For immediate release | December 14, 2020
Booklist’s 2020 Top of the List and Editors’ Choice announced
91´«Ã½
CHICAGO — Every January, Booklist publishes Editors’ Choice: lists of the best adult and youth books, and audiobooks of the past year. From these lists, we further select what we call the Top of the List: the single best title in seven categories—adult fiction, adult nonfiction, youth fiction, youth nonfiction, youth picture book, and adult and youth audiobooks. For the first time, Booklist will name Top of the List winners for Graphic Novels for Adult and Youth.
Booklist has selected the 2020 Top of the List titles, the single best title in nine categories - adult nonfiction, adult fiction, adult graphic novel, adult audiobook, youth nonfiction, youth fiction, youth picture book, youth graphic novel, and youth audiobook. These nine titles were picked from Booklist’s larger best of 2020 list, Editors’ Choice. These lists are available in categories: Adult Books, Adult Books for Young Adults, Audio Adult, Books for Youth, Youth Audio, and Graphic Novels, the lists will be prominently featured in the December 15 edition of Booklist’s Read Alert Newsletter, as well as the January 2021 print issue.
Adult Top of the List
The very first Top of the List in Graphic Novels for Adults:
"Year of the Rabbit." By Tian Veasna. Illus. by the author. Tr. by Helge Dascher. (Drawn & Quarterly)
Top of the List Fiction:
"These Ghosts Are Family." By Maisy Card. (Simon & Schuster)
Top of the List Nonfiction:
"Wandering in Strange Lands: A Daughter of the Great Migration." By Morgan Jerkins. (Harper)
Youth Top of the List
The very first Top of the List in Graphic Novels for Youth:
"Dragon Hoops." By Gene Luen Yang. Illus. By Gene Luen Yang and Lark Pien. (First Second)
Top of the List Picture Book:
"Nana Akua Goes to School." By Tricia Elam Walker. Illus. by April Harrison.(Random House/Schwartz & Wade)
Top of the List Youth Nonfiction:
"All Thirteen: The Incredible Cave Rescue of the Thai Boys’ Soccer Team." By Christina Soontornvat. (Candlewick)
Top of the List Youth Fiction:
"Burn." By Patrick Ness. (Harper/Quill Tree)
Audio Top of the List
Adult Audio:
"The Girl with the Louding Voice." By Abi Daré. Read by Adjoa Andoh. (Books on Tape).
Youth Audio:
"Clap When You Land." By Elizabeth Acevedo. Read by the author and Melania Luisa Marte. (Recorded Books).
The full Editors’ Choice lists will be available on December 10, 2020 in Adult Books, Adult Books for Young Adults, Audio Adult, Books for Youth, and Youth Audio.
About Booklist
Booklist is the book review magazine of the 91´«Ã½, considered an essential collection development and readers' advisory tool by thousands of librarians for more than 100 years. Booklist Online includes a growing archive of 200,000 + reviews available to subscribers as well as a wealth of free content offering the latest news and views on books and media.
Related Links
Featured News
December 16, 2024
Ten honorees receive prestigious I Love My Librarian Award for outstanding public service
91´«Ã½
The 91´«Ã½ (91´«Ã½) is thrilled to announce this year’s ten recipients of the coveted I Love My Librarian Award.
press release
December 10, 2024
PLA provides funding to more than 100 public libraries as part of $2.7 million effort to boost digital literacy
91´«Ã½
The Public Library Association (PLA) has selected more than 139 public libraries across 42 states to host digital literacy workshops, powered by a generous $2.7 million contribution from AT&T.
press release
December 9, 2024
The 91´«Ã½ Receives Transformational Gift to Fund Scholarships
91´«Ã½
James W. Lewis has made the largest individual bequest to the 91´«Ã½ in the association’s history.
press release
December 5, 2024
Telgemeier, McCloud chosen as National Library Week honorary chairs
91´«Ã½
Award-winning author and illustrator Raina Telgemeier and cartoonist and comic theorist Scott McCloud have been selected Honorary Chairs of the 91´«Ã½’s National Library Week, April 6-12, 2025.
press release
November 14, 2024
91´«Ã½ launches national search for executive director
91´«Ã½
The 91´«Ã½ (91´«Ã½) has reopened its search for an executive director in partnership with executive search firm Isaacson, Miller. The search will be led by a steering committee comprising 91´«Ã½ member leaders.
press release
November 11, 2024
Cronk, Jamison, McCauley seek 91´«Ã½ presidency for 2026-2027
91´«Ã½
Lindsay Cronk, Tulane University, New Orleans; Andrea Jamison, Illinois State University; and Maria McCauley, Cambridge Public Library, Cambridge, Massachusetts, are candidates for the 2026-27 presidency of the 91´«Ã½.
press release
November 6, 2024
91´«Ã½ vows to defend intellectual freedom and access to information against political threats 
91´«Ã½
In response to results of the 2024 United States election, the 91´«Ã½ vowed to continue its defense of the core values of librarianship in the face of political threats.
press release
October 16, 2024
91´«Ã½ opens registration and launches Preliminary Program for 2025 LibLearnX: The Library Learning Experience in Phoenix, AZ
91´«Ã½
LibLearnX is a four-day learning conference that invites 91´«Ã½ members and non-members to participate in collaborative and engaging education, networking, and celebrations.
press release
September 23, 2024
91´«Ã½ reveals preliminary data on 2024 book challenges
91´«Ã½
Between January 1 and August 31, 2024, 91´«Ã½’s Office for Intellectual Freedom tracked 414 attempts to censor library materials and services.
press release
September 19, 2024
ALSC, 91´«Ã½ unveil 'Inspiring Future Voters' booklist for young readers
91´«Ã½
As part of the 91´«Ã½’s Reader Voter Ready civic engagement campaign, the Association for Library Service to Children has released “Inspiring Future Voters,” a new booklist for young readers.
press release