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Written by ABA
Last edited Mar 2023 — 3 min read
The year 2020 was one for the books, to say the least. As the world came to a standstill, books became a source of comfort and escape for many. The American Books Award recognizes and celebrates the books that captured our attention and hearts during this unprecedented time. The winners of the 2020 American Books Award span a variety of genres, from memoirs to thrillers, and showcase the literary talent of authors around the world. In this article, we will take a look at the standout books that won the hearts of readers and judges alike, leaving a lasting impression and cementing their place as some of the best books of the year.
| GENRE | Fiction |
| AUTHOR | Charles Yu |
| PUBLISHER | Pantheon Books |
#1 Wall Street Journal Bestseller
"Interior Chinatown" is a satirical novel that explores the complexities of Asian-American identity and representation in Hollywood. Written in the form of a screenplay, the story follows the life of an actor named Willis Wu, who is struggling to break free from the stereotypical roles he is constantly offered. As he fights against the system, Willis begins to unravel the true nature of his identity and the world around him. The book won the National Book Award for Fiction in 2020, cementing its place as a must-read for anyone interested in the politics of representation in the media.
| GENRE | Thriller |
| AUTHOR | Rumaan Alam |
| PUBLISHER | Ecco |
#1 Wall Street Journal Bestseller
"Leave the World Behind" is a riveting thriller that explores the anxieties and tensions of modern-day America. The story follows a family on vacation in a secluded house when they are unexpectedly interrupted by the arrival of the house's owners, who claim that a blackout has occurred in the city. As the two families navigate their differences and the mysteries of the blackout, the tension escalates to a heart-stopping climax. The book was a finalist for the National Book Award for Fiction in 2020, and has been praised for its masterful storytelling and incisive commentary on race, class, and family.
| GENRE | Fiction |
| AUTHOR | Lydia Millet |
| PUBLISHER | W.W. Norton & Company |
#1 Wall Street Journal Bestseller
"A Children's Bible" is a haunting and poignant novel that examines the relationships between parents and children, and the consequences of ignoring the looming threat of climate change. The story follows a group of children who are spending the summer with their families at a remote country estate. As the adults indulge in their own vices and distractions, the children are left to fend for themselves and face the harsh realities of a world on the brink of collapse. With beautiful prose and insightful reflections, "A Children's Bible" is a powerful exploration of humanity's relationship with nature and the importance of facing our collective responsibility in the face of crisis.
| GENRE | Fiction |
| AUTHOR | Deesha Philyaw |
| PUBLISHER | West Virginia University Press |
#1 Wall Street Journal Bestseller
"The Secret Lives of Church Ladies" is a collection of short stories that delve into the lives of Black women and their experiences with desire, love, and faith. Set in the context of Black churches and communities, the stories explore the complex relationships between women and their families, lovers, and religious institutions. From a young woman struggling with her sexuality to a pastor's wife grappling with her husband's infidelity, the stories offer a nuanced and deeply human portrayal of Black women's experiences. The book was a finalist for the National Book Award for Fiction in 2020, and has been praised for its vivid and lyrical writing style.
| GENRE | Fiction |
| AUTHOR | Douglas Stuart |
| PUBLISHER | Grove Press |
#1 Wall Street Journal Bestseller
"Shuggie Bain" is a heart-wrenching debut novel that tells the story of a young boy growing up in poverty-stricken Glasgow in the 1980s. The book follows Shuggie, a sensitive and artistic child, as he navigates the challenges of poverty, addiction, and family dysfunction. As he grows older, Shuggie must confront his own sexuality and identity in a world that is hostile to his difference. With its vivid and evocative prose, "Shuggie Bain" offers a poignant and unflinching portrayal of working-class life in Scotland and the resilience of the human spirit. The book won the Booker Prize in 2020, cementing its place as a modern classic of Scottish literature.
| GENRE | Biography |
| AUTHOR | Les Payne and Tamara Payne/td> |
| PUBLISHER | Liveright Publishing Corp. |
#1 Wall Street Journal Bestseller
"The Dead Are Arising" is a comprehensive biography of Malcolm X, one of the most influential and controversial figures in American history. Written by journalist Les Payne and his daughter Tamara, the book offers new insights into Malcolm X's life and legacy, including his childhood, his conversion to Islam, his leadership of the Nation of Islam, and his assassination in 1965. The book draws on extensive research and interviews with family members, associates, and adversaries of Malcolm X to provide a nuanced and compelling portrait of this complex and charismatic leader.
| GENRE | Memoir |
| AUTHOR | Karla Cornejo Villavicencio |
| PUBLISHER | One World |
#1 Wall Street Journal Bestseller
"The Undocumented Americans" is a powerful and intimate portrait of the lives of undocumented immigrants in the United States. Written by Karla Cornejo Villavicencio, who herself is an undocumented immigrant, the book chronicles the struggles and triumphs of individuals and families from diverse backgrounds who have made the difficult journey to America in search of a better life. Through vivid and moving storytelling, Villavicencio illuminates the humanity and resilience of these often marginalized and demonized communities, and challenges readers to confront their own assumptions and biases about immigration.
| GENRE | History |
| AUTHOR | Claudio Saunt |
| PUBLISHER | W. W. Norton & Company |
#1 Wall Street Journal Bestseller
"Unworthy Republic" is a groundbreaking work of history that traces the long and brutal legacy of Native American dispossession in the United States. Written by historian Claudio Saunt, the book exposes the devastating consequences of the federal government's policy of Indian Removal in the early 19th century, which forced thousands of Indigenous peoples from their ancestral homelands and onto the Trail of Tears. Drawing on a wealth of primary sources and archival materials, Saunt provides a harrowing and illuminating account of this dark chapter in American history, and challenges readers to reckon with the ongoing legacy of colonialism and racism in the present day.
| GENRE | Memoir |
| AUTHOR | Jenn Shapland |
| PUBLISHER | Tin House Books |
#1 Wall Street Journal Bestseller
"My Autobiography of Carson McCullers" is a hybrid work of memoir and literary criticism that explores the life and legacy of the Southern Gothic writer. Written by Jenn Shapland, the book chronicles her own journey of discovery as she uncovers the hidden queer love letters between Carson McCullers and a woman named Annemarie. Along the way, Shapland reflects on her own experiences of identity, desire, and belonging, and offers a fresh and insightful perspective on McCullers' writing and influence. The result is a rich and deeply personal meditation on the power of literature to shape and transform our lives.
| GENRE | Essay Collection |
| AUTHOR | Jerald Walker |
| PUBLISHER | Mad Creek Books |
#1 Wall Street Journal Bestseller
"How to Make a Slave and Other Essays" is a provocative and insightful collection of essays that explore the complexities of race, identity, and American culture. Written by Jerald Walker, the book spans a wide range of topics and styles, from the personal to the political, the historical to the speculative. Whether reflecting on his own experiences as a Black man in America or interrogating the myths and realities of whiteness, Walker writes with honesty, intelligence, and a fierce commitment to justice and truth. The result is a collection that challenges and illuminates, and that demands to be read and reckoned with.
| GENRE | Poetry |
| AUTHOR | Don Mee Choi |
| PUBLISHER | Wave Books |
#1 Wall Street Journal Bestseller
"DMZ Colony" is a powerful and innovative work of poetry that explores the legacy of the Korean War and its ongoing impact on Korean and Korean-American communities. Written by Don Mee Choi, the book draws on a wide range of sources, including archival documents, interviews, and personal memories, to create a collage-like portrait of a divided and traumatized nation. Through its fragmented and multivalent form, "DMZ Colony" offers a potent critique of imperialism, militarism, and nationalism, and offers a vision of solidarity and resistance in the face of oppression and violence.
| GENRE | Poetry |
| AUTHOR | Mei-mei Berssenbrugge |
| PUBLISHER | New Directions Publishing |
#1 Wall Street Journal Bestseller
"A Treatise on Stars" is a luminous and lyrical work of poetry that meditates on the mysteries of the cosmos and the connections between the human and the divine. Written by Mei-mei Berssenbrugge, the book combines scientific and philosophical inquiry with a deeply personal and spiritual sensibility, and explores themes of identity, ecology, and the natural world. Through its shimmering and elusive language, "A Treatise on Stars" invites readers to contemplate the infinite and the infinitesimal, and to consider the ways in which we are all stardust, bound together in a vast and wondrous universe.
| GENRE | Poetry |
| AUTHOR | Tommye Blount |
| PUBLISHER | Four Way Books |
#1 Wall Street Journal Bestseller
In this stunning debut, Tommye Blount excavates the haunting poetry to be found in the silence kept in the wake of terrible violence. By turns harrowing and hypnotic, this book explores the trauma of growing up Black in America and the transformational power of art.
| GENRE | Poetry |
| AUTHOR | Anthony Cody |
| PUBLISHER | Omnidawn Publishing |
#1 Wall Street Journal Bestseller
Anthony Cody’s stunning debut collection, Borderland Apocrypha, is an exploration of identity, family, and the violence wrought by border militarization. Through hauntingly beautiful language, Cody navigates the complexities of life in the borderlands and the erasure of Indigenous voices.
| GENRE | Poetry |
| AUTHOR | Natalie Diaz |
| PUBLISHER | Graywolf Press |
#1 Wall Street Journal Bestseller
In this powerful collection, Natalie Diaz explores the intersections of love, desire, and colonialism. Through her exquisite use of language and imagery, Diaz reclaims the bodies and the voices of Indigenous people and calls on us all to reckon with the legacies of empire.
| GENRE | Young Adult Fiction |
| AUTHOR | Kacen Callender |
| PUBLISHER | Scholastic Press |
#1 Wall Street Journal Bestseller
Winner of the National Book Award for Young People's Literature, King and the Dragonflies tells the story of a young boy named King who must navigate the grief and confusion he feels after his older brother's sudden death. With the help of his friends, he begins to unravel the secrets his brother left behind.
| GENRE | Young Adult Fiction |
| AUTHOR | Traci Chee |
| PUBLISHER | HMH Books for Young Readers |
#1 Wall Street Journal Bestseller
We Are Not Free tells the story of fourteen young adults, all of whom are Japanese American, and their experiences before, during, and after being interned during World War II. This moving and powerful novel explores themes of identity, friendship, and resilience in the face of injustice.
| GENRE | Fiction |
| AUTHOR | Candice Iloh |
| PUBLISHER | Dutton Books for Young Readers |
#1 Wall Street Journal Bestseller
In this stunning debut novel in verse, Candice Iloh tells the story of Ada, a young woman who must navigate the complexities of family, identity, and sexuality as she makes her way through her freshman year of college.
| GENRE | Middle Grade Graphic Novel |
| AUTHOR | Victoria Jamieson and Omar Mohamed |
| PUBLISHER | Dial Books |
#1 Wall Street Journal Bestseller
This beautiful and poignant graphic novel tells the story of two Somali brothers, Omar and Hassan, who spend years in a refugee camp in Kenya. Through their struggles and joys, When Stars Are Scattered reminds us of the resilience and hope that can be found in even the most difficult circumstances.
| GENRE | Middle Grade Fiction |
| AUTHOR | Gavriel Savit |
| PUBLISHER | Knopf Books for Young Readers |
#1 Wall Street Journal Bestseller
The Way Back is a beautifully written and haunting novel that explores the power of stories to heal and connect us. When a young girl named Anya encounters a mysterious old woman in the woods, she embarks on a journey that will take her through time and across continents.
| GENRE | Autobiography |
| AUTHOR | Dr. Chelinay Gates |
| PUBLISHER | Tellwell Publications |
#1 Wall Street Journal Bestseller
"Lucky-Child: The Secret" is an inspiring autobiography of Dr. Chelinay Gates (also known as Malardy). It tells the story of her life's struggles and how she overcame them.
| GENRE | Fantasy |
| AUTHOR | L. James Rice |
| PUBLISHER | Twelfth Star Publishing |
#1 Wall Street Journal Bestseller
"Eve of Snows" is a gripping and imaginative fantasy novel by L. James Rice. It follows the story of a young woman named Eira who is caught in the middle of a war between two powerful kingdoms.
| GENRE | Photography |
| AUTHOR | QT Luong |
| PUBLISHER | Cameron Books |
#1 Wall Street Journal Bestseller
"Treasured Lands: A Photographic Odyssey Through America's National Parks" is a stunning collection of photographs by QT Luong that takes readers on a journey through America's most beautiful and iconic national parks.
| GENRE | Fantasy |
| AUTHOR | D.W. Goates |
| PUBLISHER | Black Spot Books |
#1 Wall Street Journal Bestseller
"A Witch's Burden" is a thrilling fantasy novel by D.W. Goates. It tells the story of a young witch named Abigail who must confront her past and embrace her true powers in order to save her town from a dark force.
| GENRE | Children's book |
| AUTHOR | Zenda Walker |
| PUBLISHER | Self-published |
#1 Wall Street Journal Bestseller
A beautifully illustrated children's book that celebrates the beauty and diversity of natural Black hair through Zara's journey.
| GENRE | Poetry |
| AUTHOR | Cyana Riley |
| PUBLISHER | Publishing |
#1 Wall Street Journal Bestseller
A collection of raw and honest poetry that explores themes of love, heartbreak, and self-discovery.
| GENRE | Thriller |
| AUTHOR | Peter Black |
| PUBLISHER | FriesenPress |
#1 Wall Street Journal Bestseller
A gripping and suspenseful thriller that follows the story of a man who finds himself in the middle of a dangerous drug cartel.
| GENRE | Poetry |
| AUTHOR | Paula Negraes |
| PUBLISHER | Self-published |
#1 Wall Street Journal Bestseller
A captivating collection of poetry that reflects on the beauty and stillness of spring and the wonders of nature.
| GENRE | Memoir |
| AUTHOR | Lisa Fierer |
| PUBLISHER | Terra Nova Books |
#1 Wall Street Journal Bestseller
A powerful and moving memoir that recounts Lisa Fierer's journey through addiction and recovery, and finding hope and healing.
| GENRE | Fiction |
| AUTHOR | Valerie Dunsmore |
| PUBLISHER | Published |
#1 Wall Street Journal Bestseller
A heartwarming tale of a woman named Agnes who discovers a mysterious rabbit on her property and finds herself on a journey of self-discovery.
| GENRE | Fiction |
| AUTHOR | Scott Semegran |
| PUBLISHER | Mutt Press |
#1 Wall Street Journal Bestseller
A story about a group of people who live on an island that only appears on the horizon for a few days every year. The book explores themes of community, love, and loss.
| GENRE | Fiction |
| AUTHOR | Emily DeYoung |
| PUBLISHER | Self-Published |
#1 Wall Street Journal Bestseller
This novel follows a young woman named Tamsin who embarks on a journey of self-discovery after the death of her mother. Along the way, she discovers secrets about her family's past.
| GENRE | Fiction |
| AUTHOR | David M. Brooks |
| PUBLISHER | Published |
#1 Wall Street Journal Bestseller
A gripping story of a man named Ethan who faces a moral dilemma when he is given the opportunity to change the course of his life. The book explores themes of fate, love, and redemption.
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