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Booklist (American Library Association)

Booklist Editors' Choice 2011

Booklist (American Library Association)'s Booklist Editors' Choice 2011 names 135 books across 15 categories. 50 of them also won or were shortlisted for an award.

Adult Books for Young Adults: Fiction

  1. American Boy by Larry Watsonsource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Big Girl Small by Rachel DeWoskinsource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Jamrach’s Menagerie by Carol Birchsource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Once upon a River by Bonnie Jo Campbellsource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Ready Player One by Ernest Clinesource (opens in a new tab)
  6. Swamplandia! by Karen Russellsource (opens in a new tab)
  7. The Art of Fielding by Chad Harbachsource (opens in a new tab)
  8. The Lover’s Dictionary by David Levithansource (opens in a new tab)
  9. The Night Circus by Erin Morgensternsource (opens in a new tab)
  10. The White Devil by Justin Evanssource (opens in a new tab)
  11. The World Beneath by Cate Kennedysource (opens in a new tab)
  12. Vaclav & Lena by Haley Tannersource (opens in a new tab)
  13. When She Woke by Hillary Jordansource (opens in a new tab)
  14. Wingshooters by Nina Revoyrsource (opens in a new tab)
  15. Zahra’s Paradise by Amirsource (opens in a new tab)

Adult Books for Young Adults: Nonfiction

  1. 21: The Story of Roberto Clemente by Wilfred Santiagosource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Earth: The Operators’ Manual by Richard Alleysource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Girls like Us: Fighting for a World Where Girls Are Not for Sale, an Activist Finds Her Calling and Heals Herself by Rachel Lloydsource (opens in a new tab)

Adult Books: Arts & Literature

  1. 33 Revolutions per Minute: A History of Protest Songs, from Billie Holiday to Green Day by Dorian Lynskeysource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Higher Gossip: Essays and Criticism by John Updikesource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Rin Tin Tin: The Life and the Legend by Susan Orleansource (opens in a new tab)
  4. The Chitlin’ Circuit and the Road to Rock ’n’ Roll by Preston Lauterbachsource (opens in a new tab)
  5. The Paper Garden: An Artist (Begins Her Life’s Work) at 72 by Molly Peacocksource (opens in a new tab)
  6. Verdi’s Shakespeare: Men of the Theater by Garry Willssource (opens in a new tab)

Adult Books: Biography

  1. Becoming Dr. Q: My Journey from Migrant Farm Worker to Brain Surgeon by Alfredo Quiñones-Hinojosa and Mim Eichler Rivassource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Catherine the Great: Portrait of a Woman by Robert K. Massiesource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Elizabeth and Hazel: Two Women of Little Rock by David Margolicksource (opens in a new tab)
  4. George F. Kennan: An American Life by John Lewis Gaddissource (opens in a new tab)
  5. John Huston: Courage and Art by Jeffrey Meyerssource (opens in a new tab)
  6. Obama on the Couch: Inside the Mind of the President by Justin A. Franksource (opens in a new tab)
  7. Pauline Kael: A Life in the Dark by Brian Kellowsource (opens in a new tab)
  8. The Destiny of the Republic: A Tale of Madness, Medicine, and the Murder of a President by Candice Millardsource (opens in a new tab)

Adult Books: Fiction

  1. 1Q84 by Haruki Murakamisource (opens in a new tab)
  2. American Boy by Larry Watsonsource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Broken Irish by Edward J. Delaneysource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Caleb’s Crossing by Geraldine Brookssource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Changó’s Beads and Two-Tone Shoes by William Kennedysource (opens in a new tab)
  6. Clara and Mr. Tiffany by Susan Vreelandsource (opens in a new tab)
  7. Conquistadora by Esmeralda Santiagosource (opens in a new tab)
  8. Emily, Alone by Stewart O’Nansource (opens in a new tab)
  9. Faith by Jennifer Haighsource (opens in a new tab)
  10. Lost Memory of Skin by Russell Bankssource (opens in a new tab)
  11. Luminarium by Alex Shakarsource (opens in a new tab)
  12. Millennium People by J. G. Ballardsource (opens in a new tab)
  13. Saints and Sinners by Edna O’Briensource (opens in a new tab)
  14. The Art of Fielding by Chad Harbachsource (opens in a new tab)
  15. The Cat’s Table by Michael Ondaatjesource (opens in a new tab)
  16. The Empty Family by Colm Tóibínsource (opens in a new tab)
  17. The Evolution of Bruno Littlemore by Benjamin Halesource (opens in a new tab)
  18. The Forgotten Waltz by Anne Enrightsource (opens in a new tab)
  19. The Glass Demon by Helen Grantsource (opens in a new tab)
  20. The Marriage Plot by Jeffrey Eugenidessource (opens in a new tab)
  21. The Matchmaker of Kenmare by Frank Delaneysource (opens in a new tab)
  22. The Secret History of Costaguana by Juan Gabriel Vásquez, translated by Anne McLeansource (opens in a new tab)
  23. The Time in Between by María Dueñas, translated by Daniel Hahnsource (opens in a new tab)
  24. The Winter Palace by Eva Stachniaksource (opens in a new tab)
  25. The Year We Left Home by Jean Thompsonsource (opens in a new tab)
  26. To Be Sung Underwater by Tom McNealsource (opens in a new tab)
  27. Turn of Mind by Alice LaPlantesource (opens in a new tab)
  28. West of Here by Jonathan Evisonsource (opens in a new tab)
  29. When God Was a Rabbit by Sarah Winmansource (opens in a new tab)
  30. When She Woke by Hillary Jordansource (opens in a new tab)

Adult Books: History

  1. Founding Gardeners: The Revolutionary Generation, Nature, and the Shaping of the American Nation by Andrea Wulfsource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Jerusalem: The Biography by Simon Montefioresource (opens in a new tab)
  3. The Greater Journey: American in Paris by David McCulloughsource (opens in a new tab)

Adult Books: Poetry

  1. Ardency: A Chronicle of the Amistad Rebels by Kevin Youngsource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Dear Prudence: New and Selected Poems by David Trinidadsource (opens in a new tab)

Adult Books: Science

  1. A Planet of Viruses by Carl Zimmersource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Moby-Duck: The True Story of 28,000 Bath Toys Lost at Sea and of the Beachcombers, Oceanographers, Environmentalists, and Fools, Including the Author, Who Went in Search of Them by Donovan Hohnsource (opens in a new tab)
  3. The Book of Universes: Exploring the Limits of the Cosmos by John D. Barrowsource (opens in a new tab)
  4. The Quantum Story: A History in 40 Moments by Jim Baggottsource (opens in a new tab)

Adult Books: Social Sciences

  1. Class Warfare: Inside the Fight to Fix America’s Schools by Steven Brillsource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Death in the City of Light: The Serial Killer of Nazi-Occupied Paris by David Kingsource (opens in a new tab)
  3. News for All the People: The Epic Story of Race and the American Media by Juan González and Joseph Torressource (opens in a new tab)
  4. The Big Thirst: The Secret Life and Turbulent Future of Water by Charles Fishmansource (opens in a new tab)
  5. The Haves and the Have-Nots: A Brief and Idiosyncratic History of Inequality around the Globe by Branko Milanovicsource (opens in a new tab)
  6. The Information: A History, a Theory, a Flood by James Gleicksource (opens in a new tab)
  7. The Invisible Line: Three American Families and the Secret Journey from Black to White by Daniel J. Sharfsteinsource (opens in a new tab)
  8. The Map of My Dead Pilots: The Dangerous Game of Flying in Alaska by Colleen Mondorsource (opens in a new tab)
  9. The Mirage Man: Bruce Ivins, the Anthrax Attacks, and America’s Rush to War by David Willmansource (opens in a new tab)
  10. The Most Human Human: What Talking to Computers Teaches Us about What It Means to Be Alive by Brian Christiansource (opens in a new tab)
  11. The Social Animal: The Hidden Sources of Love, Character, and Achievement by David Brookssource (opens in a new tab)

Books for Youth: Fiction, Middle Readers

  1. A Storm Called Katrina by Myron Uhlbergsource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Around the World by Matt Phelansource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Brother Sun, Sister Moon by Katherine Patersonsource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Inside Out and Back Again by Thanhha Laisource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Lost & Found by Shaun Tansource (opens in a new tab)
  6. Mo Wren, Lost and Found by Tricia Springstubbsource (opens in a new tab)
  7. My Name Is Mina by David Almondsource (opens in a new tab)
  8. Never Forgotten by Patricia McKissacksource (opens in a new tab)
  9. No Ordinary Day by Deborah Ellissource (opens in a new tab)
  10. Sparrow Road by Sheila O’Connorsource (opens in a new tab)
  11. The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making by Catherynne M. Valentesource (opens in a new tab)
  12. The Silver Bowl by Diane Stanleysource (opens in a new tab)
  13. The Wikkeling by Steven Arntsonsource (opens in a new tab)
  14. Wonderstruck by Brian Selznicksource (opens in a new tab)

Books for Youth: Fiction, Older Readers

  1. A Monster Calls by Patrick Nesssource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Anya’s Ghost by Vera Brosgolsource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetyssource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Chime by Franny Billingsleysource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Guantanamo Boy by Anna Pererasource (opens in a new tab)
  6. Island’s End by Padma Venkatramansource (opens in a new tab)
  7. Karma by Cathy Ostleresource (opens in a new tab)
  8. Leverage by Joshua C. Cohensource (opens in a new tab)
  9. Life: An Exploded Diagram by Mal Peetsource (opens in a new tab)
  10. Now Playing: Stoner & Spaz II by Ron Koertgesource (opens in a new tab)
  11. Okay for Now by Gary D. Schmidtsource (opens in a new tab)
  12. Paper Covers Rock by Jenny Hubbardsource (opens in a new tab)
  13. The Big Crunch by Pete Hautmansource (opens in a new tab)
  14. The Watch That Ends the Night: Voices from the Titanic by Allan Wolfsource (opens in a new tab)
  15. Why We Broke Up by Daniel Handlersource (opens in a new tab)
  16. You Killed Wesley Payne by Sean Beaudoinsource (opens in a new tab)

Books for Youth: Fiction, Young Readers

  1. 999 Tadpoles by Ken Kimurasource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Lola’s Fandango by Anna Wittesource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Mouse & Lion by Rand Burkertsource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Mudkin by Stephen Gammellsource (opens in a new tab)
  5. No Two Alike by Keith Bakersource (opens in a new tab)
  6. Stars by Mary Lyn Raysource (opens in a new tab)

Books for Youth: Nonfiction, Middle Readers

  1. Basketball Belles: How Two Teams and One Scrappy Player Put Women’s Hoops on the Map by Sue Macysource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Drawing from Memory by Allen Saysource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Heart and Soul: The Story of America and African Americans by Kadir Nelsonsource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Irena Sendler and the Children of the Warsaw Ghetto by Susan Goldman Rubinsource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Roots and Blues: A Celebration by Arnold Adoffsource (opens in a new tab)
  6. The Great Migration: Journey to the North by Eloise Greenfieldsource (opens in a new tab)
  7. The House Baba Built: An Artist’s Childhood in China by Ed Young and Libby Koponensource (opens in a new tab)
  8. The Watcher: Jane Goodall’s Life with the Chimps by Jeanette Wintersource (opens in a new tab)

Books for Youth: Nonfiction, Older Readers

  1. Bootleg: Murder, Moonshine, and the Lawless Years of Prohibition by Karen Blumenthalsource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Flesh & Blood So Cheap: The Triangle Fire and Its Legacy by Albert Marrinsource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Gangs by Richard Swiftsource (opens in a new tab)
  4. I. M. Pei: Architect of Time, Place, and Purpose by Jill Rubalcabasource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Little Rock Girl 1957: How a Photograph Changed the Fight for Integration by Shelley Tougassource (opens in a new tab)

Books for Youth: Nonfiction, Young Readers

  1. A Nation’s Hope: The Story of Boxing Legend Joe Louis by Matt de la Peñasource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Balloons over Broadway: The True Story of the Puppeteer of Macy’s Parade by Melissa Sweetsource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Me . . . Jane by Patrick McDonnellsource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Swirl by Swirl: Spirals in Nature by Joyce Sidmansource (opens in a new tab)

About the Booklist Editors' Choice

Booklist's annual Editors' Choice lists, read from Booklist's own feature articles on booklistonline.com (fetched through the site's public JSON API at pub.booklistonline.com, which the client-side page loads). Covers the book lists only: Adult Books, Adult Books for Young Adults, Books for Youth, and Graphic Novels (a separate list from 2023). Audio, Media, Video, and Reference Sources lists are left out; reference titles that Booklist placed inside the Adult Books list are kept. Year is the year in the list's title (the publication year of the books); the list appears in the December 1 or January 1 issue that follows. Category is the list name plus Booklist's own section heading for that year (for example Adult Books: Social Sciences, Books for Youth: Nonfiction, Older Readers), so section names change when Booklist renamed them. Every entry is a Selection; Booklist does not rank them. For edited anthologies the editor is recorded as author. Expected counts are the citations printed under each section of the cited feature.

Organization: Booklist (American Library Association). Official site (opens in a new tab)

The most recommended books of 2011