It’s Best Books season again, the time of year when editors, reviewers and readers in the book community list the best books they’ve read over the last 12 months. I am still compiling the data — I am tracking more than 20 best books lists — but there are already some clear frontrunners. Here are the sixteen books that have already been named to at least six — and counting — best young adult book lists for 2020:
| Lists | Author | Title |
| 12 | Elizabeth Acevedo | Clap When You Land |
| 10 | Jason Reynolds and Ibram X. Kendi | Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You: A Remix of the National Book Award-Winning ‘Stamped from the Beginning’ |
| 9 | Ibi Zoboi and Yusef Salaam | Punching the Air |
| 9 | Jordan Ifueko | Raybearer |
| 8 | Aiden Thomas | Cemetery Boys |
| 8 | Gene Luen Yang | Dragon Hoops |
| 8 | Leah Johnson | You Should See Me in a Crown |
| 7 | Kacen Callender | Felix Ever After |
| 7 | Traci Chee | We Are Not Free |
| 6 | Nic Stone | Dear Justyce |
| 6 | Mike Curato | Flamer |
| 6 | Lamar Giles | Not So Pure and Simple |
| 6 | David Yoon | Super Fake Love Song |
| 6 | Dean Atta | The Black Flamingo |
| 6 | Nina LaCour | Watch Over Me |
| 6 | Jenny Torres Sanchez | We Are Not From Here |
Some of the lists I’ve been tracking this year include:
- School Library Journal
- Kirkus Reviews
- Publishers Weekly
- New York Public Library
- Amazon
- Barnes & Noble
- NPR
- Goodreads
…and more! I will list all of my sources when I publish my final list of the Best YA Books of 2020 early next year! Stay tuned…