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Publishers Weekly Best Books 2013

Publishers Weekly Best Books 2013 names 161 books across 13 categories. 61 of them also won or were shortlisted for an award.

Children's Fiction

  1. Better Nate Than Ever by Tim Federlesource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Boxers and Saints by Gene Luen Yangsource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Delilah Dirk and the Turkish Lieutenant by Tony Cliffsource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Doll Bones by Holly Blacksource (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. Flora & Ulysses: The Illuminated Adventures by Kate DiCamillosource (opens in a new tab)
  8. Forgive Me, Leonard Peacock by Matthew Quicksource (opens in a new tab)
  9. From Norvelt to Nowhere by Jack Gantossource (opens in a new tab)
  10. Ghost Hawk by Susan Coopersource (opens in a new tab)
  11. Hostage Three by Nick Lakesource (opens in a new tab)
  12. How to Catch a Bogle by Catherine Jinkssource (opens in a new tab)
  13. Maggot Moon by Sally Gardnersource (opens in a new tab)
  14. Midwinterblood by Marcus Sedgwicksource (opens in a new tab)
  15. P.S. Be Eleven by Rita Williams-Garciasource (opens in a new tab)
  16. Picture Me Gone by Meg Rosoffsource (opens in a new tab)
  17. Reality Boy by A.S. Kingsource (opens in a new tab)
  18. Rose Under Fire by Elizabeth Weinsource (opens in a new tab)
  19. Sex and Violence by Carrie Mesrobiansource (opens in a new tab)
  20. The Case of the Team Spirit by John Allisonsource (opens in a new tab)
  21. The Golden Day by Ursula Dubosarskysource (opens in a new tab)
  22. The Infinite Moment of Us by Lauren Myraclesource (opens in a new tab)
  23. The Kingdom of Little Wounds by Susann Cokalsource (opens in a new tab)
  24. The Lucy Variations by Sara Zarrsource (opens in a new tab)
  25. The Thing About Luck by Cynthia Kadohatasource (opens in a new tab)
  26. The Truth of Me by Patricia MacLachlansource (opens in a new tab)
  27. The War Within These Walls by Aline Sax, translated by Laura Watkinsonsource (opens in a new tab)
  28. Whistle in the Dark by Susan Hill Longsource (opens in a new tab)
  29. Winger by Andrew Smithsource (opens in a new tab)

Children's Nonfiction

  1. 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)
  2. Lincoln's Grave Robbers by Steve Sheinkinsource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Locomotive by Brian Flocasource (opens in a new tab)
  4. My Brother's Book by Maurice Sendaksource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Nelson Mandela by Kadir Nelsonsource (opens in a new tab)
  6. Parrots over Puerto Rico by Susan L. Roth and Cathy Trumboresource (opens in a new tab)
  7. Poems to Learn by Heart by Caroline Kennedysource (opens in a new tab)
  8. Relish: My Life in the Kitchen by Lucy Knisleysource (opens in a new tab)
  9. Stardines Swim High Across the Sky and Other Poems by Jack Prelutskysource (opens in a new tab)
  10. “The President Has Been Shot!”: The Assassination of John F. Kennedy by James L. Swansonsource (opens in a new tab)

Children's Picture

  1. Battle Bunny by Jon Scieszka and Mac Barnettsource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Bluebird by Bob Staakesource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Fog Island by Tomi Ungerersource (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. Mr. Wuffles! by David Wiesnersource (opens in a new tab)
  7. Rosie's Magic Horse by Russell Hobansource (opens in a new tab)
  8. The Dark by Lemony Snicketsource (opens in a new tab)
  9. The Tortoise & the Hare by Jerry Pinkneysource (opens in a new tab)
  10. The Year of the Jungle: Memories of the Home Front by Suzanne Collinssource (opens in a new tab)
  11. This Is the Rope: A Story from the Great Migration by Jacqueline Woodsonsource (opens in a new tab)

Comics

  1. Boxers and Saints by Gene Luen Yangsource (opens in a new tab)
  2. March Book One by John Lewis, Andrew Aydin and Nate Powellsource (opens in a new tab)
  3. RASL by Jeff Smithsource (opens in a new tab)
  4. The Property by Rutu Modansource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Today Is the Last Day of the Rest of Your Life by Ulli Lustsource (opens in a new tab)

Fiction

  1. A Constellation of Vital Phenomena by Anthony Marrasource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Amor and Psycho by Carolyn Cookesource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Bleeding Edge by Thomas Pynchonsource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Brown Dog by Jim Harrisonsource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Claire of the Sea Light by Edwidge Danticatsource (opens in a new tab)
  6. How to Get Filthy Rich in Rising Asia by Mohsin Hamidsource (opens in a new tab)
  7. Life After Life by Kate Atkinsonsource (opens in a new tab)
  8. MaddAddam by Margaret Atwoodsource (opens in a new tab)
  9. Middle C by William H. Gasssource (opens in a new tab)
  10. Percival Everett by Virgil Russell by Percival Everettsource (opens in a new tab)
  11. Rustication by Charles Pallisersource (opens in a new tab)
  12. Schroder by Amity Gaigesource (opens in a new tab)
  13. Sea of Hooks by Lindsay Hillsource (opens in a new tab)
  14. Someone by Alice McDermottsource (opens in a new tab)
  15. Submergence by J.M. Ledgardsource (opens in a new tab)
  16. Tenth of December by George Saunderssource (opens in a new tab)
  17. The Blind Man's Garden by Nadeem Aslamsource (opens in a new tab)
  18. The Daylight Gate by Jeanette Wintersonsource (opens in a new tab)
  19. The Facades by Eric Lundgrensource (opens in a new tab)
  20. The Flamethrowers by Rachel Kushnersource (opens in a new tab)
  21. The Good Lord Bird by James McBridesource (opens in a new tab)
  22. The Hare by César Aira, translated by Nick Caistorsource (opens in a new tab)
  23. The People in the Trees by Hanya Yanagiharasource (opens in a new tab)
  24. The Signature of All Things by Elizabeth Gilbertsource (opens in a new tab)
  25. The Silence and the Roar by Nihad Sirees, translated by Max Weisssource (opens in a new tab)

Lifestyle

  1. Classico e Moderno by Michael White and Andrew Friedmansource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Daniel: My French Cuisine by Daniel Boulud and Sylvie Bigarsource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Raising My Rainbow: Adventures in Raising a Fabulous, Gender Creative Son by Lori Duronsource (opens in a new tab)
  4. River Cottage Veg: 200 Inspired Vegetable Recipes by Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstallsource (opens in a new tab)
  5. The Big Disconnect: Protecting Childhood and Family Relationships in the Digital Age by Catherine Steiner-Adairsource (opens in a new tab)
  6. The Gramercy Tavern Cookbook by Michael Anthony and Danny Meyersource (opens in a new tab)
  7. The Heart of the Plate: Vegetarian Recipes for a New Generation by Mollie Katzensource (opens in a new tab)

Mystery

  1. Death of a Nightingale by Lene Kaaberbol and Agnete Friissource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Enigma of China: An Inspector Chen Novel by Qiu Xiaolongsource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Fear in the Sunlight by Nicola Upsonsource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Gods and Beasts by Denise Minasource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Hour of the Red God by Richard Cromptonsource (opens in a new tab)
  6. How the Light Gets In by Louise Pennysource (opens in a new tab)
  7. Murder as a Fine Art by David Morrellsource (opens in a new tab)
  8. Red Moon by Benjamin Percysource (opens in a new tab)
  9. Red Sparrow by Jason Matthewssource (opens in a new tab)
  10. The Crimson Fog by Paul Haltersource (opens in a new tab)
  11. The Other Child by Charlotte Linksource (opens in a new tab)
  12. The Silent Wife by A.S.A. Harrisonsource (opens in a new tab)

Nonfiction

  1. A Dreadful Deceit: The Myth of Race from the Colonial Era to Obama's America by Jacqueline Jonessource (opens in a new tab)
  2. A House in the Sky by Amanda Lindhout and Sara Corbettsource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Amsterdam: A History of the World's Most Liberal City by Russell Shortosource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Biennials and Beyond—Exhibitions That Made Art History: 1962–2002 by Phaidon Editors and Bruce Altshulersource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Dirty Wars: The World Is a Battlefield by Jeremy Scahillsource (opens in a new tab)
  6. For a Song and a Hundred Songs: A Poet's Journey Through a Chinese Prison by Liao Yiwu, translated by Wenguang Huangsource (opens in a new tab)
  7. Forty-One False Starts: Essays on Artists and Writers by Janet Malcolmsource (opens in a new tab)
  8. Fosse by Sam Wassonsource (opens in a new tab)
  9. Going Clear: Scientology, Hollywood & the Prison of Belief by Lawrence Wrightsource (opens in a new tab)
  10. Gulp: Adventures on the Alimentary Canal by Mary Roachsource (opens in a new tab)
  11. Italo Calvino: Letters, 1941–1985 by Italo Calvinosource (opens in a new tab)
  12. Johnny Cash: The Life by Robert Hilburnsource (opens in a new tab)
  13. Karl Marx: A Nineteenth-Century Life by Jonathan Sperbersource (opens in a new tab)
  14. Knocking on Heaven's Door: The Path to a Better Way of Death by Katy Butlersource (opens in a new tab)
  15. Lost Girls: An Unsolved American Mystery by Robert Kolkersource (opens in a new tab)
  16. Mastering the Art of Soviet Cooking: A Memoir of Food and Longing by Anya von Bremzensource (opens in a new tab)
  17. Men We Reaped: A Memoir by Jesmyn Wardsource (opens in a new tab)
  18. Miss Anne in Harlem: The White Women of the Black Renaissance by Carla Kaplansource (opens in a new tab)
  19. Mortal Sins: Sex, Crime, and the Era of Catholic Scandal by Michael D'Antoniosource (opens in a new tab)
  20. Provence, 1970 by Luke Barrsource (opens in a new tab)
  21. Salt Sugar Fat: How the Food Giants Hooked Us by Michael Mosssource (opens in a new tab)
  22. Scarcity: Why Having Too Little Means So Much by Sendhil Mullainathan and Eldar Shafirsource (opens in a new tab)
  23. Shocked: My Mother, Schiaparelli, and Me by Patricia Volksource (opens in a new tab)
  24. Thank You for Your Service by David Finkelsource (opens in a new tab)
  25. The Discovery of Middle Earth: Mapping the Lost World of the Celts by Graham Robbsource (opens in a new tab)
  26. The Last Cowboy: A Life of Tom Landry by Mark Ribowskysource (opens in a new tab)
  27. The Riot Grrrl Collection by Lisa Darmssource (opens in a new tab)
  28. The Sports Gene: Inside the Science of Extraordinary Athletic Performances by David Epsteinsource (opens in a new tab)
  29. The Unwinding: An Inner History of the New America by George Packersource (opens in a new tab)
  30. To the End of June: The Intimate Life of American Foster Care by Cris Beamsource (opens in a new tab)

Poetry

  1. Incarnadine by Mary Szybistsource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Metaphysical Dog by Frank Bidartsource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Rise in the Fall by Ana Bozicevicsource (opens in a new tab)
  4. The Book of Goodbyes by Jillian Weisesource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Transfer of Qualities by Martha Ronksource (opens in a new tab)

Religion

  1. My Bright Abyss: Meditation of a Modern Believer by Christian Wimansource (opens in a new tab)
  2. The Historical David: The Real Life of an Invented Hero by Joel Badensource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Vatican Waltz by Roland Merullosource (opens in a new tab)
  4. When We Were on Fire: A Memoir of Consuming Faith by Addie Ziermansource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Zealot: The Life and Times of Jesus of Nazareth by Reza Aslansource (opens in a new tab)

Romance

  1. A Hero to Come Home To by Marilyn Pappanosource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Brothers of the Wild North Sea by Harper Foxsource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Letters from Skye by Jessica Brockmolesource (opens in a new tab)
  4. The Typewriter Girl by Alison Atleesource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Tremble: Erotic Tales of the Mystical and Sinister by Tobsha Learnersource (opens in a new tab)
  6. You Give Good Love by J.J. Murraysource (opens in a new tab)

SF/Fantasy/Horror

  1. American Elsewhere by Robert Jackson Bennettsource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Conservation of Shadows by Yoon Ha Leesource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Great North Road by Peter F. Hamiltonsource (opens in a new tab)
  4. The Inner City by Karen Heulersource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Twenty-First Century Science Fiction by D. G. Hartwell and P. Nielsen Haydensource (opens in a new tab)
  6. Vicious by V.E. Schwabsource (opens in a new tab)

Top 10

  1. A Constellation of Vital Phenomena by Anthony Marrasource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Dirty Wars: The World Is a Battlefield by Jeremy Scahillsource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Going Clear: Scientology, Hollywood & the Prison of Belief by Lawrence Wrightsource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Lost Girls: An Unsolved American Mystery by Robert Kolkersource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Men We Reaped: A Memoir by Jesmyn Wardsource (opens in a new tab)
  6. Miss Anne in Harlem: The White Women of the Black Renaissance by Carla Kaplansource (opens in a new tab)
  7. Sea of Hooks by Lindsay Hillsource (opens in a new tab)
  8. The Good Lord Bird by James McBridesource (opens in a new tab)
  9. The People in the Trees by Hanya Yanagiharasource (opens in a new tab)
  10. The Silence and the Roar by Nihad Sirees, translated by Max Weisssource (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 2013