Committed to providing a broad selection of outstanding books that mixes popular appeal with literary excellence, the Books for Youth Booklist’s editorial staff has chosen the titles below as best-of-the-year nonfiction and fiction books and picture books.
Included here are the editors’ choices for adult titles as well.
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Future Home of the Living God
by Louise Erdrich
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Adult Crossover High Plus
Apr 2018
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$5.00 Member Price |
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Adult Crossover High Plus
Future Home of the Living Godby Louise Erdrich
As woman after woman gives birth to infants that appear to be primitive species of humans, Cedar Hawk Songmaker finds that she is four months pregnant. ISBN
9780062694058
Awards & Honors
Andrew Carnegie Medals for Excellence, 2018 Longlist, Fiction
BuzzFeed 24 Best Fiction Books of 2017 Booklist Top of the List Editor’s Choice, Adult, Fiction Potentially Sensitive Areas
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Before She Was Harriet
by Lesa Cline-Ransome
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Nonfiction Early Elementary
Feb 2018
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$5.00 Member Price |
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Nonfiction Early Elementary
Before She Was Harrietby Lesa Cline-Ransome
An evocative poem and richly colored paintings celebrate the diverse accomplishments of Harriet Tubman, as revealed by her many names. ISBN
9780823420476
Awards & Honors
2018 Maryland Blue Crab Young Reader Award Honor, Transitional Nonfiction
2018 Christopher Award Winner, Ages 6 and Up 2018 Coretta Scott King Award Honor, Illustrator 2018 Charlotte Zolotow Award Highly Commended 2018 Jane Addams Children’s Book Award Honor, Younger Children Booklist Top 10 Diverse Picture Books: 2018 Capitol Choices 2018, Seven to Ten CCBC Choices 2018 Choice: Historical People, Places, and Events ALA-CBC Building a Home Library Booklist - 2018 ILA Teachers' Choices - 2018 MSL Cream of the Crop - 2018 Kirkus Reviews Best Books of 2017, Picture Books Booklist 2017 Top of the List, Editor’s Choice, Youth Picture Book School Library Journal’s Best Books of 2017, Nonfiction Chicago Public Library Best Books of 2017, Informational Books for Younger Readers CSMCL Best Multicultural Children’s Books of 2017 Booklist Top of the List Editor’s Choice, Nonfiction Younger Readers Booklilst Lasting Connections 2017, Social Studies Potentially Sensitive Areas
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All the Wind in the World
by Samantha Mabry
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Mystery High Plus
Feb 2018
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$5.00 Member Price |
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Mystery High Plus
All the Wind in the Worldby Samantha Mabry
Samantha Mabry's luscious prose weaves a breathtaking tale of dread, danger, romance, and redemption. ISBN
9781616206666
Awards & Honors
CCBC Choices 2018 Choice: Fiction for Young Adults
National Book Award 2017 Longlist Amazon.com Best Books of 2017, Young Adult Booklist Top of the List Editor’s Choice, Fiction Older Readers The Bulletin of the Center for Chidren’s Books 2017 Blue Ribbons, Fiction Potentially Sensitive Areas
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The Whiz Mob and the Grenadine Kid
by Colin Meloy
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Upper Elementary & Junior High Plus
Feb 2018
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$5.00 Member Price |
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Upper Elementary & Junior High Plus
The Whiz Mob and the Grenadine Kidby Colin Meloy
The young son of an American diplomat joins a secret society of pickpockets in Marseille. ISBN
9780062342454
Awards & Honors
ALSC Notable Children’s Books 2018, Older
Booklist Top of the List Editor’s Choice, Fiction Middle Readers BooklistTop 10 Books of 2018, Historical Fiction for Youth Potentially Sensitive Areas
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Accident!
by Andrea Tsurumi
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Kindergarten Plus
Feb 2018
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$5.00 Member Price |
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Kindergarten Plus
Accident!by Andrea Tsurumi
When a clumsy armadillo named Lola knocks over a glass pitcher, she sets off a silly chain of events, encountering chaos wherever she goes. ISBN
9780544944800
Awards & Honors
Publishers Weekly Best Books of 2017, Picture Books
Booklist Top of the List Editor’s Choice, Fiction Young Readers NPR’s Book Concierge, 2017 Great Reads Potentially Sensitive Areas
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The Wolf, the Duck & the Mouse
by Mac Barnett
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Easy Reading
Feb 2018
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$5.00 Member Price |
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Easy Reading
The Wolf, the Duck & the Mouseby Mac Barnett
With a nod and wink to readers, this untraditional fable is about a mouse and a duck who get swallowed by a wolf. ISBN
9780763677541
Awards & Honors
2018 E. B. White Read-Aloud Award Winner, Picture Book
2018 MLA Mitten Award Winner ALSC Notable Children’s Books 2018, Younger CCBC Choices 2018 Choice: Picture Books for School-Age Children Publishers Weekly’s; Best Books of 2017, Picture Books Horn Book Fanfare List 2017, Picture Books Chicago Public Library Best Books of 2017, Picture Books The New York TimesNotable Children’s Books of 2017, Picture Books Shelf Awareness 2017 Best Books of the Year, Picture Books Amazon.com Best Books of 2017, Ages 3–5 Booklist Top of the List Editor’s Choice, Fiction Young Readers New York Public Library Best Books for Kids 2017 Los Angeles Public Library Best of 2017: Children’s Books Potentially Sensitive Areas
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Wild Beauty
by Anna-Marie McLemore
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Mature Young Adults Plus
Jan 2018
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$5.00 Member Price |
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Mature Young Adults Plus
Wild Beautyby Anna-Marie McLemore
For nearly a century, the Nomeolvides women have tended the grounds of La Pradera, the lush estate gardens that enchant guests from around the world. They've also hidden a tragic legacy: If they fall in love too deeply, their lovers vanish. ISBN
9781250124555
Awards & Honors
Rainbow List Choice - 2019
CCBC Choices 2018 Choice: Fiction for Young Adults Booklist Top 10 Books for Youth 2017, Romance Fiction School Library Journal’s Best Books of 2017, Young Adult Kirkus Reviews Best Books of 2017, Teen Books Chicago Public Library Best Books of 2017, Teen Fiction Booklist Top of the List Editor’s Choice, Fiction Older Readers Potentially Sensitive Areas
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The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue
by Mackenzi Lee
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Mature Young Adults Plus
Oct 2017
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$5.00 Member Price |
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Mature Young Adults Plus
The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtueby Mackenzi Lee
Henry Montague was born to be a gentleman, but even the finest boarding schools in England haven't been able to tame his roguish passions for gambling halls, late nights spent with a bottle of spirits, or waking up in the arms of women or men. Author's note on historical accuracy. ISBN
9780062382801
Awards & Honors
2018 Stonewall Book Award Honor
YALSA 2018 Best Fiction for Young Adults, Top Ten Capitol Choices 2018, Fourteen and Up YALSA Top Ten Best Fiction - 2018 Rainbow List Choice - 2018 MSL Cream of the Crop - 2018 Summer 2017 Kids’ Indies Next List, Top 10 Booklist Top 10 Books for Youth 2017, Romance Fiction Goodreads Choice Awards 2017, Young Adult Fiction Kirkus Reviews Best Books of 2017, Teen Books Publishers Weekly Best Books of 2017, Young Adult Shelf Awareness 2017 Best Books of the Year, Teen Books Amazon.com Best Books of 2017, Young Adult Chicago Public Library Best Books of 2017, Teen Fiction BuzzFeed 28 Best YA Books of 2017 Booklist Top of the List Editor’s Choice, Fiction Older Readers New York Public Library Best Books for Teens 2017 NPR’s Book Concierge, 2017 Great Reads BooklistTop 10 Books of 2018, Historical Fiction for Youth |
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Marlena: A Novel
by Julie Buntin
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Adult Crossover High Plus
Aug 2017
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$5.00 Member Price |
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Adult Crossover High Plus
Marlena: A Novelby Julie Buntin
Everything about fifteen-year-old Cat’s new town in rural Michigan is lonely and off-kilter, until she meets her neighbor, the manic, beautiful, pill-popping Marlena. ISBN
9781627797641
Awards & Honors
Kirkus Reviews Best Books of 2017, Debut Novels
2017 Indie Next List Preview Publishers Weekly’s; Best Books of 2017, Fiction BuzzFeed 24 Best Fiction Books of 2017 Booklist Top of the List Editor’s Choice, Adult, Fiction NPR’s Book Concierge, 2017 Great Reads The Washington Post 50 Notable Works of Fiction 2017 Potentially Sensitive Areas
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Town Is by the Sea
by Joanne Schwartz
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Easy Reading Plus
Jul 2017
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$5.00 Member Price |
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Easy Reading Plus
Town Is by the Seaby Joanne Schwartz
Stunning illustrations show the striking contrast between a sparkling seaside day and the darkness underground where the miners dig. Author's note. Full-color illustrations. ISBN
9781554988716
Awards & Honors
2018 Greenaway Medal Winner
2018 TD Canadian Children's Literature Award Winner 2018 MLA Mitten Award Honor Capitol Choices 2018, Seven to Ten ALSC Notable Children’s Books 2018, Younger CCBC Choices 2018 Choice: Picture Books for School-Age Children School Library Journal’s Best Books of 2017, Picture Books Horn Book Fanfare List 2017, Picture Books Kirkus Reviews Best Books of 2017, Picture Books Shelf Awareness 2017 Best Books of the Year, Picture Books The New York Times Best Illustrated Children’s Books of 2017 The New York TimesNotable Children’s Books of 2017, Picture Books Brightly Best Children’s Books of 2017, According to Kids Booklist Top of the List Editor’s Choice, Fiction Middle Readers NPR’s Book Concierge, 2017 Great Reads The Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books 2017 Blue Ribbons, Picture Books 2018 USBBY Outstanding International Books, Grades PreK–2 The Washington Post Best Books Children’s Books of 2017, Picture Books Potentially Sensitive Areas
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Bull
by David Elliott
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High-Interest High Plus
Jun 2017
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$5.00 Member Price |
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High-Interest High Plus
Bullby David Elliott
David Elliott turns a classic on its head in form and approach, updating the timeless story of Theseus and the Minotaur for a new generation. Author's notes about the myth of Theseus and the Minotaur and the poetic forms used. ISBN
9780544610606
Awards & Honors
Green Mountain Book Award 2018—2019 Nominee
2018 Capitol Choices, Ages Fourteen and Up
YALSA 2018 Best Fiction for Young Adults Kirkus Reviews Best Books of 2017, Teen Books Amazon.com Best Books of 2017, Young Adult Booklist Top of the List Editor’s Choice, Fiction Older Readers YALSA 2018 Quick Pick for Reluctant Readers Nominee New York Public Library Best Books for Teens 2017 The Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books 2017 Blue Ribbons, Fiction Potentially Sensitive Areas
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Exit West: A Novel
by Mohsin Hamid
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Adult Crossover High Plus
Jun 2017
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$5.00 Member Price |
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Adult Crossover High Plus
Exit West: A Novelby Mohsin Hamid
In an unnamed city teetering on the brink of civil war, a young couple embarks on a furtive love affair. ISBN
9780735212176
Awards & Honors
2018 Indies Choice Book Awards Honor, Adult Fiction
2018 Los Angeles Times Book Prize Finalist, Fiction ALA 2018 Notable Book Lists, Fiction 2017 National Book Critics Circle Finalist, Fiction Shelf Awareness 2017 Best Books of the Year, Fiction 2017 Indie Next List Preview Kirkus Reviews Best Books of 2017, Literary Fiction and Fiction with a Twist of Magic 2017 Indie Next List Preview 2017 The Man Booker Prize Finalist Brightly, Best Books of Early 2017 The Washington Post Books We Love So Far in 2017 2017 Kirkus Prize Finalist 2017 Brooklyn Public Library Literary Prize, Shortlist, Fiction 2017 Goodreads Choice Award, Best Fiction Shelf Awareness 2017 Best Books of the Year, Fiction Amazon.com Best Books of 2017, Top 20 Chicago Public Library Best Books of 2017, Adult Top 10 The New York Times 10 Best Books of 2017 BuzzFeed 24 Best Fiction Books of 2017 Booklist Top of the List Editor’s Choice, Adult, Fiction Los Angeles Public Library Best of 2017: Fiction NPR’s Book Concierge, 2017 Great Reads The Washington Post 50 Notable Works of Fiction 2017 Potentially Sensitive Areas
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