Shared booklist
BKLYN BookMatch: Our Favorite Books from 2020
It was a difficult year, to put it mildly, but at least we had books. In this list, BPL librarians and staff recommend their absolute favorites from 2020, in every genre and age group. Most books were published this year, some were published earlier, and all were a much-appreciated distraction.
50 items
Writers & lovers : a novel
King, Lily, author. |
A portrait of the artist as a young woman, yes! It's funny even when it focuses on death, it grapples with grief and creative pursuits and financial hardship, and it is SO romantic. I plan to reread it often.
Godshot
Bieker, Chelsea |
Surprising, sad and intense, full of sparkly capes and unforgettable characters. The ending made me cry!
Evening
Rapoport, Nessa | Book
A shiva story, a love story, a sister story, a mystery, and an ode to book-loving, Type B girls everywhere.
A burning
Majumdar, Megha, author. | Book
Strong, individually-voiced characters; devastating story; couldn't put it down!
Vesper Flights
MacDonald, Helen | Book
A stunning, captivating essay collection about birds and boars, migration and meadows, butterflies and deer and so much more.
The city we became
Jemisin, N. K, author. |
NYC literally comes to life and fights against unseen evil, and isn't that the energy we need now?
So we can glow : stories
Cross-Smith, Leesa, 1978- author. |
Bite-size, lyrical, delicious stories with titles like “Tim Riggins Would’ve Smoked” and “Girlheart Cake with Glitter Frosting.” I opened this collection every time I needed to counteract the news.
Parakeet
Bertino, Marie-Helene, author. | Book
A bride-to-be is suffering from cold feet when her dead grandma returns to her in bird form. The story is fast-paced and the writing is incredible, you'll want to jot down every line.
The cult of smart : how our broken education system perpetuates social injustice
deBoer, Fredrik, author. | Book
This book explains how heuristics and private money have led us down the wrong road in education.
Pizza girl : a novel
Frazier, Jean Kyoung, author. | Book
Sad, funny, weird, unexpected: a wild ride! This is also my favorite book cover of 2020.
I want to be where the normal people are
Bloom, Rachel, 1987- author. | Book
I laughed so hard reading this essay collection I nearly broke out in song.
Solutions and other problems
Brosh, Allie, author, illustrator. | Book
The long-awaited return of Allie Brosh! These laugh-(and sob)-out-loud autobiographical comics cover everything from love and sickness to babysitting and pet ownership.
If you come to Earth
Blackall, Sophie, author, illustrator. | Book
A beautiful and ultimately hopeful story about our world and the people in it.
Big friendship : how we keep each other close
Sow, Aminatou, author. | Book
An entire book putting into words why we can and should take friendships seriously? Yes, please!
Four Sisters 1 : Enid
Ferdjoukh, Malika/ Baur, Cati | PRINTED MATL
A stunning French graphic novel about family that is hyper-realistic and specific with a tinge of magic. Gorgeous art.
Race the Sands
Durst, Sarah Beth |
A twisty, perfectly-paced adventure for readers who want their high fantasy with a dose of mystery.
Tam Lin
Dean, Pamela, 1953- |
Annual autumnal read of this Tam Lin retelling set in the 1970s. Magical but believable.
Plain Bad Heroines
Danforth, Emily M./ Lautman, Sara (ILT) | Book
Half Victorian boarding school novel, half celesbian gossip satire—queer, creepy and atmospheric.
How to win in a winner-take-all world : the definitive guide to adapting and succeeding in high-performance careers
Irwin, Neil, author. |
This looked intimidating, but turned out to have thoughtful advice about success in today's economy.
Deacon King Kong : a novel
McBride, James, 1957- author. |
Fantastical tale of Brooklyn in the vein of Kurt Vonnegut or John Kennedy Toole. Lovable, imperfect characters.
Not so pure and simple
Giles, L. R. (Lamar R.), author. |
This book is a hilarious and honest discussion of religion, masculinity, sexuality and friendship.
Weather
Offill, Jenny, 1968- author. |
Beautiful prose about a librarian in Brooklyn. I am not made of stone.
Begin Again : James Baldwin's America and Its Urgent Lessons for Our Own
Glaude, Eddie S. |
This book shows Baldwin as an American prophet, his words as vital as a sunrise.
Tweet cute
Lord, Emma, author. |
An unexpectedly delightful story of mistaken identity, social media feuds, baking and fast food.
Go With the Flow
Schneemann, Karen/ Williams, Lily |
Destigmatizing periods, addressing period poverty and even a few LOLs in one graphic novel!
In a Holidaze
Lauren, Christina | Book
It's Groundhog Day meets The Family Stone. How can you resist?! Cozy perfection.
The passion economy : the new rules for thriving in the twenty-first century
Davidson, Adam, author. |
An inspirational view of entrepreneurship—today, anyone can launch a niche business!
Red, white & royal blue : a novel
McQuiston, Casey, author. |
I've never laughed with, cried over, or rooted so hard for a couple in my life.
Lovely War
Berry, Julie | PRINTED MATL
A World War I love story as told though the Greek Gods who control them. Moving, thoughtful, fun.
Six of crows
Leigh Bardugo. |
2020 called for escapism and what better escape than an unlikely crew pulling off an impossible heist.
No Visible Bruises : What We Don?t Know About Domestic Violence Can Kill Us
Snyder, Rachel Louise |
This book examines domestic violence from all angles and ends on hopeful note.
Inheritors
Serizawa, Asako, author. | Book
A beautifully written, multi-generational family saga about trauma, war, and identity.
Nancy Drew. The Palace of Wisdom The palace of wisdom
Thompson, Kelly, 1976- author. |
A brilliant graphic-novel update for the Nancy Drew canon. Such fun!!
Hollowpox : the hunt for Morrigan Crow
Townsend, Jessica, 1985- author. | Book
This series balances storytelling and worldbuilding with a lovely imagination and resists the expected.
The invisible life of Addie LaRue
Schwab, Victoria, author. | Book
An empowering, perfectly-plotted fantasy that subverts and defies expectations. A must read.
Everything sad is untrue : (a true story)
Nayeri, Daniel, author. | Book
A funny, touching look at past and present, history and loss through the eyes of a 12-year-old Persian refugee.
Rodham : a novel
Sittenfeld, Curtis, author. | Book
This novel is essentially political fan-fic but with great writing and a deeply satisfying ending.
Beach read
Henry, Emily, author. |
A professional rivalry is the backdrop to a surprisingly poignant exploration of love and grief.
The glass hotel : a novel
Mandel, Emily St. John, 1979- author. |
Beautiful writing: ghosts, a pyramid scheme like Madoff's, and an amazing, imaginary place in Canada.
Sharks in the time of saviors
Washburn, Kawai Strong, 1980- author. |
I loved the family dynamics in this book and the use of family legends and Hawaiian folklore.
The Five : The Untold Lives of the Women Killed by Jack the Ripper
Rubenhold, Hallie |
As Rubenhold writes, both Victorian society and the modern day owe these women an apology.
Brainiac
Ken Jennings. |
The cheerful blend of Jeopardy! insider tales and trivia cheered me up in the middle of lockdown.
A deadly education : a novel
Novik, Naomi, author. | Book
The magic school experience that 2020 deserved. By turns hopeful and horrific, a great cast and world.
Harley in the Sky
Bowman, Akemi Dawn |
An ode to the beauty and work of circus life as seen by someone who loves every aspect of it.
Black girl unlimited : the remarkable true story of a teenage wizard
Brown, Echo, author. |
A gut-wrenching account of how Echo shakes off all the things that are holding her back.
Cemetery boys
Thomas, Aiden, author. | Book
A novel about Latinx culture, love, family and friendship. So much queer rep and queer joy in this book!
The house in the cerulean sea
Klune, TJ, author. |
This book is a big, warm, queer hug that gave me exactly what I needed in a tough year.
Dress coded
Firestone, Carrie, author. | Book
Fierce girls taking ownership and taking back their autonomy.
The starless sea
Morgenstern, Erin, author. |
I loved slipping through time, worlds, tunnels and masquerades in this heady ode to literature and NYC.
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