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Booklist (American Library Association)

Booklist Editors' Choice 2017

Booklist (American Library Association)'s Booklist Editors' Choice 2017 names 146 books across 17 categories. 63 of them also won or were shortlisted for an award.

Adult Books for Young Adults: Fiction

  1. A Good Country by Laleh Khadivisource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Ginny Moon by Benjamin Ludwigsource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Gwendy’s Button Box by Stephen King and Richard Chizmarsource (opens in a new tab)
  4. History of Wolves by Emily Fridlundsource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ngsource (opens in a new tab)
  6. The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Ardensource (opens in a new tab)
  7. The Doll Funeral by Kate Hamersource (opens in a new tab)
  8. The Gargoyle Hunters by John Freeman Gillsource (opens in a new tab)
  9. The Impossible Fortress by Jason Rekulaksource (opens in a new tab)
  10. The Power by Naomi Aldermansource (opens in a new tab)

Adult Books for Young Adults: Nonfiction

  1. Caca Dolce: Essays from a Lowbrow Life by Chelsea Martinsource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Girl Up: Kick Ass, Claim Your Woman Card, and Crush Everyday Sexism by Laura Batessource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Norse Mythology by Neil Gaimansource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Rest in Power: The Enduring Life of Trayvon Martin by Sybrina Fulton and Tracy Martinsource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Soonish: Ten Emerging Technologies That’ll Improve and/or Ruin Everything by Kelly Weinersmith and Zach Weinersmithsource (opens in a new tab)
  6. The Best We Could Do by Thi Buisource (opens in a new tab)

Adult Books: Arts & Literature

  1. Every Word Is a Bird We Teach to Sing: Encounters with the Mysteries and Meanings of Language by Daniel Tammetsource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Hunger: A Memoir of (My) Body by Roxane Gaysource (opens in a new tab)
  3. You Don’t Have to Say You Love Me by Sherman Alexiesource (opens in a new tab)

Adult Books: Biography

  1. Franklin D. Roosevelt: A Political Life by Robert Dalleksource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Grant by Ron Chernowsource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Queen of Bebop: The Musical Lives of Sarah Vaughan by Elaine M. Hayessource (opens in a new tab)

Adult Books: Fiction

  1. 4 3 2 1 by Paul Austersource (opens in a new tab)
  2. A Line Made by Walking by Sara Baumesource (opens in a new tab)
  3. A Natural by Ross Raisinsource (opens in a new tab)
  4. After the Bloom by Leslie Shimotakaharasource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Dark at the Crossing by Elliot Ackermansource (opens in a new tab)
  6. Days without End by Sebastian Barrysource (opens in a new tab)
  7. Exit West by Mohsin Hamidsource (opens in a new tab)
  8. Fresh Complaint by Jeffrey Eugenidessource (opens in a new tab)
  9. Future Home of the Living God by Louise Erdrichsource (opens in a new tab)
  10. Gather the Daughters by Jennie Melamedsource (opens in a new tab)
  11. Huck Out West by Robert Cooversource (opens in a new tab)
  12. Human Acts by Han Kangsource (opens in a new tab)
  13. Lincoln in the Bardo by George Saunderssource (opens in a new tab)
  14. Manhattan Beach by Jennifer Egansource (opens in a new tab)
  15. Marlena by Julie Buntinsource (opens in a new tab)
  16. My Absolute Darling by Gabriel Tallentsource (opens in a new tab)
  17. No One Can Pronounce My Name by Rakesh Satyalsource (opens in a new tab)
  18. Savage Country by Robert Olmsteadsource (opens in a new tab)
  19. Some Rise by Sin by Philip Caputosource (opens in a new tab)
  20. Strange Weather: Four Short Novels by Joe Hillsource (opens in a new tab)
  21. The Blue Hour by Laura Pritchettsource (opens in a new tab)
  22. The Force by Don Winslowsource (opens in a new tab)
  23. The Golden House by Salman Rushdiesource (opens in a new tab)
  24. The Ministry of Utmost Happiness by Arundhati Roysource (opens in a new tab)
  25. The Ninth Hour by Alice McDermottsource (opens in a new tab)
  26. The Possessions by Sara Flannery Murphysource (opens in a new tab)
  27. The Power by Naomi Aldermansource (opens in a new tab)
  28. The Refugees by Viet Thanh Nguyensource (opens in a new tab)
  29. The Women in the Castle by Jessica Shattucksource (opens in a new tab)

Adult Books: Geography & Travel

  1. Notes on a Foreign Country: An American Abroad in a Post-American World by Suzy Hansensource (opens in a new tab)

Adult Books: History

  1. Code Girls: The Untold Story of the American Women Code Breakers of World War II by Liza Mundysource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Killers of the Flower Moon by David Grannsource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Queen Victoria’s Matchmaking: The Royal Marriages That Shaped Europe by Deborah Cadburysource (opens in a new tab)
  4. The Dawn of Detroit by Tiya Milessource (opens in a new tab)
  5. The Future Is History: How Totalitarianism Reclaimed Russia by Masha Gessensource (opens in a new tab)
  6. The Gulf: The Making of an American Sea by Jack E. Davissource (opens in a new tab)
  7. The Home That Was Our Country: A Memoir of Syria by Alia Maleksource (opens in a new tab)
  8. The Potlikker Papers: A Food History of the Modern South by John T. Edgesource (opens in a new tab)
  9. Thunder in the Mountains: Chief Joseph, Oliver Otis Howard, and the Nez Perce War by Daniel J. Sharfsteinsource (opens in a new tab)

Adult Books: Poetry

  1. Collected Poems by Galway Kinnellsource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Don’t Call Us Dead by Danez Smithsource (opens in a new tab)

Adult Books: Religion

  1. The Evangelicals: The Struggle to Shape America by Frances Fitzgeraldsource (opens in a new tab)

Adult Books: Science & Technology

  1. American Eclipse: A Nation’s Epic Race to Catch the Shadow of the Moon and Win the Glory of the World by David Baronsource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Endurance: A Year in Space, a Lifetime of Discovery by Scott Kellysource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Exoplanets: Diamond Worlds, Super Earth, Pulsar Planets, and the New Search for Life beyond Our Solar System by Michael Summers and James Trefilsource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Planet of Microbes: The Perils and Potential of Earth’s Essential Life Forms by Ted Antonsource (opens in a new tab)
  5. The Death and Life of the Great Lakes by Dan Egansource (opens in a new tab)

Adult Books: Social Sciences

  1. American Fire: Love, Arson, and Life in a Vanishing Land by Monica Hessesource (opens in a new tab)
  2. An American Sickness: How Healthcare Became Big Business and How You Can Take It Back by Elisabeth Rosenthalsource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Bunk: The Rise of Hoaxes, Humbug, Plagiarists, Phonies, Post-Facts, and Fake News by Kevin Youngsource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Cuz: The Life and Times of Michael A by Danielle Allensource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Democracy in Chains: The Deep History of the Radical Right’s Stealth Plan for America by Nancy MacLeansource (opens in a new tab)
  6. I Can’t Breathe: A Killing on Bay Street by Matt Taibbisource (opens in a new tab)
  7. I Was Told to Come Alone: My Journey behind the Lines of Jihad by Souad Mekhennetsource (opens in a new tab)
  8. No One Cares about Crazy People: The Chaos and Heartbreak of Mental Health in America by Ron Powerssource (opens in a new tab)
  9. Nomadland: Surviving America in the Twenty-First Century by Jessica Brudersource (opens in a new tab)
  10. The Doomsday Machine: Confessions of a Nuclear War Planner by Daniel Ellsbergsource (opens in a new tab)
  11. The Radium Girls by Kate Mooresource (opens in a new tab)
  12. The SAGE Encyclopedia of War: Social Science Perspectives by Paul Josephsource (opens in a new tab)
  13. True South: Henry Hampton and Eyes on the Prize, the Landmark Television Series That Reframed the Civil Rights Movement by Jon Elsesource (opens in a new tab)

Books for Youth: Fiction, Middle Readers

  1. Almost Paradise by Corabel Shofnersource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Beyond the Bright Sea by Lauren Wolksource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Slider by Pete Hautmansource (opens in a new tab)
  4. The Empty Grave by Jonathan Stroudsource (opens in a new tab)
  5. The Goat by Anne Flemingsource (opens in a new tab)
  6. The Whiz Mob and the Grenadine Kid by Colin Meloysource (opens in a new tab)
  7. Town Is by the Sea by Joanne Schwartzsource (opens in a new tab)
  8. Train I Ride by Paul Mosiersource (opens in a new tab)
  9. Wishtree by Katherine Applegatesource (opens in a new tab)

Books for Youth: Fiction, Older Readers

  1. Akata Warrior by Nnedi Okoraforsource (opens in a new tab)
  2. All the Wind in the World by Samantha Mabrysource (opens in a new tab)
  3. American Street by Ibi Zoboisource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Bull by David Elliottsource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Camp So-and-So by Mary McCoysource (opens in a new tab)
  6. La Belle Sauvage by Philip Pullmansource (opens in a new tab)
  7. Landscape with Invisible Hand by M. T. Andersonsource (opens in a new tab)
  8. Little & Lion by Brandy Colbertsource (opens in a new tab)
  9. Neighborhood Girls by Jessie Ann Foleysource (opens in a new tab)
  10. Odd and True by Cat Winterssource (opens in a new tab)
  11. Soldier Boy by Keely Huttonsource (opens in a new tab)
  12. Sophie Someone by Hayley Longsource (opens in a new tab)
  13. Strange the Dreamer by Laini Taylorsource (opens in a new tab)
  14. The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue by Mackenzi Leesource (opens in a new tab)
  15. The Hate U Give by Angie Thomassource (opens in a new tab)
  16. The Murderer’s Ape by Jakob Wegelius, translated by Peter Gravessource (opens in a new tab)
  17. They Both Die at the End by Adam Silverasource (opens in a new tab)
  18. Turtles All the Way Down by John Greensource (opens in a new tab)
  19. We Are Okay by Nina LaCoursource (opens in a new tab)
  20. Who Killed Christopher Goodman? by Allan Wolfsource (opens in a new tab)
  21. Wild Beauty by Anna-Marie McLemoresource (opens in a new tab)

Books for Youth: Fiction, Young Readers

  1. A Different Pond by Bao Phisource (opens in a new tab)
  2. A Greyhound, a Groundhog by Emily Jenkinssource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Accident! by Andrea Tsurumisource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Bertolt by Jacques Goldstyn, translated by Claudia Zoe Bedricksource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Colette’s Lost Pet by Isabelle Arsenaultsource (opens in a new tab)
  6. On a Magical Do-Nothing Day by Beatrice Alemagna, translated by Jill Davissource (opens in a new tab)
  7. The Legend of Rock Paper Scissors by Drew Daywaltsource (opens in a new tab)
  8. The Wolf, the Duck, and the Mouse by Mac Barnettsource (opens in a new tab)
  9. Where’s Rodney? by Carmen Bogansource (opens in a new tab)
  10. Wolf in the Snow by Matthew Cordellsource (opens in a new tab)
  11. Wolfie & Fly by Cary Fagansource (opens in a new tab)
  12. Yo Soy Muslim by Mark Gonzalessource (opens in a new tab)

Books for Youth: Nonfiction, Middle Readers

  1. Grand Canyon by Jason Chinsource (opens in a new tab)
  2. How to Be an Elephant by Katherine Roysource (opens in a new tab)
  3. I’m Just No Good at Rhyming: And Other Nonsense for Mischievous Kids and Immature Grown-Ups by Chris Harrissource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Lesser Spotted Animals: The Coolest Creatures You’ve Never Heard Of by Martin Brownsource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Maya Lin: Thinking with Her Hands by Susan Goldman Rubinsource (opens in a new tab)
  6. Out of Wonder: Poems Celebrating Poets by Kwame Alexandersource (opens in a new tab)
  7. Real Friends by Shannon Halesource (opens in a new tab)
  8. Stormy Seas: Stories of Young Boat Refugees by Mary Beth Leatherdalesource (opens in a new tab)
  9. Two Truths and a Lie: It’s Alive! by Ammi-Joan Paquette and Laurie Ann Thompsonsource (opens in a new tab)

Books for Youth: Nonfiction, Older Readers

  1. A Dog in the Cave: The Wolves Who Made Us Human by Kay Frydenborgsource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Eyes of the World: Robert Capa, Gerda Taro, and the Invention of Modern Photojournalism by Marc Aronson and Marina Budhossource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Faith and Fury: The Temple Mount and the Noble Sanctuary—The Story of Jerusalem’s Most Sacred Space by Ilene Coopersource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Fault Lines in the Constitution: The Framers, Their Fights, and the Flaws That Affect Us Today by Cynthia Levinson and Sanford Levinsonsource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Spinning by Tillie Waldensource (opens in a new tab)
  6. Twelve Days in May: Freedom Ride 1961 by Larry Dane Brimnersource (opens in a new tab)
  7. Undefeated: Jim Thorpe and the Carlisle Indian School Football Team by Steve Sheinkinsource (opens in a new tab)
  8. Vincent and Theo: The Van Gogh Brothers by Deborah Heiligmansource (opens in a new tab)

Books for Youth: Nonfiction, Young Readers

  1. Before She Was Harriet by Lesa Cline-Ransomesource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Rivers of Sunlight: How the Sun Moves Water around the Earth by Molly Bang and Penny Chisholmsource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Robins! How They Grow Up by Eileen Christelowsource (opens in a new tab)
  4. The World Is Not a Rectangle: A Portrait of Architect Zaha Hadid by Jeanette Wintersource (opens in a new tab)
  5. This Is How We Do It: One Day in the Lives of Seven Kids from around the World by Matt Lamothesource (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 2017