My Favorite Reads of 2020
While 2020 was a year of great loss, of feeling lost at times, and being distanced, within the pages of books I found hope, refuge, solace, anger to push me further in action, and love. Within the pages of books I was able to move into other worlds, some that were quite frightening while others were meant for dreaming. I don’t know how many books I read, there are nearly 200 favorites on this list, so coming up with my favorite reads of 2020 was an undertaking, after all, these books kept me company in a year that at times I would rather forget. I know I missed many amazing books, so please leave me a comment if you have one to recommend. While this only represents my favorite reads, I read many more, I highlight them on Instagram or on Goodreads as I read them.
While many were brand new books, some were just brand new to me. Either way, there are many books here to potentially check out, to gift from your favorite local independent book store, so in no particular order, here are my favorite reads so far in 2020.
I have gathered the list for shopping purposes at Bookshop.org – a fantastic website that partners with independent booksellers and pays them a higher percentage for anything they sell than Amazon. Please consider ordering the books from Bookshop.org– an independent bookstore that partners with local independent bookstores to sell books or ordering them directly from you local independent book store. You can see the list here and also stay abreast of other lists that I make to showcase our work and reading.
Picture Books
Pre-order for May 2021
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Pre-order for May 2021
Pre-order for March, 2021
Early Readers
Bunbun and Bonbon by Jess Keating
Our Friend Hedgehog by Lauren Castillo 
Middle Grade
Cat Kid Comic Club by Dav Pilkey
Class Act by Jerry Craft
The Mirror Broken Wish by Julie C. Dao
My Life in the Fish Tank by Barbara Dee
Fish Out of Water by Joanne Levy
The Barren Grounds by David A. Robertson
Fighting Words by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley
All He Knew by Helen Frost
Land of Cranes by Aida Salazar
Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky by Kwame Mbalia
The Brave by James Bird
Cinderella is Dead by Kalynn Bayron
A Wish in the Dark By Christina Soontornvat
Twins by Varian Johnson and Shannon Wright
Efren Divided by Ernesto Cisnero
Before the Ever After by Jacqueline Woodson
Superman Smashes the Klan by Gene Luen Yang and art by Gurihiru
Clean Getaway by Nic Stone
Once Upon an Eid edited by S.K. Ali and Aisha Saeed
History Smashers – The Mayflower by Kate Messner and Art by Dylan Meconis
From the Desk of Zoe Washington by Janae Marks
The Moon Within by Aida Salazar 
Birdie and Me J.M.M. Nuanez
The List of Things that Will Not Change by Rebecca Stead
Snapdragon by Kat Leyh
They Call Me Güero: A Border Kid’s Poems By David Bowles
Green Lantern Legacy by Mihn Le and Andie Tong
Go With the Flow by Lily Williams and Karen Schneemann
The Only Black Girls in Town by Brandy Colbert
Rick by Alex Gino
Stand Up, Yumi Chung! by Jessica Kim
Trowbridge Road by Marcella Pixley
A High Five for Glenn Burke by Phil Bildner
Dragon Hoops by Gene Luen Yang
The Ghost Collector by Allison Mills
Bloom by Kenneth Oppel
All of Me by Chris Baron
The One and Only Bob by Katherine Applegate
Hockey Super Six by Kevin Sylvester (Order through a Canadian bookseller and cross your fingers that Scholastic USA publishes it here!)
What Lane? by Torrey Maldonado
City Spies by James Ponti
King and the Dragon Flies by Kacen Callender
When Stars are Scattered by Victoria Jamieson and Omar Mohamed
Witches of Brooklyn by Sophie EscabasseYoung Adult
Flamer by Mike Curato
Concrete Rose by Angie Thomas – pre-order for January 21st, 2021
Furia by Yamile Saied Méndez
Long Way Down – Graphic Novel by Jason Reynolds and art by Danica Novgorodoff
Junk Boy by Tony Abbott
Kate in Waiting by Becky Albertalli pre-order for April, 2021
The Bridge by Bill Konigsberg
This is My America by Kim Johnson
All Boys Aren’t Blue by George M. Johnson
Again Again by e. lockhart
Not So Pure and Simple by Lamar Giles
Wonder Woman – Tempest Tossed by Laurie Halse Anderson and illustrations by Leila del Duca
What Kind of Girl by Alyssa Sheinmel
Symptoms of Being Human by Jeff Garvin
The Revolution of Birdie Randolph by Brandy Colbert
Thirteen Doorways Wolves Behind Them All by Laura Ruby
The Astonishing Color of After by Emily X.R. Pan
Standing Strong by Gary Robinson
Manning Up by Bee Walsh
The Grace Year by Kim Ligget
Golden Arm by Carl Deuker
Check Please! Book 2 – Sticks and Scones by Ngozi Ukazu
Dig by A. S. King
Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas
Clap When You Land by Elizabeth Acevedo
Dear Justyce by Nic Stone
Something Happened to Ali Greenleaf by Hayley Krischer
Shine by Jessica Jung
A River of Royal Blood by Amanda JoyNon-Fiction – All Ages Mixed Together
Lifting as We Climb – Black Women’s Battle for the Ballot Box by Evette Dionne
The Talk – Conversations about Race, Love, & Truth edited by Wade Hudson and Cheryl Willis Hudson
Apple – Skin to the Core by Eric Gansworth
The Black Friend by Frederick Joseph
Give This Book A Title by Jarrett Lerner
Just Mercy- Adapted for Young People by Bryan Stevenson
All Thirteen: The Incredible Cave Rescue of the Thai Boys Soccer Team
Becoming by Michelle Obama
Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You – A remix by Jason Reynolds
Almost American Girl by Robin Ha
If I Go Missing by Brianna Jonnie
Dreaming in Indian edited by Lisa Charleyboy and Mary Beth Leatherdale
Urban Tribes – Native Americans in the City edited by Lisa Charleyboy and Mary Beth Leatherdale
A Stranger at Home by Christy Jordan-Fenton, Margaret Pokiak-Fenton
The Fire Never Goes Out by Noelle Stephenson
No Choirboy: Murder, Violence, and Teenagers on Death Row by Susan Kuklin
This Book is Anti-Racist by Tiffany M Jewell and illustrated by Aurelia Durand
How to be an Antiracist by Dr. Ibram X. Kendi
What about you? What were the books that song to your heart? That you have wanted to share with others? That you think deserve all of the praise, the hugs, the shares, the anger? I know I missed many from the year, so let me know, what should I read next? Happy reading in 2021!
