Top 10 Most Read Books for Our Reading Challenge 2019

February 5, 2020 | Ames

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Our Reading Challenge 2020 has already begun, but we wanted to take a quick look back at some of the most popular books that you read or listened to for last year's Reading Challenge. Based on the responses we received, here are the most popular from books last year and some of the categories they were used for.

Top 5

Brother

1. Brother by David Chariandy

All formats

Categories it was used for:

  • A book set in Toronto (most common category)
  • A book by an author in a visible minority
  • A book by an eh List author
  • A book from a Canadian award-winning author
  • A book recommended to you by library staff
  • A book about being a refugee, newcomer or immigrant

 

Washington black

2. Washington Black by Esi Edugyan

All formats

Categories it was used for:

  • A book from a Canadian award-winning author (most common category)
  • A book recommended to you by library staff
  • A book by an author in a visible minority
  • A book about being a newcomer, refugee or immigrant
  • A book by an eh List writer

 

Moon of the crusted snow

3. Moon of the Crusted Snow by Waubgeshig Rice

All formats

Categories it was used for:

  • A book from Read Indigenous (most common)
  • A book from a Canadian award-winning author

 

The hate u give

4. The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas

All formats

Categories it was used for:

  • A book that has been banned or challenged (most common category)
  • A book by an author in a visible minority
  • A book you should have read in school, but didn't
  • A book from The List: Great Reads for Youth

 

Scarborough

5. Scarborough by Catherine Hernandez

All formats

Categories it was used for:

  • A book set in Toronto (most common)
  • A book recommended to you by library staff
  • A book by an LGBTQ+ author
  • A book about mental health
  • A book from a Canadian award-winning author
  • A book by an author in a visible minority

 

Tied for 6th

Becoming
6. Becoming by Michelle Obama

All formats

Categories it was used for:

  • A book by an author in a visible minority (most common)
  • A book about mental health
  • A book you've always meant to read
  • A book recommended to you by library staff

 

The handmaids tale

6. The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood

All formats

Categories it was used for:

  • A book that has been adapted into a movie or show (most common)
  • A book that has been banned or challenged
  • A book you've always meant to read
  • A book you should have read in school, but didn't
  • A book from a Canadian award-winning author
  • A book by an author with the same initials as you
  • A book recommended to you by library staff

 

The marrow thieves

6. The Marrow Thieves by Cherie Dimaline

All formats

Categories it was used for:

  • A book by an eh List writer (most common)
  • A book from a Canadian award-winning author
  • A book from Read Indigenous
  • A book you previously tried to read and gave up on
  • A book from The List: Great Reads for Youth

 

Rosie's glasses

6. Rosie's Glasses by Dave Whamond

All formats

Categories it was used for:

  • A book from our First & Best lists (most common)
  • A book from a Canadian award-winning author

 

7th, 8th and 9th

Seven fallen feathers

7. Seven Fallen Feathers by Tanya Talaga

All formats

Categories it was used for:

  • A book from Read Indigenous (most common)
  • A book set in a country you'd like to visit
  • A book you've always meant to read
  • A book on a topic you know nothing about
  • A book by an author in a visible minority
  • A book from a Canadian award-winning author

 

Square

8. Square by Mac Barnett

All formats

Categories it was used for:

  • A book from our First & Best lists

 

Woman world

9. Woman World by Aminder Dhaliwal

Categories it was used for:

  • A book from The List: Great Reads for Youth (most common)
  • A graphic novel
  • A book by an eh List writer

 

Tied for 10th

Educated

10. Educated by Tara Westover

All formats

Categories it was used for:

  • A book recommended to you by library staff (most common)
  • A book about mental health
  • A book on a topic you know nothing about

 

Homes

10. Homes by Abu Bakr al Rabeeah

All formats

Categories it was used for:

  • A book about being a newcomer, refugee or immigrant

 

The testaments

10. The Testaments by Margaret Atwood

All formats

Categories it was used for:

  • A book from a Canadian award-winning author (most common)
  • A book set in Toronto
  • A book that has been adapted into a movie or show

 

Okay, we know that's actually 15 books, not 10, but we didn't want to leave any of them out! You can check out more reading recommendations in all of our lists for the 2019 Reading Challenge, as well as what Torontonians read in  2019.

Are you participating in our Reading Challenge this year? Did you take the challenge last year? Read or listen to 12 books in 12 categories this year to complete the Reading Challenge 2020!

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