Stephanie Perkins
[isbn]
There's Someone Inside Your House is a ton of fun. It's a horror novel of the teen scream variety. Think Scream, I Know What You Did Last Summer, Urban Legend — so, you know, a lot of '90s horror but set in present-day Nebraska. There's a mysterious killer with a motive, jump scares, teenage romance, sarcasm, and a lot of high schoolers dying in gruesome fashion. It's a blast, and pretty much unlike anything... (read more)
Recommended by Jordan S.
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Michael Mahin, Evan Turk
[isbn]
A beautiful and vibrant book. You can actually feel the music coming off every page.
Recommended by Elizabeth H.
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Beatrice Alemagna
[isbn]
A lonely kid who loves video games is forced to go outside to play, and ends up having an incredible time in the wilderness and rain. Not only does it turn out to be a lovely story, but Alemagna is doing a lot of interesting and progressive things within it. Her main character is gender neutral (which I noticed one other instance this year in Kate Berube's illustrations for My Little Half Moon), and her illustrations of the character... (read more)
Recommended by Jordan S.
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Aaron Reynolds, Peter Brown
[isbn]
Jasper Rabbit is afraid of the glowing green underwear he begged for. He tries multiple ways of getting rid of the monstrous briefs, but they keep coming back. This picture book is odd and hilarious.
Recommended by Jennifer H.
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Kaya Doi
[isbn]
The third in a series of adorable picture books by Kaya Doi. This one finds Chirri and Chirra in a winter wonderland of cuteness — frolicking, snacking, and biking with their animal friends!
Recommended by Kim T.
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Allen Say
[isbn]
A beautifully illustrated story that introduces the life and work of James Castle, an artist who deserves to be a household name. Say’s illustrations do a fantastic job of showing off Castle’s work while letting his own artistic talent shine through.
Recommended by Elizabeth H.
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Victoria Jamieson
[isbn]
This might be blasphemy to say, but... I think All's Faire is even better than Roller Girl. Impy has grown up at the renaissance faire. She quickly sees the nobility she's developed and continues to uphold fly out the window when she's thrown into the ruthlessness of middle school. Soon, she's falling into the wrong crowd, needing to buy certain brands, and the stress of it all is affecting her family and faire life. Can Impy... (read more)
Recommended by Jordan S.
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Katherine Applegate
[isbn]
Told from the viewpoint of a tree, this is a unique, touching, small, gentle book of great importance, telling the true meaning of welcome, the power of wishes, and friendship. With powerful writing, this is a story that needs to be told and shared.
Recommended by Richard C.
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Wojciech Grajkowski, Piotr Socha, Agnes Monod Gayraud
[isbn]
This heavily illustrated nonfiction book explores the role of bees in our ecosystem throughout the world — wonderfully done and extremely important.
Recommended by Kim T.
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Pam Smy
[isbn]
This is a fantastic read for any kid craving something creepy. Like Wonderstruck by Brian Selznick, Thornhill is told in alternating prose and illustrations, which work together to build a sinister tension as we follow two orphans connected across time by loneliness. It's dark and thrilling, and mature middle grade readers will eat it up.
Recommended by Emily F.
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Lauren Wolk
[isbn]
This story, which takes place on an island, is one of sadness, hope, searching, friendship, love, and three people — Crow, Osh, and Maggie — who will stay with the reader for a long time. This is a stunning achievement with writing that flows like the sea.
Recommended by Richard C.
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Peter Godfrey-Smith
[isbn]
I’m fascinated by octopuses, so I had to pick up this book. What I found inside was much more than a text on animal behavior. Godfrey-Smith is a philosopher of science, and in this eye-opening (and mind-bending) work, he writes elegantly about the evolution of consciousness through his encounters with cephalopods. I was strangely moved by Other Minds and highly recommend it.
Recommended by Moses M.
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Debby Dodds
[isbn]
Sam has enough problems — her parents are divorced and she’s estranged from her father, school is filled with social anxiety, and there’s that little matter of her old shoplifting problem. But when she starts dating an Amish guy and the cyberbullying begins, things really start to fall apart. Samantha Stonesong is a character you fall in love with — shy and awkward, but also super smart and funny — and Debby Dodds writes with a wonderful energy... (read more)
Recommended by Gigi L.
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Niki Brantmark
[isbn]
A delightful companion to the Danish Little Book of Hygge, Lagom elaborates on the Swedish philosophy of nurturing a balanced lifestyle. It’s the perfect book to take in on a quiet day when you want to slow down and reflect on how you’re spending your time and energy.
Recommended by Lucinda G.
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Mo Daviau
[isbn]
If you could jump in a wormhole and go back in time, what… concert would you see? Mo Daviau’s wacky, wonderful Every Anxious Wave starts with this critical question and goes from there, widening into not only a hilarious musical romp of a time travel story, but also an homage to all the ways we love — romance, friendship, family, nostalgia, and good old geeking out. Daviau’s imagination is vast and fascinating, and she writes with wit... (read more)
Recommended by Gigi L.
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Arkady Strugatsky
[isbn]
Basically the Soviet Harry Potter, both in terms of its huge popularity and its story of a witchcraft institute. As a Russian novel written for adults, it is much more darkly humorous than the wizard school we are used to. Kudos to the University of Chicago for publishing a new translation of this Russian classic and for retaining the original witty illustrations!
Recommended by Jason C.
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Alastair Reynolds
[isbn]
Space pirates done right! Fans of Firefly, Star Trek’s Kahn, and Treasure Island will enjoy this fast-paced adventure, and fans of Reynolds will enjoy seeing him do something different — world-building takes a backseat to narrative, right from the start. But make no mistake — Captain Rackamore, his nemesis Bosa Sennen, and his newest shipmates the Ness sisters exist in a universe as compelling as anything Reynolds has... (read more)
Recommended by Drew P.
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Mira Grant
[isbn]
We all know there are lots of creepy crawlies living deep in the ocean, but in the first book of Mira Grant's latest series, what lurks below is much worse than anglerfish and spider crabs. This book had me hooked at "flesh-eating mermaids," but it delivered more than just novelty. Into the Drowning Deep will suck you in, creep you out, and totally change the way you look at Ariel.
Recommended by Emily F.
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Nick Cutter
[isbn]
Little Heaven is everything I look for in a horror story: tense, engrossing, multi-layered, and just plain scary. In other words, it's exactly what I've come to expect (and crave) from Nick Cutter. Cutter is one of very few writers who can really, deeply creep me out and whose books I love just as much on the second read — which is why he's officially my favorite horror writer. (Please don't tell Stephen King I said that.)
Recommended by Emily F.
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Rachel Renee Russell
[isbn]
As the end of the school year approaches, Nikki Maxwell is dealing with a lot of messy drama, and it all comes to a head in Tales From a Not-So-Secret Crush Catastrophe. Nikki is as charming and relatable as always in this 12th installment of the addictive Dork Diaries series.
Recommended by Matt K.
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Marjorie Kernan
[isbn]
A modern fairy tale set in New York, this novel centers around two row houses that are inhabited by two very different families. Packed with authentic characters, this slice-of-life tale is charming, sweet, and wise. Several years after I read it, I can still hear these characters in my head — high praise indeed. With a bit of scary reality and several unexpected plot twists, Kernan's first book shines.
Recommended by Dianah H.
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Han Kang
[isbn]
Human Acts centers around a young boy who meets a tragic end during the bloody events of the 1980 Gwangju massacre, after staying behind to assist in the grueling task of cataloging the ever-growing dead. This narrative threads connect and expand: a factory worker who's had enough, a homeless alcoholic traumatized by the past, a mother morning the loss of her child, a young ghost trying to come to terms with his violent death, and even... (read more)
Recommended by Cosima C.
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Amy Krouse Rosenthal, Brigette Barrager
[isbn]
Uni is different from other unicorns — she believes that little girls are real. Amy Krouse Rosenthal's delightful and adorable board book is a perfect tale to read aloud to wide-eyed toddlers.
Recommended by Jill O.
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Reza Aslan
[isbn]
God: A Human History is Reza Aslan’s intriguing account of humanity’s evolving and myriad conceptions of the divine, ranging from prehistoric cultures to modern-day monotheism. Concerned primarily with how and why people anthropomorphize God, Aslan’s clear prose and fascinating historical research will keep you engaged to the provocative conclusion.
Recommended by Lucinda G.
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Bill Callahan
[isbn]
I really enjoyed this weird little book. Sort of reminded me of Letters to Wendy's in its correspondence-style, back-and-forth with itself and this "Emma." I love Callahan's music, so the goofiness of this book was a little bit of a surprise, but a really welcome one. Highly recommended for people who love voice-driven quick reads. Please write and sing more, Mr. Callahan.
Recommended by Kevin S.
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Natalie Chanin, Sun Young Park
[isbn]
Natalie Chanin of Alabama Studio fame presents a concise guide to hand stitching. This is a bit of a revelation! Instead of free stitching, Chanin provides plastic templates for tidy-beautiful grid stitching, making for easy stitchery. Chanin provides a wealth of knowledge, combining easy to comprehend diagrams with photos of stitched samples. This how-to book is glorious in its simplicity, just like a Chanin-inspired embroidered garment.
Recommended by Tracey T.
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Corey Ann Haydu
[isbn]
The Careful Undressing of Love is a perfect example of why I love magical realism. This modern fairy tale chronicles the coming-of-age experiences of a group of girls cursed to lose anyone they fall in love with. Like Francesca Lia Block, Aimee Bender, and Alice Hoffman, Corey Ann Haydu's writing is dazzling. The Devonairre Street girls stole my heart.
Recommended by Emily F.
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Keith Rosson
[isbn]
Things are going very wrong in the fictional Oregon coast town of Riptide. Mutilated animals are appearing, human remains are discovered, and both the Sheriff and the Deputy Sheriff are struggling to function due to their recent overwhelming grief. Also tangled up in this story is Native American legend and whispers about "the Low Walker," a mutated man-beast that can rip a man to shreds in seconds. Infidelity, religious fanaticism, fear, and a... (read more)
Recommended by Dianah H.
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Wioletta Greg
[isbn]
Swallowing Mercury is an unsettling, sublime coming-of-age novel. It will transport you into its world; while I was reading it, I could almost feel the smoke and mist in the air and see the beauty and squalor of 1970s communist Poland. This is one of the loveliest books I've ever read.
Recommended by Bitty E.
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Ozge Samanci
[isbn]
Dare to Disappoint is a funny, engaging snapshot of life in 1980s Turkey. It's also a brilliant treatise on learning how to be true to yourself. A charming, witty graphic memoir.
Recommended by Bitty E.
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Bill Yosses and Peter Kaminsky
[isbn]
Eat dessert like the Obamas! Former White House pastry chef, Bill Yosses, developed dessert recipes for the Obama family that kept the flavor but reduced the sugar content. So if cutting out dessert is not an option, this sugared-down cookbook is a great choice. This isn’t just a good reduced sugar cookbook, it’s a damn fine dessert cookbook.
Recommended by Tracey T.
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Eleanor Davis
[isbn]
You and a Bike and a Road is a deceptively simple bike travelogue through the desert southwest, with moving reflections on family, immigration, and the fragility of life. Davis's beautifully sketched illustrations made me want to pick up a pencil and hit the road.
Recommended by pbrippey
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John Colasacco
[isbn]
This is a pretty strange and immensely atmospheric poem cycle by a writer who seems to be pretty overlooked in the "writers who dare to flip form on its head" school of writers. The basic conceit is that there are these two teenagers, see, and they seem to be mostly stuck in a house, alright? And in that house (or in the nearby parking lot, or on the streets) there are oceans that make "the sound of footsteps running up stairs"; an old man whose... (read more)
Recommended by Kevin S.
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Siel Ju
[isbn]
Really strong debut collection of stories dealing with relationships and one woman's evolution from a teen in trouble to a woman taking her own lead in life and love. Siel's wit reminded me of Michelle Tea, and her blunt treatment of sexuality was refreshingly candid and fun. Can't wait to read more books by her.
Recommended by Kevin S.
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Matthew Dickman
[isbn]
Matthew Dickman's Wonderland reads almost like flash fiction. His poems tell a story; he writes about family, friends, bullies, parents, girlfriends, confrontations, conversations, fights, play, and moods — all "in the queasy Southeast Portland light." A lovely little encapsulation of growing up on the seedy side of Portland in the 1980s.
Recommended by Dianah H.
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Willy Vlautin
[isbn]
Willy Vlautin brings you heartbreak, hope, and wry humor in this book that is grounded and yet dreamlike. Remarkable.
Recommended by Doug C.
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Gail Godwin
[isbn]
Grief Cottage: on a tiny island off the coast of South Carolina sits a ruined beach house, which is such a perfect metaphor for grief, it couldn't be more aptly named. Marcus has lost his mother — the only parent he's ever known — and is now living with his great aunt, just down the beach from Grief Cottage. A quirky array of neighbors help Marcus navigate his new life, but he is most drawn to the cottage — and what's inside of it. A combination... (read more)
Recommended by Dianah H.
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Jeannie Vanasco
[isbn]
The Glass Eye was a surprise. Instead of being a simple story about a daughter who loses her father, it takes on a life on its own. Vanasco's grief isn't simple. Instead, you're left sitting there with tears in your eyes and a sob in your throat, because you realize just how much her father’s death affected her, even when the subject switches to her mental illness or relationships with her mother and others. Read this book. It will... (read more)
Recommended by Katherine M.
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Kia Corthron
[isbn]
This is the Great American Novel that nobody is reading, an oversight I blame on some combination of the clunky title, the abstract cover art, and the 800-page count. The book centers on two white brothers growing up in 1940s Alabama, and two black brothers growing up in Maryland at the same time, all of whose paths will cross. I was amazed at Corthon’s character-building, wit, and insight. Like all great literature, The Castle Cross... (read more)
Recommended by Candice B.
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Oliver Jeffers
[isbn]
2017 seemed to possess an element of crazy nearly every day. This beautifully written and illustrated picture book, with its simple and life-affirming message, could not have come at a better time.
Recommended by Greg L.
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Yasuhiko Iwanade
[isbn]
This thoroughly researched, gorgeously photographed book is the definitive work on the most iconic and collectible rock guitar in history.
Recommended by Greg L.
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Teddy Wayne
[isbn]
Sometimes the sexual predator in your midst isn't the obviously entitled alpha male but the “sensitive” beta who acts like he's on your side because he actually believes it himself. The only problem is when you fail to recognize as much, you must be blamed and punished. Nails the toxic masculinity of 2017.
Recommended by Jason C.
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Kayla Rae Whitaker
[isbn]
The Animators delves deep into what makes a remarkable relationship. The devotion, the pain, the secrets, the comfort — it's all there in this one. The lives and experiences of the characters are so real and nuanced that at times I was transported to moments of my own relationships, and it really unlocked all the feelings. One of my favorite books of 2016 and all time.
Recommended by Sam K.
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Jess Kidd
[isbn]
Himself is a cross between a Tim Burton movie and an Agatha Christie story. It's dark, hilarious, and keeps you guessing. A ghostly murder mystery typically isn't on the top of my list, but Kidd is so original and dreamy, all the while keeping the emotional plot from derailing; this book is a universal gem.
Recommended by Sam K.
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Craig Santos Perez
[isbn]
This is a devastating work. [Lukao] is the fourth in an interconnected series by native Chamorro poet Perez about his homeland, the unincorporated US territory of Guam (Guahån). Its focus is on processions and the ceremonial passage of time — creation, birth, and marriage, destruction, extinction, and militarization. Perez is a powerful voice of indigenous Pacific Island resistance.
Recommended by Britney T.
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Ottessa Moshfegh
[isbn]
No quarter is given in Moshfegh's derelict America, an amorphous sprawl inhabited by drain-circling agnostics and jaundiced creeps, forming a fetid sort of reflecting pool for our current national predicament. It sure ain't pretty but Homesick for Another World already feels like a classic of despondent, grayscale skepticism.
Recommended by Justin W.
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Jay Kristoff
[isbn]
Once again we follow along on Mia Corvere's vengeance-dealing quest to bring murder and mayhem to those who had her family killed. It took me longer than normal to read this book, because I kept putting it down for fear that the author was about to kill characters I didn't want to see dead (he has a way of doing that). Start with Nevernight so that the craziness in this book makes sense — it is so worth it. The ending of this book... Just agh!... (read more)
Recommended by Mecca A.
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Ivy Manning
[isbn]
This is a beautiful book, and the collection of recipes is just the right size. It contains a wonderful variety from near and far without being overwhelming. The recipes are easy to follow, and you can mix and match the soup and bread pairings to create your own favorite combinations. I’ll definitely be returning to this book again and again.
Recommended by Elizabeth H.
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Rodrigo Fresan, Will Vanderhyden
[isbn]
From the 16 epigraphs that open Rodrigo Fresán’s astonishingly ambitious novel through its 550 pages of how-the-hell-could-a-mere-mortal-possibly-compose-something-this-magnificent, The Invented Part spans the scope of our hypertechnical age, sending up and taking down so much of our contemporary world. Fresán masterfully weaves so many pop culture threads (most notably F. Scott Fitzgerald, Pink Floyd, and Kubrick’s 2001: A Space... (read more)
Recommended by Jeremy G.
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Markus Zusak
[isbn]
This is without a doubt one of my favorite books of all time. The story is told from the perspective of death — who tells you how everyone dies, and yet I still cried in the end. It is a moving and powerful piece that will make you fall in love all the characters. It made made me an instant fan of Markus Zusak.
Recommended by Brenna M.
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Bill Hayes
[isbn]
Insomniac City is a compelling rumination on love, loss, and community. New to New York City, Hayes presents his encounters with fellow New Yorkers in an astonishing series of essays, vignettes, and beautiful photographs. The book centers on Hayes’s relationship with the luminous genius Oliver Sacks. Despite Sacks’s diagnosis and decline from cancer, their love story is of the kind too rarely depicted between gay men: deep, mature, and... (read more)
Recommended by Keith M.
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Kai Cheng Thom
[isbn]
For anyone restless in their own skin, Kai Cheng Thom’s poetry bandages wounds with grace and candor. The perfect read for the raw and weary.
Recommended by Robin A.
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Ottessa Moshfegh
[isbn]
In many respects, 2017 was a depressing year, which gave me a little pause in selecting Moshfegh’s collection of bleak short stories as my book of the year. If you're looking for an uplifting bit of escapism to forget the morning headlines, stay far away from Moshfegh's work. The stories are depraved, the characters invariably lonely, and the entire vibe is just greasy. All that being said, Homesick for Another World is just too... (read more)
Recommended by Casey M.
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Emil Ferris
[isbn]
This book oozes talent. The complex and melancholy story about a young girl who gets swept up in a mystery that could tear her family apart pulled on my heartstrings and has stuck with me since the beginning of this year. Ferris's art is impeccable, bold, and impressed me with every turn of the page, and even more so after reading her backstory. I cried multiple times and haven't stopped talking about it with my coworkers all year (sorry... (read more)
Recommended by Brianna B.
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Alex Dimitrov
[isbn]
This stunning poetry collection is full of deep feeling, vulnerability, and wisdom. I simply cannot stop rereading it. A poet with an intelligent, accessible voice, Dimitrov explores themes of love and loss, reminding us of the transformative power of verse. I highly recommend this book to anyone who has never read poetry, to poetry fanatics, and to everyone in-between.
Recommended by Ariel K.
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Joe Hagan
[isbn]
In high school I was obsessed with the music of the ’60s and ’70s and the big collections of Rolling Stone interviews. This book reveals the man behind the magazine, and provides all of the juicy gossip and wild anecdotes my heart desires. Although Jann Wenner's behavior was almost grotesquely appalling on a regular basis, it's inarguable that the magazine he helped to create changed how we look at and talk about music and culture.
Recommended by Eva F.
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Samantha Irby
[isbn]
Irby is adept at making sad things funny; she writes from the heart (and sometimes the gut). This year, whenever someone asked me for a recommendation, Irby was the first person to pop into my head. Some years you need to dive into the long story, the big book. But this year I was drawn to short form. Reading We Are Never Meeting in Real Life felt like having a really great conversation with my best friend, peppered with belly laughs and... (read more)
Recommended by Bry H.
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John Green
[isbn]
All the feels. Yes, this was hard to read, and will be a hard read for anyone who has experienced even the smallest bit of anxiety or OCD. However, it’s also a healing and reflective book. The story is all life, all truth, and all yearning to find meaning. John Green, thank you for sharing this part of yourself. You’ve done it again.
Recommended by Andy A.
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Michael W Twitty
[isbn]
I've followed Michael Twitty on social media for quite a while, so I couldn’t wait to read his book. What a fresh, unique, and fascinating look at both the rich culinary history of African American cooking traditions in the South and Twitty’s family’s history. This is a very worthy addition to my Southern food book collection.
Recommended by Robin F.
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Marjorie Liu, Sana Takeda
[isbn]
Monstress, Volume 2 continues a yarn woven from mythic threads picked from both the East and West, giving way to something that somehow feels both fresh and ancient. It’s a miraculous gut punch, seamlessly synthesizing horror and beauty in illustrations that brim with both breathtaking violence and the most tender humanity. The huge cast of women populating the matriarchy of the Monstress series are the kind who shatter their archetypes... (read more)
Recommended by Cosima C.
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Bradford Morrow
[isbn]
A rich, sweeping novel that moves through history, from World War I and World War II, into the fall of the Soviet Union, and up to the present day. Woven into the story is a hauntingly beautiful, anonymous piano sonata that has been broken up into three parts. With complex characters and seamless, multilayered writing, The Prague Sonata reaches deep into the human heart.
Recommended by Richard C.
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Danielle Davis
[isbn]
Danielle Davis's debut has everything you could ever want in a middle grade read: embracing your creativity, being an understanding friend, communication and handling your emotions healthily, and feeling lost but finding your home. There's a wide-ranging cast of eccentric characters too, and it brims with both humor and heart — a total package reminiscent of the great Kate DiCamillo.
Recommended by Jordan S.
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Sherman Alexie
[isbn]
As darkly humorous as it is moving, as much about grief over loss of culture and community as it is about grief over the loss of a parent, You Don't Have to Say You Love Me is a searing confessional and eulogy all in one, that for all of Alexie's openness about the memoir genre's inherent dishonesty feels like the most honest memoir — indeed one of the most honest books — I've ever read.
Recommended by Helena F.W.
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Timothy Snyder
[isbn]
America in 2017 is a traffic accident I can’t tear my eyes from. Timothy Snyder offers short history lessons on how Americans have survived difficult times before, and suggests that with thoughtfulness and a moral compass we can survive them again. These examples give me a certain amount of hope that we can get through the current sundering of our democracy and social fabric, and that we can arrest the destruction of America’s fundamental... (read more)
Recommended by Tracey T.
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James McBride
[isbn]
There’s a lot that’s stunning about this collection. Whether McBride is digging through the wreckage of American history and our stubborn refusal to reckon with race and class, or examining mankind’s cruelty and avarice through the perspective of sentient zoo animals, these stories sparkle with grace and empathy, celebration and sorrow. Each one of these pieces is firmly grounded in character and setting, but that doesn’t stop the author from... (read more)
Recommended by Tim B.
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Lesley Nneka Arimah
[isbn]
Debut author Lesley Nneka Arimah shares 12 amazing short stories set in the US and Nigeria. Her fresh, wonderful, creative writing is packed with layers of complicated emotions and themes that will make you think.
Recommended by Kim S.
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Brit Bennett
[isbn]
Seventeen-year-old Nadia's world is turned upside down when her mother commits suicide and she finds out she is pregnant with the pastor's son's child. The narrative of Nadia's remaining high school years and her transition into young adulthood is tainted by the cover-up of her teenage pregnancy and the question: What if she had chosen differently? The plot is engaging and honest, but the aspect of The Mothers that stuck with me long... (read more)
Recommended by Kathleen B.
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Eddie Izzard
[isbn]
Believe Me is a riveting adventure into the hows, whys, and hilarious life of Eddie Izzard. While he relates the story of his success, Izzard, in his own beautiful way, also inspires anyone who reads this story to achieve their own dreams. Plus, in times like these, the relief of a good laugh is priceless!
Recommended by Shell H.
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Molly Ostertag
[isbn]
This sweet story, which features uncommon and likable supporting characters, revolves around the themes of family, history, gender roles, and of course, magic. A great middle grade book for boys who might be feeling like they don't quite fit in, or any young reader with an interest in modern fantasy!
Recommended by Junix S.
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Alice Oseman
[isbn]
Radio Silence by Alice Oseman is one of the best books I've ever read. It effortlessly contains characters of many colors, sizes, and sexualities. It is not a book that you read, but absorb.
Recommended by erin k
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