ALA and RUSA award lists and more ...

It is that time of year so here are some wonderful links for even more reading choices ...

ALA Youth awards:
https://www.ala.org/news/2026/01/american-library-association-announces-2026-youth-media-award-winners   Plenty of choices for young people in our lives AND the ALEX awards are adult books suitable for teens. 

 

Notable Fiction

https://rusaupdate.org/2026/01/2026-reading-list-years-best-in-genre-fiction-for-adult-readers/ 

The ten fiction choices from that list are shown here with their covers:

https://pcin.bibliocommons.com/v2/list/display/1612157240/2946217557

 

Listen List … Includes The Correspondent, Mailman, and The Names

https://rusaupdate.org/2026/01/2026-rusa-listen-list-revealed/

 

And Ron Charles, The Washington Post book reviewer, just shared his readers' favorite humorous books ... we all need a smile or a laugh ...  

·       Jeeves & Wooster series, by P.G. Wodehouse

·       “A Confederacy of Dunces,” by John Kennedy Toole

·       “Straight Man,” by Richard Russo

·       “Dear Committee Members,” by Julie Schumacher

·       “Lucky Jim,” by Kingsley Amis

·       “Bridget Jones’s Diary,” by Helen Fielding

·       “I See You’ve Called in Dead,” by John Kenney

·       “Let’s Pretend This Never Happened: A Mostly True Memoir,” by Jenny Lawson

·       “Squeeze Me,” by Carl Hiaasen

·       “Lamb,” by Christopher Moore

 

And see A Year-by-Year Look at 4-Star, Beloved Books of the New Century, published on GoodReads: 
https://www.goodreads.com/blog/show/3040-a-year-by-year-look-at-4-star-beloved-books-of-the-new-century 

This Book Made Me Think of You by Libby Page

THIS BOOK MADE ME THINK OF YOU by Libby Page came to my attention because of being a LibraryReads pick for February and I am SO glad it did. In contention for my favorite book of the year, the heartwarming story centers on Matilda (Tilly) Nightingale whose husband, Joe, has recently died. While battling a fatal diagnosis, Joe arranged with the local bookstore owner, Alfie, to give Tilly a book a month after his death. Each title prompts Tilly to take a step forward and, to me, Libby Page was “spot on” in her characterization of the feelings of grief and loss: “There's a darkness to her that wasn't there before, that sometimes feels like a fog and others like a stone lodged in her chest. She carries the darkness with her everywhere, all the time, even if on the surface she might look the same as before.” A new friend who is further along in her grief journey says, “My grief is un regalo -- a gift. He gave it to me. it is our memories. Our love. I don't want to put it down. I carry it gently.” Described as a “love letter to bookstores,” THIS BOOK MADE ME THINK OF YOU is truly a joy to read, featuring friendship, sisterhood, a sense of wonder, romance, and, importantly, growth by several characters. Plus, it reinforces the power of reading to transform us (“‘But isn't that one of the great things about fiction?’ he says. ‘It's an escape. Somewhere to go when you don't want to be where you are.’”) and this story is full of ideas for other books to read, including monthly themes and recommendations from Alfie’s bookstore.

THIS BOOK MADE ME THINK OF YOU received starred reviews from Kirkus (“The perfect cozy read for book lovers, sure to break and heal hearts.”), Library Journal (“Readers of all kinds will be captivated by this tender exploration of loss, healing, and the enduring connections that books create”), and Publishers Weekly (“Page crafts a taut plot and makes her characters achingly real”). ENJOY!!

Best of the Year in Books ...

Here (in no particular order) is a compilation of some of the “Best of the Year” lists, updated for 2025: 

National Public Radio provides “Books We Love,” 1000s of titles (from 2025 and earlier years) and shows their covers in a fun, very interactive way. Please do not forget to consult the Indie Next Lists - recommendations from independent booksellers – like this one for book groups. 

More ideas from National Book Awards or public libraries like Chicago Public Library, Lake Travis Public Library Staff made a video featuring their favorites,  and New York Public Library published the year’s 10 most checked out books. Keep searching – these lists often lead to others with suggestions for all ages. 

Best of 2025 from School Library Journal; including Sisters in the Wind on its Young Adult list. And there are multiple state award lists to consult, too, like the Texas Lariat Reading List, its 2026 suggestions should be coming soon. Plus professional choices from Publishers Weekly – I am excited because I am not very familiar with their Top 10 or Mystery choices so plenty of new ideas to explore. Kirkus Reviews also has a variety of lists.  A separate Kirkus list is provided for best young adult books which can be further subdivided by genre. 

And Goodreads has its Choice Awards across several categories for 2025: https://www.goodreads.com/choiceawards/best-books-2025 With titles like this year’s top fiction choice (My Friends by Bachman), this is always a “go to” list since reader votes and word of mouth have built interest. Amazon, of course, offers its own list of editor choices for 2025, with best seller (and my personal favorite of the year) Heart of a Stranger. LibraryReads: primarily for public libraries, this group has stopped issuing overall favorites, but  has an impressive archive with Top 10 choices by month. 

Name a publication and you are likely to find a best book list. For example, The Washington Post offers several lists. The Wall Street Journal has a best of 2025 list for books, both from their reviewers and fifty “luminaries.” In addition to an article about Five Breakout Books (that is a gift link) of which Theo of Golden is one I have on hold currently, see 100 notable books of the year from The New York Times; there is also a top ten list on their site. Overwhelmed? The blogger at LitHub has compiled a chart which lists the titles that appeared most frequently on recommended lists (Memorial Days is on eight and The Correspondent is on five) … and my “to-be-read” pile grows ever taller… Plenty of overlap and some delightful selections on these many lists. … Ah, so many books and so little time. Once again: Happy Reading!!! Enjoy!!!

Every Day I Read by Hwang Bo-reum

EVERY DAY I READ by Hwang Bo-reum contains a series of essays which describe “53 Ways to Get Closer to Books.” There is room for disagreement (the author even advocates both Read Bestsellers and Read Beyond Bestsellers). Throughout, there are many, many suggestions of book titles and authors and I found myself highlighting several to consider, although some are not as readily available here as they would be in Asia. I also highlighted and starred several passages; here are just a few: “by insisting on finishing a book you no longer want to read, you're taking time away from the books you're truly interested in.” OR “We change as we read books. We just don't realize it. And this change may have an impact on the course of our lives.” Publishers Weekly reviewed EVERY DAY I READ and concluded, “Dedicated bibliophiles and casual readers alike will adore this.” I concur. So do the voters at LibraryReads: EVERY DAY I READ was a December 2025 selection.

As a related aside, The New York Times just published an article called, “Kids Rarely Read Whole Books Anymore. Even in English Class.” It refers to a forthcoming study by Jonna Perrillo and Andrew Newman; Uncensored will be published in March, 2026.

Best Books 2024 – lists and lists

Here (in no particular order) is our compilation of some of the “Best of the Year” lists, updated for 2024:

National Public Radio provides “Books we Love,” 1000s of titles (from 2024 and earlier years) and shows their covers in a fun, very interactive way. Please do not forget to consult the Indie Next Lists - recommendations from independent booksellers – like this one for book groups.

More ideas from National Book Awards or public libraries like Chicago Public Library, Lake Travis Public Library Staff made a video featuring their favorites,  and New York Public Library published the year’s 10 most checked out books. Keep searching – these lists often lead to others with suggestions for all ages.

Best of 2023 from School LibraryJournal; Looking specifically for Young Adults, several titles are on my “to read” list, including: Kill Her Twice by Stacey Lee. I have already enthusiastically reviewed others on the list like Everything We Never Had by Randy Ribay; This Book Won’t Burn by Samira Ahmed offers fictionalized perspective on book banning trends. And there are state award lists to consult, too, like the Texas Lariat Reading List, its 2025 suggestions should be coming soon.

Plus professional choices from Publishers Weekly – I am excited because I am not very familiar with their Top 10 or Mystery choices (other than Osman’s We Solve Murders) so plenty of new ideas to explore. Kirkus Reviews also has a variety of lists; I won’t be forgetting the Science Fiction choice The Stardust Grail by Yume Kitasei.  One of the Kirkus mystery choices that I liked: Horowitz’s Close to Death, plus my 2025 TBR list is going to include the Attica Locke books; and The Unwedding by Ally Condie. A separate Kirkus list is provided for best young adult books.

And Goodreads has its Choice Awards across several categories for 2024: https://www.goodreads.com/choiceawards/best-books-2024 This is always a “go to” list since reader votes and word of mouth have built interest. Amazon, of course, offers its own list of editor choices for 2023. LibraryReads: primarily for public libraries, this group has stopped issuing overall favorites, but  has an impressive archive with Top 10 choices by month.

Name a publication and you are likely to find a best book list. For example, The Washington Post offers several lists (including 50 notable works of fiction or non-fiction). The Wall Street Journal has a best of 2024 list for books, including The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt. See 100 notable books of the year from The New York Times; there is also a top ten list on their site.

Plenty of overlap and some delightful selections on these many lists. … Ah, so many books and so little time. Once again: Happy Reading!!! Enjoy!!!  

Best Books of 2023 ...

Here (in no particular order) is our compilation of some of the “Best of the Year” lists:

National Public Radio lists 1000s of titles (from 2023and earlier years) and shows their covers in a fun, very interactive way. Please do not forget to consult the Indie Next Lists - recommendations from independent booksellers – like this one for book groups.

More ideas from National Book Awards or public libraries like Chicago Public Library and New York Public Library offer recommendations -- with suggestions for all ages.

Best of 2023 from School Library Journal; Looking specifically for Young Adults, several titles are on my “to read” list, including: Deb Caletti’s Plan A. I have already enthusiastically reviewed others on the list like Angeline Boulley’s Warrior Girl Unearthed and Isabel Ibañez’s What the River Knows.

Plus professional choices from Publishers Weekly (honestly, not wild for their Top 10, but All the Sinners Bleed by S. A. Cosby made the mystery choices) OR Kirkus Reviews. Some of the Kirkus fiction choices that I also really liked include an eclectic mix: Happiness Falls, Five-Star Weekend, and Deep Sky. A separate list is provided for non-fiction (like People’s Hospital, Democracy Awakening, and The Teachers) and a list is forthcoming for best teen books.

And Goodreads will release its Choice Awards across several categories for 2023: https://www.goodreads.com/choiceawards/best-books-2023   This is always a “go to” list since reader votes and word of mouth have built interest. Amazon, of course, offers its own list of editor choices for 2023. LibraryReads: Primarily for public libraries, listed top favorites for 2023: https://libraryreads.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Favorites2023.pdf   

Name a publication and you are likely to find a best book list. For example, The Washington Post offers several lists (including 10 best audiobooks). The Wall Street Journal has a best of 2023 list for books. 100 notable books of the year from The New York Times; There is also a top ten list on their site.

There is plenty of overlap and some delightful selections on these lists. Ah, so many books and so little time. Enjoy!!! Happy Reading!!

Added: STILL looking for ideas to read? The Smithsonian Magazine has compiled a set of links to the most borrowed books from public libraries in 2023. 

ALA names youth media awards

In case you missed them, here are today’s ALEX award winners:

The Alex Awards are awarded to ten crossover adult books that appeal to kids ages 12–18.

• Black Sun by Rebecca Roanhorse
• The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune
• The Impossible First: From Fire to Ice — Crossing Antarctica Alone by Colin O’Brady
• Kent State: Four Dead in Ohio by Derf Backderf
• The Kids are Gonna Ask by Gretchen Anthony
• The Only Good Indians by Stephen Graham Jones
• Plain Bad Heroines by Emily M. Danforth
• Riot Baby by Tochi Onyebuchi
• Solutions and Other Problems by Allie Brosh
• We Ride Upon Sticks by Quan Barry

I have heard positive comments about the first two, but am not (sigh…so many books, so little time) very familiar with the others. More award winners listed on BookRiot: https://bookriot.com/2021-youth-media-awards/

Best Books of 2020

Here (in no particular order) is our annual compilation of some of the “Best of the Year” lists:

100 notable books of the year from The New York Times: There is also a top ten list on their site and links for children’s books. Once again, remember that you can access these and other articles from The New York Times by following directions on the library’s ClassLinks page. If you set up your account a year ago, you may need to renew – see a librarian with any questions.

Best of 2020 from School Library Journal; Looking specifically for Young Adults, several titles are on my “to read” list, including: Clap When You Land and Sanctuary. I have already reviewed others on the list like Jennifer Niven’s Breathless.

Plus professional choices from Publishers Weekly OR Kirkus Reviews. Kirkus helpfully shows best fiction by a variety of categories (e.g., get your book group talking; read during the pandemic; debut authors). The mystery and thrillers I have enjoyed: All the Devils are Here, Dead Land, and One by One. Separate lists are provided for non-fiction and once again across several categories for best teen books.

And Goodreads has released its Choice Awards across several categories for 2020: https://www.goodreads.com/choiceawards/best-books-2020   This is always a “go to” list since reader votes and word of mouth have built interest.   

LibraryReads: Primarily for public libraries, listed top favorites for 2020: https://libraryreads.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Voter-Favorites-2020-Flyer.pdf   

Name a publication and you are likely to find a best book list. For example, The Washington Post offers several lists, but I really liked their columnists’ take (published later in the month) on what each had read or watched during the pandemic – it is very fun and eclectic (Great British Baking Show, anyone?). The Wall Street Journal has a best of 2020 list for books as well as for music, television, a holiday gift guide, and more.

National Public Radio lists 1000s of titles (from 2020 and earlier years) and shows their covers in a fun, interactive way. Have fun exploring the list of titles selected for PBS’ Now Read This book club.  In the process, please do not forget to consult the Indie Next List - recommendations from independent booksellers.

More ideas from National Book Awards or local public libraries like Chicago Public Library offer recommendations -- with suggestions for all ages. And from organizations like The Greater Good Science Center or Teaching for Change’s Social Justice Books for all ages and from individuals (Barack Obama, Bill Gates)– and avid readers amongst your own friends and family).

There is plenty of overlap and some delightful selections on these lists. Ah, so many books and so little time. Enjoy!!! Happy Reading!!

Best Books in 2019

Looking for book gift ideas? Something fun to read? A new topic to explore? Here is our annual compilation of some of the “Best of the Year” lists:

100 notable books of the year from The New York Times: There is also a top ten list on their site and links for children’s books and more. Once again, remember that you can access these and other articles from The New York Times by following directions on our ClassLinks page. If you set up your account a year ago, you may need to renew – see a librarian with any questions.

Best of 2019 from School Library Journal; be sure to read Randy Ribay’s Patron Saints of Nothing (also a Young Adult National Book Award nominee) which School Library Journal describes as follows: “Jay is Filipino, white, and firmly American. He never would have guessed he’d end up spending his time before college in the Philippines trying to uncover family secrets and understand family traditions—all while coming to terms with President Duterte’s war on drugs and the death of his own cousin. Ribay’s affecting novel reveals the many layers of biracial identity and how it can expand beyond the individual experience of having parents from two different places.” Our review is here.

Plus Publishers Weekly: https://best-books.publishersweekly.com/pw/best-books/2019  And there is a children’s list which splits into picture books, middle grade and young adult.

Or Kirkus Reviews https://www.kirkusreviews.com/issue/best-of-2019/section/fiction/lists/ which helpfully shows best fiction by category; separate lists for non-fiction and for best teen books

https://www.kirkusreviews.com/issue/best-of-2019/section/young-adult/lists/  

And Goodreads has released its Choice Awards across several categories for 2019: https://www.goodreads.com/choiceawards/best-books-2019    

LibraryReads: Primarily for public libraries, listed top favorites for 2019.

http://libraryreads.org/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/LibraryReads-Voter-Favorites-2019.pdf  See monthlyupdates throughout the year

National Book Awards: https://www.nationalbook.org/awards-prizes/national-book-awards-2019/

Chicago Public Library Recommendations -- with suggestions for all ages: https://www.chipublib.org/news/cpl-best-of-the-best-books-2019/

Winnetka Public Library Staff Recommendations for books and movies: https://www.winnetkalibrary.org/books-movies/best-of-2019/  

National Public Radio lists 1000s of titles (from 2019 and earlier years) and shows their covers in a fun, interactive way. https://apps.npr.org/best-books/#view=covers&year=2019    PBS offers suggestions https://www.pbs.org/newshour/arts/we-read-these-29-books-in-2019-you-should-too for 2019 and  includes a list of the Now Read This book club’s monthly choices. Washington Post also offers several lists.  The Wall Street Journal (available online at school) has a best of 2019 list as well as an article about teaching history with diverse voices.

There is plenty of overlap and some delightful selections on these lists. Enjoy!!! Happy Reading!!!