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New York Public Library Best Books 2015

New York Public Library Best Books 2015 names 151 books across 2 categories. 43 of them also won or were shortlisted for an award.

Best Books for Kids

  1. 28 Days: Moments in Black History That Changed the World by Charles R. Smithsource (opens in a new tab)
  2. 8: An Animal Alphabet by Elisha Coopersource (opens in a new tab)
  3. A Great Big Cuddle: Poems for the Very Young by Michael Rosensource (opens in a new tab)
  4. A Nearer Moon by Melanie Crowdersource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Baba Yaga's Assistant by Marika McCoolasource (opens in a new tab)
  6. Beastly Verse by JooHee Yoonsource (opens in a new tab)
  7. Buckle and Squash by Sarah Courtauldsource (opens in a new tab)
  8. Cakes in Space (A Not-So-Impossible Tale) by Philip Reevesource (opens in a new tab)
  9. Chinese Fairy Tale Feasts: A Literary Cookbook by Paul Yeesource (opens in a new tab)
  10. Circus Mirandus by Cassie Beasleysource (opens in a new tab)
  11. Counting Lions by Katie Cottonsource (opens in a new tab)
  12. Crenshaw by Katherine Applegatesource (opens in a new tab)
  13. Detective Gordon: The First Case by Ulf Nilssonsource (opens in a new tab)
  14. Dream On, Amber by Emma Shevahsource (opens in a new tab)
  15. Drum Dream Girl: How One Girl's Courage Changed Music by Margarita Englesource (opens in a new tab)
  16. Echo by Pam Munoz Ryansource (opens in a new tab)
  17. Families, Families, Families! by Susan and Max Langsource (opens in a new tab)
  18. Fearsome Creatures of the Lumberwoods by Hal Johnsonsource (opens in a new tab)
  19. Finding Winnie: The True Story of the World's Most Famous Bear by Lindsay Matticksource (opens in a new tab)
  20. Finding the Worm by Mark Goldblattsource (opens in a new tab)
  21. Float by Daniel Miyaressource (opens in a new tab)
  22. Flutter & Hum: Animal Poems / Aleteo y Zumbido: Poemas de Animales by Julie Paschkissource (opens in a new tab)
  23. Fort by Cynthia DeFelicesource (opens in a new tab)
  24. Frederick's Journey: The Life of Frederick Douglass by Doreen Rappaportsource (opens in a new tab)
  25. Full Cicada Moon by Marilyn Hiltonsource (opens in a new tab)
  26. Funny Bones: Posada and His Day of the Dead Calaveras by Duncan Tonatiuhsource (opens in a new tab)
  27. George by Alex Ginosource (opens in a new tab)
  28. Gone Crazy in Alabama by Rita Williams-Garciasource (opens in a new tab)
  29. Goodbye Stranger by Rebecca Steadsource (opens in a new tab)
  30. Gordon Parks: How the Photographer Captured Black and White America by Carole Boston Weatherfordsource (opens in a new tab)
  31. Hamster Princess: Harriet the Invincible by Ursula Vernonsource (opens in a new tab)
  32. Hilo:The Boy Who Crashed to EArth by Judd Winicksource (opens in a new tab)
  33. Hippos Are Huge! by Jonathan Londonsource (opens in a new tab)
  34. Hoot Owl, Master of Disguise by Sean Taylorsource (opens in a new tab)
  35. I, Fly: The Buzz about Flies and How Awesome They Are by Bridget Heossource (opens in a new tab)
  36. If You Plant A Seed by Kadir Nelsonsource (opens in a new tab)
  37. In a Village by the Sea by Muon Vansource (opens in a new tab)
  38. Last Stop on Market Street by Matt de la Penasource (opens in a new tab)
  39. Lenny & Lucy by Philip C. Steadsource (opens in a new tab)
  40. Lilliput by Sam Gaytonsource (opens in a new tab)
  41. Lola Levine Is Not Mean! by Monica Brownsource (opens in a new tab)
  42. Look Both Ways in the Barrio Blanco by Judith Robbins Rosesource (opens in a new tab)
  43. Lost in NYC: A Subway Adventure by Nadja Spiegelmansource (opens in a new tab)
  44. Mama's Nightingale: A Story of Immigration and Separation by Edwidge Danticatsource (opens in a new tab)
  45. Mars Evacuees by Sophia McDougallsource (opens in a new tab)
  46. Maya's Blanket / La Manta de Maya by Monica Brownsource (opens in a new tab)
  47. Mesmerized: How Ben Franklin Solved a Mystery that Baffled All of France by Mara Rockliffsource (opens in a new tab)
  48. My Pen by Christopher Myerssource (opens in a new tab)
  49. Nathan Hale's Hazardous Tales: The Underground Abductor by Nathan Halesource (opens in a new tab)
  50. On the Shoulder of a Giant by Neil Christophersource (opens in a new tab)
  51. One Plastic Bag: Isatou Ceesay and the Recycling Women of the Gambia by Miranda Paulsource (opens in a new tab)
  52. Orangutanka: A Story in Poems by Margarita Englesource (opens in a new tab)
  53. Out of the Woods: A True Story of an Unforgettable Event by Rebecca Bondsource (opens in a new tab)
  54. Piper Green and the Fairy Tree by Ellen Pottersource (opens in a new tab)
  55. Rhythm Ride: A Road Trip Through the Motown Sound by Andrea Davis Pinkneysource (opens in a new tab)
  56. Roller Girl by Victoria Jamiesonsource (opens in a new tab)
  57. Sail Away by Langston Hughessource (opens in a new tab)
  58. Secret Coders by Gene Luen Yangsource (opens in a new tab)
  59. Sidewalk Flowers by JonArno Lawsonsource (opens in a new tab)
  60. Sometimes I Feel Like a Fox by Danielle Danielsource (opens in a new tab)
  61. Space Dumplins by Craig Thompsonsource (opens in a new tab)
  62. Stella by Starlight by Sharon M. Drapersource (opens in a new tab)
  63. The Amazing Age of John Roy Lynch by Chris Bartonsource (opens in a new tab)
  64. The Blue Whale by Jenni Desmondsource (opens in a new tab)
  65. The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind: Young Readers Edition by William Kamkwambasource (opens in a new tab)
  66. The Boys in the Boat (Young Readers Adaptation) by Daniel James Brownsource (opens in a new tab)
  67. The Case for Loving: The Fight for Interracial Marriage by Selina Alkosource (opens in a new tab)
  68. The Grasshopper & the Ants by Jerry Pinkneysource (opens in a new tab)
  69. The Great Monkey Rescue: Saving the Golden Lion Tamarins by Sandra Marklesource (opens in a new tab)
  70. The Iliad by Gillian Crosssource (opens in a new tab)
  71. The Jumbies by Tracey Baptistesource (opens in a new tab)
  72. The King and the Sea by Heinz Janisch and Wolf Erlbruchsource (opens in a new tab)
  73. The Lightning Queen by Laura Resausource (opens in a new tab)
  74. The Lunch Witch by Deb Luckesource (opens in a new tab)
  75. The Marvels by Brian Selznicksource (opens in a new tab)
  76. The Nest by Kenneth Oppelsource (opens in a new tab)
  77. The Night World by Mordicai Gersteinsource (opens in a new tab)
  78. The Only Child by Guojingsource (opens in a new tab)
  79. The Popcorn Astronauts: And Other Biteable Rhymes by Deborah Ruddellsource (opens in a new tab)
  80. The Princess and the Pony by Kate Beatonsource (opens in a new tab)
  81. The Seventh Most Important Thing by Shelley Pearsallsource (opens in a new tab)
  82. The Tale of Rescue by Michael Rosensource (opens in a new tab)
  83. The Tapper Twins Go to War (With Each Other) by Geoff Rodkeysource (opens in a new tab)
  84. The Tea Party in the Woods by Akiko Miyakoshisource (opens in a new tab)
  85. The Thing About Jellyfish by Ali Benjaminsource (opens in a new tab)
  86. The War That Saved My Life by Kimberly Brubaker Bradleysource (opens in a new tab)
  87. The Whisper by Pamela Zagarenskisource (opens in a new tab)
  88. The Wolf-Birds by Willow Dawsonsource (opens in a new tab)
  89. This Side of Wild: Mutts, Mares, and Laughing Dinosaurs by Gary Paulsensource (opens in a new tab)
  90. Trapped! A Whale's Rescue by Robert Burleighsource (opens in a new tab)
  91. Tree of Wonder: The Many Marvelous Lives of a Rainforest Tree by Kate Messnersource (opens in a new tab)
  92. Tricky Vic: The Impossibly True Story of the Man Who Sold the Eiffel Tower by Greg Pizzolisource (opens in a new tab)
  93. Trombone Shorty by Troy Andrewssource (opens in a new tab)
  94. Untamed: The Wild Life of Jane Goodall by Anita Silveysource (opens in a new tab)
  95. Unusual Chickens for the Exceptional Poultry Farmer by Kelly Jonessource (opens in a new tab)
  96. Vietnamese Children's Favorite Stories by Tran Thi Minh Phuocsource (opens in a new tab)
  97. Voice of Freedom: Fannie Lou Hamer, Spirit of the Civil Rights Movement by Carole Boston Weatherfordsource (opens in a new tab)
  98. Waiting by Kevin Henkessource (opens in a new tab)
  99. Water Is Water: A Book About the Water Cycle by Miranda Paulsource (opens in a new tab)
  100. Wolfie the Bunny by Ame Dyckmansource (opens in a new tab)

Best Books for Teens

  1. All the Bright Places by Jennifer Nivensource (opens in a new tab)
  2. An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahirsource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Audacity by Melanie Crowdersource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Becoming Maria by Sonia Manzanosource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Black Dove White Raven by Elizabeth Weinsource (opens in a new tab)
  6. Bone Gap by Laura Rubysource (opens in a new tab)
  7. Challenger Deep by Neal Shustermansource (opens in a new tab)
  8. Damage Done by Amanda Panitchsource (opens in a new tab)
  9. Dime by E.R. Franksource (opens in a new tab)
  10. Drowned City: Hurricane Katrina & New Orleans by Don Brownsource (opens in a new tab)
  11. Dumplin' by Julie Murphysource (opens in a new tab)
  12. Everything, Everything by Nicola Yoonsource (opens in a new tab)
  13. Faceless by Alyssa Sheinmelsource (opens in a new tab)
  14. Fell of Dark by Patrick Downessource (opens in a new tab)
  15. Game Seven by Paul Volponisource (opens in a new tab)
  16. Hold Tight Don't Let Go: A Novel of Haiti by Laura Rose Wagnersource (opens in a new tab)
  17. Honor Girl by Maggie Thrashsource (opens in a new tab)
  18. Human Body Theater by Maris Wickssource (opens in a new tab)
  19. I Am Princess X by Cherie Priestsource (opens in a new tab)
  20. Kissing in America by Margo Rabbsource (opens in a new tab)
  21. Lumberjanes, Vol. 1: Beware the Kitten Holy by Shannon Watters, Grace Ellis and Noelle Stevensonsource (opens in a new tab)
  22. March: Book Two by John Lewis and Andrew Aydinsource (opens in a new tab)
  23. More Happy Than Not by Adam Silverasource (opens in a new tab)
  24. Most Dangerous: Daniel Ellsberg and the Secret History of the Vietnam War by Steve Sheinkinsource (opens in a new tab)
  25. Ms. Marvel, Vol.2: Generation Why by G. Willow Wilsonsource (opens in a new tab)
  26. Nimona by Noelle Stevensonsource (opens in a new tab)
  27. One by Sarah Crossansource (opens in a new tab)
  28. Only Ever Yours by Louise O'Neillsource (opens in a new tab)
  29. Placebo Junkies by J.C. Carlesonsource (opens in a new tab)
  30. Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertallisource (opens in a new tab)
  31. Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugosource (opens in a new tab)
  32. Symphony for the City of the Dead: Dmitri Shostakovich and the Siege of Leningrad by M. T. Andersonsource (opens in a new tab)
  33. Terrible Typhoid Mary: A True Story of the Deadliest Cook in America by Susan Campbell Bartolettisource (opens in a new tab)
  34. The Alex Crow by Andrew Smithsource (opens in a new tab)
  35. The Boy in the Black Suit by Jason Reynoldssource (opens in a new tab)
  36. The Boys Who Challenged Hitler: Knud Pedersen and the Churchill Club by Phillip Hoosesource (opens in a new tab)
  37. The Bunker Diary by Kevin Brookssource (opens in a new tab)
  38. The Cipher by John C. Fordsource (opens in a new tab)
  39. The Darkest Part of the Forest by Holly Blacksource (opens in a new tab)
  40. The Hired Girl by Laura Amy Schlitzsource (opens in a new tab)
  41. The Porcupine of Truth by Bill Konigsbergsource (opens in a new tab)
  42. The Rest of Us Just Live Here by Patrick Nesssource (opens in a new tab)
  43. The Sacred Lies of Minnow Bly by Stephanie Oakessource (opens in a new tab)
  44. The Stars Never Rise by Rachel Vincentsource (opens in a new tab)
  45. The Wrath and the Dawn by Renee Ahdiehsource (opens in a new tab)
  46. Tommy: The Gun That Changed America by Karen Blumenthalsource (opens in a new tab)
  47. Untwine by Edwidge Danticatsource (opens in a new tab)
  48. Violent Ends by Shaun David Hutchinsonsource (opens in a new tab)
  49. Walk on Earth a Stranger by Rae Carsonsource (opens in a new tab)
  50. What You Left Behind by Jessica Verdisource (opens in a new tab)
  51. Willful Machines by Tim Floreensource (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 2015