Recommendation

BCPL Staff Picks

Find out what your favorite BCPL staffer is reading, what they recommend, and what books, movies, and music you should ask us about! Through this initiative, you can connect with library staff over our shared love of reading and we can introduce you to awesome books and movies—from new releases to a few of our all-time favorites—that you might have never discovered if we hadn’t “picked” them.

Annual Best Books Lists

Every year, a panel of BCPL staff members come together to read and discuss the hottest releases of the year. We chase down the most talked about and most raved about new releases, read them, and decide collectively if they’re worth all the fuss. From this fun cooperative comes our “Best of the Year” Lists. Categorized as Young Readers, Middle Grade/Tween, Young Adult/Teen, and Adult Fiction and Nonfiction, these five lists gather the definitive books we think you shouldn’t miss!

Check out the Best Books lists»

As Brave as You by Jason Reynolds

Marianne says:
A nice story about city kids (brothers) and a slow-moving summer spent with grandparents on a remote farm in Virginia. They learn about family, friendship, and consequences.

A Mother’s Reckoning by Sue Klebold

Stephanie L. says:
It seemed like everyone wanted to blame the parents of the shooters in the Columbine massacre. It was enlightening and heartbreaking to finally hear from a parent on the other side of the tragedy.

The Raven King by Maggie Stiefvater

Crystal says:
I listened to the audiobook and was instantly drawn back into the world of Stiefvater’s Raven Cycle, thanks to her brilliant use of description and her enigmatic characters. This book perfectly completes the story that began in the first book and kept my interest from start to finish.

Stephanie S. says:
A good storyteller effortlessly compels you to experience the spectrum of emotion; I laughed, I cried, etc. This is true of Stiefvater, and especially true in The Raven King. The book grips you from the first sentence and doesn’t let you go. You will be on the edge of your seat until the end, and what an ending it will be.

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Burn Baby Burn by Meg Medina

Tracy says:
Well-developed, authentic characters and a unique setting make Burn Baby Burn one of my most memorable reads of 2016. The juxtaposition of the fear that permeated New York City during the Summer of Sam with Nora’s own troubled home life creates a sense of edgy urgency that pulled me into the story completely.

The Fireman by Joe Hill

Beth says:
Fans of Stephen King may already know that Joe Hill is his son, and you will see many nods to King’s works in this riveting book. Hill’s work is getting progressively better—from Heart-Shaped Box, Horns, and NOS4A2, Hill seems to have found his niche and takes you on a ride you never want to end. The Fireman is a terrific read, with characters I cared about within the first 50 pages. Every time I put it down, I was burning to pick it up again to keep reading. The best book I read all year!

Heather says:
This book swept me off my feet, and I haven’t stopped thinking about it since. A gloriously wild nightmare that careened me breathless and amazed into a satisfying conclusion.

When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi

Stephanie S. says:
Paul Kalanithi always wanted to be a writer; instead, he followed in his father’s footsteps and became a doctor. I am sure many lives were saved by Kalaithi’s hands, but I mourn the loss of the writer. When simultaneously faced with death and new life, Kalanithi struggles with the one question we all struggle to answer; why are we here? And in my opinion, he answers it. Full of hope, full of wonder, Kalanitih will help you look at your world through a different perspective. A highly enjoyable read!

The Abundance by Annie Dillard

Tracy says: Annie Dillard can always be counted on for an offbeat perspective on seemingly everyday occurrences, and her way of observing the natural world is nothing short of inspiring. She’s not for everyone, but her writing always leaves me in awe.

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