotal Pastor
A pastor and famous
architect transform a parish
Amazon
Beyond a World Apart
Story Nazis attempted to burn
based on historical events
Amazon
I Never Said I Love You
A story of travel, friendship,
forgiveness, & roads not taken
Amazon
VR,AR &AI in Special Education
Tech transforming special ed:
benefits, risks & apps
Amazon
Jemma and the Raven
A luminous adventure in
this epic YA fantasy debut
Amazon
RIVER WITCH
A haunting, emotional tale
of magic and purpose.
Amazon
THE PHILOSOPHER & THE ASSASSIN
campus novel, moral
philosophy, and murder mystery
Amazon
Terracolina-A Place to Belong
A fantasy to delight middle-
graders and nature lovers.
Amazon
Butterfly with a Broken Wing
Children's mental health story
It's ok NOT to be ok
Amazon








































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































