Announcing the Finalists for Barnes & Noble’s Book of the Year

The Boy, the Mole, the Fox, and the Horse, by Charlie Mackesy
When the illustrator Charles Mackesy first put together his  scenes of a boy talking with three animal friends, he didn’t predict the deep resonance they would have with people all over the world. The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse is an instant classic, a timeless fable matching Mackesy’s beautiful drawings with a voice that delivers wisdom and inspiration on every page.
What our booksellers are saying: “The Boy, the Mole, the Fox, and the Horse is a beautiful story about friendship, never giving up, and being true and kind to yourself and others around you. You’ll fall in love with Charlie Mackesy’s gorgeous illustrations and incredible words. Words we all need to hear.” – Erin Lynn, Bookseller, Souix Falls, SD

The Nickel Boys, by Colson Whitehead
The Nickel Boys is Colson Whitehead’s followup to the Pulitzer Prize-winning Underground Railroad, and it is every bit as provoking and praise-worthy. Set in the Jim Crow South of the 1960s,  it follows two philosophically opposed black students at a notorious reform school known as the Nickel Academy. Though the school claims to turn delinquents into “honorable and honest men” via “physical, intellectual and moral training,” in truth it’s a hotbed of corruption and abuse. Elwood Curtis tries to emulate his hero, Dr. Martin Luther King, during his hellish interment there, but his friend Turner is more cynical about the world. The boys’ disparate survival techniques culminate in a plan that will impact the rest of their lives. Listen to Colson Whitehead discuss the novel on the B&N Podcast.

What our booksellers are saying: “The Nickel Boys is a gut punch of a book. Whitehead is a master of words, and this novel hits hard on tough themes. An important read in today’s America.” – Ryan Quinn, Bookseller, Fargo, ND

The Silent Patient, by Alex Michaelides
Alex Michaelides’ potent psychological thriller begins with a jolt: Alicia Berenson, a successful artist living in well-to-do London, welcomes her fashion photographer husband home from a late night on the job with five bullets to the face, and never speaks another word. She spends the next six years as a silent patient at the Grove, a secure forensic facility in North London. Theo Faber is a gifted psychotherapist obsessed with the case, and he convinces Alicia’s doctors to allow him to coax her to speak. Theo’s sessions are interspersed with excerpts of Alicia’s diary leading up to the day of Gabriel’s murder. As the clues about what truly happened begin to fall into place, Theo’s personal and professional worlds begin to blur, leading to a shocking ending.

What our booksellers are saying: “This can’t-put-it-down thriller stuns you as it throws a dark twist in just when you’re sure you have everything figured out.” – Cathy Schultz, Bookseller, Peoria, IL

The Food of Sichuan, by Fuchsia Dunlop
Some cookbooks are landmarks not merely because of their recipes, but because of the window they open onto a culture via its cuisine. Award-winning author Fuchsia Dunlop first published Land of Plenty—a definitive, gorgeously illustrated guide to Sichuan cooking for the English-speaking world—almost two decades ago, and in this glorious new edition, she adds dozens of fresh recipes and more, making The Food of Sichuan a must-read in its own right.

What our booksellers are saying: “This book is a culinary tour guide to one of the most flavorful parts of the world, including recipes for those who are new to the kitchen and others that require some more expert techniques. Beautifully photographed, with great writing that really gets to the heart of what makes this cuisine unique and special.” – Sarah Kane, Bookseller, Evanston, IL

Mythos, by Stephen Fry
Mythos is a collection of Greek myths retold by writer, comedian, and celebrated wit Stephen Fry. His lively, refreshing take on classic stories—from Prometheus to Pandora—will enchant mythology enthusiasts, as well as readers who are less familiar with these tales. Brimming with humor, as well as a deep affection and respect for the original stories, these adventures perfectly capture the colorful feats and foibles of the gods and mortals of ancient Greece. 
What our booksellers are saying: “Stephen Fry’s Mythos is a fascinating and intelligent and an exciting read! Fans of Mr. Fry’s wit, wisdom, and humor will find in his newest book Greek and Roman myths reimagined and reexamined for our modern age.” – Lorien Campbell, Bookseller, Athens, GA

The Testaments, by Margaret Atwood
A lot has changed in the 35 years since Margaret Atwood’s dystopian classic The Handmaid’s Tale was published, but little that makes her dark vision of the future—one in which an environmental disaster and an idealogical uprising have seen America toppled and replaced by the theocratic state of Gilead, where increasingly rare fertile women are forced to bear children for the wealthy and powerful—seem any less prescient. In The Testaments, an unexpected but vital sequel, Atwood dives deeper into the politics of Gilead—its Aunts, its Marthas—and, in the lives of its younger characters, delivers hope that a better, if hard-won, future might be possible. Listen to Margaret Atwood discuss the novel on the B&N Podcast.

What our booksellers are saying: “The Handmaid’s Tale pulled us in, but The Testaments is the novel that doesn’t let us go. Told from the point of view of three women in a dystopian North America, Atwood’s ultimately hopeful novel is a feminist triumph.” – Ryan Quinn, Bookseller, Fargo, ND

No One Is Too Small to Make a Difference, by Greta Thunberg
In August 2018, the simple decision by a 15-year-old girl to walk out of school to protest the climate crisis sparked a worldwide movement. A year later, Greta Thunberg has given voice to an entire generation of young people facing life in an uncertain future on a planet that seems precariously close to a breaking point. Though Thunberg has rejected the notion that she be viewed as an icon, her message—delivered in speeches to the United Nations, on Capitol Hill, and amid massive street protests—carries undeniable weight. Collected in this volume, her words act as a call to arms—a potent argument that the time for action is yesterday, and that we all have a role to play in saving our tomorrows.

What our booksellers are saying: “Although her speeches may feel repetitive, her message merits repeating: Greta, a young woman of 16 with Asperger’s syndrome, brings her black-and-white viewpoint to the problem of climate justice. The clarity with which she views the issues is formidable. She speaks from the gut and pulls no punches. From her specialized point of view, she argues that action for climate justice needs to be quick and all-encompassing. There are problems to solve. We know the solutions. The time for action is now.” – Gabriel Jacobson, Bookseller, Brentwood, TN
Barnes & Noble’s Book of the Year will be announced in December.