Year archive

Best books of 2021

Books selected by independent literary juries and editorial teams in 2021, gathered into one transparent, source-linked reading list. The chronology uses the award year for prizes and list year for editorial recommendations.

Selections
388
Authors
385
Lists & prizes
16

Showing 145–192 of 388

2021Young readers

Kaleidoscope

Brian Selznick

NPR Books We Love

2021Young readers

Magic Candies

Heena Baek, translated by Sophie Bowman

NPR Books We Love

2021Young readers

Me (Moth)

Amber McBride

NPR Books We Love

2021Graphic novels

Monsters

Barry Windsor-Smith

NPR Books We Love

2021Graphic novels

Night Bus

Zuo Ma, translated by Orion Martin

NPR Books We Love

2021Science fiction & fantasy

Noor

Nnedi Okorafor

NPR Books We Love