The Best of "Best Book" Lists Collection gathers together a selection of popular bestsellers and fan favorites that frequently appear on "Best of" lists. This diverse Collection includes picks to suit a range of age groups and genre preferences, from otherworldly fantasy to gripping crime thrillers.
Publication year 1961
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Marriage, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Identity: Masculinity, Society: Class
Tags Historical Fiction, Psychological Fiction, American Literature, Modern Classic Fiction, History: World, Classic Fiction
IntroductionRichard Yates’s novel Revolutionary Road was published in 1961 and was a finalist for the National Book Award in 1962, along with Joseph Heller’s Catch-22 and Walker Percy’s The Moviegoer, which won the award. The book was Yates’s first novel, though he had worked as a journalist and ghostwriter, writing some of John F. Kennedy’s speeches following his service in the US Army during World War II. In a 1976 interview for the literary journal... Read Revolutionary Road Summary
Publication year 2020
Genre Novella, Fiction
Themes Identity: Race, Society: Community, Society: Nation
Tags History: World, Southern Gothic, Fantasy, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Historical Fiction, Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction
Publication year 2018
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Natural World: Climate, Society: Class, Values/Ideas: Science & Technology, Natural World: Environment
Tags Science / Nature, Climate Change, Journalism, History: World, Politics / Government
Publication year 2022
Genre Biography, Nonfiction
Themes Society: Colonialism, Identity: Race, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Natural World: Place, Emotions/Behavior: Hate & Anger, Values/Ideas: Fame, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal
Tags History: African , Action / Adventure, Travel Literature, Science / Nature, History: World, Biography
Publication year 2021
Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction
Tags American Civil War, History: U.S., Politics / Government, Race / Racism, Military / War, History: World, Biography
Publication year 2022
Genre Biography, Nonfiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Relationships: Siblings, Natural World: Place, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt
Tags Crime / Legal, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Journalism, Business / Economics, Class, Finance / Money / Wealth, Trauma / Abuse / Violence, Leadership/Organization/Management, History: World, Biography
Publication year 2019
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Family
Tags Realistic Fiction, Disability, Children's Literature, Modern Classic Fiction
Publication year 2002
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Emotions/Behavior: Shame & Pride, Identity: Femininity, Identity: Masculinity, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Life/Time: The Past, Natural World: Place, Relationships: Family, Relationships: Friendship, Society: Class, Values/Ideas: Beauty, Values/Ideas: Fame, Values/Ideas: Literature, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies
Tags Romance, Historical Fiction, Regency Era
Publication year 2023
Genre Novel, Fiction
Tags Romance, Humor, Gender / Feminism
Publication year 2010
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Mothers, Relationships: Daughters & Sons, Relationships: Grandparents, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Nostalgia, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Emotions/Behavior: Loneliness, Emotions/Behavior: Joy, Values/Ideas: Literature, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Values/Ideas: Fame, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Values/Ideas: Order & Chaos, Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Natural World: Animals, Natural World: Environment, Natural World: Flora/plants, Natural World: Food, Natural World: Place
Tags Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Psychological Fiction, Trauma / Abuse / Violence, Crime / Legal, Modern Classic Fiction, Drama / Tragedy
IntroductionEmma Donoghue’s Room is a 2010 novel about a boy named Jack who lives in a single room with his mother, Ma. Room is a crime thriller novel that explores themes of trauma, innocence, and adaptability through the eyes of five-year-old narrator, Jack. Room has received many awards, including the ALA Alex Award, the Indies Choice Book Award for Fiction, and The New York Times Book Review Best Book of the Year award. Room was... Read Room Summary
Publication year 2021
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Family, Identity: Femininity, Identity: Race, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Society: Economics
Tags Realistic Fiction, Historical Fiction
Publication year 2021
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Identity: Race, Relationships: Family, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Identity: Gender, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice
Tags Fantasy, Historical Fiction, Magical Realism, Children's Literature, History: World
Publication year 2023
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Mothers, Relationships: Daughters & Sons, Values/Ideas: Beauty, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Life/Time: Coming of Age
Tags Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Fairy Tale / Folklore, Gothic Literature
Publication year 2021
Genre Graphic Memoir , Nonfiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Identity: Race, Society: Nation, Society: Politics & Government, Society: War, Values/Ideas: Equality
Tags Historical Fiction, History: U.S., Politics / Government, Social Justice, Civil Rights / Jim Crow
Publication year 2023
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Love, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Society: War, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Identity: Mental Health, Life/Time: The Past
Tags Fantasy, Romance, Historical Fiction, Trauma / Abuse / Violence
Publication year 2018
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Identity: Femininity, Society: Class, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger
Tags Mystery / Crime Fiction, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Poverty, Addiction / Substance Abuse, Trauma / Abuse / Violence, Realistic Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction
Sadie is a young adult mystery novel published in 2018 by the Canadian author Courtney Summers. The book chronicles teenager Sadie Hunter’s quest to find the man who killed her sister. In alternating chapters, Sadie’s subsequent disappearance becomes the topic of West McCray’s podcast The Girls. Sadie won the 2018 Edgar Award and was chosen for many Best of 2018 book lists.Plot SummarySadie follows the journey of 19-year-old protagonist Sadie Hunter as she searches for... Read Sadie Summary
Publication year 2017
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Self Discovery, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Relationships: Family
Tags Realistic Fiction, Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, Romance, Religion / Spirituality, Trauma / Abuse / Violence, Modern Classic Fiction
Publication year 2020
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Identity: Race, Relationships: Siblings
Tags Mystery / Crime Fiction, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction
Publication year 2024
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Family, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Forgiveness, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Identity: Sexuality, Life/Time: Midlife, Relationships: Daughters & Sons, Relationships: Fathers, Relationships: Friendship, Relationships: Marriage, Relationships: Mothers, Self Discovery, Values/Ideas: Music, Identity: Gender
Tags Modern Classic Fiction, Drama / Tragedy
Publication year 2023
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Love, Life/Time: The Past, Identity: Race, Relationships: Family, Self Discovery
Tags Romance, Coming of Age / Bildungsroman