Wednesday, December 21, 2022

Brainstorm 286: Top 10s of 2022 Part 4: Mrs. Nat's Top 10s

Welcome to week 4 of the Top 10s of 2022! This final installment of the Top 10s of 2022 is are lists put together by the amazing Mrs. Nat Cho, the Elementary Librarian at ICS Bangkok. This is Mrs. Nat’s first time contributing to the Top 10s so she couldn’t help but work in a few of her 2021 favorites too, but most of these are books she read this year. 

Clicking on the titles of each book will take you to either Mrs. Nat’s review or my review of the book. This will be the final Brainstorm for 2022. The Brainstorm will resume mid-January. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Here’s the Top 10s of 2022s Schedule for this year:

Dec 2: Top 10s in Scifi/Fantasy Fiction, Lower Grade Fiction Graphic Novels (any genre), YA & Adult Fiction Graphic Novels (any genre), and Fiction Leveled Readers (any genre)

Dec 9: Top 10s in Contemporary & Historical Fiction (all levels + graphic novels), and Asian Fiction (any genre)

Dec 16: Nonfiction Books (all levels + graphic novels + leveled readers) 

Dec 23: Guest Post: Mrs. Nat’s Top 10s


Top 10 Fiction Picture Books

Hurricane by John Rocco

We Wait for the Sun by Dovey Johnson Roundtree & Katie McCabe, ill. by Raissa Figueroa

Bear is a Bear by Jonathan Stutzman, ill. by Dan Santat

Invasion of the Unicorns by David Biedrzycki

Juno Valentine and the Magical Shoes (Juno Valentine, #1) by Eva Chen, ill. by Derek Desierto

The Blur by Minh Lê, ill. by Dan Santat

Seven Golden Rings: a Tale of Music and Math by Rojani LaRocca, ill. by Archana Sreevivasan

Even Superheroes Make Mistakes by Shelly Becker, ill. by Eda Kaban

Are You Eating Candy without Me? by Draga Jenny Malesevic, ill. by Charlotte Bruijin

Sun and Moon Together (Happy County, #2) by Ethan Long


Top 10 Easy Nonfiction Picture Books

How to Write a Story by Kate Messner, ill. by Mark Siegel

The Secret Code Inside You by Rajani LaRocca, ill. by Steven Salerno

The Secret Life of the Sloth by Laurence Pringle, ill. by Kate Garchinsky

Someone Builds the Dream by Lisa Wheeler, ill. by Loren Long

Seasons by Hannah Pang, ill. by Clover Robin

Photo Ark ABC: An Animal Alphabet in Poetry and Pictures by Debbie Levy, photos by Joel Sartore

Saving the Day: Garret Morgan's Life Changing Invention of the Traffic Signal by Karyn Parsons, ill. by R. Gregory Christie

Butterflies Are Pretty …Gross by Rosemary Mosco, ill. by Jacob Souva

Rescuing Titanic: A True Story of Quiet Bravery in the North Atlantic by Flora Delargy

Over and Under the Waves (Over and Under) by Kate Messner, ill. by Christopher Neal


Top 10 Leveled Readers 

(both fiction & nonfiction)

The Bug in the Bog by Jonathan Fenske

See the Cat: Three Stories about a Dog by David LaRochelle, ill. by Mike Wohnoutka

Doggo and Pupper (Dogger and Pupper, #1) by Katherine Applegate, ill. by Charlie Alder

Pill Bug Does Not Need Anybody by Jonathan Fenske

Ballet Bruce (Mother Bruce readers) by Ryan T. Higgins

Pete the Cat's Not So Groovy Day (Pete the Cat readers) by Kimberly & James Dean

Kitty and Dragon by Meika Hashimoto, ill. by Gillian Reid

Just the Way I Am (The Seven Habits of Happy Kids, #1) by Sean Covey, ill. by Stacy Curtis

Katie Woo Tries Something New (Katie Woo) by Fran Manushkin, ill. by Tammie Lyon

Icky Sticky Slime (Super Gross) by Ximena Hastings, ill. by Alison Hawkins


Top 10 Christian Picture Books

You're More Than a Sprout by Jill Roman Lord, ill. by Sarah Demonteverde

The Promise: the Amazing Story of Our Long-Awaited Savior by Jason Helopoulos, ill. by Rommel Ruiz

Tiny Truths Wonder & Wisdom: Everyday Reminders from Psalms & Proverbs by Joanna Rivard & Tim Penner

The Boy Who Shared His Sandwich (Little Me, Big God) by Steph Williams

Jesus and the Very Big Surprise (Tales That Tell the Truth) by Randall Goodgame, ill. by Catalina Echeverri

The Tiny Truths Illustrated Bible by Joanna Rivard & Tim Penner

The One O'Clock Miracle (Tales That Tell the Truth) by Alison Mitchell, ill. by Catalina Echeverri

A Hero's Prayer by Sheri Rose Shepherd, ill. by Jennifer Zivoin

Wherever You Go, I Want You to Know by Melissa Kruger, ill. by Isobel Lundie

Sophie and the Heidelberg Cat by Andrew Wilson, ill. by Helen Perez Garcia


Top 10 Lower Grade Fiction Books

Anne Arrives (Anne Chapter Book, #1) based on the novels by L.M. Montgomery, adapted by Kallie George, ill. by Abigail Halpin

Unicorns and Germs (Zoey and Sassafras, #6) by Asia Citro, ill. by Marion Lindsay

The Case of the Missing Cheetah (Secret Spy Society, #1) by Veronica Mang

Seaside Rescue! (Squishy McFluff, #5) by Pip Jones, ill. by Ella Okstad

Bad Kitty Gets a Phone (Bad Kitty, #15) by Nick Bruel

Mr. Penguin and the Tomb of Doom (Mr Penguin, #4) by Alex T. Smith

Let’s Get Cracking (Kung Pow Chicken, #1) by Cyndi Marko

Narwhal’s School of Awesomeness (Narwhal and Jelly, #6) by Ben Clanton

Franklin Endicott and the Third Key (Tales from Deckawoo Drive, #6) by Kate DiCamillo, ill. by Chris Van Dusen

A Bad King is a Sad Thing (Rabbit & Bear, #5) by Julian Gough, ill. by Jim Field


Top 10 Lower Grade Nonfiction Books

The Elephants Come Home: a True Story of Seven Elephants, Two People, and One Extraordinary Friendship by Kim Tomsic, ill. by Hadley Hooper

The Floating Field: How a Group of Thai Boys Built Their Own Soccer Field by Scott Riley ; illustrated by Nguyen Quang and Kim Lien

How Airports Work by Clive Gifford, ill. by James Gullive Hancock

Child of the Flower-Song People: Luz Jiménez, Daughter of the Nahua by Gloria Amescua, ill. by Duncan Tonatiuh

Tu Youyou’s Discovery: Finding a Cure for Malaria by Songju Ma Daemicke, ill. by Lin

King Sejong Invents an Alphabet by Carol Kim, ill. by Cindy Kang

Dear Mr. Dickens by Nancy Churnin, ill. by Bethany Stancliffe

The Fearless Flights of Hazel Ying Lee by Julie Leung, ill. by Julie Kwon

All the Way to the Top: How One Girl's Fight for Americans with Disabilities Changed Everything by Annette Bay Pimentel ; pictures by Nabi H. Ali ; foreword by Jennifer Keelan-Chaffins

A Bowl Full of Peace: a True Story by Caren Stelson, ill. by Akira Kusaka


Top 10 Middle Grade Contemporary Fiction, Fantasy Fiction, and Science Fiction Books

I Can Make This Promise by Christine Day

Other Words for Home by Jasmine Warga

A Kind of Spark by Elle McNicoll

The Last Cuentista by Donna Barba Higuera

The Last Mapmaker by Christina Soontornvat

The Missing Barbegazi by H.S. Norup

Red Butterfly by A.L. Sonnichsen

Pictures of Hollis Woods by Patricia Reilly Giff

Out of My Mind (Out of My Mind, #1) by Sharon M. Draper

The Rogue Knight (Five Kingdoms, #2) by Brandon Mull


Top 10 Middle Grade Historical Fiction Books

Barefoot Dreams of Petra Luna (Petra Luna, #1) by Alda P. Dobbs

Red, White, and Whole by Rajani LaRocca

The Secret Horses of Briar Hill by Megan Shepherd

Under the Broken Sky by Mariko Nagai

Chains (Seeds of America, #1) by Laurie Halse Anderson

Prisoner of Ice and Snow (Prisoner of Ice and Snow, #1) by Ruth Lauren

Prairie Lotus by Linda Sue Park

Broken Strings by Eric Walters & Kathy Kacer

Which Way is Home? by Maria Kiely

Flight (Flight, #1) by Vanessa Harbour


Top 10 Middle Grade Nonfiction Books

Unspeakable: the Tulsa Race Massacre by Carole Boston Weatherford, ill. by Floyd Cooper

The Biggest Story: How the Snake Crusher Brings Us Back to the Garden by Kevin DeYoung, ill. by Don Clark

The Strangest Thing in the Sea: and Other Curious Creatures of the Deep by Rachel Poliquin, ill. by Byron Eggenschwiler

All Thirteen: the Incredible Cave Rescue of the Thai Boys’ Soccer Team by Christina Soontornvat

The Ology: Ancient Truths Ever New by Marty Machowski, ill. by Andy McGuire

Bible Infographics for Kids: Light and Dark, Heroes and Villains, and Mind-Blowing Bible Facts: Volume 2 by Harvest House Publishers

Nano: the Spectacular Science of the Very (Very) Small by Jess Wade, ill. by Melissa Castrillón

The Great Stink: How Joseph Bazalgette Solved London’s Poop Pollution Problem by Colleen Paeff, ill. by Nancy Carpenter

Nicky & Vera: a Quiet Hero of the Holocaust and the Children He Rescued by Peter Sís

Alias Anna: a True Story of Outwitting the Nazis by Susan Hood with Greg Dawson


Top 10 Lower Grade & Middle Grade Graphic Novels/Manga/Comics 

(both fiction & nonfiction)

Allergic by Megan Wagner Lloyd, ill. by Michelle Mee Nutter

I Survived the Nazi Invasion, 1944: the graphic novel based on the novel by Lauren Tarshis, adapted by Georgia Ball, ill. by Álvaro Sarraseca

Super Frozen Magic Forest (Super Happy Magic Forest, #3) by Matty Long

The Legend of Hong Kil Dong: The Robin Hood of Korea by Anne Sibley O’Brien

Dueling Doodles (Drew and Jot, #1) by Art Baltazar

The Challenger Disaster: Tragedy in the Skies (History Comics) by Pranas T. Naujokaitis

A Shot in the Arm (Big Ideas That Changed the World, #3) by Don Brown

Sparks! (Sparks!, #1) by Ian Boothby, ill. by Nina Matsumoto

Mellybean and the Wicked Wizard (Mellybean, #2) by Mike White

Stargazing by Jen Wang


Thursday, December 15, 2022

Brainstorm 285: Top 10s of 2022 Part 3: Nonfiction + Artwork

Welcome to week 3 of the Top 10s of 2022! It’s nonfiction highlights time. And I’m going to throw in my top 10 favorite books for their artwork this week as a bonus. This week wraps up the last of my Top 10s for the year, and next week will be our guest post from Mrs. Nat Cho, the amazing elementary librarian I work with.

Some of these nonfiction books overlap interest levels, so I put it in the target group I think the book will most appeal to. Also of note, some of the nonfiction graphic novels included have fictional characters who introduce the topics (primarily the History Comics and Science Comics), but they are highly informational, could be used as research sources, and are more educational than any kind of story so I put them in nonfiction but you may see them shelved as fiction some places and nonfiction other places.

A reminder that these books may have been published this year or any year prior, I just read them for the first time in the past 12 months. And I do put my absolute favorites more towards the top of the lists, but in general I’d be hard pressed to pick my tippy top read out of most of these lists. Clicking on the titles of each book will take you to my full summary and review plus any content notes/trigger warnings. 

Today we're starting with the books for the youngest readers first and working up to the older readers, and finishing with the best artwork (mixed interest levels).

Here’s the Top 10s of 2022s Schedule for this year:

Dec 2: Top 10s in Scifi/Fantasy Fiction, Lower Grade Fiction Graphic Novels (any genre), YA & Adult Fiction Graphic Novels (any genre), and Fiction Leveled Readers (any genre)

Dec 9: Top 10s in Contemporary & Historical Fiction (all levels + graphic novels), and Asian Fiction (any genre)

Dec 16: Nonfiction Books (all levels + graphic novels + leveled readers)

Dec 23: Guest Post: Mrs. Nat’s Top 10s


Top 10 Lower Grade Nonfiction Books

(These are primarily nonfiction picture books.)

The Secret Code Inside You by Rajani LaRocca, ill. by Steven Salerno

Nano: the Spectacular Science of the Very (Very) Small by Jess Wade, ill. by Melissa Castrillón

Seasons by Hannah Pang, ill. by Clover Robin

The Floating Field: How a Group of Thai Boys Built Their Own Soccer Field by Scott Riley ; illustrated by Nguyen Quang and Kim Lien

Dear Mr. Dickens by Nancy Churnin, ill. by Bethany Stancliffe

Someone Builds the Dream by Lisa Wheeler, ill. by Loren Long

How Airports Work by Clive Gifford, ill. by James Gullive Hancock

Butterflies Are Pretty …Gross by Rosemary Mosco, ill. by Jacob Souva

Keeping the City Going by Brian Floca

Summertime Sleepers: Animals That Estivate by Melissa Stewart, ill. by Sarah S. Brannen


Top 10 Picture Book Biographies

(Limited to lower grade primary interest level)

Classified: the Secret Career of Mary Golda Ross, Cherokee Aerospace Engineer by Traci Sorell, ill. by Natasha Donovan

King Sejong Invents an Alphabet by Carol Kim, ill. by Cindy Kang

Tu Youyou’s Discovery: Finding a Cure for Malaria by Songju Ma Daemicke, ill. by Lin

Niki Nakayama: a Chef’s Tale in 13 Bites by Jamie Michalak & Debbi Michiko Florence, ill. by Yuko Jones

Child of the Flower-Song People: Luz Jiménez, Daughter of the Nahua by Gloria Amescua, ill. by Duncan Tonatiuh

Guitar Genius: How Les Paul Engineered the Solid-Body Electric Guitar and Rocked the World by Kim Tomsic, ill. by Brett Helquist

The Rise (and Falls) of Jackie Chan by Kristen Mai Giang, ill. by Alina Chau

A Bowl Full of Peace: a True Story by Caren Stelson, ill. by Akira Kusaka

The Elephants Come Home: a True Story of Seven Elephants, Two People, and One Extraordinary Friendship by Kim Tomsic, ill. by Hadley Hooper

Sharuko: El Arqueólogo Peruano Julio C. Tello / Peruvian Archaeologist Julio C. Tello by Monica Brown, ill. by Elisa Chavarri


Top 10 Nonfiction Leveled Readers/Beginning Readers 

(Limited to 1 per author)

If You Love Books, You Could Be… (If You Love/Ready to Read, Level 2) by Elizabeth Dennis, ill. by Natalie Kwee

A Pandemic Is Worldwide (Let’s Read and Find Out Science, Stage 2) by Sarah L. Thomson, ill. by Taia Morley

I Want to Be an Engineer (I Can Read, Level 1) by Laura Driscoll, ill. by Catalina Echeverri

If You Love Robots, You Could Be… (If You Love/Ready to Read, Level 2) by May Nakamura, ill. by Natalie Kwee

Feel the Wind (Let’s Read and Find Out Science, Stage 2) by Arthur Dorros

Snow Is Falling (Let’s Read and Find Out Science, Stage 1) by Franklyn M. Branley, ill. by Holly Keller

Clouds (Let’s Read and Find Out Science, Stage 1) by Anne Rockwell, ill. by Frané Lessac

Hamsters (My First Pet) by Cari Meister

Icky, Sticky Slime! (Ready to Read, Level 2) by Ximena Hastings, ill. by Alison Hawkins

Big Bugs, Little Bugs (Made by God/Zonderkidz I can Read, Level 2) ed. by Mary Hassinger


Top 10 Middle Grade/Young Adult Nonfiction Books

(Excluding graphic novels)

Unspeakable: the Tulsa Race Massacre by Carole Boston Weatherford, ill. by Floyd Cooper

Ambushed!: the Assassination Plot against President Garfield by Gail Jarrow

The Woman All Spies Fear: Code Breaker Elizebeth Smith Friedman and Her Hidden Life by Amy Butler Greenfield

The Great Stink: How Joseph Bazalgette Solved London’s Poop Pollution Problem by Colleen Paeff, ill. by Nancy Carpenter

Becoming Beatrix: the Life of Beatrix Potter and the World of Peter Rabbit by Amy M. O’Quinn

The Twins of Auschwitz : the Inspiring True Story of a Young Girl Surviving Mengele's Hell by Eva Mozes Kor with Lisa Rojany Buccieri

A Leopard Diary: My Journey into the Hidden World of a Mother and Her Cubs by Suzi Eszterhas

Alias Anna: a True Story of Outwitting the Nazis by Susan Hood with Greg Dawson

Susan La Flesche Picotte: Pioneering Doctor (Discovering History’s Heroes) by Diane Bailey

Meltdown: Earthquake, Tsunami, and Nuclear Disaster in Fukushima by Dierdre Langeland


Top 10 Middle Grade/Young Adult Nonfiction/Informational Graphic Novels/Comics/Manga

(Limited to 1 per series)

Nicky & Vera: a Quiet Hero of the Holocaust and the Children He Rescued by Peter Sís*

The National Parks: Preserving America’s Wild Places (History Comics) by Falynn Koch

Yummy: a History of Desserts by Victoria Grace Elliott

Natan Sharansky: Freedom Fighter for Soviet Jews by Blake Hoena, ill. by Daniele Dickmann

The Tryout: a graphic novel by Christina Soontornvat, ill. by Joanna Cacao

Just Pretend by Tori Sharp

The 500 Million Dollar Heist: Isabella Stewart Gardner and Thirteen Missing Masterpieces (Unsolved Case Files, #3) by Sullivan 

Let’s Make Dumplings!: a Comic Book Cookbook by Hugh Amano, ill. by Sarah Becan

Whales: Diving into the Unknown (Science Comics) by Casey Zakroff, ill. by Pat Lewis

In the Shadow of the Fallen Towers: The Seconds, Minutes, Hours, Days, Weeks, Months, and Years after the 9/11 Attacks by Don Brown


Top 10 Adult Nonfiction Books

What If? 2: Additional Serious Scientific Answers to Absurd Hypothetical Questions (What If, #2) by Randall Munroe

Warrior: Audrey Hepburn (Dutch Girl, #2) by Robert Matzen, foreword by Luca Dotti

The Girl with Seven Names: Escape from North Korea by Hyeonseo Lee with David John

Photo Ark Wonders: Celebrating Diversity in the Animal Kingdom (Photo Ark) by Joel Sartore

A Woman of No Importance: the Untold Story of the American Spy Who Helped Win World War II by Sonia Purnell

A Bookshop in Berlin: the Rediscovered Memoir of One Woman's Harrowing Escape from the Nazis by Françoise Ferkel, preface by Patrick Modiano, dossier compiled by Frédéric Maria, translated by Stephanie Smee

The Rebel and the Kingdom: the True Story of the Secret Mission to Overthrow the North Korean Regime by Bradley Hope

Rin Tin Tin: the Life and the Legend by Susan Orlean

The Last Rhinos: the Powerful Story of One Man’s Battle to Save a Species by Lawrence Anthony with Graham Spence

The Story of the Country House: a History of Places and People by Clive Aslet


Top 10 Christian Nonfiction

(Any target interest level)

Lead Like Jesus Revisited: Lessons from the Greatest Leadership Role Model of All Time by Kenneth H. Blanchard, Phil Hodges & Phyllis Hendry

Excavating the Evidence for Jesus: the Archaeology and History of Christ and the Gospels by Titus Kennedy

Keeping Christmas: 25 Advent Reflections on A Christmas Carol by Allison Pittman

Let the World See You: How to be Real in a World Full of Fakes by Sam Acho

Calling in Context: Social Location and Vocational Formation by Susan L. Maros

Love Is… illustrated by Paola Escobar

Learning Our Names: Asian American Christians on Identity, Relationships, and Vocation by Sabrina S. Chan, Linson Daniel, E. David de Leon, and La Thao

The Promise: the Amazing Story of Our Long-Awaited Savior by Jason Helopoulos, ill. by Rommel Ruiz

Ten Words to Live By: Delighting in and Doing What God Commands by Jen Wilkin

Beholding and Becoming: the Art of Everyday Worship by Ruth Chou Simons


Top 10 Asian Nonfiction Books 

(Any target interest level, about a person/people of Asian descent, written/illustrated by an authors/illustrators of Asian descent)

King Sejong Invents an Alphabet by Carol Kim, ill. by Cindy Kang

Tu Youyou’s Discovery: Finding a Cure for Malaria by Songju Ma Daemicke, ill. by Lin

The Girl with Seven Names: Escape from North Korea by Hyeonseo Lee with David John

Learning Our Names: Asian American Christians on Identity, Relationships, and Vocation by Sabrina S. Chan, Linson Daniel, E. David de Leon, and La Thao

The Rise (and Falls) of Jackie Chan by Kristen Mai Giang, ill. by Alina Chau

The Tryout: a graphic novel by Christina Soontornvat, ill. by Joanna Cacao

The Fearless Flights of Hazel Ying Lee by Julie Leung, ill. by Julie Kwon

From the Tops of the Trees by Kao Kalia Yang, ill. by Rachel Wada

Thao by Thao Lam

Basho’s Haiku Journeys by Freeman Ng, ill. by Cassandra Rockwood-Ghanem


Top 10 Books for the Artwork

(Most stunning interior artwork, any interest level)

Beholding and Becoming: the Art of Everyday Worship by Ruth Chou Simons

The Star Festival by Moni Ritchie Hadley, ill. by Mizuho Fujisawa

Shadow of the Bird (Lightfall, #2) by Tim Probert*

Knight Owl by Christopher Denise

Outside In by Deborah Underwood, ill. by Cindy Derby

When the Sakura Bloom by Narisa Togo, English adaptation by Michael Sedunary

Love Is… illustrated by Paola Escobar

Hope at Sea: an Adventure Story by Daniel Miyares

Monster Friends by Kaeti Vandorn

Invasion of the Unicorns by David Biedrzycki


Thursday, December 8, 2022

Brainstorm 284: Top 10s of 2022 Part 2: Contemporary & Historical Fiction + Asian Fiction

Welcome to week 2 of the Top 10s of 2022! This week primarily highlights my favorite contemporary and historical fiction reads of the year (published any year, just read for the first time this year). I’m also including my favorite Asian fiction reads this week. Working at a school in Asia, I’m always on the hunt for great reads for our students that reflect the cultures they know and/or are a part of. The books in the Asian fiction lists I’m sharing today are all written by authors of Asian descent and feature characters of Asian descent. 

All of the books my Top 10s lists beat out hundreds of others (see my reading goal in the lower right), so in general, consider all of these in a big tie for top spot in each category. I do put my absolute favorites more towards the top of the lists, but for most of these I’d be hard pressed to pick my tippy top read out of most of these categories. Deciding which books to include in these lists was quite hard at times. I found myself wishing I'd made this thing the top 20s instead of top 10s. 😉 There is one book in today’s lists that gets a special shoutout, though. Bluebird by Sharon Cameron was one of the first books I read in 2022 and it has continued to stand out as one of the best reads of the year. It is also one of the books I’ve recommended the most this year, and every single reader has come back saying how amazing they thought it was. That is definitely an indication of standout storytelling. Clicking on the titles of each book will take you to my full summary and review plus any content notes/trigger warnings. The lists are organized by reading interest level today starting with middle grade, moving up to YA and adult, and then ending with picture books and lower grade fiction.


Here’s the Top 10s of 2022s Schedule for this year:

Dec 2: Top 10s in Scifi/Fantasy Fiction, Lower Grade Fiction Graphic Novels (any genre), YA & Adult Fiction Graphic Novels (any genre), and Fiction Leveled Readers (any genre)

Dec 9: Top 10s in Contemporary & Historical Fiction (all levels + graphic novels), and Asian Fiction (any genre)

Dec 16: Nonfiction Books (all levels + graphic novels + leveled readers)

Dec 23: Guest Post: Mrs. Nat’s Top 10s


Top 10 Middle Grade Contemporary Fiction

(Limited to 1 per series)

The Vanderbeekers Make a Wish (The Vanderbeekers, #5) by Karina Yan Glaser

Forbidden City (City Spies, #3) by James Ponti

A Duet for Home by Karina Yan Glaser

Macy McMillan and the Rainbow Goddess by Shari Green

The Sea in Winter by Christine Day

Out of My Heart (Out of My Mind, #2) by Sharon M. Draper

Spy School Project X (Spy School, #10) by Stuart Gibbs

The Crown Heist (Lost Art Mysteries, #3) by Deron R. Hicks

Across the Desert by Dusti Bowling

Sweet and Sour by Debbi Michiko Florence


Top 10 Middle Grade Historical Fiction

(Limited to 1 per series)

In the Beautiful Country by Jane Kuo

Barefoot Dreams of Petra Luna (Petra Luna, #1) by Alda P. Dobbs

The Voyage of the Sparrowhawk by Natasha Farrant

The Dead Man in the Garden (Aggie Morton, Mystery Queen, #3) by Marthe Jocelyn

Long Road to the Circus by Betsy Bird, ill. by David Small

Hunger Winter by Rob Currie

Cold-Blooded Myrtle (Myrtle Hardcastle, #3) by Elizabeth C. Bunce

Mr. Lemoncello’s Very First Game (Mr. Lemoncello’s Library, #0) by Chris Grabenstein

Unbound by Ann E. Burg

I am Defiance by Jenni L. Walsh


Top 10 Contemporary Fiction/Historical Fiction Middle Grade Graphic Novels/Comics/Manga

(Limited to 1 per series)

My Life Is a Joke (Jacky Ha-Ha graphic novels, #2) by James Patterson & Chris Grabenstein, adapted by Adam Rau, ill. by Betty C. Tang

Sunny Makes a Splash (Sunny, #4) by Jenny L. Holm, ill. by Matthew Holm

Miss Quinces by Kat Fajardo

Spy School: the graphic novel (Spy School graphic novels, #1) by Stuart Gibbs, ill. by Anjan Sarkar

Stuntboy in the Meantime by Jason Reynolds, ill. by Raúl the Third

Yuzu the Pet Vet, Vol. 6 (Yuzu the Pet Vet, #6) by Mingo Ito, translated by Julie Goniwich

Besties Work It Out (World of Click, #1) by Kayla Miller & Jeffrey Canino, ill. by Kristina Luu

Katie and the Cupcake Cure: the graphic novel (Cupcake Diaries graphic novels, #1) by Coco Simon, ill. by Glass House Graphics

I Survived the Attack of the Grizzlies, 1967: the graphic novel by Lauren Tarshis, adapted by Georgia Ball, ill. by Berat Pekmezci

Frizzy by Claribel A. Ortega, ill. by Rose Bousamra


Top 10 Asian Middle Grade/Young Adult/Adult Fiction Books 

(About a character of Asian descent, written by an author of Asian descent, any fiction genre, limited to 1 per series & 1 per author)

The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea by Axie Oh

In the Beautiful Country by Jane Kuo

Aru Shah and the Nectar of Immortality (Pandava, #5) by Roshani Chokshi

A Duet for Home by Karina Yan Glaser

Cat + Gamer Vol. 2 (Cat + Gamer, #2) by Wataru Nadatani, translated by Zack Davisson

The Last Fallen Star (Gifted Clans, #1) by Graci Kim

The Forest of Stolen Girls by June Hur

Brothers & Sisters (Shang-Chi, #1) by Gene Luen Yang, ill. by Dike Ruan & Phillip Tan

Fatal Fried Rice (Noodle Shop Mystery, #7) by Vivien Chien

The Last Mapmaker by Christina Soontornvat


Top 10 Young Adult Contemporary Fiction/Historical Fiction

(Limited to 1 per author)

Bluebird by Sharon Cameron

Hunting November (Killing November, #2) by Adriana Mather

I Must Betray You by Ruta Sepetys

The Forest of Stolen Girls by June Hur

Prisoner B-3087 by Alan Gratz

I’m Dreaming of a Wyatt Christmas by Tiffany Schmidt

Playing with Fire by April Henry

Silver People: Voices from the Panama Canal by Margarita Engle

Escape from Chernobyl by Andy Marino

The Secret Life of Kitty Granger by G.D. Falksen


Top 10 Adult Contemporary Fiction/Historical Fiction

(Limited to 1 per series)

A Quilt for Christmas by Melody Carlson

Until Leaves Fall in Paris by Sarah Sundin

Chasing Shadows by Lynn Austin

Elysium Tide by James R. Hannibal

To Write a Wrong (The Bleeker Street Inquiry Agency, #2) by Jen Turano

The Winter Rose by Melanie Dobson

The Paris Betrayal by James R. Hannibal

Killer Kung Pao (Noodle Shop Mystery, #6) by Vivien Chien

All That Is Secret (Annalee Spain Mystery, #1) by Patricia Raybon

In Search of a Prince (In Search of a Prince, #1) by Toni Shiloh


Top 10 Contemporary Fiction/Historical Fiction/Realistic Animal Fiction Picture Books

When Lola Visits by Michelle Sterling, ill. by Aaron Asis

I Dream of Popo by Livia Blackburne, ill. by Julia Kuo

Words to Make a Friend: a Story in Japanese and English by Donna Jo Napoli, ill. by Naoko Stoop

I’ll Go and Come Back by Rajani LaRocca, ill. by Sara Palacios

Are You Eating Candy without Me? by Draga Jenny Malesevic, ill. by Charlotte Bruijin

Wombat Underground: a Wildlife Survival Story by Sarah L. Thomson, ill. by Charles Santoso

What We’ll Build: Plans for Our Future Together by Oliver Jeffers

Hope at Sea: an Adventure Story by Daniel Miyares

Amah Faraway by Margaret Chiu Greanias, ill. by Tracy Subisak

Welcoming Elijah: a Passover Tale with a Tail by Lesléa Newman, ill. by Susan Gal


Top 10 Lower Grade Contemporary Fiction/Historical Fiction

(Limited to 2 per series)

Mindy Kim and the Trip to Korea (Mindy Kim, #5) by Lyla Lee, ill. by Dung Ho

Anne’s Kindred Spirits (Anne Chapter Book, #2) based on the books by L.M. Montgomery, adapted by Kallie George, ill. by Abigail Halpin

Mindy Kim and the Big Pizza Challenge (Mindy Kim, #6) by Lyla Lee, ill. by Dung Ho

Anne’s School Days (Anne Chapter Book, #3) based on the books by L.M. Montgomery, adapted by Kallie George, ill. by Abigail Halpin

The Case of the Missing Cheetah (Secret Spy Society, #1) by Veronica Mang

Mr. Summerling’s Secret Code (The Treasure Troop, #1) by Dori Hillestad Butler, ill. by Tim Budgen

The Used-to-be Best Friend (Jo Jo Makoons, #1) by Dawn Quigley, ill. by Tara Audibert

Franklin Endicott and the Third Key (Tales from Deckawoo Drive, #6) by Kate DiCamillo, ill. by Chris Van Dusen

The Case of the Curious Scouts (Secret Spy Society, #2) by Veronica Mang

The Final Treasure (The Treasure Troop, #4) by Dori Hillestad Butler, ill. by Tim Budgen


Top 10 Asian Fiction Picture Books/Lower Grade Fiction Chapter Books 

(About a character of Asian descent, written by an author of Asian descent, any genre, limited to 1 per author)

When Lola Visits by Michelle Sterling, ill. by Aaron Asis

I’ll Go and Come Back by Rajani LaRocca, ill. by Sara Palacios

Amah Faraway by Margaret Chiu Greanias, ill. by Tracy Subisak

Mindy Kim and the Trip to Korea (Mindy Kim, #5) by Lyla Lee, ill. by Dung Ho

I Dream of Popo by Livia Blackburne, ill. by Julia Kuo

The Star Festival by Moni Ritchie Hadley, ill. by Mizuho Fujisawa

When the Sakura Bloom by Narisa Togo, English adaptation by Michael Sedunary

Friends are Friends Forever by Dane Liu, ill. by Lynn Scurfield

Snow Angel, Sand Angel by Lois-Ann Yamanaka, ill. by Ashley Lukashevesky

Eyes That Speak to the Stars by Joanna Ho, ill. by Dung Ho