NYPL's Best Books of 2024

Updated November 27, 2024
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Any duke in a storm /
Howard, Amalie,
Paper Book
Historical romance takes to the high seas. Famed spy Lady Lisbeth Medford is on a ship bound for the West Indies, and the only thing more dangerous than her mission is the elusive Duke she's trying to capture. Lady Lisbeth Medford, Countess of Waterstone and famed international spy, is...
Bride
Hazelwood, Ali
Paper Book
#1 Indie Next Pick! A Hall of Fame LibraryReads pick! One of People's Best Books to Read in February A dangerous alliance between a Vampyre bride and an Alpha Werewolf becomes a love deep enough to sink your teeth into in this new paranormal romance from the...
Challenger :
Higginbotham, Adam
Paper Book
Winner of the 2024 Kirkus Nonfiction Prize * Shortlisted for the 2025 Andrew Carnegie Medal for Excellence in Nonfiction * A New York Times Notable Book of 2024 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER * "Stunning...A heart-pounding thriller...Challenger is a...
The God of the Woods
Moore, Liz
Paper Book
ONE OF THE NEW YORK TIMES'S NOTABLE BOOKS OF 2024 A NEW YORK TIMES BEST THRILLER OF 2024 A NEW YORK TIMES BEST CRIME NOVEL OF 2024 PEOPLE MAGAZINE'S #1 BOOK OF THE YEAR A NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY TOP 10 PICK OF 2024
The Coin
Zaher, Yasmin
Paper Book
A New York Times Book Review Editors' Choice A bold and unabashed novel about a young Palestinian woman's unraveling as she teaches at a New York City middle school, gets caught up in a scheme reselling Birkin bags, and strives to gain control over her body and mind ...
A Daughter of Fair Verona
Dodd, Christina
Paper Book
I'm the eldest daughter of Romeo and Juliet. Yes, that Romeo and Juliet. No, they didn't die in the tomb. They're alive and well and living in fair Verona with their six wildly impetuous children and me, their nineteen-year-old daughter Rosaline... Knives Out<...
The dead cat tail assassins /
Clark, P. Djáelâi,
Paper Book
The Dead Cat Tail Assassins are not cats. Nor do they have tails. But they are most assuredly dead. Nebula and Alex Award winner P. Djèlí Clark introduces a brand-new world and a fantastical city full of gods and assassins. ...
The ex vows /
Joyce, Jessica,
Paper Book
An Instant USA Today Bestseller! An Indie Next Pick A Library Reads Pick Estranged exes must stick close together to save their best friend's wedding after a string of disasters in this swoony and steamy second-chance romance from the USA Today bestselling...
The familiar /
Bardugo, Leigh.
Paper Book
#1 NATIONAL BESTSELLER * #1 INDIE BESTSELLER * NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER "An immersive, sensual experience." --The New York Times "Essential." --The Washington Post GOODREADS CHOICE AWARD WINNER * A BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR: The...
Forest of Noise :
Toha, Mosab Abu
Paper Book
A NEW YORK TIMES NOTABLE BOOK * "A powerful, capacious, and profound" (Ocean Vuong) new collection of poems about life in Gaza by an award-winning Palestinian poet. You are alive for a moment when living people run after you.<...
Horror movie :
Tremblay, Paul.
Paper Book
Instant New York Times Bestseller! PLEASE NOTE: the limited edition with red stained edges is sold out, but we invite you to purchase an unstained one -- same haunting story, same chilling twists! A chilling twist on the "cursed film" genre from the bestselling author of The...
Hum
Phillips, Helen
Paper Book
A Most Anticipated Book for The New York Times, The Washington Post, Time, Goodreads, LitHub, and Book Riot A Best Book of the Summer for Esquire, Electric Lit, and Town & Country A People Book of the...
The last murder at the end of the world /
Turton, Stuart
Paper Book
"A gripping tale that reads like a Sherlock Holmes novel set in a broken future...Turton is an exciting writer with a knack for strange tales that push the envelope, and this strange story of murder, survival, and the importance of memory might be his best work yet." --Gabino Iglesias for NPR ...
The light eaters :
Schlanger, Zo?e,
Paper Book
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER The New Yorker's Best Books of 2024 * TIME's 10 Best Nonfiction Books of 2024 * New York Magazine's 10 Best Books of the Year * Washington Post's 50 Notable Works of Nonfiction of 2024 * Smithsonian's 10 Best Science Books of the Year * ...
Martyr! /
Akbar, Kaveh,
Paper Book
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER * SHORTLISTED FOR THE NATIONAL BOOK AWARD * ONE OF THE NEW YORK TIMES BOOK REVIEW'S 10 BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR * A TIME MUST-READ BOOK OF THE YEAR * A newly sober, orphaned son of Iranian immigrants, guided by the voices of artists, poets, and...
The mercy of gods /
Corey, James S. A.
Paper Book
AN INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES AND USA TODAY BESTSELLER From the New York Times bestselling author of the Expanse comes a spectacular new space opera that sees humanity fighting for its survival in a war as old as the universe itself. ...
Nuclear war :
Jacobsen, Annie
Paper Book
The INSTANT New York Times bestseller Instant Los Angeles Times bestseller One of NPR's Books We Love One of Newsweek Staffers' Favorite Books of the Year Shortlisted for the Baillie Gifford Prize
Sacrificial animals :
Pedersen, Kailee,
Paper Book
Inspired by Kailee Pedersen's own journey being adopted from Nanning, China in 1996 and growing up alongside her family's farm in Nebraska, this rich and atmospheric supernatural horror debut explores an ancient Chinese mythology. The last thing Nick Morrow expected to receive...
Small rain :
Greenwell, Garth.
Paper Book
Named a Best Book of the Year by The Washington Post, Financial Times, New Statesman, Vox, Elle, Publishers Weekly, and BookPage A New York Public Library and Chicago Public Library Best Book of the Year A New Yorker...
Smoke Kings :
Mayfield, Jahmal
Ebook
A sunny place for shady people :
Enriquez, Mariana,
Paper Book
A diabolical collection of stories featuring achingly human characters whose lives intertwine with ghosts, goblins, and the macabre, by "Buenos Aires's sorceress of horror" (Samanta Schweblin, The New York Times) "Entertaining, political and exquisitely gruesome, these stories...
There's always this year :
Abdurraqib, Hanif,
Paper Book
LONGLISTED FOR THE NATIONAL BOOK AWARD * #1 NATIONAL BESTSELLER * A "powerful" (The Guardian) reflection on basketball, life, and home--from the author of the National Book Award finalist A Little Devil in America "Mesmerizing . . . not only the most original...
You dreamed of empires /
Enrigue, Alvaro,
Paper Book
A NEW YORK TIMES TOP TEN BOOK OF 2024 A NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY TOP TEN BOOKS OF THE YEAR NAMED A BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR BY THE GUARDIAN "Enrigue's genius lies in his ability to bring readers close to its tangled knot of priests, mercenaries,...
Age 16
Fung, Rosena/ Mcmahon, Serah-marie (TRN)
Paper Book
Best Books of 2024 lists: NYPL, The Globe and Mail,Quill & Quire * Most Anticipated Feminist Books of 2024, Ms. magazine * Kids Indie Next Pick A powerful coming-of-age graphic novel about how mothers and daughters pass down--and rebel against--standards of size, gender, race, beauty, and...
American wings :
Smith, Sherri L.
Paper Book
From the acclaimed author of Flygirl and the bestselling author of Code Name Verity comes the thrilling and inspiring true story of the desegregation of the skies. "This beautiful and brilliant history of not only what it means to be Black and dream of...
Black girl you are atlas /
Watson, Renâee.
Paper Book
A thoughtful celebration of Black girlhood by award-winning author and poet Renée Watson. In this semi-autobiographical collection of poems, Renée Watson writes about her experience growing up as a young Black girl at the intersections of race, class, and gender.
Bright red fruit /
Elhillo, Safia
Paper Book
An unflinching, honest novel in verse about a teenager's journey into the slam poetry scene and the dangerous new relationship that could threaten all her dreams. From the award-winning poet and author of HOME IS NOT A COUNTRY. A CALIBA GOLDEN POPPY AWARD FINALIST * A...
Chronically dolores /
Van Wagenen, Maya
Paper Book
Maya Van Wagenen, bestselling author of Popular, tells Dolores's story with humor, heartache, and an occasional bit of telenovela flair. "A striking fiction debut." --Publishers Weekly, starred review "An insightful, funny, and realistic coming-of...
A crane among wolves /
Hur, June,
Paper Book
AN INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER! June Hur, bestselling author of The Red Palace, crafts a devastating and pulse-pounding tale that will feel all-too-relevant in today's world, based on a true story from Korean history. Hope is dangerous. Love...
The deep dark
Ostertag, Molly Knox
Paper Book
From Molly Knox Ostertag, writer-illustrator of the New York Times and ABA Indie bestselling The Witch Boy trilogy and The Girl from the Sea, comes a darkly beautiful story of identity, family, love, loss, and magic. Everyone has secrets. Mags's has teeth. Magdalena...
Four Eids and a funeral /
áAbâikâe-âIyâimâidâe, Faridah,
Paper Book
Ex-best friends, Tiwa and Said, must work together to save their Islamic Center from demolition, in this romantic story of rekindling and rebuilding by award-winning authors Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé & Adiba Jaigirdar! The town of New Crosshaven has it all--even its own...
How the boogeyman became a poet /
Keith, Tony.,
Paper Book
Poet, writer, and hip-hop educator Tony Keith Jr. makes his debut with a powerful YA memoir in verse, tracing his journey from being a closeted gay Black teen battling poverty, racism, and homophobia to becoming an openly gay first-generation college student who finds freedom in poetry. Perfect...
Icarus /
Ancrum, K.
Paper Book
"The sparse prose in this unconventional, must-read of a trauma-infused borderline thriller is packed with emotional breadth." --Kirkus Reviews (starred review) "In this intimate poetic reimagining of the Icarus myth, Ancrum crafts a subversive triumph that is a love letter...
Kindling /
Chee, Traci,
Paper Book
From bestselling and award-winning author Traci Chee comes a stand-alone fantasy set against a war-ravaged world where kindling warfare--the use of elite, magic-wielding teenage soldiers--has been outlawed. In this rich and evocative novel, seven kindlings search for purpose and identity as they...
Looking for Smoke /
Cobell, K. A.
Paper Book
A REESE'S BOOK CLUB PICK In her powerful debut novel, Looking for Smoke, author K. A. Cobell (Blackfeet) weaves loss, betrayal, and complex characters into a thriller that will illuminate, surprise, and engage readers until the final word. A must-pick for readers who enjoy books by...
Lunar New Year love story
Yang, Gene Luen.
Paper Book
An NPR Best Book of the YearA Kirkus Best Book of the YearA School Library Journal Best Book of the Year A Booklist Best Book of the Year A Shelf Awareness Best Book of the Year A Horn Book Best Book of the Year...
On the bright side /
Sortino, Anna
Paper Book
A hopeful novel about love, disability, and the inevitability of change by the author of Give Me a Sign. "Poignant, romantic, and deeply heartfelt." --Amber Smith, New York Times bestselling author of The Way I Used to Be Ellie's Deaf...
Punk Rock Karaoke
Xunise, Bianca
Paper Book
"Stole my heart from the first page to the last. Endlessly funny and sincere." --Tillie Walden, Eisner & Ignatz Award-winning cartoonist A debut graphic novel from Ignatz Award-winning and nationally syndicated cartoonist Bianca Xunise. When life gives you guitars...
Rebel skies /
Sei Lin, Ann,
Paper Book
Ann Sei Lin's enchanting and action-packed debut, first in a series, will sweep readers away to an aerial world of magic, danger and political intrigue. Perfect for fans of Elizabeth Lim, Kalynn Bayron and the films of Studio Ghibli. Kurara has never known any other life than...
Snowglobe /
Park, Soyoung
Paper Book
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER * The groundbreaking Korean phenomenon that Entertainment Weekly called "The Hunger Games meets Squid Game"--now in English for the first time! A COSMOPOLITAN BEST YOUNG ADULT BOOK OF THE YEAR * A KIRKUS REVIEWS BEST...
We shall be monsters /
Sim, Tara,
Paper Book
Frankenstein meets Indian mythology in this twisty, darkly atmospheric fantasy where the real horrors are not the monsters you face, but the ones you create. "One of the most unique and intelligent books I've read. . . Alluring, completely enthralling, and masterfully rendered...
Where Wolves Don't Die
Treuer, Anton.
Paper Book
Ezra Cloud hates living in Northeast Minneapolis. His father is a professor of their language, Ojibwe, at a local college, so they have to be there. But Ezra hates the dirty, polluted snow around them. He hates being away from the rez at Nigigoonsiminikaaning First Nation. And he hates the local...
Across so many seas /
Behar, Ruth,
Paper Book
"As lyrical as it is epic, Across So Many Seas reminds us that while the past may be another country, it's also a living, breathing song of sadness and joy that helps define who we are." --Alan Gratz, New York Times bestselling author of Refugee Spanning over 500...
Aloha everything /
George, Kaylin Melia,
Paper Book
★ "A stunning tribute to Hawaiian culture and identity."-starred review, Kirkus New York Public Library Top Ten Best Kid's Book of 2024 A Center for the Study of Multicultural Literature Best Book of 2024 Aloha...
Anzu and the Realm of Darkness
Nguyen, Mai K.
Paper Book
5 Worlds meets Spirited Away in this tale of a girl fighting her way back home after getting trapped in the spirit world. Anzu has just moved to a new town during Obon, a time for families to remember and celebrate their ancestors. Ever since her obaachan died,...
Barracoon /
Hurston, Zora Neale
Paper Book
An Instant New York Times and Indie Bestseller! In the first middle grade offering from Zora Neale Hurston and Ibram X. Kendi, young readers are introduced to the remarkable and true-life story of Cudjo Lewis, one of the last survivors of the Atlantic human trade, in an...
Being home /
Sorell, Traci,
Paper Book
From Sibert Honor-winning author Traci Sorell and Caldecott Medal-winning artist Michaela Goade comes a heartwarming picture book about a Native American family and the joy of moving back to their ancestral land. Today is a day of excitement--it's time to move! As a young...
Born naughty :
Wang, Jin
Paper Book
Share in the joyful, adventure-filled shenanigans of a child growing up in a small mud hut in Inner Mongolia in this charming, illustrated memoir for young middle grade readers. A KIRKUS REVIEWS BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR Growing up in Inner Mongolia, Jin Wang was...
The enigma girls :
Fleming, Candace.
Paper Book
With numerous starred reviews and accolades, from award-winning author Candace Fleming, comes the powerful and fascinating story of the brave and dedicated young women who helped turn the tides of World War II for the Allies, with their hard work and determination at Bletchley Park. ...
Deer run home /
LeZotte, Ann Clare,
Paper Book
Effie is Deaf, and no one in her family speaks sign language, her language. This moving story of survival and found family, inspired by a true court case, is perfect for fans of Wonder and Out of My Mind. * "Quietly extraordinary." --Kirkus Reviews,...
Everywhere beauty is Harlem :
Golio, Gary.
Paper Book
A Shelf Awareness Best Book of the Year A Kirkus Best Picture Book of the Year A Kirkus Best Picture Book Biography A Kirkus Reviews Most Anticipated Book of 2024 The New York Public Library Best Books for Kids 2024 (Top 10) A child of the Harlem Renaissance...
A flicker of hope /
Harmony, Cynthia,
Paper Book
A heartwarming tale of a girl waiting for her beloved Papá to return when the monarchs fly south to their home in Mexico. Lucía loves to watch the monarchs' migration from her home in Mexico with Papá. But this year, the monarchs' journey north holds extra weight; ...
Go forth and tell :
McDaniel, Breanna J.,
Paper Book
From an award-winning author and illustrator comes this picture book biography about beloved librarian and storyteller Augusta Braxton Baker, the first Black coordinator of children's services at all branches of the New York Public Library. Before Augusta Braxton Baker became a...
The iguanodon's horn :
Rubin, Sean,
Paper Book
Highlighting the role of artists in the scientific process, this crowd-pleasing look at dinosaurs explores how new discoveries deepen our understanding of the world. A GOOD HOUSEKEEPING 2024 KID'S BOOK AWARD WINNER A KIRKUS REVIEWS BEST BOOK AN ALA BOOKLIST BEST BOOK A...
Impossible creatures /
Rundell, Katherine.
Paper Book
#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER * Two kids race to save the world's last magical place in the first book of a landmark new fantasy series, from "a writer with an utterly distinctive voice and a wild imagination." (Philip Pullman, author of The Golden Compass) *This...
Island of whispers /
Hardinge, Frances.
Paper Book
A remarkable and ultimately heartwarming story of grief, family, kindness, and being true to yourself. Multiple starred reviews and a rave from the New York Times Book Review, which praised it as "incredibly hopeful." Part gothic thriller and part seafaring...
Kindred spirits :
Widener, Leslie Stall,
Paper Book
A nonfiction picture book about the inspiring true pay-it-forward story that bridges two continents, 175 years, and two events in history--connecting Ireland, Choctaw Nation, Navajo Nation, and the Hopi Tribe. Choctaw author Leslie Stall and Navajo illustrator Johnson Yazzie come...
The last stand /
Eady, Antwan,
Paper Book
The author of Nigel and the Moon, delivers a tender intergenerational story inspired by his childhood in the rural south. Here's a farm stand that represents the importance of family, community, and hope. A PUBLISHERS WEEKLY, BOOKPAGE, and SCHOOL...
Log life /
Hevron, Amy,
Paper Book
A New York Public Library Best Book for Kids 2024 A Junior Library Guild Selection Discover the tiny, fascinating world of nurse logs in this first book in an illuminating picture book series that explores how even the smallest habitats play big roles in nature.<...
Made in Asian America :
Lee, Erika,
Paper Book
"Powerful. . . . Made in Asian America isn't just about the past. It's about the history being made right now by young people, inspired by the Asian Americans who came before them to ensure that our stories are not only heard, but also remembered." --Paula Yoo, The New York Times...
Magnolia Wu unfolds it all /
Miller, Chanel,
Paper Book
An instant New York Times, USA Today, and indie bestseller! Award-winning author and artist Chanel Miller tells a fun, funny, and poignant story of friendship and community starring Magnolia Wu, a ten-year-old sock detective bent on returning all the lonely...
Mid-Air /
Williams, Alicia,
Paper Book
Longlisted for the National Book Award A tender-souled boy reeling from the death of his best friend struggles to fit into a world that wants him to grow up tough and unfeeling in this stunning illustrated middle grade novel in verse "full of vulnerability and hope" (...
Mishka
Van De Vendel, Edward/ Elman, Anoush/ Schaap, Annet (ILT)/ Forest-Flier, Nancy (TRN)
Paper Book
Winner of the national book award for children's literature in the Netherlands -- a sweet and tender story of a girl refugee finding a new home! Roya, her three brothers, and their parents have a new family member -- Mishka, a bunny rabbit. He soon becomes a beloved...
My Antarctica :
Neri, Greg.
Paper Book
Follow Coretta Scott King Honor-winning author G. Neri to the end of the world in a captivating travel memoir that explores Antarctica through the curiosity and wonder of his inner child--the kid who dreamed of one day becoming an explorer. Antarctica is a land of extremes--the...
My daddy is a cowboy /
Seales, Stephanie,
Paper Book
Tall. High as the clouds. Strong as a horse's back. Like a cowboy. In the early hours before dawn, a young girl and her father greet their horses and ride together through the waking city streets. As they trot along, Daddy tells cowboy stories filled with fun and...
My lost freedom :
Takei, George,
Paper Book
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER * A CALIBA GOLDEN POPPY AWARD FINALIST * A moving, beautifully illustrated true story for children ages 6 to 9 about growing up in Japanese American incarceration camps during World War II--from the iconic Star Trek actor, activist, and author of the New...
Next Stop: (A Graphic Novel)
Fong, Debbie
Paper Book
Get ready for a graphic novel road trip with more than just a few bumps in the road! Middle schooler Pia is dealing with grief as she finds herself on the biggest adventure of her life--a bus tour stopping at weird and wacky roadside attractions. Inspired by a real life road trip and...
The night market /
Wedlick, Seina,
Paper Book
Journey with a young girl as she explores the mesmerizing wonders of a Nigerian night market, where each stall is an adventure waiting to be discovered! Filled with vibrant illustrations, this captivating picture book invites young readers into a world of magic, mystery, and the joy of finding...
Not quite a ghost /
Ursu, Anne.
Paper Book
Named one of the Best Books of 2024 by the Chicago Public Library, New York Public Library, and NPR! From the award-winning author of The Troubled Girls of Dragomir Academy comes an unforgettable and deeply personal story of the ghosts that surround us--and the ones we carry inside. ...
The ocean gardener /
Anganuzzi, Clara,
Paper Book
Ayla notices that the once-vibrant corals in the reef near her beautiful island home have turned pale. She and her mom decide that they need to save the corals--but is it too late? Ayla lives on a beautiful tropical island surrounded by a coral reef. Her mom is a marine biologist...
The Outsmarters
Ellis, Deborah
Paper Book
What can you do when the adult world lets you down? Suspended from school and prone to rages, twelve-year-old Kate finds her own way to get on with her life, despite the messed-up adults around her. Her gran, for one, is stubborn and aloof -- not unlike Kate herself, who has no friends,...
Red Bird danced /
Quigley, Dawn
Paper Book
With lyrical verse and powerful emotion, Dawn Quigley (Ojibwe) tells the story of urban Native kids who find strength in connection with those who came before and in the hope that lets them take flight. Ariel and Tomah have lived in the city's intertribal housing complex all their lives....
Taxi ghost /
Escabasse, Sophie,
Paper Book
Ade`le just wants to spend her winter break at the library, but she learns she comes from a long line of mediums and that not only can she interact with ghosts, but apparently they have been using her sister's car to get around the city for years.
Viewfinder /
Chung, Christine D. U.,
Paper Book
A young space traveler happens upon Earth in the future in this gorgeous wordless adventure for fans of Shaun Tan. A transportive graphic novel for ages 6 to 9, perfect for Earth Day. A young space traveler visits Earth on a whim and finds a planet empty of people. She happens...
We are big time
Khan, Hena
Paper Book
SWISH! Cheer courtside for a Muslim teen as she joins an all-girls, hijab-wearing basketball team and learns that she's much more than a score. This energetic graphic novel is inspired by a true story! "A slam dunk!" --Minh Lê A GOOD HOUSEKEEPING BEST KIDS' BOOK...
We are definitely human /
Fang, X.
Paper Book
A hilarious alien invasion story with a feel-good message about what it means to be human. Perfect for earthlings of all ages. When three mysterious visitors from "Europe" crash-land in Mr. Li's field, he does what any good host would: he invites them back to his farmhouse and...
When beavers flew :
Tracy, Kristen,
Paper Book
This fascinating picture book tells the unique, quirky, and true story of how one man in Idaho saved 76 beavers from destroying a town by parachuting them into uninhabited wetlands. In 1948, the town of McCall, Idaho was growing rapidly. World War II was over, and the little town...
When I wrap my hair /
Grant, Shauntay,
Paper Book
In the vein of I Am Enough and Hold Them Close, this inspiring and beautiful picture book celebrates how hair wrapping ties together past and present. When I wrap, my roots run deep. As deep as an African marketplace or a city sidewalk or the stories between...

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