Friday, December 13, 2024

Brainstorm 329: Top 10s of 2024 Part 3: Top Fantasy & Scifi & Asian Books

 Welcome to the Top 10s of 2024 Week 3!

This week we have my favorite fantasy fiction, science fiction, and Asian reads of the year. They could have been published in any year, I just read them for the first time in the past 12 months. Click on the titles to see my full summary and review of each book including any content notes/trigger warnings. 

Nov 29 – Nonfiction, Leveled Readers, and Artwork

Dec 6 7 – Contemporary & Historical Fiction, Lower Grade, YA & Adult Graphic Novels/Manga/Comics

Dec 13 – Fantasy & Science Fiction, Asian

Dec 20 – Guest post


Top 10 Fantasy/Science Fiction/Imaginary Animal Fiction Picture Books 

(limited to 1 per series, leveled readers excluded)

Ra Pu Zel and the Stinky Tofu by Ying Chang Compestine, ill. by Crystal Kung

The Search for the Giant Arctic Jellyfish by Chloe Savage

Field Trip to the Ocean Deep (Field Trip Adventures) by John Hare

Scaredy Squirrel Gets Festive (Scaredy’s Nutty Adventures, #3) by Mélanie Watt

A Spider Named Itsy by Steve Light

Merry Christmas, Strega Nona (Strega Nona) by Tommie dePaola

The Nian Monster by Andrea Wang, ill. by Alina Chau

Scroll by Hui Li

Dalmartian by Lucy Ruth Cummins

Good Night, Little Blue Truck (Little Blue Truck) by Alice Schertle, ill. by John Joseph


Top 10 Middle Grade Fantasy/Imaginary Animals Fiction 

(limited to 1 per series)

The Grace of Wild Things by Heather Fawcett

Peril at Price Manor by Laura Parnum

Illuminations by T. Kingfisher

No One Leaves the Castle by Christopher Healy

Eva Evergreen, Semi-Magical Witch (Eva Evergreen, #1) by Julie Abe

Tessa Miyata Is No Hero (Tessa Miyata, #1) by Julie Abe

Spell Sweeper by Lee Edward Födi

Max in the House of Spies (Operation Kinderspion, #1) by Adam Gidwitz

The Republic of Birds by Jessica Miller

The Lost Wonderland Diaries (Lost Wonderland Diaries, #1) by J. Scott Savage


Top 10 Middle Grade Science Fiction Books 

(includes all dystopias & time travel; limited to 1 per series)

Falling out of Time (Running out of Time, #2) by Margaret Peterson Haddix

The Secret of the Dragon Gems by Rajani LaRocca & Chris Baron

Charlie Thorne and the Royal Society (Charlie Thorne, #4) by Stuart Gibbs

Time Chasers (Area 51 Interns, #3) by James S. Murray & Carsen Smith

Sparrow Rising (Skyborn, #1) by Jessica Khoury

Infinity Base (Omega City, #3) by Diane Peterfreund

Cleo Porter and the Body Electric by Jake Burt

Touch and Go (Star Striker, #2) by Mary Amato

Operation Do-Over by Gordon Korman

The Town with No Mirrors by Christina Collins


Top 10 Middle Grade Fantasy/Science Fiction Graphic Novels/Manga/Comics 

(limited to 1 per series)

Animals Assemble (A Mighty Marvel Team-Up, #1) by Mike Maihack

The Hunt for Star-Lord (Rocket & Groot) by Amanda Deibert, ill. by Cam Kendell

Young Alfred: Pain in the Butler by Michael Northrop, ill. by Sam Lofti

Rise of the Shadowfire (City of Dragons, #2) by Jaimal Yogis, ill. by Vivian Truong

Unicorn for a Day (Phoebe & Her Unicorn, #18) by Dana Simpson

Pocket Peaches (Pocket Peaches, #1) by Dora Wang

Super Boba Café by Nidhi Chanani

Besties (The Big Adventures of Babymouse, #2) by Jennifer L. Holm, ill. by Matthew Holm

Eowulf: Of Monsters & Middle School by Mike Cavallaro

Dragon Rider (Pacey Packer, Unicorn Tracker, #4) by J.C. Phillipps


Top 10 Young Adult Fantasy/Science Fiction Books 

(limited to 1 per series)

Recruit of Talionis (Talionis, #1) by C.J. Milacci

Wormwood Abbey (The Secrets of Ormdale, #1) by Christina Baehr

Dragonfruit by Makiia Lucier

I’m Afraid You’ve Got Dragons by Peter S. Beagle

Suspended in the Stars (Xerux Galaxy Saga, #1) by E.A. Hendryx

The Looking-Glass Illusion (The Curious Realities, #2) by Sara Ella

Spy x Family: Family Portrait (Spy x Family) by Aya Yajima, concept by Tatsuya Endo

Estuary (Oceans of Time, #1) by Lisa T. Bergren

Hybrid (Hybrid, #2) by Candace Kade

Rise of the Vicious Princess (Rise of the Vicious Princess, #1) by C.J. Redwine


Top 10 Adult Fantasy/Science Fiction Books 

(limited to 1 per series)

Guardian (Children of the Consortium, #3) by Cathy McCrumb

The Sunlit Man (Stormlight Archive, #4.5) by Brandon Sanderson, ill. by Ernanda Souza, Nabetse Zitro, & Kudriaken

Lost in Time by A.G. Riddle

Prose and Cons (Magical Bookshop, #2) by Amanda Flower

Yumi and the Nightmare Painter by Brandon Sanderson, ill. by Aliya Chen

Emily Wilde’s Map of the Otherlands (Emily Wilde, #2) by Heather Fawcett

Summers End (Shady Hollow, #5) by Juneau Black

A Taste of Mystery (Luke & Bandit, #4) by Paul Regnier

Maxine Justice: Galactic Attorney (Maxine Justice, #1) by Daniel Schwabauer

Before Your Memory Fades (Before the Coffee Gets Cold, #3) by Toshikazu Kawaguchi, translated by Geoffrey Trousselot


Top 10 Asian Picture Books 

(featuring characters of Asian descent, written by an author of Asian descent, illustrated by an illustrator of Asian descent; limited to 1 per author)

Ra Pu Zel and the Stinky Tofu by Ying Chang Compestine, ill. by Crystal Kung

Scroll by Hui Li

The Nian Monster by Andrea Wang, ill. by Alina Chau

Where’s Joon? (Halmoni & Family, #2) by Julie Kim

Spicy Spicy Hot! By Lenny Wen

The Words We Share by Jack Wong

Masala Chai, Fast and Slow by Rajani LaRocca, ill. by Neha Rawat

Sari-Sari Summers by Lynnor Bontiago

Night Market Rescue by Charlotte Cheng, ill. by Amber Ren

Building a Dream: How the Boys of Koh Panyee Became Champions by Darshana Khiani, ill. by Dow Phumiruk


Top 10 Asian Lower Grade/Middle Grade Books 

(includes fiction & nonfiction, limited to 1 per author; written by an author of Asian descent, featuring characters/people of Asian descent)

Continental Drifter by Kathy MacLeod

Shining a Light: Celebrating 40 Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders Who Changed the World by Veeda Bybee, ill. by Victor Ngai

Mindy Kim and the Mid-Autumn Festival (Mindy Kim, #10) by Lyla Lee, ill. by Dung Ho

In the Tunnel by Julie Lee

Land of Broken Promises (In the Beautiful Country, #2) by Jane Kuo

Tessa Miyata Is No Hero (Tessa Miyata, #1) by Julie Abe

Pippa Park Raises Her Game (Pippa Park, #1) by Erin Yun

The Vanderbeekers Ever After (Vanderbeekers, #7) by Karina Yan Glaser

A Royal Conundrum (The Misfits, #1) by Lisa Yee, ill. by Dan Santat

When Clouds Touch Us (Inside Out and Back Again, #2) by Thanhhà Lại


Top 10 Asian YA/Adult Books 

(includes fiction & nonfiction & graphic novels/manga; featuring characters/people of Asian descent, written by authors of Asian descent)

Family Style: Memories of an American from Vietnam by Thien Pham

Lunar New Year Love Story by Gene Luen Yang, ill. by LeUyen Pham

Dragonfruit by Makiia Lucier

A Crane among Wolves by June Hur

Gold Mountain by Betty G. Yee

Have You Eaten Yet?: Stories from Chinese Restaurants around the World by Cheuk Kwan

Medalist 1 (Medalist, #1) by Tsurumaikada

Death by Bubble Tea (LA Night Market, #1) by Jennifer J. Chow

Cat + Gamer 4 (Cat + Gamer, #4) by Wataru Nadatani, translated by Zack Davisson

Before Your Memory Fades (Before the Coffee Gets Cold, #3) by Toshikazu Kawaguchi, translated by Geoffrey Trousselot


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