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New York Public Library Best Books 2017

New York Public Library Best Books 2017 names 150 books across 2 categories. 36 of them also won or were shortlisted for an award.

Best Books for Kids

  1. 42 Is Not Just a Number: The Odyssey of Jackie Robinson, American Hero by Doreen Rappaportsource (opens in a new tab)
  2. A Different Pond by Bao Phisource (opens in a new tab)
  3. A Whisper of Horses by Zillah Bethellsource (opens in a new tab)
  4. After the Fall (How Humpty Dumpty Got Back Up Again) by Dan Santatsource (opens in a new tab)
  5. American Pharoah: Triple Crown Champion by Shelley Fraser Micklesource (opens in a new tab)
  6. Armstrong & Charlie by Steven B. Franksource (opens in a new tab)
  7. Baby Goes to Market by Atinukesource (opens in a new tab)
  8. Bats: Learning to Fly by Falynn Kochsource (opens in a new tab)
  9. Ben's Revolution: Benjamin Russell & the Battle of Bunker Hill by Nathaniel Philbricksource (opens in a new tab)
  10. Bertolt by Jacques Goldstynsource (opens in a new tab)
  11. Beyond the Bright Sea by Lauren Wolksource (opens in a new tab)
  12. Big Cat, Little Cat by Elisha Coopersource (opens in a new tab)
  13. Boat of Dreams by Rogério Coelhosource (opens in a new tab)
  14. Bolivar by Sean Rubinsource (opens in a new tab)
  15. Bravo! Poems About Amazing Hispanics by Margarita Englesource (opens in a new tab)
  16. Captain Pug: The Dog Who Sailed the Seas by Laura Jamessource (opens in a new tab)
  17. Charlie & Mouse by Laurel Snydersource (opens in a new tab)
  18. Colette's Lost Pet by Isabelle Arsenaultsource (opens in a new tab)
  19. Creekfinding: A True Story by Jacqueline Briggs Martinsource (opens in a new tab)
  20. Danza! Amalia Hernández & El Ballet Folklórico de México by Duncan Tonatiuhsource (opens in a new tab)
  21. Dazzle Ships: World War I & the Art of Confusion by Chris Bartonsource (opens in a new tab)
  22. Dragons & Marshmallows by Asia Citrosource (opens in a new tab)
  23. Feathers & Hair: What Animals Wear by Jennifer Wardsource (opens in a new tab)
  24. Fish Girl by David Wiesner and Donna Jo Napolisource (opens in a new tab)
  25. Flashlight Night by Matt Forrest Esenwinesource (opens in a new tab)
  26. Flowers for Sarajevo by John McCutcheonsource (opens in a new tab)
  27. Forever, or a Long, Long Time by Caela Cartersource (opens in a new tab)
  28. Gone Camping: A Novel in Verse by Tamera Will Wissingersource (opens in a new tab)
  29. Grace Hopper: Queen of Computer Code by Laurie Wallmarksource (opens in a new tab)
  30. Grand Canyon by Jason Chinsource (opens in a new tab)
  31. Hello, Universe by Erin Entrada Kellysource (opens in a new tab)
  32. If You Were the Moon by Laura Purdie Salassource (opens in a new tab)
  33. It All Comes Down to This by Karen Englishsource (opens in a new tab)
  34. King of the Sky by Nicola Daviessource (opens in a new tab)
  35. Let's Clap, Jump, Sing & Shout; Dance, Spin & Turn It Out! Games, Songs & Stories from an African American Childhood by Patricia C. McKissacksource (opens in a new tab)
  36. Little Fox in the Forest by Stephanie Graeginsource (opens in a new tab)
  37. Little Wolf's First Howling by Laura McGee Kvasnoskysource (opens in a new tab)
  38. Locked Up for Freedom: Civil Rights Protesters at the Leesburg Stockade by Heather E. Schwartzsource (opens in a new tab)
  39. Martí's Song for Freedom: Martí y Sus Versos por La Libertad by Emma Otheguysource (opens in a new tab)
  40. Maya Lin: Thinking with Her Hands by Susan Goldman Rubinsource (opens in a new tab)
  41. Me & Marvin Gardens by Amy Sarig Kingsource (opens in a new tab)
  42. Midnight Without a Moon by Linda Williams Jacksonsource (opens in a new tab)
  43. Muddy: The Story of Blues Legend Muddy Waters by Michael Mahinsource (opens in a new tab)
  44. My Beautiful Birds by Suzanne Del Rizzosource (opens in a new tab)
  45. Nightlights by Lorena Alvarezsource (opens in a new tab)
  46. Niko Draws a Feeling by Bob Raczkasource (opens in a new tab)
  47. Noah Webster's Fighting Words by Tracy Nelson Maurersource (opens in a new tab)
  48. Olga & the Smelly Thing from Nowhere by Elise Gravelsource (opens in a new tab)
  49. One Last Word: Wisdom from the Harlem Renaissance by Nikki Grimessource (opens in a new tab)
  50. One Trick Pony by Nathan Halesource (opens in a new tab)
  51. Out of Wonder: Poems Celebrating Poets by Kwame Alexander with Chris Colderley and Marjory Wentworthsource (opens in a new tab)
  52. Pandora by Victoria Turnbullsource (opens in a new tab)
  53. Pizza! An Interactive Recipe Book by Lotta Nieminensource (opens in a new tab)
  54. Posted by John David Andersonsource (opens in a new tab)
  55. Refugee by Alan Gratzsource (opens in a new tab)
  56. Scar Island by Dan Gemeinhartsource (opens in a new tab)
  57. Schomburg: The Man Who Built a Library by Carole Boston Weatherfordsource (opens in a new tab)
  58. Seven Wonders of the Solar System by David A. Aguilarsource (opens in a new tab)
  59. Shell, Beak, Tusk: Shared Traits & the Wonders of Adaptation by Bridget Heossource (opens in a new tab)
  60. Smoot: A Rebellious Shadow by Michelle Cuevassource (opens in a new tab)
  61. Snow & Rose by Emily Winfield Martinsource (opens in a new tab)
  62. Still a Family by Brenda Reeves Sturgissource (opens in a new tab)
  63. That Is My Dream! A Picture Book of Langston Hughes's "Dream Variation" by Langston Hughessource (opens in a new tab)
  64. The Alphabet Thief by Bill Richardsonsource (opens in a new tab)
  65. The Big Bad Fox by Benjamin Rennersource (opens in a new tab)
  66. The Book of Mistakes by Corinna Luykensource (opens in a new tab)
  67. The Crane Girl: Based on Japanese Folktales by Curtis Manleysource (opens in a new tab)
  68. The End of the Wild by Nicole Helgetsource (opens in a new tab)
  69. The Epic Fail of Arturo Zamora by Pablo Cartayasource (opens in a new tab)
  70. The First Rule of Punk by Celia C. Pérezsource (opens in a new tab)
  71. The Five Forms by Barbara McClintocksource (opens in a new tab)
  72. The Goat by Anne Flemingsource (opens in a new tab)
  73. The Golem of Prague by Irène Cohen-Jancasource (opens in a new tab)
  74. The Many Worlds of Albie Bright by Christopher Edgesource (opens in a new tab)
  75. The Murderer's Ape by Jakob Wegeliussource (opens in a new tab)
  76. The Music of Life: Bartolomeo Cristofori & the Invention of the Piano by Elizabeth Ruschsource (opens in a new tab)
  77. The New Ocean: The Fate of Life in a Changing Sea by Bryn Barnardsource (opens in a new tab)
  78. The Queen of the Frogs by Davide Calisource (opens in a new tab)
  79. The Quilts of Gee's Bend by Susan Goldman Rubinsource (opens in a new tab)
  80. The Rooster Who Would Not Be Quiet! by Carmen Agra Deedysource (opens in a new tab)
  81. The Sand Warrior by Mark Siegel and Alexis Siegelsource (opens in a new tab)
  82. The Shadow Cipher by Laura Rubysource (opens in a new tab)
  83. The Someday Birds by Sally J. Plasource (opens in a new tab)
  84. The Way Home in the Night by Akiko Miyakoshisource (opens in a new tab)
  85. The Whydah: A Pirate Ship Feared, Wrecked & Found by Martin W. Sandlersource (opens in a new tab)
  86. The Wolf, the Duck & the Mouse by Mac Barnettsource (opens in a new tab)
  87. The World Is Not a Rectangle: A Portrait of Architect Zaha Hadid by Jeanette Wintersource (opens in a new tab)
  88. There's a Pest in the Garden! by Jan Thomassource (opens in a new tab)
  89. Things to Do by Elaine Magliarosource (opens in a new tab)
  90. Thornhill by Pam Smysource (opens in a new tab)
  91. Three Pennies by Melanie Crowdersource (opens in a new tab)
  92. Thunder Underground by Jane Yolensource (opens in a new tab)
  93. Tony by Ed Galingsource (opens in a new tab)
  94. Train I Ride by Paul Mosiersource (opens in a new tab)
  95. Us, in Progress: Short Stories About Young Latinos by Lulu Delacresource (opens in a new tab)
  96. Walk with Me by Jairo Buitragosource (opens in a new tab)
  97. Watersong by Tim McCannasource (opens in a new tab)
  98. When My Sister Started Kissing by Helen Frostsource (opens in a new tab)
  99. Wolfie & Fly by Cary Fagansource (opens in a new tab)
  100. Yours Sincerely, Giraffe by Megumi Iwasasource (opens in a new tab)

Best Books for Teens

  1. Allegedly by Tiffany D. Jacksonsource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Backstagers, Vol. 1 by James Tynion IVsource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Bang by Barry Lygasource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Bull by David Elliottsource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Cells at Work, Vols. 1–4 by Akane Shimizusource (opens in a new tab)
  6. Dreadnought by April Danielssource (opens in a new tab)
  7. Dreamland Burning by Jennifer Lathamsource (opens in a new tab)
  8. Fault Lines in the Constitution by Cynthia Levinson and Sanford Levinsonsource (opens in a new tab)
  9. Forest of a Thousand Lanterns by Julie C. Daosource (opens in a new tab)
  10. Girl Code: Gaming, Going Viral & Getting It Done by Andrea Gonzales and Sophie Housersource (opens in a new tab)
  11. Hawkeye: Kate Bishop, Vol. 1 by Kelly Thompsonsource (opens in a new tab)
  12. How Dare the Sun Rise: Memoirs of a War Child by Sandra Unwiringiyimana and Abigail Pestasource (opens in a new tab)
  13. I Am Alfonso Jones by Tony Medinasource (opens in a new tab)
  14. I Believe in a Thing Called Love by Maurene Goosource (opens in a new tab)
  15. Landscape with Invisible Hand by MT Andersonsource (opens in a new tab)
  16. Long Way Down by Jason Reynoldssource (opens in a new tab)
  17. Malika: Warrior Queen, Vol. 1 by Roye Okupe and Ayodele Elegba (ed.)source (opens in a new tab)
  18. Midnight at the Electric by Jodi Lynn Andersonsource (opens in a new tab)
  19. Mis(h)adra by Iasmin Omar Atasource (opens in a new tab)
  20. New Super-Man, Vol. 1 by Gene Luen Yangsource (opens in a new tab)
  21. Noteworthy by Riley Redgatesource (opens in a new tab)
  22. Now or Never! 54th Massachusetts Infantry's War to End Slavery by Ray Anthony Shepardsource (opens in a new tab)
  23. Nyxia by Scott Reintgensource (opens in a new tab)
  24. One of Us Is Lying by Karen M. McManussource (opens in a new tab)
  25. Piecing Me Together by Renee Watsonsource (opens in a new tab)
  26. Queer, There & Everywhere: 23 People Who Changed the World by Sarah Pragersource (opens in a new tab)
  27. SLAM! Vol. 1 by Pamela Ribonsource (opens in a new tab)
  28. Saint Death by Marcus Sedgwicksource (opens in a new tab)
  29. Saints & Misfits by S. K. Alisource (opens in a new tab)
  30. Spill Zone, Vol. 1 by Scott Westerfeldsource (opens in a new tab)
  31. Spinning by Tillie Waldensource (opens in a new tab)
  32. Starfish by Akemi Dawn Bowmansource (opens in a new tab)
  33. Survivor's Club: The True Story of a Very Young Prisoner of Auschwitz by Michael Bornstein and Debbie Bornstein Holinstatsource (opens in a new tab)
  34. The 57 Bus by Dashka Slatersource (opens in a new tab)
  35. The Closest I've Come by Fred Acevessource (opens in a new tab)
  36. The Gentleman's Guide to Vice & Virtue by Mackenzi Leesource (opens in a new tab)
  37. The Girl from the Other Side, Vol. 1 by Nagabesource (opens in a new tab)
  38. The Hate U Give by Angie Thomassource (opens in a new tab)
  39. The Marrow Thieves by Cherie Dimalinesource (opens in a new tab)
  40. The Nowhere Girls by Amy Reedsource (opens in a new tab)
  41. The Takedown by Corrie Wangsource (opens in a new tab)
  42. The Upside of Unrequited by Becky Albertallisource (opens in a new tab)
  43. The Wendy Project by Melissa Jane Osbornesource (opens in a new tab)
  44. There's Someone Inside Your House by Stephanie Perkinssource (opens in a new tab)
  45. Undefeated: Jim Thorpe & the Carlisle Indian School Football team by Steve Sheinkinsource (opens in a new tab)
  46. Vincent & Theo: The Van Gogh Brothers by Deborah Heiligmansource (opens in a new tab)
  47. We Are Okay by Nina LaCoursource (opens in a new tab)
  48. What Girls Are Made Of by Elana K. Arnoldsource (opens in a new tab)
  49. You Bring the Distant Near by Mitali Perkinssource (opens in a new tab)
  50. You're Welcome, Universe by Whitney Gardnersource (opens in a new tab)

About the New York Public Library Best Books

The New York Public Library's annual Best Books lists, chosen by NYPL librarians: Best Books for Kids and Best Books for Teens from 2014 (the earliest year NYPL's best-books app carried), Best Books for Adults from 2019 (NYPL's 2018 adults page is empty). 2018-2025 are read from NYPL's current best-books pages, one per audience and year. 2014-2017 come from NYPL's earlier best-books app, read through Wayback Machine snapshots of its kids and teens pages (each sourceUrl is the snapshot). Earlier NYPL lists (100 Titles for Reading and Sharing, Stuff for the Teen Age) were not in that app and are left out. Year is the list year NYPL uses (books published that year). Category is the audience list. Every entry is a Selection. Author is the byline NYPL prints, with illustrator and translator credits split off. Where NYPL truncates a long byline with an ellipsis, the cut-off name is dropped. Five cards print no byline; their authors are taken from the book itself (Didn't Nobody Give a Shit What Happened to Carlotta, Great Carrier Reef, Papá's Magical Water-Jug Clock, A Work in Progress, Man Made Monsters). Expected counts are the 'N Books Found' totals NYPL prints on each page.

Organization: The New York Public Library. Official site (opens in a new tab)

The most recommended books of 2017