Best Books of the Year
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School Library Journal Best Books of the Year 2010

School Library Journal Best Books of the Year 2010 names 62 books across 3 categories. 20 of them also won or were shortlisted for an award.

Fiction

  1. 13 Treasures by Michelle Harrisonsource (opens in a new tab)
  2. A Conspiracy of Kings by Megan Whalen Turnersource (opens in a new tab)
  3. A Tale Dark & Grimm by Adam Gidwitzsource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Alchemy and Meggy Swann by Karen Cushmansource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Annexed by Sharon Dogarsource (opens in a new tab)
  6. Athena: Grey-Eyed Goddess by George O’Connorsource (opens in a new tab)
  7. Black Hole Sun by David Macinnis Gillsource (opens in a new tab)
  8. Confessions of the Sullivan Sisters by Natalie Standifordsource (opens in a new tab)
  9. Cosmic by Frank Cottrell Boycesource (opens in a new tab)
  10. Emily’s Fortune by Phyllis Reynolds Naylorsource (opens in a new tab)
  11. Fever Crumb by Philip Reevesource (opens in a new tab)
  12. Finnikin of the Rock by Melina Marchettasource (opens in a new tab)
  13. Incarceron by Catherine Fishersource (opens in a new tab)
  14. Keeper by Kathi Appeltsource (opens in a new tab)
  15. King of Ithaka by Tracy Barrettsource (opens in a new tab)
  16. Ninth Ward by Jewell Parker Rhodessource (opens in a new tab)
  17. Numbers by Rachel Wardsource (opens in a new tab)
  18. One Crazy Summer by Rita Williams-Garciasource (opens in a new tab)
  19. Ostrich Boys by Keith Graysource (opens in a new tab)
  20. Revolution by Jennifer Donnellysource (opens in a new tab)
  21. The Familiars by Adam Jay Epstein and Andrew Jacobsonsource (opens in a new tab)
  22. The Fantastic Secret of Owen Jester by Barbara O’Connorsource (opens in a new tab)
  23. The Grimm Legacy by Polly Shulmansource (opens in a new tab)
  24. The Red Pyramid by Rick Riordansource (opens in a new tab)
  25. The Ring of Solomon: A Bartimaeus Novel by Jonathan Stroudsource (opens in a new tab)
  26. The Things a Brother Knows by Dana Reinhardtsource (opens in a new tab)
  27. Three Rivers Rising: A Novel of the Johnstown Flood by Jame Richardssource (opens in a new tab)
  28. Toads and Diamonds by Heather Tomlinsonsource (opens in a new tab)
  29. Trash by Andy Mulligansource (opens in a new tab)
  30. Wicked Girls: A Novel of the Salem Witch Trials by Stephanie Hemphillsource (opens in a new tab)
  31. Zombies vs. Unicorns by Holly Black and Justine Larbalestiersource (opens in a new tab)

Nonfiction

  1. Ballet for Martha: Making Appalachian Spring by Jan Greenberg and Sandra Jordansource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Black Jack: The Ballad of Jack Johnson by Charles R. Smith Jr.source (opens in a new tab)
  3. Frederick Douglass: A Noble Life by David A. Adlersource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Insect Detective by Steve Voakesource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Kubla Khan: The Emperor of Everything by Kathleen Krullsource (opens in a new tab)
  6. Pop!: The Invention of Bubble Gum by Meghan McCarthysource (opens in a new tab)
  7. Sugar Changed the World: A Story of Magic, Spice, Slavery, Freedom, and Science by Marc Aronson and Marina Budhossource (opens in a new tab)
  8. The Good, the Bad, and the Barbie: A Doll’s History and Her Impact on Us by Tanya Lee Stonesource (opens in a new tab)
  9. The Notorious Benedict Arnold: A True Story of Adventure, Heroism, & Treachery by Steve Sheinkinsource (opens in a new tab)
  10. The War to End All Wars: World War I by Russell Freedmansource (opens in a new tab)
  11. They Called Themselves the K.K.K.: The Birth of an American Terrorist Group by Susan Campbell Bartolettisource (opens in a new tab)
  12. Time You Let Me In: 25 Poets Under 25 by Naomi Shihab Nyesource (opens in a new tab)
  13. Ubiquitous: Celebrating Nature’s Survivors by Joyce Sidmansource (opens in a new tab)

Picture Books

  1. Animal Crackers Fly the Coop by Kevin O’Malleysource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Art & Max by David Wiesnersource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Benno and the Night of Broken Glass by Meg Wiviottsource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Clever Jack Takes the Cake by Candace Flemingsource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Don’t Want to Go! by Shirley Hughessource (opens in a new tab)
  6. Dust Devil by Anne Isaacssource (opens in a new tab)
  7. Here Comes the Garbage Barge! by Jonah Wintersource (opens in a new tab)
  8. Me and You by Anthony Brownesource (opens in a new tab)
  9. Monsters Eat Whiny Children by Bruce Eric Kaplansource (opens in a new tab)
  10. Seasons by Blexbolex, translated by Claudia Bedricksource (opens in a new tab)
  11. Shark vs. Train by Chris Bartonsource (opens in a new tab)
  12. Snook Alone by Marilyn Nelsonsource (opens in a new tab)
  13. The Boss Baby by Marla Frazeesource (opens in a new tab)
  14. The Chicken Thief by Béatrice Rodriguezsource (opens in a new tab)
  15. The Extraordinary Mark Twain (According to Susy) by Barbara Kerleysource (opens in a new tab)
  16. The Quiet Book by Deborah Underwoodsource (opens in a new tab)
  17. We Are in a Book! by Mo Willemssource (opens in a new tab)
  18. What If? by Laura Vaccaro Seegersource (opens in a new tab)

About the School Library Journal Best Books of the Year

School Library Journal's annual Best Books list, 2006-2025. Year is the list year (published each November or December). Categories follow the sections SLJ used that year: 2006, 2007 and 2009 were one alphabetical list (category 'Best Books'); 2008 and 2010-2013 used Picture Books, Fiction and Nonfiction; 2014 onward split Fiction into Middle Grade and Young Adult; Chapter Books (SLJ also called it Transitional Chapter Books or Transitional Books) from 2016; Graphic Novels from 2018; Poetry in 2018 and from 2021; Manga (SLJ's Top 10 Manga, linked as a Best Books section) from 2019; Nonfiction split into Nonfiction Elementary and Nonfiction Middle to High School from 2023. A book SLJ placed in two sections appears in both. Excluded: the separately edited Adult Books 4 Teens and Top 10 Graphic Novels lists, and non-book lists (apps, audiobooks, music, DVDs). Sources: slj.com pages; Wayback Machine copies for 2006 (schoollibraryjournal.com), 2012, 2014, 2015 and 2016-2017 (slj.com/bestofYYYY microsites), where the live pages no longer carry the list.

Organization: School Library Journal. Official site (opens in a new tab)

The most recommended books of 2010