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Booklist (American Library Association)

Booklist Editors' Choice 2013

Booklist (American Library Association)'s Booklist Editors' Choice 2013 names 133 books across 16 categories. 65 of them also won or were shortlisted for an award.

Adult Books for Young Adults: Fiction

  1. A Map of Tulsa by Benjamin Lytalsource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Brewster by Mark Sloukasource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Golden Boy by Abigail Tarttelinsource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Help for the Haunted by John Searlessource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Lexicon by Max Barrysource (opens in a new tab)
  6. Maya’s Notebook by Isabel Allende, translated by Anne McLeansource (opens in a new tab)
  7. Reconstructing Amelia by Kimberly McCreightsource (opens in a new tab)
  8. The Encyclopedia of Early Earth by Isabel Greenbergsource (opens in a new tab)
  9. The Gamal by Ciaran Collinssource (opens in a new tab)
  10. The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaimansource (opens in a new tab)

Adult Books for Young Adults: Nonfiction

  1. Chance to Win: Boyhood, Baseball, and the Struggle for Redemption in the Inner City by Jonathan Schuppesource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Gaddafi’s Harem: The Story of a Young Woman and the Abuses of Power in Libya by Annick Cojean, translated by Marjolijn de Jagersource (opens in a new tab)
  3. March: Book One by John Lewis and Andrew Aydinsource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Relish: My Life in the Kitchen by Lucy Knisleysource (opens in a new tab)

Adult Books: Arts & Literature

  1. Beethoven: The Man Revealed by John Suchetsource (opens in a new tab)
  2. In the Body of the World by Eve Enslersource (opens in a new tab)

Adult Books: Biography

  1. Bolívar: American Liberator by Marie Aranasource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Book of Ages: The Life and Opinions of Jane Franklin by Jill Leporesource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Jack London: An American Life by Earle Laborsource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Jim Henson by Brian Jay Jonessource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Lawrence in Arabia: War, Deceit, Imperial Folly, and the Making of the Modern Middle East by Scott Andersonsource (opens in a new tab)
  6. The Heir Apparent: A Life of Edward VII, the Playboy Prince by Jane Ridleysource (opens in a new tab)

Adult Books: Fiction

  1. A Constellation of Vital Phenomena by Anthony Marrasource (opens in a new tab)
  2. A Guide for the Perplexed by Dara Hornsource (opens in a new tab)
  3. A Tale for the Time Being by Ruth Ozekisource (opens in a new tab)
  4. All the Dead Yale Men by Craig Novasource (opens in a new tab)
  5. All the Land to Hold Us by Rick Basssource (opens in a new tab)
  6. Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichiesource (opens in a new tab)
  7. And the Mountains Echoed by Khaled Hosseinisource (opens in a new tab)
  8. Archangel by Andrea Barrettsource (opens in a new tab)
  9. Death of the Black-Haired Girl by Robert Stonesource (opens in a new tab)
  10. Fools by Joan Silbersource (opens in a new tab)
  11. Golden Boy by Abigail Tarttelinsource (opens in a new tab)
  12. Life after Life by Kate Atkinsonsource (opens in a new tab)
  13. Maya’s Notebook by Isabel Allende, translated by Anne McLeansource (opens in a new tab)
  14. Merivel: A Man of His Time by Rose Tremainsource (opens in a new tab)
  15. Monument Road by Charlie Quimbysource (opens in a new tab)
  16. Night Film by Marisha Pesslsource (opens in a new tab)
  17. Snapper by Brian Kimberlingsource (opens in a new tab)
  18. Stories II by T. C. Boylesource (opens in a new tab)
  19. The Childhood of Jesus by J. M. Coetzeesource (opens in a new tab)
  20. The Circle by Dave Eggerssource (opens in a new tab)
  21. The First of July by Elizabeth Spellersource (opens in a new tab)
  22. The Goldfinch by Donna Tarttsource (opens in a new tab)
  23. The Good Lord Bird by James McBridesource (opens in a new tab)
  24. The Lowland by Jhumpa Lahirisource (opens in a new tab)
  25. The Panopticon by Jenni Fagansource (opens in a new tab)
  26. The Signature of All Things by Elizabeth Gilbertsource (opens in a new tab)
  27. The Sound of Things Falling by Juan Gabriel Vasquez, translated by Anne McLeansource (opens in a new tab)
  28. The Way of the Dog by Sam Savagesource (opens in a new tab)
  29. The Woman Who Lost Her Soul by Bob Shacochissource (opens in a new tab)

Adult Books: Health and Medicine

  1. Catching Cancer: The Quest for Its Viral & Bacterial Causes by Claudia Cornwallsource (opens in a new tab)
  2. In the Kingdom of the Sick: A Social History of Chronic Illness in America by Laurie Edwardssource (opens in a new tab)

Adult Books: History

  1. One Summer: America, 1927 by Bill Brysonsource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Thank You for Your Service by David Finkelsource (opens in a new tab)
  3. The Bully Pulpit: Theodore Roosevelt, William Howard Taft, and the Golden Age of Journalism by Doris Kearns Goodwinsource (opens in a new tab)
  4. The Great War: July 1, 1916, the First Day of the Battle of the Somme by Joe Sacco and Adam Hochschildsource (opens in a new tab)
  5. The Last Train to Zona Verde: My Ultimate African Safari by Paul Therouxsource (opens in a new tab)
  6. Wilson by A. Scott Bergsource (opens in a new tab)

Adult Books: Poetry

  1. Stealing Sugar from the Castle: Selected Poems, 1950 to 2011 by Robert Blysource (opens in a new tab)

Adult Books: Science

  1. Gulp: Adventures on the Alimentary Canal by Mary Roachsource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Imperial Dreams: Tracking the Imperial Woodpecker through the Wild Sierra Madre by Tim Gallaghersource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Radiation: What It Is, What You Need to Know by Robert Peter Gale and Eric Laxsource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Time Reborn: From the Crisis in Physics to the Future of the Universe by Lee Smolinsource (opens in a new tab)

Adult Books: Social Sciences

  1. A House in the Sky by Amanda Lindhout and Sara Corbettsource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Brainwashed: The Seductive Appeal of Mindless Neuroscience by Sally Satel and Scott O. Lilienfeldsource (opens in a new tab)
  3. David and Goliath: Underdogs, Misfits and the Art of Battling Giants by Malcolm Gladwellsource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Ebony and Ivy: Race, Slavery, and the Troubled History of America’s Universities by Craig Steven Wildersource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Five Days at Memorial: Life and Death in a Storm-Ravaged Hospital by Sheri Finksource (opens in a new tab)
  6. Going Clear: Scientology, Hollywood, and the Prison of Belief by Lawrence Wrightsource (opens in a new tab)
  7. Gospel of Freedom: Martin Luther King Jr.’s Letter from Birmingham Jail and the Struggle That Changed a Nation by Jonathan Riedersource (opens in a new tab)
  8. Hope against Hope: Three Schools, One City, and the Struggle to Educate America’s Children by Sarah Carrsource (opens in a new tab)
  9. In the Name of God: The True Story of the Fight to Save Children from Faith-Healing Homicide by Cameron Stauthsource (opens in a new tab)
  10. Nine Years Under: Coming of Age in an Inner City Funeral Home by Sheri Bookersource (opens in a new tab)
  11. The Unwinding: An Inner History of the New America by George Packersource (opens in a new tab)
  12. To the End of June: The Intimate Life of American Foster Care by Cris Beamsource (opens in a new tab)
  13. Your Fatwa Does Not Apply Here: Untold Stories from the Fight against Muslim Fundamentalism by Karima Bennounesource (opens in a new tab)
  14. Zealot: The Life and Times of Jesus of Nazareth by Reza Aslansource (opens in a new tab)

Books for Youth: Fiction, Middle Readers

  1. A Tangle of Knots by Lisa Graffsource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Doll Bones by Holly Blacksource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Elvis and the Underdogs by Jenny Leesource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Flora & Ulysses: The Illuminated Adventures by Kate DiCamillosource (opens in a new tab)
  5. How to Catch a Bogle by Catherine Jinkssource (opens in a new tab)
  6. Jinx by Sage Blackwoodsource (opens in a new tab)
  7. Navigating Early by Clare Vanderpoolsource (opens in a new tab)
  8. P.S. Be Eleven by Rita Williams-Garciasource (opens in a new tab)
  9. The Thing about Luck by Cynthia Kadohatasource (opens in a new tab)
  10. The True Blue Scouts of Sugar Man Swamp by Kathi Appeltsource (opens in a new tab)

Books for Youth: Fiction, Older Readers

  1. Boxers by Gene Luen Yangsource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Crash and Burn by Michael Hassansource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Darius & Twig by Walter Dean Myerssource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Earth Girl by Janet Edwardssource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowellsource (opens in a new tab)
  6. Far Far Away by Tom McNealsource (opens in a new tab)
  7. Ghost Hawk by Susan Coopersource (opens in a new tab)
  8. Hilda and the Bird Parade by Luke Pearsonsource (opens in a new tab)
  9. If You Find Me by Emily Murdochsource (opens in a new tab)
  10. Loud Awake and Lost by Adele Griffinsource (opens in a new tab)
  11. Maggot Moon by Sally Gardnersource (opens in a new tab)
  12. Midwinterblood by Marcus Sedgwicksource (opens in a new tab)
  13. Picture Me Gone by Meg Rosoffsource (opens in a new tab)
  14. Saints by Gene Luen Yangsource (opens in a new tab)
  15. September Girls by Bennett Madisonsource (opens in a new tab)
  16. The Final Descent by Rick Yanceysource (opens in a new tab)
  17. The Golden Day by Ursula Dubosarskysource (opens in a new tab)
  18. The Watcher in the Shadows by Chris Moriartysource (opens in a new tab)
  19. Winger by Andrew Smithsource (opens in a new tab)

Books for Youth: Fiction, Young Readers

  1. Brush of the Gods by Lenore Looksource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Henri’s Scissors by Jeanette Wintersource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Herman and Rosie by Gus Gordonsource (opens in a new tab)
  4. If You Want to See a Whale by Julie Foglianosource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Mr. Tiger Goes Wild by Peter Brownsource (opens in a new tab)
  6. Sophie’s Squash by Pat Zietlow Millersource (opens in a new tab)
  7. The Tortoise & the Hare by Jerry Pinkneysource (opens in a new tab)
  8. Train by Elisha Coopersource (opens in a new tab)
  9. Water in the Park: A Book about Water and the Times of the Day by Emily Jenkinssource (opens in a new tab)
  10. Year of the Jungle by Suzanne Collinssource (opens in a new tab)

Books for Youth: Nonfiction, Middle Readers

  1. Martin & Mahalia: His Words, Her Song by Andrea Davis Pinkneysource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Parrots over Puerto Rico by Susan L. Roth and Cindy Trumboresource (opens in a new tab)
  3. The Mad Potter: George E. Ohr, Eccentric Genius by Jan Greenberg and Sandra Jordansource (opens in a new tab)
  4. The Tapir Scientist: Saving South America’s Largest Mammal by Sy Montgomerysource (opens in a new tab)

Books for Youth: Nonfiction, Older Readers

  1. Becoming Ben Franklin: How a Candle-Maker’s Son Helped Light the Flame of Liberty by Russell Freedmansource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Courage Has No Color: The True Story of the Triple Nickles, America’s First Black Paratroopers by Tanya Lee Stonesource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Diego Rivera: An Artist for the People by Susan Goldman Rubinsource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Emancipation Proclamation: Lincoln and the Dawn of Liberty by Tonya Boldensource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Go: A Kidd’s Guide to Graphic Design by Chip Kiddsource (opens in a new tab)
  6. God Got a Dog by Cynthia Rylantsource (opens in a new tab)
  7. Imprisoned: The Betrayal of Japanese Americans during World War II by Martin W. Sandlersource (opens in a new tab)
  8. Legends, Icons, & Rebels: Music That Changed the World by Robbie Robertsonsource (opens in a new tab)

Books for Youth: Nonfiction, Young Readers

  1. A Splash of Red: The Life and Art of Horace Pippin by Jen Bryantsource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Locomotive by Brian Flocasource (opens in a new tab)
  3. On a Beam of Light: A Story of Albert Einstein by Jennifer Bernesource (opens in a new tab)
  4. The Boy Who Loved Math: The Improbable Life of Paul Erdos by Deborah Heiligmansource (opens in a new tab)

About the Booklist Editors' Choice

Booklist's annual Editors' Choice lists, read from Booklist's own feature articles on booklistonline.com (fetched through the site's public JSON API at pub.booklistonline.com, which the client-side page loads). Covers the book lists only: Adult Books, Adult Books for Young Adults, Books for Youth, and Graphic Novels (a separate list from 2023). Audio, Media, Video, and Reference Sources lists are left out; reference titles that Booklist placed inside the Adult Books list are kept. Year is the year in the list's title (the publication year of the books); the list appears in the December 1 or January 1 issue that follows. Category is the list name plus Booklist's own section heading for that year (for example Adult Books: Social Sciences, Books for Youth: Nonfiction, Older Readers), so section names change when Booklist renamed them. Every entry is a Selection; Booklist does not rank them. For edited anthologies the editor is recorded as author. Expected counts are the citations printed under each section of the cited feature.

Organization: Booklist (American Library Association). Official site (opens in a new tab)

The most recommended books of 2013