Best Books of the Year
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School Library Journal

School Library Journal Best Books of the Year 2020

School Library Journal Best Books of the Year 2020 names 117 books across 7 categories. 38 of them also won or were shortlisted for an award.

Chapter Books

  1. Alicia Alonso Takes the Stage by Nancy Ohlinsource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Our Friend Hedgehog: The Story of Us by Lauren Castillosource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Skunk and Badger by Amy Timberlakesource (opens in a new tab)
  4. The Fuzzy Apocalypse by Jonathan Messingersource (opens in a new tab)

Graphic Novels

  1. Almost American Girl: An Illustrated Memoir by Robin Hasource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Be Gay, Do Comics: Queer History, Memoir, and Satire from The Nib by The Nibsource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Beetle & the Hollowbones by Aliza Laynesource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Class Act by Jerry Craftsource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Consent (for Kids!): Boundaries, Respect, and Being in Charge of You by Rachel Briansource (opens in a new tab)
  6. Dancing at the Pity Party: A Dead Mom Graphic Memoir by Tyler Federsource (opens in a new tab)
  7. Dragon Hoops by Gene Luen Yangsource (opens in a new tab)
  8. Flamer by Mike Curatosource (opens in a new tab)
  9. Kodi by Jared Cullumsource (opens in a new tab)
  10. Pea, Bee, & Jay: Stuck Together by Brian “Smitty” Smithsource (opens in a new tab)
  11. Snapdragon by Kat Leyhsource (opens in a new tab)
  12. Superman Smashes the Klan by Gene Luen Yangsource (opens in a new tab)
  13. The Last Halloween: Book 1; Children by Abby Howardsource (opens in a new tab)
  14. Twins by Varian Johnsonsource (opens in a new tab)
  15. When Stars Are Scattered by Victoria Jamieson and Omar Mohamedsource (opens in a new tab)

Manga

  1. Blue Period: Vol. 1 by Tsubasa Yamaguchisource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Goodbye My Rose Garden, Vol. 1 by Dr. Peppercosource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Not Your Idol: Vol. 1 by Aoi Makinosource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Rose of Versailles: Vol. 1 by Riyoko Ikedasource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Sazan and Comet Girl by Yuriko Akasesource (opens in a new tab)
  6. Spy x Family: Vol. 1 by Tatsuya Endosource (opens in a new tab)
  7. The Fox & Little Tanuki: Vol. 1 by Mi Tagawasource (opens in a new tab)
  8. With a Dog and a Cat, Every Day Is Fun: Vol. 1 by Hidekichi Matsumotosource (opens in a new tab)
  9. Yoshi no Zuikara: Vol. 1: The Frog in the Well Does Not Know the Ocean by Satsuki Yoshinosource (opens in a new tab)
  10. Yuzu the Pet Vet: Vol. 1 by Mingo Itosource (opens in a new tab)

Middle Grade

  1. A Wish in the Dark by Christina Soontornvatsource (opens in a new tab)
  2. American as Paneer Pie by Supriya Kelkarsource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Any Day with You by Mae Respiciosource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Chirp by Kate Messnersource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Clean Getaway by Nic Stonesource (opens in a new tab)
  6. Echo Mountain by Lauren Wolksource (opens in a new tab)
  7. Efrén Divided by Ernesto Cisnerossource (opens in a new tab)
  8. Fighting Words by Kimberly Brubaker Bradleysource (opens in a new tab)
  9. Fly on the Wall by Remy Laisource (opens in a new tab)
  10. From the Desk of Zoe Washington by Janae Markssource (opens in a new tab)
  11. King and the Dragonflies by Kacen Callendersource (opens in a new tab)
  12. Land of the Cranes by Aida Salazarsource (opens in a new tab)
  13. Loretta Little Looks Back: Three Voices Go Tell It by Andrea Davis Pinkneysource (opens in a new tab)
  14. Maya and the Rising Dark by Rena Barronsource (opens in a new tab)
  15. Once Upon an Eid: Stories of Hope and Joy by 15 Muslim Voices by S.K. Ali and Aisha Saeedsource (opens in a new tab)
  16. Show Me a Sign by Ann Clare LeZottesource (opens in a new tab)
  17. The Brave by James Birdsource (opens in a new tab)
  18. The Magnificent Monsters of Cedar Street by Lauren Oliversource (opens in a new tab)
  19. The Only Black Girls in Town by Brandy Colbertsource (opens in a new tab)
  20. Tune It Out by Jamie Sumnersource (opens in a new tab)
  21. Twilight Hauntings by Angie Sagesource (opens in a new tab)
  22. Ways To Make Sunshine by Renée Watsonsource (opens in a new tab)
  23. We Dream of Space by Erin Entrada Kellysource (opens in a new tab)
  24. What Lane? by Torrey Maldonadosource (opens in a new tab)
  25. When You Trap a Tiger by Tae Kellersource (opens in a new tab)

Nonfiction

  1. All Thirteen: The Incredible Cave Rescue of the Thai Boys’ Soccer Team by Christina Soontornvatsource (opens in a new tab)
  2. All of a Sudden and Forever: Help and Healing After the Oklahoma City Bombing by Chris Bartonsource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Body Talk: 37 Voices Explore Our Radical Anatomy by Kelly Jensensource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Call Me American: The Extraordinary True Story of a Young Somali Immigrant by Abdi Nor Iftinsource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Desert Diary: Japanese American Kids Behind Barbed Wire by Michael O. Tunnellsource (opens in a new tab)
  6. Exquisite: The Poetry and Life of Gwendolyn Brooks by Suzanne Sladesource (opens in a new tab)
  7. Flowers in the Gutter: The True Story of the Edelweiss Pirates, Teenagers Who Resisted the Nazis by K.R. Gaddysource (opens in a new tab)
  8. Honeybee: The Busy Life of Apis Mellifera by Candace Flemingsource (opens in a new tab)
  9. Lifting as We Climb: Black Women’s Battle for the Ballot Box by Evette Dionnesource (opens in a new tab)
  10. Poisoned Water: How the Citizens of Flint, Michigan, Fought for Their Lives and Warned the Nation by Candy Coopersource (opens in a new tab)
  11. RESPECT: Aretha Franklin, the Queen of Soul by Carole Boston Weatherfordsource (opens in a new tab)
  12. Sharuko: El Arqueólogo Peruano Julio C. Tello/Peruvian Archaeologist Julio C. Tello by Monica Brownsource (opens in a new tab)
  13. Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You: A Remix of the National Book Award–Winning Stamped from the Beginning by Jason Reynolds and Ibram X. Kendisource (opens in a new tab)
  14. The Oldest Student: How Mary Walker Learned To Read by Rita Lorraine Hubbardsource (opens in a new tab)
  15. The Rise and Fall of Charles Lindbergh by Candace Flemingsource (opens in a new tab)
  16. The Talk: Conversations About Race, Love & Truth by Wade Hudson and Cheryl Willissource (opens in a new tab)
  17. This Book Is Anti-Racist: 20 Lessons on How To Wake Up, Take Action, and Do the Work by Tiffany Jewellsource (opens in a new tab)
  18. Woke: A Young Poet’s Call to Justice by Mahogany L. Browne, Elizabeth Acevedo and Olivia Gatewoodsource (opens in a new tab)
  19. You Too?: 25 Voices Share Their #MeToo Stories by Janet Gurtlersource (opens in a new tab)
  20. Your Place in the Universe by Jason Chinsource (opens in a new tab)

Picture Books

  1. 13 Stories About Harris by Amy Schwartzsource (opens in a new tab)
  2. A Gift for Amma: Market Day in India by Meera Sriramsource (opens in a new tab)
  3. All Because You Matter by Tami Charlessource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Evelyn Del Rey Is Moving Away by Meg Medinasource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Every Little Letter by Deborah Underwoodsource (opens in a new tab)
  6. From Ed’s to Ned’s by Gideon Sterersource (opens in a new tab)
  7. I Am Every Good Thing by Derrick Barnessource (opens in a new tab)
  8. I Do Not Like Stories by Andrew Larsensource (opens in a new tab)
  9. I Talk Like a River by Jordan Scottsource (opens in a new tab)
  10. Lift by Minh Lêsource (opens in a new tab)
  11. Magnificent Homespun Brown by Samara Cole Doyonsource (opens in a new tab)
  12. Nana Akua Goes to School by Tricia Elam Walkersource (opens in a new tab)
  13. Nonstop by Tomi Ungerersource (opens in a new tab)
  14. One Little Bag: An Amazing Journey by Henry Colesource (opens in a new tab)
  15. Out the Door by Christy Halesource (opens in a new tab)
  16. Overground Railroad by Lesa Cline-Ransomesource (opens in a new tab)
  17. Salma the Syrian Chef by Danny Ramadansource (opens in a new tab)
  18. Stand Up! Speak Up! by Andrew Joynersource (opens in a new tab)
  19. Sugar in Milk by Thrity Umrigarsource (opens in a new tab)
  20. The Oboe Goes Boom Boom Boom by Colleen Af Venablesource (opens in a new tab)
  21. The Paper Boat: A Refugee Story by Thao Lamsource (opens in a new tab)
  22. We Are Water Protectors by Carole Lindstromsource (opens in a new tab)
  23. Woodpecker Girl by Chingyen Liu and I-Tsun Chiangsource (opens in a new tab)
  24. You Matter by Christian Robinsonsource (opens in a new tab)

Young Adult

  1. Black Girl Unlimited: The Remarkable Story of a Teenage Wizard by Echo Brownsource (opens in a new tab)
  2. Breathless by Jennifer Nivensource (opens in a new tab)
  3. Camp by L.C. Rosensource (opens in a new tab)
  4. Charming as a Verb by Ben Philippesource (opens in a new tab)
  5. Clap When You Land by Elizabeth Acevedosource (opens in a new tab)
  6. How It All Blew Up by Arvin Ahmadisource (opens in a new tab)
  7. Legendborn by Tracy Deonnsource (opens in a new tab)
  8. Not So Pure and Simple by Lamar Gilessource (opens in a new tab)
  9. Punching the Air by Ibi Zoboi and Yusef Salaamsource (opens in a new tab)
  10. Raybearer by Jordan Ifuekosource (opens in a new tab)
  11. Sanctuary by Paola Mendoza and Abby Shersource (opens in a new tab)
  12. Stay Gold by Tobly McSmithsource (opens in a new tab)
  13. Super Fake Love Song by David Yoonsource (opens in a new tab)
  14. The Black Flamingo by Dean Attasource (opens in a new tab)
  15. The Black Kids by Christina Hammonds Reedsource (opens in a new tab)
  16. The Mermaid, the Witch, and the Sea by Maggie Tokuda-Hallsource (opens in a new tab)
  17. Tigers, Not Daughters by Samantha Mabrysource (opens in a new tab)
  18. We Are Not Free by Traci Cheesource (opens in a new tab)
  19. We Are Not from Here by Jenny Torres Sanchezsource (opens in a new tab)

About the School Library Journal Best Books of the Year

School Library Journal's annual Best Books list, 2006-2025. Year is the list year (published each November or December). Categories follow the sections SLJ used that year: 2006, 2007 and 2009 were one alphabetical list (category 'Best Books'); 2008 and 2010-2013 used Picture Books, Fiction and Nonfiction; 2014 onward split Fiction into Middle Grade and Young Adult; Chapter Books (SLJ also called it Transitional Chapter Books or Transitional Books) from 2016; Graphic Novels from 2018; Poetry in 2018 and from 2021; Manga (SLJ's Top 10 Manga, linked as a Best Books section) from 2019; Nonfiction split into Nonfiction Elementary and Nonfiction Middle to High School from 2023. A book SLJ placed in two sections appears in both. Excluded: the separately edited Adult Books 4 Teens and Top 10 Graphic Novels lists, and non-book lists (apps, audiobooks, music, DVDs). Sources: slj.com pages; Wayback Machine copies for 2006 (schoollibraryjournal.com), 2012, 2014, 2015 and 2016-2017 (slj.com/bestofYYYY microsites), where the live pages no longer carry the list.

Organization: School Library Journal. Official site (opens in a new tab)

The most recommended books of 2020