The Best of "Best Book" Lists Collection gathers together a selection of popular bestsellers and fan favorites that frequently appear on "Best of" lists. This diverse Collection includes picks to suit a range of age groups and genre preferences, from otherworldly fantasy to gripping crime thrillers.
Publication year 2016
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Family, Identity: Indigenous, Society: Community, Society: Colonialism, Self Discovery
Tags Gender / Feminism, Trauma / Abuse / Violence, Modern Classic Fiction, Canadian Literature
Publication year 2024
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Life/Time: Coming of Age, Society: Nation, Values/Ideas: Literature, Values/Ideas: Order & Chaos, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality
Tags Fantasy, History: World
Publication year 2013
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Family, Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Forgiveness, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Identity: Race, Relationships: Siblings, Self Discovery, Society: Immigration, Society: Politics & Government, Society: War, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice
Tags American Literature
Elizabeth Strout’s novel The Burgess Boys, published in 2013, explores the relationships between adult siblings during a time of family crisis. It examines the ways that past events and traumas continue to shape one’s sense of self. Set amid a Somali refugee crisis in the state of Maine, it also explores the ways that identity forms community and the way that community can be affected by newcomers.The author of 10 novels, Strout is acclaimed for... Read The Burgess Boys Summary
Publication year 2025
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Hate & Anger, Society: Class
Tags Mystery / Crime Fiction, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction
Publication year 2022
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed
Tags Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Mystery / Crime Fiction
Publication year 2018
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Values/Ideas: Fate, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies
Tags Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Mystery / Crime Fiction, LGBTQ
Publication year 2022
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Relationships: Family, Society: Community, Emotions/Behavior: Loneliness, Values/Ideas: Literature
Tags Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Fantasy, Technology, Modern Classic Fiction
Publication year 2023
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Society: War, Relationships: Family, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Emotions/Behavior: Loneliness, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Identity: Disability, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Self Discovery, Society: Class, Society: Community, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies
Tags Historical Fiction, Southern Literature, Southern Gothic, Korean War
Publication year 2022
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Relationships: Friendship, Life/Time: The Past
Tags Mystery / Crime Fiction, Fantasy, Magical Realism, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, History: Asian, Modern Classic Fiction
Publication year 2021
Genre Biography, Nonfiction
Themes Identity: Femininity, Society: Politics & Government, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed
Tags History: World, Biography, Politics / Government, History: European, Women's Studies (Nonfiction)
Publication year 2017
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Family, Values/Ideas: Literature, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies
Tags Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Fantasy, Magical Realism, Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction
Publication year 2021
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Identity: Mental Health, Identity: Sexuality, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Emotions/Behavior: Loneliness, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Emotions/Behavior: Forgiveness, Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Identity: Femininity, Identity: Disability, Identity: Masculinity, Values/Ideas: Beauty, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Relationships: Friendship
Tags Romance, Humor, Love / Sexuality, Relationships, LGBTQ, Modern Classic Fiction, Mental Illness
Publication year 2014
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Marriage, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Emotions/Behavior: Regret, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice
Tags British Literature
The Children Act is a work of literary fiction by British novelist and screenwriter Ian McEwan. Originally published in 2014, The Children Act was inspired by a 1990 case that Sir Alan Ward presided over. The novel fictionalizes this historical case, revolving around the High Court Judge Fiona Maye’s story and character. When Fiona hears that 17-year-old Adam Henry is refusing a blood transfusion because of his Jehovah’s Witness beliefs, she decides to visit him... Read The Children Act Summary
Publication year 1974
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Hate & Anger, Identity: Masculinity, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Self Discovery, Society: Education, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed
Tags Realistic Fiction, Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, Bullying, Education, Education, Modern Classic Fiction, Classic Fiction
The Chocolate War by Robert Cormier, first published in 1974, is a novel that delves into the dark aspects of adolescence, authority, and conformity. Set in an all-boys Catholic high school called Trinity, the story centers around Jerry Renault, a freshman who defies the school’s two most powerful forces–the secret student group known as the Vigils, and acting Headmaster Brother Leon–by refusing to participate in the annual chocolate sale. Jerry’s act of defiance exposes the... Read The Chocolate War Summary
Publication year 2021
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Society: Class, Self Discovery, Identity: Race
Tags Fantasy, Historical Fiction, Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, LGBTQ, History: World, Magical Realism
Publication year 2024
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Loneliness, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Life/Time: Midlife, Life/Time: The Past, Self Discovery, Society: Community
Publication year 2009
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Values/Ideas: Order & Chaos, Society: Politics & Government, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Society: Nation, Emotions/Behavior: Fear
Tags Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Fantasy, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Politics / Government, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction
China Miéville’s The City and the City, originally published in 2009, is a hybrid of two distinct genres—speculative fiction and detective fiction—that explores the human susceptibility to fear and the erection of borders as a response to that fear. Other themes examined in the novel are political corruption, violence inspired by far-right politics, and the allure of myths. The City and the City is the winner of the Arthur C. Clarke Award, the World Fantasy... Read The City and the City Summary
Publication year 2020
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Identity: Race, Identity: Femininity, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice
Tags Fantasy, Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Allegory / Fable / Parable, LGBTQ, Race / Racism, Social Justice, Urban Development, Information Age, African American Literature
Publication year 2022
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Self Discovery, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Society: Community
Tags Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Trauma / Abuse / Violence, Modern Classic Fiction
Publication year 2020
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Society: Politics & Government, Relationships: Siblings, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Society: Class, Society: Economics, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed
Tags Historical Fiction, Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, History: World, Politics / Government