Overall Stats

Mary’s Year in Books
I read a total of 158 books! That’s too many to break down by genre, but here are some general stats.
I read:

49 novels
39 graphic novels
57 children’s books
11 nonfiction
2 anthologies

Seven titles were audio books, eight ebooks.

A to Z Challenge

I finished reading my final A to Z challenge title on December 30th. Some favorite titles from the challenge:

The Bone Spindle by Leslie Vedder (this was also an Enchanted Garden Book Club read, my full review is here) gender swapped Sleeping Beauty retelling
Carter and Lovecraft by Jonathan L. Howard, a modern Lovecraftian title with a private detective, a bookstore owner, and twisted horror
In the Hall with the Knife by Diana Peterfreund is a teen murder mystery with nods to the Clue game and movie
Small Favors by Erin A. Craig is a fairy-tale esque that gave vibes of M. Night Shyamalan’s The Village.
Undone by Rachel Caine was a gripping story about a fallen djinn in an urban fantasy setting (spin off of Weather Warden series)

I completed the picture book version of the challenge in July. You can read my full recap here. My favorite picture books from the selection were:

Owl Moon by Jane Yolen for a classic and lovely imagery poem
Invasion of the Unicorns by David Biedrzycki was a delight to read
I Am You: A Book about Ubuntu by Refiloe Moahloli was a very uplifting title
The Quiltmaker’s Gift by Jeff Brumbeau felt like a fairy tale, with great art and message.

Other Notable Reads

All the Murmuring Bones by A.G. Slatter, gothic horror fantasy
Legends and Lattes by Travis Baldree, cozy fantasy
Comfort Me With Apples by Catherynne M. Valente, a surprising retelling that was brilliantly done
Deaf Utopia by Nyle DiMarco, his autobiography about growing up Deaf, and his time on America’s Next Top Model and Dancing with the Stars.

Some excellent Graphic Novels, most LGBTQ+ friendly: