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 1988
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Society: Economics, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt, Relationships: Teams, Identity: Language
Tags Psychology, Self Help, Business / Economics, Leadership/Organization/Management, Psychology
Publication year 2020
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Society: Nation, Society: Class, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice
Tags Race / Racism, Social Justice, Politics / Government, History: U.S., African American Literature, Sociology, History: World
Publication year 1998
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Life/Time: The Past, Society: War
Tags History: European, Military / War, WWII / World War II, Russian Literature, History: World
Publication year 2020
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Family, Self Discovery, Relationships: Siblings, Emotions/Behavior: Fear
Tags Realistic Fiction, Humor, Asian Literature, Children's Literature, Modern Classic Fiction
Publication year 2021
Genre Novel/Book in Verse, Fiction
Themes Identity: Mental Health, Relationships: Family, Emotions/Behavior: Shame & Pride, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Self Discovery, Values/Ideas: Beauty, Relationships: Mothers, Relationships: Friendship
Tags Realistic Fiction, Free verse, Bullying, Children's Literature, Modern Classic Fiction, Mental Illness
Publication year 2023
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Family, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Emotions/Behavior: Revenge, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Society: Class
Tags Fantasy, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Trauma / Abuse / Violence, Gothic Literature, Romance, Religion / Spirituality
Publication year 2012
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Life/Time: Aging, Relationships: Siblings, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Society: Class, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Society: Community, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Values/Ideas: Science & Technology, Life/Time: The Future, Life/Time: The Past, Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Relationships: Family, Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Society: Politics & Government, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Values/Ideas: Beauty, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict
Tags Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Fantasy, Romance, Action / Adventure
Lissa Price’s Starters is a young adult science fiction novel set in the near future after the Spore Wars, during which biological weapons were used against the United States and wiped out much of the unvaccinated middle-aged population. As a result, many teens were left without families, and the elderly feared for their place in society. Starters without grandparents were barred from essentially every type of work. This led to teens being rounded up to... Read Starters Summary
Publication year 2022
Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Relationships: Friendship, Values/Ideas: Art, Society: Immigration
Tags Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, Race / Racism, Asian Literature, Music, Biography
Publication year 2013
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Emotions/Behavior: Revenge, Relationships: Fathers, Emotions/Behavior: Shame & Pride, Values/Ideas: Order & Chaos, Emotions/Behavior: Fear
Tags Fantasy, Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Action / Adventure
Steelheart, a 2013 young adult sci-fi/fantasy novel by Brandon Sanderson, is the first installment of The Reckoners trilogy. The story takes place in dystopian Chicago, dubbed “Newcago,” which is overrun by evil superhumans called Epics and ruled by a functionally invulnerable tyrant named Steelheart. David Charleston, an 18-year-old boy whose father Steelheart killed 10 years before, joins a rebel group called the Reckoners hoping that they will help him take revenge on Steelheart. Borrowing elements... Read Steelheart Summary
Publication year 2018
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Friendship, Relationships: Family, Society: Immigration, Self Discovery
Tags Realistic Fiction, Children's Literature, Latin American Literature
Publication year 2021
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Art, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Relationships: Friendship, Society: War
Tags Historical Fiction, LGBTQ, Military / War, Italian Literature, History: World, Arts / Culture
Publication year 2022
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Science & Technology, Values/Ideas: Literature, Society: Education, Identity: Mental Health
Tags Psychology, Self Help, Health / Medicine, Science / Nature, Addiction / Substance Abuse, Leadership/Organization/Management, Psychology, Mental Illness
Publication year 2000
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed
Tags Fantasy, Mystery / Crime Fiction
Publication year 2021
Genre Graphic Novel/Book, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Family, Relationships: Marriage, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Relationships: Friendship
Tags Children's Literature, Realistic Fiction, Humor
Publication year 2025
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Society: Politics & Government, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed
Tags Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Fantasy, Survival Fiction
Publication year 2015
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Science & Technology, Relationships: Teams, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance
Tags Business / Economics, Politics / Government, Science / Nature, Psychology, Psychology, Self Help
Publication year 2024
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Marriage, Emotions/Behavior: Revenge, Natural World: Place, Society: Class, Society: Community, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Values/Ideas: Win & Lose
Tags Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Fantasy
Publication year 2012
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Love, Society: Nation, Values/Ideas: Literature
Tags Historical Fiction, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Relationships, Arts / Culture, History: European, Politics / Government, British Literature, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction, History: World, Romance
Sweet Tooth is a 2012 novel by Ian McEwan. Set in the 1970s, it tells the story of one woman’s involvement with MI5 and the world of literature. Themes include the balance of power, navigating lies and deceit, and conditional versus unconditional acceptance.Plot SummarySerena Frome grows up in a small, uninteresting English city. In the 1960s, her mother encourages her to study mathematics at Cambridge University even though Serena (a keen reader) would rather study... Read Sweet Tooth Summary
Publication year 2024
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Identity: Race, Relationships: Family, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies
Tags Historical Fiction, Coming of Age / Bildungsroman
Publication year 2020
Genre Memoir in Verse, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Love, Emotions/Behavior: Shame & Pride, Identity: Sexuality, Self Discovery, Society: Politics & Government
Tags Historical Fiction, LGBTQ, Romance, Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, Modern Classic Fiction, History: World