Brainstorm 96: Top 10s of 2016 (Part 2)

Top 10s of 2016 (Part 2): Young Adult Fiction, Adult Fiction, Graphic Novels & Poetry
As mentioned in Part 1, these are my top picks from what I read in 2016 to try and help others find books that look enticing. Unless otherwise noted, books may have been published in any year. Some books may appeal to multiple audiences, but I only allowed it in one of those levels' lists. I helped narrow down my choices on these lists by only allowing myself to include only one title per a series and only titles currently owned by the school's media centers where I work. (Because the ICS Bangkok community is the first audience I have in mind when I write these, and I want them to be able to snatch up any tempting title immediately.) My absolute favorites appear on the top of the lists, and then somewhat in descending order of favoritism...but often consider everything below the top just tied for second. In the interest of space, my summaries and reviews are not appearing here. Click on the book titles to see those. Enjoy!


Top 10 Young Adult Fiction: Historical Fiction or Contemporary Fiction (Includes Reimagined Histories)

Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys

A Death-Struck Year by Makiia Lucier

The Possibility of NOW by Kim Culbertson

The Lightning Dreamer: Cuba’s Greatest Abolitionist by Margarita Engle

Stalking Jack the Ripper (Stalking Jack the Ripper, #1) by Kerri Maniscalco

Catch a Falling Star by Kim Culbertson

My Lady Jane by Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton, Jodi Meadows

Love, Lies and Spies by Cindy Anstey

Newt’s Emerald by Garth Nix

Wrapped by Jennifer Bradbury


Top 10 Young Adult Fiction: Science Fiction or Fantasy

The Reader (Sea of Ink and Gold, #1) by Traci Chee

Calamity (Reckoners, #3) by Brandon Sanderson

The Story of Owen (The Story of Owen, #1) by E.K. Johnston

Winter (Lunar Chronicles, #4) by Marissa Meyer

The Star-Touched Queen (Star-Touched Queen, #1) by Roshani Choski

The Girl from Everywhere (Girl from Everywhere, #1) by Heidi Heilig

Dark Energy by Robinson Wells

Railhead (Railhead, #1) by Philip Reeve

Shadow Queen (Ravenspire, #1) by C.J. Redwine

Burning Midnight by Will McIntosh


Top 10 Adult Fiction

The Bands of Mourning (Mistborn, #6) by Brandon Sanderson

Andromeda Strain by Michael Crichton

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child (Harry Potter, #8) by J.K. Rowling, John Tiffany, and Jack Thorne

Dressed for Death (Drew Farthering Mystery, #4) by Julianna Deering

Thief of Time (Discworld, #26/DEATH, #5) by Terry Pratchett

When We Were Orphans by Kazuo Ishiguro

The Yard (Scotland Yard’s Murder Squad, #1) by Alex Grecian

Smaller and Smaller Circles by F.H. Batacan

Portuguese Irregular Verbs (Portuguese Irregular Verbs, #1) by Alexander McCall Smith

The Masked City (The Invisible Library, #2) by Genevieve Cogman


Top 10 Young Adult & Adult Graphic Novels & Comics

Groot by Jeff Loveness, ill. by Brian Kesinger

White Sand (White Sand, #1) by Brandon Sanderson, Rik Hoskin, ill. by Julius M. Gopez

Invader Zim, Vol 1. by Jhonen Vásquez, Eric Trueheart, ill. by Aaron Alexovich, et. al.

Shadow Hero by Gene Luen Yang, ill. by Sonny Liew

Cook Korean!: a Comic Book with Recipes by Robin Ha

Unbeatable Squirrel Girl, Vol. 2: Squirrel You Know It’s True by Ryan North, ill. by Erica Henderson

Ms Marvel, Vol. 4: Last Days by G. Willow Wilson, ill. by Adrian Alphona

Rocket Racoon, Vol. 2: Storytailer by Skottie Young, ill. by Filipe Andrade & Jake Parker

Leaf by Daishu Ma

Mooncop by Tom Gauld


Top 10 Lower Grade & Middle Grade Graphic Novels & Comics

Snow White: a Graphic Novel by Matt Phelan

Awkward by Svetlana Chmakova

Dragonslayer (Babymouse, #11) by Jennifer L. Holm, ill. by Matthew Holm

Alamo All-Stars (Nathan Hale’s Hazardous Tales, #6) by Nathan Hale

Hippopotamister by John Patrick Green

Razzle Dazzle Unicorn (Heavenly Nostrils, #4) by Dana Simpson

Red’s Planet (Red’s Planet, #1) by Eddie Pittman

The Rise of Herk (Nnewts, #2) by Doug TenNapel

The Only Child by Guojing

Firelight (Amulet, #7) by Kazu Kibuishi

Top 10 Poetry Collections/Novels in Verse

City I Love by Lee Bennett Hopkins, ill. by Marcellus Hall

Double Happiness by Nancy Tupper Ling, ill. by Alina Chau

The Lightning Dreamer: Cuba’s Greatest Abolitionist by Margarita Engle

Enchanted Air: Two Cultures, Two Wings: A Memoir by Margarita Engle, ill. by Edel Rodriguez

Booked by Alexander Kwame

A Strange Place to Call Home: the World’s Most Dangerous Habitats & the Animals That Call Them Home by Marilyn Stringer, ill. by Ed Young

Tap Dancing on the Roof: Sijo (Poems) by Linda Sue Park, ill. by Istvan Banyai

The Popcorn Astronauts: and Other Biteable Rhymes by Deborah Ruddell, ill. by Joan Rankin

Echo Echo: Reverso Poems about Greek Myths by Marilyn Singer, ill. by Josée Masse

Grumbles from the Town: Mother-Goose Voices with a Twist by Jane Yolen & Rebecca Kai Dotlich, ill. by Angela Matteson


Check back next week on Tuesday for Part 3 featuring my top 10s of nonfiction, and later next week for a special guest featuring her top 10s for Part 4.