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 Society: Education, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Values/Ideas: Art, Values/Ideas: Beauty
Tags British Literature, History: World, Classic Fiction, Historical Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction, Post-War Era
The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie (1961) is a novel by Scottish writer Muriel Spark. It explores the relationship between a group of six female students and their eccentric teacher, Jean Brodie, over the course of roughly 15 years. Using nonlinear narrative techniques, including flashbacks and flash forwards, the novel examines the influence of adults on adolescents, particularly in the context of their sexual and spiritual development. Set in Edinburgh in the 1930s and early... Read The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie Summary
Publication year 2018
Genre Graphic Novel/Book, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Family, Self Discovery, Identity: Gender, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Emotions/Behavior: Love
Tags LGBTQ, Romance, Historical Fiction, Fairy Tale / Folklore, Children's Literature, History: World
Publication year 2019
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Identity: Gender, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Emotions/Behavior: Hate & Anger
Tags Fantasy, LGBTQ, Romance
Publication year 2021
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Relationships: Family, Relationships: Friendship, Society: Nation, Society: Politics & Government, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt
Tags Fantasy, Romance
Publication year 2019
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Society: Education, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Society: Class
Tags Education, Business / Economics, Social Justice, Politics / Government, Education, Class, Sociology, Race / Racism
Publication year 2021
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Identity: Race, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Society: Colonialism
Tags Drama / Tragedy, Historical Fiction, History: African , Social Justice, Race / Racism, African Literature, Modern Classic Fiction, History: World
Publication year 2020
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Fate, Identity: Femininity, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice
Tags Historical Fiction, Drama / Tragedy, History: World, Grief / Death, Health / Medicine, Relationships, WWI / World War I, LGBTQ, Irish Literature
Publication year 2020
Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction
Themes Identity: Race, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Society: Community
Tags Politics / Government, Race / Racism, Social Justice, Black Lives Matter, German Literature, Gender / Feminism, History: World
Publication year 2019
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Forgiveness, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Natural World: Nurture v. Nature, Relationships: Fathers, Self Discovery, Society: War, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt
Tags Fantasy, Romance, Gender / Feminism, Leadership/Organization/Management, Relationships, Parenting, Trauma / Abuse / Violence, Fairy Tale / Folklore
Publication year 2023
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Identity: Femininity
Tags Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Psychological Fiction, Trauma / Abuse / Violence
Publication year 2023
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Life/Time: Coming of Age, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Identity: Sexuality, Relationships: Friendship, Self Discovery
Tags Irish Literature, LGBTQ, Romance
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Literature, Society: Community, Relationships: Family, Emotions/Behavior: Grief
Tags Romance, Modern Classic Fiction
Publication year 2007
Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction
Themes Identity: Disability, Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Society: Community, Self Discovery, Values/Ideas: Equality
Tags Health / Medicine, Psychology, Disability, Japanese Literature, Psychology, Mental Illness, Biography
Publication year 1997
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Identity: Femininity, Relationships: Mothers, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Self Discovery
Tags Historical Fiction, Gender / Feminism, Religion / Spirituality, Jewish Literature, Love / Sexuality, Women's Studies (Nonfiction), History: World
The Red Tent (1997) is an adult historical novel by Jewish American author Anita Diamant. It describes the life of Dinah, daughter of Jacob, who appears in the biblical Book of Genesis. While her mention in the Bible only concerns her abduction by a Canaanite man and her brothers’ act of atrocity in response, Diamant imagines a full life for Dinah—including a childhood raised by several mothers, her first marriage, and life in Egypt, where... Read The Red Tent Summary
Publication year 2023
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Identity: Race, Life/Time: The Past, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice
Tags Historical Fiction, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Race / Racism, African American Literature, Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, History: World, Religion / Spirituality
Publication year 2017
Genre Short Story Collection, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Relationships: Family, Society: War, Life/Time: Aging
Tags Immigration / Refugee, Historical Fiction, Asian Literature, Trauma / Abuse / Violence, Vietnam War, Modern Classic Fiction, Asian Literature, History: World
The Refugees is a 2017 collection of short stories by celebrated Vietnamese American author, Viet Thanh Nguyen. Nguyen has written fiction, academic nonfiction, and children’s books, and his novel The Sympathizer won the Pulitzer Prize in 2016. Nguyen received his doctorate in English at the University of California Berkeley, and he currently is a literature professor at the University of Southern California. Nguyen’s scholarship and literary works focus on the experiences of Vietnamese communities in... Read The Refugees Summary
Publication year 2021
Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction
Themes Society: Class, Society: Economics, Society: Education, Society: Politics & Government, Society: Nation, Society: Community
Tags Politics / Government, History: U.S., Poverty, Social Justice, Class, Education, Russian Literature, Business / Economics, History: World, Biography
Publication year 2015
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Identity: Mental Health, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Relationships: Family
Tags Fantasy, Romance, LGBTQ, Love / Sexuality, Modern Classic Fiction, Magical Realism, Mental Illness, Religion / Spirituality
The Rest of Us Just Live Here, a novel by critically acclaimed young adult (YA) author Patrick Ness, tells the story of Mikey, a high school senior living in a fictional town in the state of Washington. The novel follows Mikey as graduation approaches and he navigates the anxieties and uncertainties of love, friendship, and the fear of leaving behind everything he’s grown up with. Ness, the author of the widely lauded Chaos Walking trilogy... Read The Rest of Us Just Live Here Summary
Publication year 2024
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Identity: Mental Health, Relationships: Family
Tags Mystery / Crime Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Psychological Fiction
Publication year 2022
Genre Biography, Nonfiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Life/Time: The Future, Relationships: Teams, Society: Colonialism, Society: Community, Society: Economics, Society: Nation, Society: Politics & Government, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Society: War, Values/Ideas: Order & Chaos
Tags History: U.S., Politics / Government, American Revolution, Military / War, History: World, Biography