Previous Finalists





Finalists 2025

Below is a list of the 2025 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, 2026.

Jump straight to:

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









Bigfoot is  a Jerk by J. Ditchburn Patton
Bigfoot is a Jerk
Author: J. Ditchburn Patton
Bob and the Real Dill by Laura Truepenny, Ben Humphreys
Bob and the Real Dill
Author: Laura Truepenny, Ben Humphreys
Cover Designer: Hazel Narbett
Growing up Hadley by Dana Harp
Growing up Hadley
Author: Dana Harp
I'm going to have a Brother by Laura Diebelius
I'm going to have a Brother
Author: Laura Diebelius
Cover Designer: Francesca Watt
Mummy has a Lump by Simone Baldwin
Mummy has a Lump
Author: Simone Baldwin
Now My Life is New by Satyam Chellan, Natasha Chellan
Now My Life is New
Author: Satyam Chellan, Natasha Chellan
Cover Designer: Yogesh Mahajan
Of Mountains And Seas by Emily Renk Hawthorne
Of Mountains And Seas
Author: Emily Renk Hawthorne
Professor Nincompoop by Jimmy Vee
Professor Nincompoop
Author: Jimmy Vee
Cover Designer: Ben Askew
Shadow Apprentice by Linda Browne
Shadow Apprentice
Author: Linda Browne
Tempest's Secret: Brave kids never give up by Ariane Chapelle
Tempest's Secret: Brave kids never give up
Author: Ariane Chapelle
Cover Designer: Macha Yao
The Grumpus Among Us by Sharon R. Miller
The Grumpus Among Us
Author: Sharon R. Miller
Cover Designer: Ashleigh Heyns
The Weight of Water by Dorothy Deene
The Weight of Water
Author: Dorothy Deene
The Worry Wrinkle by Corey Manny
The Worry Wrinkle
Author: Corey Manny
Unfurling the Sails by Sarah Branson
Unfurling the Sails
Author: Sarah Branson
What the Good Girl Knew by L B Anne
What the Good Girl Knew
Author: L B Anne

A Groundhog Career by Dr. Helmut Schuster and Dr. David Oxley
A Groundhog Career
Author: Dr. Helmut Schuster and Dr. David Oxley
Agnes Karapetsa is All at Sea by Jackie Watson
Agnes Karapetsa is All at Sea
Author: Jackie Watson
And So I Took Their Eyes by Ben C. Davies
And So I Took Their Eyes
Author: Ben C. Davies
Demons to Champions by Gary Coulton
Demons to Champions
Author: Gary Coulton
Home for the Bewildered by Michelle Tobin
Home for the Bewildered
Author: Michelle Tobin
Moving Forward: The Widow's Journey by Dr. Arlene Sacks
Moving Forward: The Widow's Journey
Author: Dr. Arlene Sacks
OMNIVIOLENCE by Jones Worthington
OMNIVIOLENCE
Author: Jones Worthington
One More Chance by Reno R. Mist
One More Chance
Author: Reno R. Mist
River of Wrath by Alexandrea Weis and Lucas Astor
River of Wrath
Author: Alexandrea Weis and Lucas Astor
Secrets of a Social Butterfly by Lynn Bruines
Secrets of a Social Butterfly
Author: Lynn Bruines
Splinter by D K Thorne
Splinter
Author: D K Thorne
Stellar Heir by Scott Killian
Stellar Heir
Author: Scott Killian
The Doctor's Future by Dr. Pietro Emanuele Garbelli
The Doctor's Future
Author: Dr. Pietro Emanuele Garbelli
The Horrible Terribles by Diego Barrientos
The Horrible Terribles
Author: Diego Barrientos
The Magician's Daughter by Katy Grabel
The Magician's Daughter
Author: Katy Grabel
The Night Counsellor by L K Pang
The Night Counsellor
Author: L K Pang
The Shattered Truce by Donna Brown
The Shattered Truce
Author: Donna Brown
When I Know My Worth by Laura Linn Knight
When I Know My Worth
Author: Laura Linn Knight
Cover Designer: Paola Cifuentes
You Are Here by J D Turner
You Are Here
Author: J D Turner
Zambies by Matt J. Pike
Zambies
Author: Matt J. Pike



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Moonshine Mesa
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Mother To Elephants
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Secrets of The Sealed Forest
Magic awakens in this
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Puppy Pals and Puppy Tales
Letters from the family
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WHINGEY WILLIAMS Term 1
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Gigglet Goes to School
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I FEEL YOUR STARE
An Autobiography
BOOK AWARD WINNER!
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DANCE STANCE
"Highly recommended! A truly
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Azoria's Blade
They attacked her homeland.
Now, Azoria seeks her revenge.
Amazon


The Ghosts of Nothing
The town of Nothing is haunted
...and fairies are to blame.
Amazon


THE UNBROKEN
Love and adventure in
the strange worlds of mind.
Nigel Peace


Drop the Fake Smile
How to stop people-
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RED CHAIR PRESS
Titles in Dyslexic and
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HEALER'S BLADE
Can a young woman change
the fate of England?
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Hieroglyph
A fantastical mix of history &
fantasy. GOLD medal winner!
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The Mystery of the Lost Avenge
Multilevel story/ghost/romance
forensics/WWII/espionage
Linda Maria Frank


Lead the Competition
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LIKE A HERO
Being a superhero WITHOUT
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The Halloween Candy MONSTER
Jimmy teaches the Halloween
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Anna and the Adders
A rhyming counting book
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BELIEVING IN HORSES
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DEAR JAMES
I know it's been 20 years, but
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THE COIN
CAN FINDING A COIN
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NUDGES FROM THE OTHER SIDE
Must-read for those who grieve
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A Bloody Hot Summer
Bloody murders occur in 1920s
England during a heatwave
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Marlon and the Scary Something
Scaredy cat finds courage,
foils fear, wins friend
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DAUGHTER OF SPIES
Wartime Secrets, Family Lies
A FINALIST in TWSA
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Into the BeanStalk
Corrupt megacity, broken world
A girl hiding from her past
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The Boy from the Night Sky
Thrilling fantasy adventure
for all ages.
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In Other Words, Poetic Journey
Explore life through the eyes
of a tireless wanderer
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More Future Dreams/Nightmares
Award-winning SF short
stories of AIs and robots.
Donald Firesmith


SIN EATER
A girl with the power to
erase ANY bad memory!
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“Hatch Chile Willie”
offers children a heartwarming
tale of friendship
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The Open Book
A family memoir of adventure,
trauma, & resilience
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The Eye of Nineveh (thriller)
They found a gem powered by
the gods. Now, it´s vanished.
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THE TRALL SERIES
Middle-grade portal
fantasies set in Australia.
by Gayle Torrens


Children of the Knight
When the children rise,
will the city fall?
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Look 'N Up Invasion
Celebrate diversity by
imagining a world without it.
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LADY IN RED
Teen sleuths search for
a missing masterpiece.
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A Rage To Live
A true boys' coming of age
story set during the Holocaust
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Fit to Eat
Empower yourself to age
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Alfie Slider vs Shape Shifter
It’s no ordinary key –
it breaks the laws of physics!
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Pumpkin King Saves Christmas
How Santa became jolly with
the help of the Pumpkin King.
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Destiny Lives on Fairhaven St.
A father's true story to his
sons. Winner of 17 awards.
Amazon


Rooted and Remembered
An orphaned boy wonders if
home is a place or a feeling.
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THE IMPROBABLE WONDERS OF
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BROKEN
A victim to survivor love
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Publishing Questions?
Find easy to understand
answers, top tips & more.
oldmatemedia


THE WAY OF WATER
Brilliant YA Fantasy with
Magic, Mystery & Romance
Amazon


THE DARKWOLF SAGA (YA)
Embark on a harrowing journey
into fantasy and adventure.
Amazon


Sibby's Secret
Heart-stopping adventure
for our detective Buccaneers
Amazon


What You Cannot See
A woman trying to navigate
and understand her life
Amazon


Inspirational Mindset Journey
This book, therapy by power of
fiction, can alter your life.
Amazon





The Stranger of Ul Darak BK 1
A new intriguing epic
high fantasy series
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The Secrets of Hawthorne House
An unlikely friendship, clash
of cultures, and hidden magic
Amazon


The Tree of Life
Come with Lord Robert %
seek out an unknown 5th gospel
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THE DARK PLACES NOVELS
Paranormal thrillers to
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