Best Books of the Year
Menu

The New York Public Library

New York Public Library Best Books 2014

New York Public Library Best Books 2014 names 125 books across 2 categories. 28 of them also won or were shortlisted for an award.

Best Books for Kids

  1. A Dance Like Starlight by Kristy Dempseysource (opens in a new tab)
  2. A Pond Full of Ink by Annie M.G. Schmidtsource (opens in a new tab)
  3. A Snicker of Magic by Natalie Lloydsource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Absolutely Almost by Lisa Graffsource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Abuelo by Arthur Dorrossource (opens in a new tab)
  6. Angel Island by Russell Freedmansource (opens in a new tab)
  7. Anna Carries Water by Olive Seniorsource (opens in a new tab)
  8. At Home in Her Tomb by Christine Liu-Perkinssource (opens in a new tab)
  9. Audrey (cow) by Dan Bar-elsource (opens in a new tab)
  10. Bad Bye, Good Bye by Deborah Underwoodsource (opens in a new tab)
  11. Ballerina Dreams by Michaela and Elaine DePrincesource (opens in a new tab)
  12. Boys of Blur by N.D. Wilsonsource (opens in a new tab)
  13. Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodsonsource (opens in a new tab)
  14. Bruno & Lulu's Playground Adventures by Patricia Lakinsource (opens in a new tab)
  15. Buried Sunlight by Molly Bang and Penny Chisholmsource (opens in a new tab)
  16. Caminar by Skila Brownsource (opens in a new tab)
  17. Chasing Cheetahs by Sy Montgomerysource (opens in a new tab)
  18. Curiosity by Gary Blackwoodsource (opens in a new tab)
  19. Dory Fantasmagory by Abby Hanlonsource (opens in a new tab)
  20. Dragon's Extraordinary Egg by Debi Gliorisource (opens in a new tab)
  21. El Deafo by Cece Bellsource (opens in a new tab)
  22. Everybody Paints! by Susan Goldman Rubinsource (opens in a new tab)
  23. Food Trucks by Mark Toddsource (opens in a new tab)
  24. Fox's Garden by Princesse Camcamsource (opens in a new tab)
  25. Frank Einstein and the Antimatter Motor by Jon Scieszkasource (opens in a new tab)
  26. Grandfather Gandhi by Arun Gandhi and Bethany Hegedussource (opens in a new tab)
  27. Greek Mythology by Ken Jenningssource (opens in a new tab)
  28. Green Is a Chile Pepper by Roseanne Greenfield Thongsource (opens in a new tab)
  29. Guys Read: True Stories by Jon Scieszka (ed)source (opens in a new tab)
  30. Handle With Care by Loree Griffin Burnssource (opens in a new tab)
  31. Have You Seen My Dragon? by Steve Lightsource (opens in a new tab)
  32. He Has Shot the President by Don Brownsource (opens in a new tab)
  33. Henny by Elizabeth Rose Stantonsource (opens in a new tab)
  34. Hi, Koo! by Jon J. Muthsource (opens in a new tab)
  35. Hidden by Loic Dauvilliersource (opens in a new tab)
  36. Hook's Revenge by Heidi Schulzsource (opens in a new tab)
  37. Issun Boshi by Ichinorisource (opens in a new tab)
  38. Josephine by Patricia Hruby Powellsource (opens in a new tab)
  39. Julia's House for Lost Creatures by Ben Hatkesource (opens in a new tab)
  40. Kid Sheriff and the Terrible Toads by Bob Sheasource (opens in a new tab)
  41. Leroy Ninker Saddles Up by Kate DiCamillosource (opens in a new tab)
  42. Lindbergh by Torben Kuhlmannsource (opens in a new tab)
  43. Little Elliot, Big City by Mike Curatosource (opens in a new tab)
  44. Lulu and the Rabbit Next Door by Hilary McKaysource (opens in a new tab)
  45. Mama Built a Little Nest by Jennifer Wardsource (opens in a new tab)
  46. Mikis and the Donkey by Bibi Dumon Taksource (opens in a new tab)
  47. My Country, 'tis of Thee by Claire Rudolf Murphysource (opens in a new tab)
  48. My Grandfather's Coat by Jim Aylesworthsource (opens in a new tab)
  49. Nana in the City by Lauren Castillosource (opens in a new tab)
  50. Neighborhood Sharks by Katherine Roysource (opens in a new tab)
  51. Night Sky Dragons by Mal Peet and Elspeth Grahamsource (opens in a new tab)
  52. Nightingale's Nest by Nikki Loftinsource (opens in a new tab)
  53. Oliver and the Seawigs by Philip Reevesource (opens in a new tab)
  54. Once Upon an Alphabet by Oliver Jefferssource (opens in a new tab)
  55. Operation Bunny by Sally Gardnersource (opens in a new tab)
  56. Ophelia and the Marvelous Boy by Karen Foxleesource (opens in a new tab)
  57. Phoebe and Her Unicorn by Dana Simpsonsource (opens in a new tab)
  58. Poem-Mobiles by J. Patrick Lewis and Douglas Floriansource (opens in a new tab)
  59. Princess Sparkle-Heart Gets a Makeover by Josh Schneidersource (opens in a new tab)
  60. Puss & Boots by Ayano Imaisource (opens in a new tab)
  61. Rules of Summer by Shaun Tansource (opens in a new tab)
  62. Saving Baby Doe by Dannette Vigilantesource (opens in a new tab)
  63. Secrets of the Terra-Cotta Soldier by Ying Chang Compestine and Vinson Compestinesource (opens in a new tab)
  64. Separate Is Never Equal by Duncan Tonatiuhsource (opens in a new tab)
  65. Seven Wild Sisters by Charles de Lintsource (opens in a new tab)
  66. Shoe Dog by Megan McDonaldsource (opens in a new tab)
  67. Sisters by Raina Telgemeiersource (opens in a new tab)
  68. Star Stuff by Stephanie Roth Sissonsource (opens in a new tab)
  69. Stubby the War Dog by Ann Bausumsource (opens in a new tab)
  70. Tales of Bunjitsu Bunny by John Himmelmansource (opens in a new tab)
  71. Tap Tap Boom Boom by Elizabeth Bluemlesource (opens in a new tab)
  72. The Baby Tree by Sophie Blackallsource (opens in a new tab)
  73. The Cabinet of Curiosities by Stefan Bachmannsource (opens in a new tab)
  74. The Crossover by Kwame Alexandersource (opens in a new tab)
  75. The Dumbest Idea Ever! by Jimmy Gownleysource (opens in a new tab)
  76. The Fourteenth Goldfish by Jennifer L. Holmsource (opens in a new tab)
  77. The Fox and the Crow by Manasi Subramaniamsource (opens in a new tab)
  78. The Girl and the Bicycle by Mark Pettsource (opens in a new tab)
  79. The Girl from the Tar Paper School by Teri Kanefieldsource (opens in a new tab)
  80. The Great Greene Heist by Varian Johnsonsource (opens in a new tab)
  81. The Griffin and the Dinosaur by Marc Aronson and Adrienne Mayorsource (opens in a new tab)
  82. The Jupiter Pirates: Curse of the Iris by Jason Frysource (opens in a new tab)
  83. The Little Mermaid and Other Fishy Tales by Jane Raysource (opens in a new tab)
  84. The Luck Uglies by Paul Durhamsource (opens in a new tab)
  85. The Madman of Piney Woods by Christopher Paul Curtissource (opens in a new tab)
  86. The Mermaid and the Shoe by K.G. Campbellsource (opens in a new tab)
  87. The Most Magnificent Thing by Ashley Spiressource (opens in a new tab)
  88. The Night Gardener by Jonathan Auxiersource (opens in a new tab)
  89. The Princess Who Had No Kingdom by Ursula Jonessource (opens in a new tab)
  90. The Princess of the Springs by Mary Finchsource (opens in a new tab)
  91. The Secrets of Eastcliff-by-the-Sea by Eileen Behasource (opens in a new tab)
  92. The Six Swans by The Brothers Grimmsource (opens in a new tab)
  93. The Stratford Zoo Midnight Revue Presents MacBeth by Ian Lendlersource (opens in a new tab)
  94. Thomas Jefferson by Maira Kalmansource (opens in a new tab)
  95. Three Bears in a Boat by David Somansource (opens in a new tab)
  96. Treaties, Trenches, Mud and Blood by Nathan Halesource (opens in a new tab)
  97. Under the Egg by Laura Marx Fitzgeraldsource (opens in a new tab)
  98. Water Rolls, Water Rises by Pat Morasource (opens in a new tab)
  99. When Lunch Fights Back by Rebecca L. Johnsonsource (opens in a new tab)
  100. Winter Bees and Other Poems of the Cold by Joyce Sidmansource (opens in a new tab)

Best Books for Teens

  1. 100 Sideways Miles by Andrew Smithsource (opens in a new tab)
  2. A Time to Dance by Padma Venkatramansource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Crazy by Linda Vigen Phillipssource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Gabi A Girl In Pieces by Isabel Quinterosource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Girls Like Us by Gail Gilessource (opens in a new tab)
  6. Glory O'Brien's History of the Future by A. S. Kingsource (opens in a new tab)
  7. Grasshopper Jungle by Andrew Smithsource (opens in a new tab)
  8. Half Bad by Sally Greensource (opens in a new tab)
  9. How It Went Down by Kekla Magoonsource (opens in a new tab)
  10. I'll Give You the Sun by Jandy Nelsonsource (opens in a new tab)
  11. Love Letters to the Dead by Ava Dellairasource (opens in a new tab)
  12. Noggin by John Corey Whaleysource (opens in a new tab)
  13. Oblivion by Sasha Dawnsource (opens in a new tab)
  14. Shadow Hero by Gene Luen Yangsource (opens in a new tab)
  15. Silver People by Margarita Englesource (opens in a new tab)
  16. The Family Romanov: Murder, Rebellion, and the Fall of Imperial Russia by Candice Flemingsource (opens in a new tab)
  17. The Here and Now by Ann Brasharessource (opens in a new tab)
  18. The Impossible Knife of Memory by Laurie Halse Andersonsource (opens in a new tab)
  19. The Nethergrim by Matthew Jobinsource (opens in a new tab)
  20. The Winner's Curse by Marie Rutkoskisource (opens in a new tab)
  21. This One Summer by Mariko Tamakisource (opens in a new tab)
  22. Threatened by Eliot Schrefersource (opens in a new tab)
  23. Through the Woods by Emily Carrollsource (opens in a new tab)
  24. We Were Liars by E. Lockhartsource (opens in a new tab)
  25. When I Was the Greatest by Jason Reynoldssource (opens in a new tab)

About the New York Public Library Best Books

The New York Public Library's annual Best Books lists, chosen by NYPL librarians: Best Books for Kids and Best Books for Teens from 2014 (the earliest year NYPL's best-books app carried), Best Books for Adults from 2019 (NYPL's 2018 adults page is empty). 2018-2025 are read from NYPL's current best-books pages, one per audience and year. 2014-2017 come from NYPL's earlier best-books app, read through Wayback Machine snapshots of its kids and teens pages (each sourceUrl is the snapshot). Earlier NYPL lists (100 Titles for Reading and Sharing, Stuff for the Teen Age) were not in that app and are left out. Year is the list year NYPL uses (books published that year). Category is the audience list. Every entry is a Selection. Author is the byline NYPL prints, with illustrator and translator credits split off. Where NYPL truncates a long byline with an ellipsis, the cut-off name is dropped. Five cards print no byline; their authors are taken from the book itself (Didn't Nobody Give a Shit What Happened to Carlotta, Great Carrier Reef, Papá's Magical Water-Jug Clock, A Work in Progress, Man Made Monsters). Expected counts are the 'N Books Found' totals NYPL prints on each page.

Organization: The New York Public Library. Official site (opens in a new tab)

The most recommended books of 2014