The Best of "Best Book" Lists

The Best of "Best Book" Lists Collection gathers together a selection of popular bestsellers and fan favorites that frequently appear on "Best of" lists. This diverse Collection includes picks to suit a range of age groups and genre preferences, from otherworldly fantasy to gripping crime thrillers.

American Panda

by Gloria Chao

Publication year 2018

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Family, Mental Health, Race, Coming of Age

Tags Coming of Age, Romance, Humor, Asian Literature, Realistic Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction, Asian Literature

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American Pastoral

by Philip Roth

Publication year 1997

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Fathers, Daughters & Sons, Justice, Fate

Tags Historical Fiction, American Literature, Relationships, US History, Modern Classic Fiction, Classic Fiction

American Pastoral (1997) by Philip Roth examines in detail one man’s quest for the American dream and the fragility of the entire enterprise. Roth, one of the most critically acclaimed novelists of the 20th century, focuses his narrative microscope through the eyes of Nathan Zuckerman, his literary alter ego from whose perspective he has written 10 other novels, including Zuckerman Unbound (1981), The Anatomy Lesson (1983), The Human Stain (2000), and The Plot Against America... Read American Pastoral Summary

American Prison

by Shane Bauer

Publication year 2018

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Race, Power & Greed, Justice

Tags Incarceration, Social Justice, Journalism, Race & Racism, American Literature, Post-War Era, Mystery & Crime Fiction, Sociology, World History, Politics & Government

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America on Fire

by Elizabeth Hinton

Publication year 2021

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Race, Justice, Politics & Government, Community

Tags US History, Politics & Government, Race & Racism, Social Justice, Civil Rights & Jim Crow South, Mystery & Crime Fiction, Sociology, World History

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An American Sickness

by Elisabeth Rosenthal

Publication year 2017

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Economics, Politics & Government, Justice

Tags Health, Business & Economics, US History, Science & Nature, World History, Politics & Government

An American Sickness: How Healthcare Became Big Business and How You Can Take It Back is physician and journalist Elisabeth Rosenthal’s overview and critique of the American healthcare system. It was initially published in April 2017, arriving during a time in which healthcare reform became a prominent cornerstone of both Democratic and Republican political campaigns. The book offers a mixture of testimonials from a myriad of people impacted by the health industry, including medical professionals... Read An American Sickness Summary

An American Sunrise

by Joy Harjo

Publication year 2017

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Race, Shame & Pride, Mental Health, Politics & Government, Indigenous Identity

Tags Lyric Poem, US History, American Literature, Food, Race & Racism, World History

Joy Harjo is a seminal voice in the US poetry canon, and she has long been an advocate for Native American women in the literary world. Her work has merited tremendous acclaim, such as a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Native Writers Circle of the Americas, the Josephine Miles Poetry Award, the Wallace Stevens Award from the Academy of American Poets, the William Carlos Williams Award from the Poetry Society of America, and the American... Read An American Sunrise Summary

An American Tragedy

by Theodore Dreiser

Publication year 1925

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Social Class, Justice, Appearance & Reality, Power & Greed, Marriage

Tags Mystery & Crime Fiction, Historical Fiction, Dramatic Literature, American Literature, World History, Classic Fiction

Published in 1925, Theodore Dreiser’s realist novel An American Tragedy is one of the author’s most critically acclaimed works. Set in the 1920s in Kansas City, Chicago, and small-town New York state, the historical fiction novel is the story of how Clyde Griffiths, the son of poor, itinerant preachers, kills Roberta Alden during a boat trip in the Adirondack Mountains.This guide is based on the Kindle edition published by Rosetta Books.Content Warning: This novel contains... Read An American Tragedy Summary

And Then, Boom!

by Lisa Fipps

Publication year 2024

Genre Novel/Book in Verse, Fiction

Themes Mental Health, Childhood & Youth, Food, Family, Grandparents, Social Class, Economics, Safety & Danger, Trust & Doubt

Tags Children`s Literature

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An Ember in the Ashes

by Sabaa Tahir

Publication year 2015

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Fear, Friendship, Power & Greed, Loyalty & Betrayal, Good & Evil, War

Tags Fantasy, Romance, Science Fiction

Book DetailAn Ember in the Ashes, published by Razorbill in 2015, is the first in Sabaa Tahir's An Ember in the Ashes series. The novel debuted at number two on the young adult New York Times best seller list and was also a USA Today and international bestselling book. In addition, TIME magazine named it one of the 100 Best Fantasy Books of all Time. It won the People’s Choice Award for favorite fantasy in... Read An Ember in the Ashes Summary

Angel Down

by Daniel Kraus

Publication year 2025

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Guilt, Death, The Past, Fathers, Nation, War, Good & Evil, Power & Greed, Religion & Spirituality, Wins & Losses

Tags Horror & Suspense

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Angelfall

by Susan Ee

Publication year 2011

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Family, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Perseverance, Fear, Disability, Gender Identity, Mental Health, Coming of Age, Siblings, Good & Evil, Religion & Spirituality

Tags Science Fiction, Fantasy, Romance

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A Night to Remember

by Walter Lord

Publication year 1955

Genre Biography, Nonfiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Fear, Conflict, Memory, Social Class, Community, Science & Technology

Tags World History, Dramatic Literature, Technology, US History, Biography, Action & Adventure, Classic Fiction

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Anna O

by Matthew Blake

Publication year 2024

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Disability, Safety & Danger, Truth & Lies, Memory, Revenge, Mental Health, Justice

Tags Horror & Suspense, Mystery & Crime Fiction, Psychological Fiction, Disability

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