It’s not as much about saving the best for last as using it as the last opportunity to highlight the coolest books that came out in 2020 that defy categories. If you’ve stuck with me over the last few days, I appreciate your willingness to read through my picks and share yours with me too. With this, is there anything that you’re looking forward to in 2021?

• Home Body by Kaur
  • I had it in my hands the day after it was published because Kaur puts it all out there with her poetry and artwork that make you laugh, cry, and just plain feel.
• Dancing at the Pity Party by Feder
  • This graphic memoir brings up all of the pain that any child who lost a parent young must feel with dark humor and heaps of love.
• Once Upon an Eid edited by Ali and Saeed
  • One of the first books I read in 2020, the anthology sparkles and shines on Muslim writers and the culture and religion in their celebration of Eid.
• You’re Not Listening: What You’re Missing and Why It Matters by Murphy
  • It goes without saying that I liked listening to this book about listening. Murphy touches on aspects of our inability to listen that you hope to internalize as a reader to help you improve yourself.
• Fights: One Boy’s Triumph over Violence by Gill
  • I’ve read his other graphic nonfiction and was surprised that this was his memoir until I got into it and thought that everyone should read it. Gill’s raw demonstration of a boy on the wrong path is a testament to growth and maturity.
• Girl From the Other Side (Volume 8) by Nagabe
  • I’m ready for volumes nine and ten whenever they get published here in the United States. The haunting darkness of the other side and the saccharine relationship between Teacher and Shiva create a rich atmosphere and intriguing storyline.
• When Math Goes Wrong in the Real World by Parker
  • This was my book of the month in October. Parker’s humorous approach to serious mathematical issues encourages everyone to pay attention to why math matters. 
• Dear Justyce by Stone
  • Stronger than her first, this epistolary novel punches you in the gut as Quan and Justyce write to each other. 
• Go With the Flow by Williams and Schneemann
  • A graphic novel about periods, sign me up. Their approach using female friendship and activism is the kind of story any middle graders should read. 
• This Book is Antiracist by Jewell
  • The choice of layout and color scheme enhances the message about antiracism that’s a workbook for working on yourself.