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Publishers Weekly Best Books 2007

Publishers Weekly Best Books 2007 names 150 books across 14 categories. 47 of them also won or were shortlisted for an award.

Children's Comics

  1. Robot Dreams by Sara Varonsource (opens in a new tab)
  2. The Arrival by Shaun Tansource (opens in a new tab)

Children's Fiction

  1. A Swift Pure Cry by Siobhan Dowdsource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Before I Die by Jenny Downhamsource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Bone by Bone by Bone by Tony Johnstonsource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Bullyville by Francine Prosesource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinneysource (opens in a new tab)
  6. Elijah of Buxton by Christopher Paul Curtissource (opens in a new tab)
  7. Emma-Jean Lazarus Fell Out of a Tree by Lauren Tarshissource (opens in a new tab)
  8. Evil Genius by Catherine Jinkssource (opens in a new tab)
  9. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowlingsource (opens in a new tab)
  10. Long May She Reign by Ellen Emerson Whitesource (opens in a new tab)
  11. Mistik Lake by Martha Brookssource (opens in a new tab)
  12. Red Spikes by Margo Lanagansource (opens in a new tab)
  13. Revolution Is Not a Dinner Party by Ying Chang Compestinesource (opens in a new tab)
  14. Skulduggery Pleasant by Derek Landysource (opens in a new tab)
  15. Someday This Pain Will Be Useful to You by Peter Cameronsource (opens in a new tab)
  16. The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexiesource (opens in a new tab)
  17. The Golden Dream of Carlo Chuchio by Lloyd Alexandersource (opens in a new tab)
  18. The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznicksource (opens in a new tab)
  19. The New Policeman by Kate Thompsonsource (opens in a new tab)
  20. The Sweet Far Thing by Libba Braysource (opens in a new tab)
  21. The Wednesday Wars by Gary D. Schmidtsource (opens in a new tab)

Children's Nonfiction

  1. Living Color by Steve Jenkinssource (opens in a new tab)
  2. The Wall: Growing Up Behind the Iron Curtain by Peter Síssource (opens in a new tab)

Children's Picture Books

  1. 1 2 3: A Child's First Counting Book by Alison Jaysource (opens in a new tab)
  2. At Night by Jonathan Beansource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Dog and Bear: Two Friends Three Stories by Laura Vaccaro Seegersource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Knuffle Bunny Too: A Case of Mistaken Identity by Mo Willemssource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Leaves by David Ezra Steinsource (opens in a new tab)
  6. Mother Goose Numbers on the Loose by Leo and Diane Dillonsource (opens in a new tab)
  7. Nothing by Jon Ageesource (opens in a new tab)
  8. Orange Pear Apple Bear by Emily Gravettsource (opens in a new tab)
  9. The Apple Pie That Papa Baked by Lauren Thompsonsource (opens in a new tab)
  10. Tuttle's Red Barn: The Story of America's Oldest Family Farm by Richard Michelsonsource (opens in a new tab)

Comics

  1. Alice in Sunderland by Bryan Talbotsource (opens in a new tab)
  2. All-Star Superman by Grant Morrison and Frank Quitelysource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Aya by Marguerite Abouet and Clement Oubreriesource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Exit Wounds by Rutu Modansource (opens in a new tab)
  5. I Killed Adolf Hitler by Jasonsource (opens in a new tab)
  6. Laika by Nick Abadzissource (opens in a new tab)
  7. MPD-Psycho, Volume 1 by Eiji Otsuka and Sho-u Tajimasource (opens in a new tab)
  8. MW by Osamu Tezukasource (opens in a new tab)
  9. Scott Pilgrim Gets It Together by Bryan Lee O'Malleysource (opens in a new tab)
  10. Shortcomings by Adrian Tominesource (opens in a new tab)
  11. Tekkonkinkreet: Black & White by Taiyo Matsumotosource (opens in a new tab)
  12. The Salon by Nick Bertozzisource (opens in a new tab)

Fiction

  1. Be Near Me by Andrew O'Hagansource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Beyond Reach by Karin Slaughtersource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Body of Lies by David Ignatiussource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Bowl of Cherries by Millard Kaufmansource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Call Me by Your Name by André Acimansource (opens in a new tab)
  6. Falling Man by Don DeLillosource (opens in a new tab)
  7. Fieldwork by Mischa Berlinskisource (opens in a new tab)
  8. Heart-Shaped Box by Joe Hillsource (opens in a new tab)
  9. Jamestown by Matthew Sharpesource (opens in a new tab)
  10. Remainder by Tom McCarthysource (opens in a new tab)
  11. Returning to Earth by Jim Harrisonsource (opens in a new tab)
  12. Surveillance by Jonathan Rabansource (opens in a new tab)
  13. The Archivist's Story by Travis Hollandsource (opens in a new tab)
  14. The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Díazsource (opens in a new tab)
  15. The Chicago Way by Michael Harveysource (opens in a new tab)
  16. The Complete Stories by David Maloufsource (opens in a new tab)
  17. The Reluctant Fundamentalist by Mohsin Hamidsource (opens in a new tab)
  18. The Savage Detectives by Roberto Bolañosource (opens in a new tab)
  19. The Secret Servant by Daniel Silvasource (opens in a new tab)
  20. The Shadow Catcher by Marianne Wigginssource (opens in a new tab)
  21. The Tin Roof Blowdown by James Lee Burkesource (opens in a new tab)
  22. Them by Nathan McCallsource (opens in a new tab)
  23. Tree of Smoke by Denis Johnsonsource (opens in a new tab)
  24. What the Dead Know by Laura Lippmansource (opens in a new tab)
  25. White Walls: Collected Stories by Tatyana Tolstayasource (opens in a new tab)

Lifestyle

  1. A Twist of the Wrist: Quick Flavorful Meals with Ingredients from Jars, Cans, Bags, and Boxes by Nancy Silvertonsource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Dolce Italiano: Desserts from the Babbo Kitchen by Gina DePalmasource (opens in a new tab)
  3. How to Cook Everything Vegetarian by Mark Bittmansource (opens in a new tab)
  4. How to Pick a Peach: The Search for Flavor from Farm to Table by Russ Parsonssource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Made in Italy: Food and Stories by Giorgio Locatellisource (opens in a new tab)
  6. Pork and Sons by Stéphane Reynaudsource (opens in a new tab)
  7. Practical Wisdom for Parents: Demystifying the Preschool Years by Nancy Schulman and Ellen Birnbaumsource (opens in a new tab)
  8. The Art of Simple Food: Notes, Lessons, and Recipes from a Delicious Revolution by Alice Waterssource (opens in a new tab)
  9. You: Staying Young: The Owner's Manual for Extending Your Warranty by Michael F. Roizen and Mehmet C. Ozsource (opens in a new tab)

Mystery

  1. American Detective: An Amos Walker Mystery by Loren D. Estlemansource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Kept by D.J. Taylorsource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Person of Interest by Theresa Schwegelsource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Songs of Innocence by Richard Aleassource (opens in a new tab)
  5. The Cloud of Unknowing by Thomas Cooksource (opens in a new tab)
  6. The Collaborator of Bethlehem by Matt Benyon Reessource (opens in a new tab)
  7. The Commission by Michael Normansource (opens in a new tab)
  8. The Snow Empress by Laura Joh Rowlandsource (opens in a new tab)
  9. The Water's Lovely by Ruth Rendellsource (opens in a new tab)

Nonfiction

  1. A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier by Ishmael Beahsource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Arsenals of Folly: The Making of the Nuclear Arms Race by Richard Rhodessource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Brother, I'm Dying by Edwidge Danticatsource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Can't Buy Me Love: The Beatles, Britain, and America by Jonathan Gouldsource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Coltrane: The Story of a Sound by Ben Ratliffsource (opens in a new tab)
  6. Edith Wharton by Hermione Leesource (opens in a new tab)
  7. First Class Citizenship: The Civil Rights Letters of Jackie Robinson by Michael G. Longsource (opens in a new tab)
  8. Graffiti L.A. by Steve Grodysource (opens in a new tab)
  9. How Doctors Think by Jerome Groopmansource (opens in a new tab)
  10. Legacy of Ashes: The History of the CIA by Tim Weinersource (opens in a new tab)
  11. Photo by Sammy Davis Jr. by Burt Boyarsource (opens in a new tab)
  12. Poor People by William T. Vollmannsource (opens in a new tab)
  13. Proust and the Squid: The Story and Science of the Reading Brain by Maryanne Wolfsource (opens in a new tab)
  14. Shadow of the Silk Road by Colin Thubronsource (opens in a new tab)
  15. Storm World: Hurricanes, Politics, and the Battle over Global Warming by Chris Mooneysource (opens in a new tab)
  16. The Atomic Bazaar: The Rise of the Nuclear Poor by William Langewieschesource (opens in a new tab)
  17. The Baby Thief: The Untold Story of Georgia Tann, the Baby Seller Who Corrupted Adoption by Barbara Bisantz Raymondsource (opens in a new tab)
  18. The Curtain: An Essay in Seven Parts by Milan Kunderasource (opens in a new tab)
  19. The Day of Battle: The War in Sicily and Italy, 1943—1944 by Rick Atkinsonsource (opens in a new tab)
  20. The Discovery of France: A Historical Geography from the Revolution to the First World War by Graham Robbsource (opens in a new tab)
  21. The Door of No Return: The History of Cape Coast Castle and the Atlantic Slave Trade by William St Clairsource (opens in a new tab)
  22. The Pursuit of Glory: Europe 1648—1815 by Tim Blanningsource (opens in a new tab)
  23. The Shock Doctrine: The Rise of Disaster Capitalism by Naomi Kleinsource (opens in a new tab)
  24. The Years of Extermination: Nazi Germany and the Jews, 1939—1945 by Saul Friedländersource (opens in a new tab)
  25. Touch and Go: A Memoir by Studs Terkelsource (opens in a new tab)

Poetry

  1. Elegy by Mary Jo Bangsource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Green and Gray by Geoffrey G. O'Briensource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Next Life by Rae Armantroutsource (opens in a new tab)
  4. The Collected Poems by Zbigniew Herbertsource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Time and Materials by Robert Hasssource (opens in a new tab)

Religion

  1. A Jesuit Off-Broadway: Center Stage with Jesus, Judas, and Life's Big Questions by James Martinsource (opens in a new tab)
  2. A Secular Age by Charles Taylorsource (opens in a new tab)
  3. After the Baby Boomers: How Twenty- and Thirty-Somethings Are Shaping the Future of American Religion by Robert Wuthnowsource (opens in a new tab)
  4. American Islam: The Struggle for the Soul of a Religion by Paul M. Barrettsource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Amish Grace: How Forgiveness Transcended Tragedy by Donald B. Kraybill, Steven M. Nolt and David L. Weaver-Zerchersource (opens in a new tab)
  6. Caring for Mother: A Daughter's Long Good-Bye by Virginia Stem Owenssource (opens in a new tab)
  7. Faith in the Halls of Power: How Evangelicals Joined the American Elite by D. Michael Lindsaysource (opens in a new tab)
  8. How to Read the Bible: A Guide to Scripture, Then and Now by James Kugelsource (opens in a new tab)
  9. Religious Literacy: What Every American Needs to Know by Stephen Protherosource (opens in a new tab)
  10. Sex God: Exploring the Endless Connections Between Sexuality and Spirituality by Rob Bellsource (opens in a new tab)
  11. Sunday: A History of the First Day from Babylonia to the Superbowl by Craig Harlinesource (opens in a new tab)
  12. The Integral Vision: A Very Short Introduction to the Revolutionary Integral Approach to Life, God, the Universe and Everything by Ken Wilbersource (opens in a new tab)
  13. The Misunderstood Jew: The Church and the Scandal of the Jewish Jesus by Amy-Jill Levinesource (opens in a new tab)
  14. The Stillborn God: Religion, Politics, and the Modern West by Mark Lillasource (opens in a new tab)
  15. The Year of Living Biblically: One Man's Humble Quest to Follow the Bible as Literally as Possible by A.J. Jacobssource (opens in a new tab)

Religious Fiction

  1. Feeling for Bones by Bethany Piercesource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Quaker Summer by Lisa Samsonsource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Saving Erasmus by Steven Cleaversource (opens in a new tab)

Romance

  1. One with the Shadows by Susan Squiressource (opens in a new tab)
  2. The Perfect Bride by Brenda Joycesource (opens in a new tab)
  3. The Winter Lodge by Susan Wiggssource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Twice the Temptation by Suzanne Enochsource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Wired by Liz Mavericksource (opens in a new tab)

SF/Fantasy/Horror

  1. Acacia by David Anthony Durhamsource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Bright of the Sky: Book One of Entire and the Rose by Kay Kenyonsource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Ilario: The Lion's Eye by Mary Gentlesource (opens in a new tab)
  4. In War Times by Kathleen Ann Goonansource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Inferno by Ellen Datlowsource (opens in a new tab)
  6. The Name of the Wind: Book One by Patrick Rothfusssource (opens in a new tab)
  7. The Winds of Marble Arch by Connie Willissource (opens in a new tab)

About the Publishers Weekly Best Books

Year is PW's list year, not the publication year. 2009-2025 come from the PW Best Books site, one page per section; category is that page's section name. 2006-2008 come from PW's magazine articles, which list the year's picks by section and have no Top 10, so those years have no Top 10 rows. 2009 has no Romance list (PW added it in 2010). A Top 10 book also appears in its genre section, so it has two rows. Illustrator and photographer credits are dropped; translators are kept.

Organization: Publishers Weekly. Official site (opens in a new tab)

The most recommended books of 2007