Shelf Care, Episode #12: Editors’ Choice 2020

Every year, Booklist editors pull together the most noteworthy books of the year for Editors’ Choice, and every year, Susan Maguire chases them down to talk about those books. This year was both no different and completely different, as each of our fine editors sent in a voice note featuring favorites from the list, books that deserve an additional shout out, hot trends, etc. Please enjoy these bookish testimonials, and follow the links below to full reviews. Wow!

Donna sez:

★ Wandering in Strange Lands: A Daughter of the Great Migration Reclaims Her Roots, By Morgan Jerkins

★ These Ghosts Are Family, by Maisy Card

★ Year of the Rabbit, by Tian Veasna and translated by Helge Dascher

Andrew Carnegie Medal for Excellence in Fiction and Nonfiction Shortlist

★ Frida in America: The Creative Awakening of a Great Artist, by Celia Stahr

★ Recollections of My Nonexistence, by Rebecca Solnit

★ African American Poetry: 250 Years of Struggle & Song, edited by Kevin Young

★ The Night Watchman, by Louise Erdrich

Sarah sez:

★ The Magic Fish, by Trung Le Nguyen

★ Dungeon Critters, by Natalie Riess and Sara Goetter

★ Everything Sad Is Untrue: (A True Story), by Daniel Nayeri

Heather sez:

★ Before the Ever After, by Jacqueline Woodson and read by Guy Lockard

★ I Killed Zoe Spanos, by Kit Frick and read by a full cast

★ This Is Your Time, by Ruby Bridges and read by the author

★ My Mother’s House, by Francesca Momplaisir and read by a full cast

★ The Switch, by Beth O’Leary. and read by Alison Steadman and Daisy Edgar-Jones

★ Tokyo Ueno Station, by Yu Miri and read by Johnny Heller

★ Clap When You Land, by Elizabeth Acevedo and read by the author and Melania-Luisa Marte

★ Girl with the Louding Voice, by Abi Daré and read by Adjoa Andoh

Ronny sez:

★ Everything Sad Is Untrue: (A True Story), By Daniel Nayeri

★ Black Is a Rainbow Color, by Angela Joy and illustrated by Ekua Holmes

Susan sez:

★ Upright Women Wanted, by Sarah Gailey

★ When No One Is Watching, by Alyssa Cole

Julia sez:

★ Skunk and Badger, by Amy Timberlake and illustrated by Jon Klassen

★ Fly on the Wall, by Remy Lai

★ Girl on a Motorcycle, by Amy Novesky and illustrated by Julie Morstad

Annie sez:

★ Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat: Mastering the Elements of Good Cooking, by Samin Nosrat

★ The Flavor Equation: The Science of Great Cooking Explained, by Nik Sharma

★ The Rise: Black Cooks and the Soul of American Food, by Marcus Samuelsson, Osayi Endolyn, and Yewande Komolafe

★ Parakeet, by Marie-Helene Bertino

Maggie sez:

★ The Rise and Fall of Charles Lindbergh, by Candace Fleming

★ Honeybee: The Busy Life of Apis Mellifera, by Candace Fleming and illustrated by Eric Rohmann

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

★ A Wish in the Dark, by Christina Soontorvat

★ King and the Dragonflies, by Kacen Callender

★ Felix Ever After, by Kacen Callender

★ Legendborn, by Tracy Deonn

★ The Puppetmaster’s Apprentice, by Lisa DeSelm

★ Given, by Nandi Taylor

★ Gimme Everything You Got, by Iva-Marie Palmer

★ Jane against the World: Roe v. Wade and the Fight for Reproductive Rights, by Karen Blumenthal