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Booklist (American Library Association)

Booklist Editors' Choice 2019

Booklist (American Library Association)'s Booklist Editors' Choice 2019 names 148 books across 16 categories. 58 of them also won or were shortlisted for an award.

Adult Books for Young Adults: Fiction

  1. Curious Toys by Elizabeth Handsource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Dominicana by Angie Cruzsource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Escaping Exodus by Nicky Draydensource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Gods with a Little G by Tupelo Hassmansource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Ninth House by Leigh Bardugosource (opens in a new tab)
  6. Normal People by Sally Rooneysource (opens in a new tab)
  7. The Ash Family by Molly Dektarsource (opens in a new tab)
  8. The Bird King by G. Willow Wilsonsource (opens in a new tab)
  9. The Nickel Boys by Colson Whiteheadsource (opens in a new tab)

Adult Books for Young Adults: Nonfiction

  1. Boys Will Be Boys: Power, Patriarchy, and Toxic Masculinity by Clementine Fordsource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Making Comics by Lynda Barrysource (opens in a new tab)
  3. More Than Enough: Claiming Space for Who You Are (No Matter What They Say) by Elaine Welterothsource (opens in a new tab)
  4. She Came to Slay: The Life and Times of Harriet Tubman by Erica Armstrong Dunbarsource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Sissy: A Coming-of-Gender Story by Jacob Tobiasource (opens in a new tab)
  6. Slime: How Algae Created Us, Plague Us, and Just Might Save Us by Ruth Kassingersource (opens in a new tab)
  7. They Called Us Enemy by George Takei, Justin Eisinger and Steven Scottsource (opens in a new tab)

Adult Books: Arts & Literature

  1. Monster, She Wrote: The Women Who Pioneered Horror & Speculative Fiction by Lisa Kröger and Melanie R. Andersonsource (opens in a new tab)
  2. The Source of Self-Regard: Selected Essays, Speeches, and Meditations by Toni Morrisonsource (opens in a new tab)

Adult Books: Biography & Memoir

  1. Hitler by Peter Longerichsource (opens in a new tab)
  2. In the Dream House by Carmen Maria Machadosource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Life Isn't Everything: Mike Nichols, as Remembered by 150 of His Closest Friends by Ash Carter and Sam Kashnersource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Long Live the Tribe of Fatherless Girls by T Kira Maddensource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Such a Pretty Girl: A Story of Struggle, Empowerment, and Disability Pride by Nadina LaSpinasource (opens in a new tab)
  6. The Contender: The Story of Marlon Brando by William J. Mannsource (opens in a new tab)
  7. The Lady from the Black Lagoon: Hollywood Monsters and the Lost Legacy of Milicent Patrick by Mallory O’Mearasource (opens in a new tab)
  8. The Life and Loves of E. Nesbit: Victorian Iconoclast, Children’s Author, and Creator of The Railway Children by Eleanor Fitzsimonssource (opens in a new tab)

Adult Books: Fiction

  1. After the Flood by Kassandra Montagsource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Ayesha at Last by Uzma Jalaluddinsource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Daisy Jones & the Six by Taylor Jenkins Reidsource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Evvie Drake Starts Over by Linda Holmessource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Fall Back Down When I Die by Joe Wilkinssource (opens in a new tab)
  6. Feast Your Eyes by Myla Goldbergsource (opens in a new tab)
  7. Find Me by André Acimansource (opens in a new tab)
  8. Fleishman Is in Trouble by Taffy Brodesser-Aknersource (opens in a new tab)
  9. Girl, Woman, Other by Bernardine Evaristosource (opens in a new tab)
  10. Lost Children Archive by Valeria Luisellisource (opens in a new tab)
  11. Never Have I Ever by Joshilyn Jacksonsource (opens in a new tab)
  12. Night Boat to Tangier by Kevin Barrysource (opens in a new tab)
  13. Normal People by Sally Rooneysource (opens in a new tab)
  14. Quichotte by Salman Rushdiesource (opens in a new tab)
  15. Red Birds by Mohammed Hanifsource (opens in a new tab)
  16. The Far Field by Madhuri Vijaysource (opens in a new tab)
  17. The Farm by Joanne Ramossource (opens in a new tab)
  18. The Nickel Boys by Colson Whiteheadsource (opens in a new tab)
  19. The Redeemed by Tim Pearssource (opens in a new tab)
  20. The Water Dancer by Ta-Nehisi Coatessource (opens in a new tab)

Adult Books: Genre Fiction

  1. A People’s Future of the United States by Victor LaValle and John Joseph Adamssource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Exhalation by Ted Chiangsource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Gideon the Ninth by Tamsyn Muirsource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Growing Things and Other Stories by Paul Tremblaysource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Lady Derring Takes a Lover by Julie Anne Longsource (opens in a new tab)
  6. Lady in the Lake by Laura Lippmansource (opens in a new tab)
  7. Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuistonsource (opens in a new tab)
  8. Sarah Jane by James Sallissource (opens in a new tab)
  9. Side Chick Nation by Aya de Leónsource (opens in a new tab)
  10. The Border by Don Winslowsource (opens in a new tab)
  11. The Chain by Adrian McKintysource (opens in a new tab)
  12. The Deep by Rivers Solomonsource (opens in a new tab)
  13. This Is How You Lose the Time War by Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstonesource (opens in a new tab)
  14. Your House Will Pay by Steph Chasource (opens in a new tab)

Adult Books: History & Travel

  1. A Woman of No Importance: The Untold Story of the American Spy Who Helped Win World War II by Sonia Purnellsource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Grass by Keum Suk Gendry-Kim, translated by Janet Hongsource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Jubilee: Recipes from Two Centuries of African American Cooking by Toni Tipton-Martinsource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Silver, Sword & Stone: Three Crucibles in the Latin American Story by Marie Aranasource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Syria’s Secret Library: Reading and Redemption in a Town under Siege by Mike Thomsonsource (opens in a new tab)
  6. The Edge of Anarchy: The Railroad Barons, the Gilded Age, and the Greatest Labor Uprising in America by Jack Kellysource (opens in a new tab)
  7. The Heartbeat of Wounded Knee: Native America from 1890 to the Present by David Treuersource (opens in a new tab)
  8. The Ship of Dreams: The Sinking of the Titanic and the End of the Edwardian Era by Gareth Russellsource (opens in a new tab)

Adult Books: Poetry

  1. Build Yourself a Boat by Camonghne Felixsource (opens in a new tab)
  2. How to Love a Country by Richard Blancosource (opens in a new tab)

Adult Books: Science & Technology

  1. Losing Earth: A Recent History by Nathaniel Richsource (opens in a new tab)
  2. The Deep History of Ourselves: The Four-Billion-Year Story of How We Got Conscious Brains by Joseph LeDouxsource (opens in a new tab)
  3. The Outlaw Ocean: Journeys across the Last Untamed Frontier by Ian Urbinasource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Wildhood: The Epic Journey from Adolescence to Adulthood in Humans and Other Animals by Barbara Natterson-Horowitz and Kathryn Bowerssource (opens in a new tab)

Adult Books: Social Sciences

  1. Figuring by Maria Popovasource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Going over Home: A Search for Rural Justice in an Unsettled Land by Charles D. Thompson Jr.source (opens in a new tab)
  3. Inconspicuous Consumption: The Environmental Impact You Don’t Know You Have by Tatiana Schlossbergsource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Midnight in Chernobyl: The Untold Story of the World’s Greatest Nuclear Disaster by Adam Higginbothamsource (opens in a new tab)
  5. The Trial of Lizzie Borden by Cara Robertsonsource (opens in a new tab)

Books for Youth: Fiction, Middle Readers

  1. A Place to Belong by Cynthia Kadohatasource (opens in a new tab)
  2. For Black Girls Like Me by Mariama J. Lockingtonsource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Indian No More by Charlene Willing McManis and Traci Sorellsource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Lalani of the Distant Sea by Erin Entrada Kellysource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Look Both Ways: A Tale Told in Ten Blocks by Jason Reynoldssource (opens in a new tab)
  6. Other Words for Home by Jasmine Wargasource (opens in a new tab)
  7. Pay Attention, Carter Jones by Gary D. Schmidtsource (opens in a new tab)
  8. Sal & Gabi Break the Universe by Carlos Hernandezsource (opens in a new tab)
  9. Scary Stories for Young Foxes by Christian McKay Heidickersource (opens in a new tab)
  10. Stargazing by Jen Wangsource (opens in a new tab)
  11. The Bridge Home by Padma Venkatramansource (opens in a new tab)
  12. The Last Last-Day-of-Summer by Lamar Gilessource (opens in a new tab)
  13. The Line Tender by Kate Allensource (opens in a new tab)
  14. The Runaways by Ulf Stark, translated by Julia Marshallsource (opens in a new tab)
  15. The Storm Keeper’s Island by Catherine Doylesource (opens in a new tab)
  16. The True History of Lyndie B. Hawkins by Gail Shepherdsource (opens in a new tab)
  17. The Very, Very Far North by Dan Bar-Elsource (opens in a new tab)
  18. This Was Our Pact by Ryan Andrewssource (opens in a new tab)

Books for Youth: Fiction, Older Readers

  1. Butterfly Yellow by Thanhhà Laisource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Laura Dean Keeps Breaking Up with Me by Mariko Tamakisource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Let Me Hear a Rhyme by Tiffany D. Jacksonsource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Lovely War by Julie Berrysource (opens in a new tab)
  5. On the Come Up by Angie Thomassource (opens in a new tab)
  6. Ordinary Girls by Blair Thornburghsource (opens in a new tab)
  7. The Downstairs Girl by Stacey Leesource (opens in a new tab)
  8. The Last True Poets of the Sea by Julia Drakesource (opens in a new tab)
  9. The Lost Coast by Amy Rose Capettasource (opens in a new tab)
  10. The Music of What Happens by Bill Konigsbergsource (opens in a new tab)
  11. The Revolution of Birdie Randolph by Brandy Colbertsource (opens in a new tab)
  12. Thirteen Doorways, Wolves behind Them All by Laura Rubysource (opens in a new tab)
  13. We Are the Perfect Girl by Ariel Kaplansource (opens in a new tab)
  14. We Set the Dark on Fire by Tehlor Kay Mejiasource (opens in a new tab)

Books for Youth: Fiction, Young Readers

  1. A Stone Sat Still by Brendan Wenzelsource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Camp Tiger by Susan Choisource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Fry Bread: A Native American Family Tradition by Kevin Noble Maillardsource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Home in the Woods by Eliza Wheelersource (opens in a new tab)
  5. La Gran fiesta de los olores by Pato Menasource (opens in a new tab)
  6. Mi papi tiene una moto by Isabel Quintero, translated by Andrea Montejosource (opens in a new tab)
  7. My Cat Looks like My Dad by Thao Lamsource (opens in a new tab)
  8. My Papi Has a Motorcycle by Isabel Quinterosource (opens in a new tab)
  9. Pluto Gets the Call by Adam Rexsource (opens in a new tab)
  10. Pokko and the Drum by Matthew Forsythesource (opens in a new tab)
  11. Small in the City by Sydney Smithsource (opens in a new tab)
  12. Sweety by Andrea Zuillsource (opens in a new tab)
  13. The Bell Rang by James E. Ransomesource (opens in a new tab)
  14. The Proudest Blue by Ibtihaj Muhammad and S. K. Alisource (opens in a new tab)
  15. Vroom! by Barbara McClintocksource (opens in a new tab)
  16. When Aidan Became a Brother by Kyle Lukoffsource (opens in a new tab)
  17. Who Wet My Pants? by Bob Sheasource (opens in a new tab)

Books for Youth: Nonfiction, Middle Readers

  1. A Place to Land: Martin Luther King Jr. and the Speech That Inspired a Nation by Barry Wittensteinsource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Let ‘Er Buck! George Fletcher, the People’s Champion by Vaunda Micheaux Nelsonsource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Monstrous: The Lore, Gore, and Science behind Your Favorite Monsters by Carlyn Becciasource (opens in a new tab)
  4. The Magnificent Migration: On Safari with Africa’s Last Great Herds by Sy Montgomerysource (opens in a new tab)
  5. The Poison Eaters: Fighting Danger and Fraud in Our Food and Drugs by Gail Jarrowsource (opens in a new tab)
  6. The Undefeated by Kwame Alexandersource (opens in a new tab)
  7. Thurgood by Jonah Wintersource (opens in a new tab)
  8. Titanosaur: Discovering the World’s Largest Dinosaur by José Luis Carballido and Diego Polsource (opens in a new tab)

Books for Youth: Nonfiction, Older Readers

  1. An Indigenous Peoples’ History of the United States for Young People by Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz, Debbie Reese and Jean Mendozasource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Born to Fly: The First Women’s Air Race across America by Steve Sheinkinsource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Brave Face by Shaun David Hutchinsonsource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Bringing Down a President: The Watergate Scandal by Andrea Balis and Elizabeth Levysource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Destination Moon: The Remarkable and Improbable Voyage of Apollo 11 by Richard Maurersource (opens in a new tab)
  6. Enough Is Enough: How Students Can Join the Fight for Gun Safety by Michelle Roehm McCannsource (opens in a new tab)
  7. Ordinary Hazards by Nikki Grimessource (opens in a new tab)
  8. Shout by Laurie Halse Andersonsource (opens in a new tab)
  9. Spies: The Secret Showdown between America and Russia by Marc Favreausource (opens in a new tab)

Books for Youth: Nonfiction, Young Readers

  1. Bloom Boom! by April Pulley Sayresource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Does It Fart? A Kid’s Guide to the Gas Animals Pass by Nick Caruso and Dani Rabaiottisource (opens in a new tab)
  3. It Began with a Page: How Gyo Fujikawa Drew the Way by Kyo Maclearsource (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 2019