Our friends at Booklist—the book review magazine of the American Library Association—have spent 2020 poring over countless titles for readers of all ages. As the year comes to a close, Booklist staff have announced nine of their favorite new reads from a variety of genres.
Their annual Top of the List picks represent their most highly recommended titles in nine categories: fiction, nonfiction, audiobooks, and graphic novels for adults, and fiction, nonfiction, picture books, audiobooks, and graphic novels, for youth.
Here are their top titles for 2020:
Books for Adults:
Top of the List in Graphic Novels:
Year of the Rabbit, by Tian Veasna
Top of the List Fiction:
These Ghosts Are Family, by Maisy Card
Top of the List Nonfiction:
Wandering in Strange Lands: A Daughter of the Great Migration, by Morgan Jerkins
Top of the List Audio:
The Girl with the Louding Voice, by Abi Daré (writer) and Adjoa Andoh (audiobook narrator)
Books for Youth:
Top of the List in Graphic Novels:
Dragon Hoops, by Gene Luen Yang (writer and illustrator) and Lark Pien illustrator)
Top of the List Picture Book:
Nana Akua Goes to School, by Tricia Elam Walker (writer) and April Harrison (illustrator)
Top of the List Nonfiction:
All Thirteen: The Incredible Cave Rescue of the Thai Boys’ Soccer Team, by Christina Soontornvat
Top of the List Fiction:
Burn, by Patrick Ness
Top of the List Audio:
Clap When You Land, by Elizabeth Acevedo (writer and audiobook narrator) and Melania Luisa Marte (audiobook narrator)
For great book recommendations, author interviews, and more, subscribe to the Booklist Reader Update.