Welcome back to the Top 10s of 2023! Part 3 shares my favorite fantasy and science fiction reads of the year as well as my favorite lower grade reads, YA and adult graphic novel/manga/comics, and most stunning artwork I've come across this year. I'm also including my favorite reads by creators of Asian descent featuring characters of Asian descent. Since I work at a school in Asia I'm always on the hunt for books that help our students see themselves or others similar to them in the stories. All of the books shared today could have been published any year, I just read them for the first time in the last 12 months. Click on the titles to see my full summaries and reviews along with any content notes/trigger warnings.
Part 1: Nonfiction Books (all levels + graphic novels)
Part 2: Top 10s in Contemporary & Historical Fiction (all levels + graphic novels), Leveled Readers (any genre)
Part 3: Top 10s in Scifi/Fantasy Fiction, Lower Grade Fiction Graphic Novels (any genre), YA & Adult Fiction Graphic Novels (any genre), Asian Books (any genre), and Best Illustrations
Dec 21: Guest Post: Mrs. Nat’s Top 10s
Top 10 Fantasy/Science Fiction/Imaginary Animal Fiction Picture Books
Even Superheroes Get Scared (Superheroes Are Just Like Us) by Shelly Becker, ill. by Eda Kaban
Night Lunch by Eric Fan, ill. by Dena Seiferling
Out Cold (A Little Bruce Book) by Ryan T. Higgins
We Don’t Lose Our Class Goldfish (Penelope Rex, #3) by Ryan T. Higgins
Bunny in the Middle by Anika A. Denise, ill. by Christopher Denise
Margaret’s Unicorn by Briony May Smith
Lizzy and the Cloud by the Fan Brothers
A Very Mercy Christmas (Mercy Watson Picture Books) by Kate DiCamillo, ill. by Chris Van Dusen
The Sour Grape (The Food Group, #6) by Jory John, ill. by Pete Oswald
Blue Spot by Griselda Sastrawinata-Lemay
Top 10 Lower Grade Fiction Books
(all fiction genres excluding graphic novels, limited to 1 per series)
Wishypoofs and Hiccups (Zoey and Sassafras, #9) by Asia Citro, ill. by Marion Lindsay
Game Over, Nebulon! (Galaxy Zack, #18) by Ray O’Ryan, ill. by Jason Kraft
Henry Heckelbeck Chills Out (Henry Heckelbeck, #10) by Wanda Coven, ill. by Priscilla Burris
Mindy Kim Makes the Splash! (Mindy Kim, #8) by Lyla Lee, ill. by Dung Ho
Persephone & the Unicorn’s Ruby (Little Goddess Girls, #10) by Joan Holub & Stephanie Williams, ill. by Yuyi Chen
The Whispering Woods (The Adventures of Sophie S. Mouse, #19) by Poppy Green, ill. by Jennifer A. Bell
Jasmine Toguchi, Peace-maker (Jasmine Toguchi, #6) by Debbi Michiko Florence, ill. by Elizabet Vukovic
Whale Song of Puffin Cliff (Wind Riders, #4) by Jen Marlin, ill. by Marta Kissi
Emmett and Jez (Adventures in Fosterland) by Hannah Shaw, ill. by Bev Johnson
Peril at Lizard Lake (Fabio, the World’s Greatest Flamingo Detective, #3) by Laura James, ill. by Emily Fox
Top 10 Lower Grade Graphic Novels/Manga/Comics
(any genre)
The Big Storm (Beak and Ally, #3) by Norm Feuti
Flight or Fright (Waffles and Pancake, #2) by Drew Brockington
Luna and the Treasure of Tlaloc (Brownstone’s Mythical Collection, #5) by Joe Todd-Stanton
The Greatest in the World (Tater Tales, #1) by Ben Clanton
The Flamingo by Guojing
Super King Viking Land (Press Start, #13) by Thomas Fintham
The Missing Magic (Unicorn Diaries, #7) by Rebecca Elliott
Peanut, Butter, and Crackers on the Trail (Peanut, Butter, and Crackers, #3) by Paige Braddock
Doggo and Pupper Search for Cozy (Doggo & Pupper, #3) by Katherine Applegate, ill. by Charlie Alder
Pirates Past Noon: the graphic novel (Magic Tree House Graphic Novels, #4) based on the novel by Mary Pope Osborne, adapted by Jenny Laird, ill. by Kelly & Nichole Matthews
Top 10 Middle Grade Science Fiction Books
(limited to 1 per series)
Orion and the Starborn (Orion Rising, #1) by K.B. Hoyle
Drifters by Kevin Emerson
Running out of Time (Out of Time, #1) by Margaret Peterson Haddix
Battle for the Park (Futureland, #1) by H.D. Hunter, ill. by Khadijah Khatib
Charlie Thorne and the Curse of Cleopatra (Charlie Thorne, #3) by Stuart Gibbs
Evil Genius (Smartest Kid in the Universe, #3) by Chris Grabenstein
The Architect (The Architect, #1) by Jonathan Starrett
New Dragon City by Mari Manusci
Map of Flames (Forgotten Five, #1) by Lisa McMann
Game on! (Star Striker, #1) by Mary Amato
Top 10 Middle Grade Fantasy/Imaginary Animal Fiction Books
(limited to 1 per series)
Alliana, Girl of Dragons (Eva Evergreen, #0) by Julie Abe
The Dragon and the Stone (The DreamKeeper Saga, #1) by Kathryn Butler
Fenris & Mott by Greg Van Eekhout
The Dark Lord’s Daughter by Patricia C. Wrede
Hummingbird by Natalie Lloyd
Shinji Takahashi and the Mark of the Coatl (Society of Explorers and Adventurers, #1) by Julie Kagawa
Jack Zulu and the Waylander’s Key by S.D. Smith & J.C. Smith
The Shelterlings by Sarah Beth Durst
The Ogress and the Orphans by Kelly Barnhill
Cat Crew (Dog Squad, #2) by Chris Grabenstein
Top 10 Middle Grade Fantasy/Science Fiction Graphic Novels/Manga/Comics
Realm of the Blue Mist (The Rema Chronicles, #1) by Amy Kim Kibuishi
Secrets and Sidekicks (Katie the Catsitter, #3) by Colleen A.F. Venable, ill. by Stephanie Yue
Travis Daventhorpe for the Win! (Travis Daventhorpe, #1) by Wes Molebash
Off the Clock (Marvel Action. Avengers, #5) by Katie Cook, ill. by Butch Mapa
Cells at Work! Baby 01 (Cells at Work! Baby, #1) by Yasuhiro Fukuda, based on the Cells at Work series by Akane Shimizu, translated by Dean Leininger
Poiko: Quests & Stuff by Brian Middleton
Bird & Squirrel All Together (Bird & Squirrel, #7) by James Burks
Bruce Wayne: Not Super by Stuart Gibbs, ill. by by Berat Pekmezci, letters by Taylor Esposito
Ember and the Island of Lost Creatures by Jason Pamment
Agents of S.U.I.T. (Agents of S.U.I.T., #1) by John Patrick Green with Christopher Hastings, ill. by Pat Lewis, colors by Wes Dzioba
Top 10 Young Adult Fantasy/Science Fiction Books
Of Fire and Ash (The Fireborn Epic, #1) by Gillian Bronte Adams
Echo North (Echo North, #1) by Joanna Ruth Meyer
Blood Secrets (Skyworld, #2) by Morgan L. Busse
The Wonderland Trials (The Curious Realities, #1) by Sara Ella
Defiant (Skyward, #4) by Brandon Sanderson
Bear Knight (Lightraider Academy, #2) by James R. Hannibal
Enhanced (The Hybrid, #1) by Candace Kade
Vivid (The Color Theory, #1) by Ashley Bustamante
Winter, White and Wicked (Winter, White and Wicked, #1) by Shannon Dittemore
Youngbloods (Impostors, #4; Uglies, #8) by Scott Westerfeld
Top 10 YA & Adult Graphic Novels/Manga/Comics that are Stand Alones or from New to Me Series
Twig (Twig, Vol. 1) by Skottie Young, ill. by Kyle Strahm, colors by Jean-Francois Beaulieu
Call the Name of the Night 1 (Call the Name of the Night, #1) by Tama Mitsuboshi, translated by Amanda Haley, lettering by Lys Blakeslee
Lovely Muco! 1 (Lovely Muco, #1) by Takayuki Mizushina, translated by Casey Lee
The Evil Secret Society of Cats 1 (The Evil Secret Society of Cats, #1) by Pandania, translated by Alethea & Athena Nibley
Soara and the House of Monsters 1 (Soara and the House of Monsters, #1) by Hidenori Yamaji, translated by Dawn Sim
Dinosaur Sanctuary 1 (Dinosaur Sanctuary, #1) by Itaru Kinoshita, research consultant: Shin-Ichi Fujiwara, translated by John Neal
Touring after the Apocalypse 1 (Touring after the Apocalypse, #1) by Sakae Saito, translated by Amanda Haley, lettering by Phil Christie
Shang-Chi vs. the Marvel Universe (Shang-Chi, #2) by Gene Luen Yang, ill. by Dike Ruan
Yokai Cats 2 (Yokai Cats, #2) by Pandania, translated by Minna Lin
Little Witch Academia 1 (Little Witch Academia, #1) by Trigger/Yoh Yoshinari, ill. by Keisuke Sato, translated by Taylor Engel
Top 10 YA & Adult Graphic Novels/Manga/Comics from Continuing Series
Spy x Family 9 (Spy x Family, #9) by Tatsuya Endo, translated by Casey Loe
Space Boy 14 (Space Boy, #14) by Stephen McCranie
The Promised Neverland 20: Beyond Destiny (The Promised Neverland, #20) by Kaiu Shirai, ill. by Posuka Demizu, translated by Satsuki Yamashita
Cat + Gamer 3 (Cat + Gamer, #3) by Wataru Nadatani, translated by Zack Davisson, lettering and retouch by Susie Lee and Studio Cutie
Ex-Yakuza & Stray Kitten 3 (Ex-Yakuza & Stray Kitten, #3) by Riddle Kamimura, translated by Avery Hutley
Laid-Back Camp 13 (Laid-Back Camp, #13) by Afro, translated by Amber Tamosaitis
Kakuriyo, Bed & Breakfast for Spirits 8 (Kakuriyo, Bed & Breakfast for Spirits, #8) by Waco Ioka, English translation & adaptation by Tomo Kimura
Kuma Kuma Kuma Bear 6 (Kuma Kuma Kuma Bear Manga, #6) by Kumanano, ill. by Sergei, translated by Amanda Haley
Green Lantern: Alliance (Green Lantern, #2) by Minh Lê, ill. by Andie Tong, colors by Sarah Stern and Carrie Strachan, lettering by Saida Temofonte
Stormranger (Magnificent Ms. Marvel, Vol. 2) by Saladin Ahmed, ill. by Joey Vazquez with Alex Arizmendi, pencilling by Minkyu Jung
Top 10 Adult Fantasy/Science Fiction Books
(limited to 1 per series)
Tress of the Emerald Sea by Brandon Sanderson, ill. by Howard Lyon
Aberration (Children of the Consortium, #2) by Cathy McCrumb
Crime and Poetry (Magical Bookshop Mystery, #1) by Amanda Flower
A Scent of Mystery (Luke and Bandit, #2) by Paul Regnier
Cold Clay (Shady Hollow, #2) by Juneau Black
Calor (The Nightingale Trilogy, #1) by J.J. Fischer
Unseen Academicals (Discworld: Rincewind, #8; Discworld, #37) by Terry Pratchett
Mercury on Guard (Mercury Hale, #1) by Steve Rzasa
Mimi Lee Reads between the Lines (A Sassy Cat Mystery, #2) by Jennifer J. Chow
Thornhedge by T. Kingfisher
Top 10 Asian Picture Books
(Books by Creators of Asian Descent, Featuring Characters of Asian Descent)
I am Golden by Eva Chen, ill. by Sophie Diao
Tomorrow Is New Year’s Day: Seollal, a Korean Celebration of the Lunar New Year by Aram Kim
Yes We Will: Asian Americans Who Shaped This Country by Kelly Yang, ill. by Nabi H. Ali, Fahmida Azim, Marcos Chen, Sally Deng, Shreya Gupta, Julia Kuo, Julie Kwon, Nhung Lê, Kitkat Pecson, Dow Phumiruk, Sujean Rim, Dan Santat, Yuko Shimizu, Yuewei Shi, Yao Xiao
Nana, Nenek & Nina by Liza Ferneyhough
Geraldine Pu and Her Lunchbox, Too! (Geraldine Pu, #1) by Maggie P. Chang
Brown is Beautiful by Supriya Kelkar, ill. by Noor Sofi
Playing with Lanterns by Wang Yage, ill. by Zhu Chengliang, translated by Helen Wang
Mommy’s Hometown by Hope Lim, ill. by Jaime Kim
Little Red Riding Hood and the Dragon by Ying Chang Compestine, ill. by Joy Ang
This Is Not My Home by Eugenia Yoh & Vivienne Chang
Top 10 Asian Lower Grade/Middle Grade Books
(Books by Creators of Asian Descent, Featuring Characters of Asian Descent)
New from Here by Kelly Yang
The Not-So-Uniform Life of Holly-Mei (Holly-Mei, #1) by Christina Matula
Maizy Chen’s Last Chance by Lisa Yee
Fumiko and a Tokyo Tragedy: a Great Kanto Earthquake Survival Story (Girls Survive) by Susan Griner, ill. by Wendy Tan Shiau Wei
Alliana, Girl of Dragons (Eva Evergreen, #0) by Julie Abe
Soul Lanterns by Shaw Kuzki, translated by Emily Balistrieri
Jasmine Toguchi, Peace-Maker (Jasmine Toguchi, #6) by Debbi Michiko Florence, ill. by Elizabet Vukovic
Shinji Takahashi and the Mark of the Coatl (Society of Explorers and Adventurers, #1) by Julie Kagawa
The Flamingo by Guojing
Mindy Kim Makes the Splash! (Mindy Kim, #8) by Lyla Lee, ill. by Dung Ho
Top 10 Asian YA/Adult Books
(Books by Creators of Asian Descent, Featuring Characters of Asian Descent)
The Red Palace by June Hur
Bamboo People by Mitali Perkins
At Home in Exile: Finding Jesus among My Ancestors and Refugee Neighbors by Russell Jeung, foreword by Gene Luen Yang
My Fine Fellow by Jennieke Cohen
Mimi Lee Reads between the Lines (Sassy Cat Mystery, #2) by Jennifer J. Chow
Green Lantern: Alliance (Green Lantern, #2) by Minh Lê, ill. by Andie Tong, colors by Sarah Stern and Carrie Strachan, lettered by Saida Temofonte
In Limbo by Deb JJ Lee
Laid-Back Camp 13 (Laid-Back Camp, #13) by Afro, translated by Amber Tamosaitis
Shang-Chi vs. the Marvel Universe (Shang-Chi, #2) by Gene Luen Yang, ill. by Dike Ruan
Lovely Muco! 1 (Lovely Muco, #1) by Takayuki Mizushina, translated by Casey Lee
Top 10 Books for the Artwork
(Most stunning interior artwork, any interest level)
The Lights and Types of Ship at Night by Dave Eggers, ill. by Annie Dills
Night Lunch by Eric Fan, ill. by Dena Seiferling
Twig (Twig, Vol. 1) by Skottie Young, ill. by Kyle Strahm, colors by Jean-Francois Beaulieu
Poiko: Quests & Stuff by Brian Middleton
We Wait for the Sun by Dovey Johnson Roundtree and Katie McCabe, ill. by Raissa Figuera
The Great Zapfino by Mac Barnett, ill. by Marla Frazee
Chirri & Chirra in the Night (Chirri & Chirra, #8) by Kaya Doi, translated by David Boyd
Call the Name of the Night 1 (Call the Name of the Night, #1) by Tama Mitsuboshi, translated by Amanda Haley, lettering by Lys Blakeslee
Lizzy and the Cloud by the Fan Brothers
The Flamingo by Guojing
