
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.
Sponsored Ads
The Boy and the Big White Rock
'...rewarding memoir of coming
of age in the 1960s.' KIRKUS
Barnes and Noble
The Boy and the Jaguar
A magical Mayan tale
for middle-grade readers.
Amazon
An Enemy Like Me
A story not only of war but of
love & what we will do for it.
Amazon
TREACHERY!
A WW2 child
evacuee thriller
Amazon
The Woodsman
A 5* serial killer thriller
on Kindle and Unlimited
Amazon
PWF for Women 40+
Paranormal Women's Fiction -
NEW SERIES!
books2read.com
Children of the Realm
Girl finds mythical origins
in YA urban fantasy
Amazon
DANCE STANCE
"Highly recommended! A truly
excellent book" Wishing Shelf
bookshop.org
ARNI'S ADVENTURES
8 charming, silly, comic
stories to laugh at & enjoy.
Amazon
The War Ongoing: Knightfall
Knights embark on adventure
where sci-fi & fantasy collide
Amazon
SOUTH KOREA
A nuanced & engaging analysis
of Korea's rise to prominence.
Amazon
LADY REAPER
Disorderly ghosts. Dejected
fays. Dreadful elves.
books2read.com
Love in the Cupboard
A sweet, clean Catholic Priest
seeks a wife rom-com
Amazon
The One Week Writing Workshop
7 Days to Spark, Boost
or Revive Your Novel
Karin Adams
Finn's Funny Feelings
Helping children to manage
emotions in a healthy way
Amazon
For Evil Done & Evil Suffered
Gripping murder mystery; tease
the brain & stir the senses.
Amazon
Into The Shadows
Journey from naïve university
student to a great spy.
marinemoments.uk
In the Shadows of Castles
A story of love, hope and
survival in a time of war.
Amazon
SECRET SKY
Everybody wishes they could
fly - until it happens
books2read.com
I FEEL YOUR STARE
An Autobiography by Cheryl
Gillespie - Book Award Winner!
Amazon
Sophia and Sinclair Get Lost!
A rabbit and a turtle get
lost in a hay maze!
Amazon
Sprout's Surprise!
A humorous story with
a gentle ecofriendly message
Amazon
Look 'N Up Invasion
Celebrate diversity by
imagining a world without it.
looknup.us
S.O.S. by Sue C Dugan
An exciting, time-travel
adventure for middle graders
Amazon
The Shadow and the Scream
Stranger Things meets
Alice in Wonderland.
Amazon
CLEAR-CUTS
Raw, visceral, unflinching...
ties that bind coming unbound
Amazon
A Novel about Life...and death
Will a mom's superhuman
efforts save her family?
Amazon/Apple
Chains of Prophecy
A man finds he is the chosen
sorcerer of Heaven.
Amazon
CREATIVE NONFICTION CONTEST
$1000 prize & publication.
Open internationally.
VINE LEAVES PRESS
Fenix and the Firework Fliers
Can Fenix save the Fireworks
when a firefly gets sick?
creativemovementstories.com
The Last Spiritwalker
Blood, magic, myths &
a badass female lead
Amazon
A Tree in Time
A fabilious journey into
the distant past.
gentlpresspublishing.co.uk
UNTANGLING YOU
Take control of how u respond
to difficult relationships
www.kerryhowells.com/books
Puppy Pals and Puppy Tales
Letters from the family
dog’s point of view, 5-9 yrs.
Amazon
Adventures of Negassi Brothers
Exciting children's adventure
into African history
Amazon
LIKE NO OTHER - Cry.
Laugh.
Think.
www.fontreal.com
Ian's Realm Saga
A 7 book adventure fantasy
series for the family.
gardnersart.com
The Antunite Chronicles
An allegory for our time,
a thrillogy for all ages.
Amazon
I FEEL YOUR STARE
An Autobiography
BOOK AWARD WINNER!
Amazon
PARIS BLUE, first love memoir
Classical music and first love
in the magical city of Paris
www.mybook.to
B.A. Bellec
2 x Wishing Shelf
Award Recipient
Amazon
THE GRAVITY OF LIES
WHAT IF YOUR WHOLE LIFE
WAS BASED ON LIES?
Amazon
Soar: A Soul's Quest
A young eagle on a quest of
self-discovery & enlightenment
Amazon
The Accidental Boyfriend
Slightly steamy, fake dating,
celebrity young adult romcom
lorifreeland
WHEN JESUS CALLS
A Story of Undeniable Faith.
TWSA 2023 FINALIST
marthagayle
THE TRALL SERIES
Middle-grade portal
fantasies set in Australia.
by Gayle Torrens
THE PORTAL KEEPER
Enter a world of Fantastic
Creatures and Magic!
books2read
LOOK AWAY NO MORE
A story rich in history & love
at a Georgia college in 1970.
Amazon
PICTURE THE ALPHABET
Find over 150 objects, learn
letters & build vocabulary.
Amazon
MEMOIR OF A MANGLED MIND
Three minds. One body.
And nobody is safe.
Amazon
BURT, THE AIRPORT CAT
Follow Burt, the black cat,
on a fun family adventure
Amazon
THE IMPROBABLE WONDERS OF
MOOJIE LITTLEMAN "Visionary,
magical, rich" -MC WEEKLY
Amazon
Little Puppy's Great Adventure
Adorable story. Great for
both parents as well as kids.
Amazon
Sam & Me & the Hard Pear Tree
A personal account of
a mother’s ultimate loss
Amazon
No Death in Finding Nemo
Stories of mundane lives which
change in surprising ways
www.jeffreyfeingold.com
RED CHAIR PRESS
Titles in Dyslexic and
/or Large Print editions
ReadHowYouWant
Fit to Eat
Empower yourself to age
without chronic diseases.
Amazon
Samurai's Gift Among Forest
A grieving child's journey
to healing her spirit.
books2read
RAVEN'S GRAVE Charlotte Stuart
Betrayal and death in
an Alaskan Tlingit village.
Amazon