Best Books of 2020

Here (in no particular order) is our annual compilation of some of the “Best of the Year” lists:

100 notable books of the year from The New York Times: There is also a top ten list on their site and links for children’s books. Once again, remember that you can access these and other articles from The New York Times by following directions on the library’s ClassLinks page. If you set up your account a year ago, you may need to renew – see a librarian with any questions.

Best of 2020 from School Library Journal; Looking specifically for Young Adults, several titles are on my “to read” list, including: Clap When You Land and Sanctuary. I have already reviewed others on the list like Jennifer Niven’s Breathless.

Plus professional choices from Publishers Weekly OR Kirkus Reviews. Kirkus helpfully shows best fiction by a variety of categories (e.g., get your book group talking; read during the pandemic; debut authors). The mystery and thrillers I have enjoyed: All the Devils are Here, Dead Land, and One by One. Separate lists are provided for non-fiction and once again across several categories for best teen books.

And Goodreads has released its Choice Awards across several categories for 2020: https://www.goodreads.com/choiceawards/best-books-2020   This is always a “go to” list since reader votes and word of mouth have built interest.   

LibraryReads: Primarily for public libraries, listed top favorites for 2020: https://libraryreads.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Voter-Favorites-2020-Flyer.pdf   

Name a publication and you are likely to find a best book list. For example, The Washington Post offers several lists, but I really liked their columnists’ take (published later in the month) on what each had read or watched during the pandemic – it is very fun and eclectic (Great British Baking Show, anyone?). The Wall Street Journal has a best of 2020 list for books as well as for music, television and more.

National Public Radio lists 1000s of titles (from 2020 and earlier years) and shows their covers in a fun, interactive way. Have fun exploring the list of titles selected for PBS’ Now Read This book club.  In the process, please do not forget to consult the Indie Next List - recommendations from independent booksellers.

More ideas from National Book Awards or local public libraries like Chicago Public Library offer recommendations -- with suggestions for all ages. And from organizations like The Greater Good Science Center or Teaching for Change’s Social Justice Books for all ages and from individuals (BarackObama, Bill Gates – and avid readers amongst your own friends and family).

There is plenty of overlap and some delightful selections on these lists. Ah, so many books and so little time. Enjoy!!! Happy Reading!! Catch up on reviews in the New Year as we Continue the Conversation.

Reading Suggestions for ALL Ages

Looking for something fun to read?  Check out our summary of the Best Book recommendations from The New York Times, GoodReads, and professional reviewers.

 

Our Stress Relief Strategies has more ideas on apps, videos and fun exercises.  For more book reviews of all kinds, click here. 

Reading, Reading, Reading!!

Happy Labor Day – here are a couple of great resources to help with the "work" of developing a love of reading! 

 

HOW TO RAISE A READER by Pamela Paul (My Life with Bob) and Maria Russo is a fabulous resource from the editors of The New York Times Book Review.  In this very helpful text geared to parents, Paul and Russo use four sections (Born to Read, Growing a Reader, Your Middle Grade Reader, and A Reader for Life) to offer ideas and titles for young people from babies to teenagers. As a high school librarian, I was most interested in the fourth section where the authors point out that “literature can provide powerful company” and “many lifelong readers remember adolescence as a time of intense immersion in books, a period in which you read to help figure out who you were, what you believed in, and where you stood in the world.” They define a Young Adult (YA) book as one which “plunges the reader directly into the experience of being a teenager – that confusing, exhilarating, hormone-fueled, high stakes time when you really don’t know what the future will hold for you or what adulthood is really like.” In addition, they mention several sites like Book Riot, The YA Bookshelf, and Girl Plus Book, which help readers stay informed about new YA titles. Paul and Russo also offer a lengthy lists of themed books (dealing with fear and bravery, kindness and empathy, family stories, etc.) for ALL ages. The choices are informed and varied – we plan to check the YA recommendations against our high school collection, but a quick review says we have many they recommend on our shelves already. Please stop by if you would like to discuss HOW TO RAISE A READER with any of our librarians.

 

JIM TRELEASE'S READ-ALOUD HANDBOOK is now available in its 8th edition, revised and updated by Jim Trelease and Cyndi Giorgis.  This title is truly a “classic” work worth consulting by anyone with children younger than 8^th grade. Trelease has spent decades advising on children’s literature.  In 2010, Penguin named THE READ-ALOUD HANDBOOK as one of the 75 most important books it had published in its history. This new edition has chapters about the Importance of Dads and on the Impact of Electronic Media on Reading. Giorgis is currently a professor at Arizona State University where she, too, promotes the importance of reading aloud, especially to younger children. 

 

Another 2019 title worth considering is Meghan Cox Gurdon’s The Enchanted Hour; this first book from the Wall Street Journal’s children’s book reviewer received a starred review from Library Journal.  

Best Books in 2018

Looking for book gift ideas?   Once again, here is our annual compilation of some of the “Best of the Year” lists:

Notable books from The New York Times: There is also a top ten list on their site and links for children’s books.

https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2018/11/19/books/review/100-notable-books.html

https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2018/books/review/holiday-books-for-kids.html and remember that you can access these and other articles from The New York Times by following directions on our ClassLinks page.   

From School Library Journal: https://www.slj.com/?page=best-books-2018  Adult books for teens and much more.  https://www.slj.com/?detailStory=best-adult-books-4-teens-2018   

Plus Publishers Weekly:  https://best-books.publishersweekly.com/pw/best-books/2018   And there is a children’s list which splits into picture books, middle grade and young adult.

Or Kirkus Reviews https://www.kirkusreviews.com/issue/best-of-2018/section/fiction/lists/ which helpfully shows best fiction by category; separate lists for non-fiction and for best teen books

https://www.kirkusreviews.com/issue/best-of-2018/section/young-adult/lists/

And Goodreads has released its Choice Awards across several categories for 2018: https://www.goodreads.com/choiceawards/best-books-2018   

LibraryReads: Primarily for Public libraries, listed top favorites for 2018.

http://libraryreads.org/favorite-of-favorites-2018/  monthly updates throughout the year

National Book Awards: https://www.nationalbook.org/awards-prizes/national-book-awards-2018/   

Chicago Public Library Recommendations -- with suggestions for all ages: https://www.chipublib.org/news/cpl-best-of-the-best-books-2018/

Winnetka Public Library Staff Recommendations for books and movies: https://www.winnetkalibrary.org/books-movies/best-of-2018/

National Public Radio lists 319 titles and shows their covers in a fun, interactive way. https://apps.npr.org/best-books-2018/     PBS’NewsHourbookshelf has interviews with many authors.

Enjoy!!! Happy Reading!!!