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Finalists 2013

Below is a list of the 2013 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, 2014.

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If you happen to be looking for a good read, the readers at The Wishing Shelf Awards thoroughly recommend the following:

Maisie's Mountain by Lorna Murphy
Maisie's Mountain
Author: Lorna Murphy
Sir Stan the Bogeyman by Stacie Morrell
Sir Stan the Bogeyman
Author: Stacie Morrell

An Evening With Grandpa by Diana Matlin
An Evening With Grandpa
Author: Diana Matlin
Jasper's Hollow by Janet Annan
Jasper's Hollow
Author: Janet Annan
The Insect Hotel by David Stringer
The Insect Hotel
Author: David Stringer

Ally N. Invasion SPACE SPY by Steve Lill
Ally N. Invasion SPACE SPY
Author: Steve Lill
Believing in Horses by Valerie Ormond
Believing in Horses
Author: Valerie Ormond
Curse of the Scarab by H Y Hanna
Curse of the Scarab
Author: H Y Hanna
Frank Zoo and the Wannabe by Sue Hampton
Frank Zoo and the Wannabe
Author: Sue Hampton
Iron Knights by Robin Bennett
Iron Knights
Author: Robin Bennett
No Buts Becky! by José Patterson
No Buts Becky!
Author: José Patterson
Professor Kompressor Under Cover by Nils Andersson
Professor Kompressor Under Cover
Author: Nils Andersson
Return to Cardamom Book Two by Julie Anne Grasso
Return to Cardamom Book Two
Author: Julie Anne Grasso
Sir Kaye Book 1 by Don M Winn
Sir Kaye Book 1
Author: Don M Winn
The Assembly Room by Bryony Allen
The Assembly Room
Author: Bryony Allen
The Hackers of Oz by Tom Mula
The Hackers of Oz
Author: Tom Mula

Akinyi by Richard Wood
Akinyi
Author: Richard Wood
Arteess Conflict by James Starling
Arteess Conflict
Author: James Starling
Children of the Knight by Michael J Bowler
Children of the Knight
Author: Michael J Bowler
Napoleon Xylophone by Frank Lambert
Napoleon Xylophone
Author: Frank Lambert
Starstruck by Brenda Hiatt
Starstruck
Author: Brenda Hiatt
The Skipper's Child by Valerie Poore
The Skipper's Child
Author: Valerie Poore
The Ultimate Inferior Beings by Mark Roman
The Ultimate Inferior Beings
Author: Mark Roman
You and Me against the World by Raymond Esposito
You and Me against the World
Author: Raymond Esposito

A Little Book of Pleasures by William Wood
A Little Book of Pleasures
Author: William Wood
Angel War by Philip Dodd
Angel War
Author: Philip Dodd
Bookworm by Christopher Nuttall
Bookworm
Author: Christopher Nuttall
Bridge to Nowhere A Miz Mike Novel by Stephanie Parker McKean
Bridge to Nowhere A Miz Mike Novel
Author: Stephanie Parker McKean
Fire and Water by Betsy Graziani Fasbinder
Fire and Water
Author: Betsy Graziani Fasbinder
Flying With Kites by Alan Reynolds
Flying With Kites
Author: Alan Reynolds
LadyBird Fly by Tessa Lorant Warburg
LadyBird Fly
Author: Tessa Lorant Warburg
Ringturn by John C Mawson
Ringturn
Author: John C Mawson
The Goa File Argentina 1945-1983 by James Skinner
The Goa File Argentina 1945-1983
Author: James Skinner
The Hole Opportunity by J. Minter
The Hole Opportunity
Author: J. Minter

Spinach Soup For the Walls by Lynne Harkes
Spinach Soup For the Walls
Author: Lynne Harkes
Sudoku for Christmas by J S Holloway
Sudoku for Christmas
Author: J S Holloway
The Church of Tango: A Memoir by Cherie Magnus
The Church of Tango: A Memoir
Author: Cherie Magnus
The Perfect Pair The Enchanted Mirror by David C Holroyd & Tracy J Holroyd
The Perfect Pair The Enchanted Mirror
Author: David C Holroyd & Tracy J Holroyd


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The Last Lumenian
Most princesses need saving.
This one saves you.
Amazon


Pebbles and the Biggest Number
A butterfly’s quest to
find the largest number
Amazon


Smurgle The Windy Dragon
By Jane Clack, ill. by Lucy
Nicholson. A FUN PICTURE BOOK!
Amazon


Touch of the Whimsy
Witty fantasy, this Castaway
romance is an enigma!
Amazon


Chronicles of MatiLou/PerryAnn
Through it all the girls work
to save Mother Earth.
Amazon


Moonshine Mesa
Why are bees, crows, & humans
dying at Moonshine Mesa?
Amazon


Down to Earth
A practical guide to using
intuition for smarter living.
Amazon


Children Who Dance in the Rain
A children's book about
gratitude and self-discovery.
Amazon


THE SOCIETY
Elizabeth Grant Thriller-woman
embroiled in a conspiracy
Amazon


CHARCOAL BOY
Tudor London, boy, entangled
in politics, wins through
Amazon


Churchill’s Secret Army
WW2 courage and sacrifice
in the undercover SOE
www.cloudshillpress.com


The Crooked Ladder
It's time to climb...
or die
Amazon


The Book Witch
A thrilling, fast paced
fantasy book for MGs
Amazon


Hanna’s Ascent
A lyrical story of transgender
history and triumph
www.bedazzledink.com


A Cauldron of Uncanny Dreams
13 creepy award-winning
stories for a cold, dark night
Amazon


Oscar and Friends...
will help you along, sharing
a world where everyone belongs
mollyarbuthnott


The Shadow of the Volcano
A thrilling 'time travel'
adventure for 7 - 13 yr olds.
Amazon


Guiding Kids Through Anger
Parenting chaos
meets humor therapy
Amazon


CLEAR-CUTS
Raw, visceral, unflinching...
ties that bind coming unbound
Amazon


THE GRAVITY OF LIES
WHAT IF YOUR WHOLE LIFE
WAS BASED ON LIES?
Amazon


THEY'RE ALL BARKING
Springer Spaniel's eye-opening
view of human behaviour
Amazon


The Toad from Outer Space
A cautionary tale about a
toad-ily historic space flight
www.childrensfunnybooks.co.uk


Crowded platforms Window Seats
One family's adventures
around Europe by train.
Amazon


DRAGONDAH
The Secret Legacy
of Ottillee Bottomly
Amazon


Return to Vienna
How SOE worked to free
Austria from Hitler's grip
Amazon


Into the Thicket
Boy finds an injured rabbit
sparks heartfelt journey
Amazon


From The Back of a Donkey
Multi-award winning. A
captivating look at Christmas.
by Nancy Elaine Hartman Minor


I’m Going to Have a Sister
For new siblings teaching
patience & understanding
thegreatbritishbookshop


Winkle and Aster
Urban fantasy that takes
imagination to its limits
books2read


The Gemini Connection
An intriguing thriller that
will keep you hooked.
Amazon


It Rains in February
A wife's memoir of love,
suicide, grief and loss
Amazon


No Death in Finding Nemo
Stories of mundane lives which
change in surprising ways
www.jeffreyfeingold.com


The Shadow Deception
Can a pranking pixie and a
grumpy angel save the world?
Amazon


WHINGEY WILLIAMS Term 1
Follow Whingey on her FIRST
adventure on Gower
Amazon


Wartime Secrets, Family Lies
London to life in Washington
in a family of secrets
Amazon


PARIS BLUE, first love memoir
Classical music and first love
in the magical city of Paris
www.mybook.to


CLEAR-CUTS
In 72 hours, a legend, a lore
& 2 brothers will all collide
Amazon


HENRY
Inspiring WWII Nonfiction
survival account
Amazon


THE MERMELF
Mystery girl. Mermelves arrive
Dystopian rebellion begins
Amazon


Wild Atlantic Way Anthology
Characters along Ireland’s
Majestic Coast
Amazon


Naked in the Now
What if presence felt like
being seduced by life?
Amazon


BOBBIN AND THE MAGIC THIEF
A broken rule. A stolen
friend. A faerie rescue.
books2read


An Enemy Like Me
A story not only of war but of
love & what we will do for it.
Amazon


The Fungus Among Us
Encourage children to explore
and connect to nature
Amazon


Thar She Blows
Brian got swallowed by
a whale. Mom’ll be mad.
www.books2read.com


Day & Night
A behind the scenes tour
and evening immersion!
Amazon


Ghoul of Sherwood
Robin Hood and his men solve
a grisly murder near a nunnery
Amazon


Clouds on the Ground
Poems exploring natural beauty
and the realm of dreams
Amazon


The War Ongoing: Knightfall
Knights embark on adventure
where sci-fi & fantasy collide
Amazon


THE PHILOSOPHER & THE ASSASSIN
campus novel, moral
philosophy, and murder mystery
Amazon


Exclusion Zone
The VORKOSIGAN SAGA
meets DIE HARD.
Amazon


WHEN JESUS CALLS
A Story of Undeniable Faith.
TWSA 2023 FINALIST
marthagayle


BUILDING THE BEAST
Building a home-on-wheels
with zero blueprint.
Amazon


Master of Music - Marla Himeda
Book 1 of a unique,
inspirational fantasy series!
Amazon


A HARD SILENCE
Grief, love, and learning to
speak the unspeakable
www.vineleavespress.com





Clouds on the Ground
Poems exploring natural beauty
and the realm of dreams
Amazon


Sea Change by Nick Bamford
'A gay romance and adventure
on a yacht at sea'
nickbamford.com


THE CURIST
Abby Steel hunts an evil
killer. Can he be caught?
Amazon


Harmony Dances On
Helping children navigate the
journey through grief
Amazon