InterVarsity Press (IVP) is pleased to announce that four IVP titles have been recognized as finalists in the twenty-second annual Foreword INDIES Book of the Year Awards. 

As part of its mission to discover, review, and share the best books from university and independent publishers, Foreword Magazine Inc. hosts an annual awards program each year. Finalists represent the best books published in 2019. After more than two thousand individual titles spread across fifty-five genres were submitted for consideration, the list of finalists was determined by Foreword’s editorial team. Winners will be decided by an expert team of booksellers and librarians—representing Foreword’s readership—from across the country. 

IVP books were chosen as finalists in the following categories: 

Body, Mind & Spirit (Adult Nonfiction)

The Gift of Wonder: Creative Practices for Delighting in God by Christine Aroney-Sine 

Like many of us, Christine Aroney-Sine had spent many years with an image of God who was “a very serious, workaholic type of God.” And even when her theology told her this was not true, she struggled to live into this new way of thinking. What she needed was a childlike spirituality. 

In The Gift of Wonder, Aroney-Sine, online host of the Godspace community, invites us to pay attention to childlike characteristics that have the power to reshape us. Each chapter addresses a childlike characteristic to embrace, including delight, playfulness, imagination, awe and wonder, love of nature, the ability to live in the present, and much more.

Ecology & Environment (Adult Nonfiction)

The End of Hunger: Renewed Hope for Feeding the World edited by Jenny Eaton Dyer and Cathleen Falsani

Twenty-five years ago, 23.3 percent of the world’s population lived in hunger. Today that number has dropped to 12.9 percent—giving rise to the renewed hope that what once seemed unthinkable is now within reach. The challenges are great, but the fight to eliminate malnutrition and hunger is one we can win. 

The End of Hunger brings together activists, politicians, scientists, pastors, theologians, and artists on this urgent topic. Here is a comprehensive picture of the current situation—the latest facts and figures are presented alongside compelling stories, both from those engaged in the fight against hunger and from the hungry themselves. Here too are clear steps for action by individuals, families, churches, and communities. 

Multicultural (Adult Nonfiction)

Hermanas: Deepening Our Identity and Growing Our Influence by Natalia Kohn Rivera, Noemi Vega Quiñones, and Kristy Garza Robinson 

God calls Latinas to lives of influence. He created his Latina daughters to partner with him, but many have heard cultural messages that make them doubt their adequacy. These coauthors share their own journeys as Latinas and leaders. They find mentorship in twelve inspirational women of the Bible including Esther, Rahab, Mary, and Lydia, who navigated challenges of brokenness and suffering, being bicultural, and crossing borders. The insights here will help any who seek to empower Latinas in leadership. 

Political and Social Sciences (Adult Nonfiction)

Revolution of Values: Reclaiming Public Faith for the Common Good by Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove

Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove explores how religious culture wars have misrepresented Christianity at the expense of the poor, and how listening to marginalized communities can help us hear God’s call to love and justice in the world. He highlights people on the frontlines of issues ranging from immigration policy and voting rights to women’s rights and environmental stewardship. Through these narratives, readers encounter a recovery of values that upholds the dignity of all people.

In the next three months a panel of volunteer librarians and booksellers will determine the winners in each category based on their experience with readers and patrons. Winners in each genre—along with Editor’s Choice Prize winners and Foreword’s INDIE Publisher of the Year—will be announced June 17, 2020.

For a complete list of IVP award winners visit ivpress.com.