The Best of "Best Book" Lists

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.

Migrations

by Charlotte McConaghy

Publication year 2020

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Natural World: Environment, Emotions/Behavior: Hope, Natural World: Nurture v. Nature

Tags Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Science / Nature, Animals, Modern Classic Fiction

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Minor Feelings

by Cathy Park Hong

Publication year 2020

Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction

Themes Identity: Race, Identity: Gender, Relationships: Daughters & Sons

Tags Race / Racism, Social Justice, Relationships, Gender / Feminism, American Literature, Korean Literature, Women's Studies (Nonfiction), Asian Literature, Biography

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Miracle Creek

by Angie Kim

Publication year 2019

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies

Tags Asian Literature, Korean Literature, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction

Angie Kim’s novel Miracle Creek (2019) is a courtroom drama and classic whodunit—during an alternative medical treatment, hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT), an explosion kills two people and injures six others. The fire that caused the explosion was set deliberately, and readers follow along as Kim weaves moments of drama set in the present with flashbacks to the past. Kim, a Korean immigrant who came to the United States as a child with her parents, is... Read Miracle Creek Summary

Mockingjay

by Suzanne Collins

Publication year 2010

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Society: War, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Emotions/Behavior: Revenge, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed

Tags Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Action / Adventure, Fantasy, Romance

Mockingjay, published in 2010 by Scholastic, is the third novel in Suzanne Collins’s bestselling Hunger Games series. The series follows the life of Katniss Everdeen, an adolescent girl living in the futuristic dystopia of Panem. Mockingjay focuses on the civil war between the 13 districts of Panem and the oppressive government of the Capitol. Through Katniss’s experiences in the war, Collins explores cycles of oppression, the meaning of love in wartime, and the power of... Read Mockingjay Summary

Mom & Me & Mom

by Maya Angelou

Publication year 2013

Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction

Themes Relationships: Mothers, Relationships: Daughters & Sons, Self Discovery, Relationships: Family, Identity: Sexuality, Identity: Race, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Forgiveness, Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Emotions/Behavior: Love

Tags Gender / Feminism, Race / Racism, Women's Studies (Nonfiction), Biography

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Monsters: A Fan's Dilemma

by Claire Dederer

Publication year 2023

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Art, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Identity: Femininity, Identity: Gender, Identity: Masculinity, Identity: Race

Tags Arts / Culture, Gender / Feminism, Philosophy

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Moonflower Murders

by Anthony Horowitz

Publication year 2020

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Literature, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed

Tags Mystery / Crime Fiction, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction

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Moon Witch, Spider King

by Marlon James

Publication year 2022

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Society: Colonialism, Identity: Gender

Tags Fantasy, Historical Fiction, LGBTQ, Gender / Feminism, Trauma / Abuse / Violence, Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction

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Moxie

by Jennifer Mathieu

Publication year 2017

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Life/Time: Coming of Age, Self Discovery, Values/Ideas: Equality

Tags Gender / Feminism, Bullying, Realistic Fiction, Romance, Modern Classic Fiction

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Mr. Wrong Number

by Lynn Painter

Publication year 2022

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Love, Relationships: Family, Self Discovery

Tags Romance, Humor

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Ms. Bixby's Last Day

by John David Anderson

Publication year 2016

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Life/Time: Mortality & Death

Tags Realistic Fiction, Humor, Action / Adventure, Children's Literature, Education, Education, Grief / Death

... Read Ms. Bixby's Last Day Summary

Murder at the Vicarage

by Agatha Christie

Publication year 1930

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Marriage, Society: Class, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice

Tags Mystery / Crime Fiction, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Classic Fiction, British Literature

Published in 1930, Murder at the Vicarage is Agatha Christie’s first novel featuring the elderly detective Miss Marple. The character first appears in a 1927 short story entitled “The Tuesday Murder Club.” In Murder at the Vicarage, unpopular bully Colonel Protheroe dies from a gunshot wound in the study of St. Mary Mead’s Vicarage. All suspects have an alibi, including the victim’s wife and her lover, who each admits guilt to divert suspicion from the... Read Murder at the Vicarage Summary

Murder Your Employer: The McMasters Guide to Homicide

by Rupert Holmes

Publication year 2023

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Apathy, Emotions/Behavior: Revenge, Life/Time: Mortality & Death

Tags Mystery / Crime Fiction, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Historical Fiction, Humor

... Read Murder Your Employer: The McMasters Guide to Homicide Summary

My Best Friend's Exorcism

by Grady Hendrix

Publication year 2016

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Society: Class, Relationships: Friendship, Relationships: Family, Society: Community, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice

Tags Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Fantasy, Humor, Religion / Spirituality

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My Broken Language

by Quiara Alegría Hudes

Publication year 2021

Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction

Themes Relationships: Family, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Identity: Language, Identity: Race, Society: Class, Society: Community, Society: Immigration

Tags Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, Race / Racism, Biography

... Read My Broken Language Summary