Book Recommendations - Best Books of 2009

GiftLit announces our choices of the Best Books of 2009. From beautifully illustrated picture books for young children to exciting fantasies for teens to extraordinary must-read novels for fiction fans, these stand out books make terrific holiday gifts.

GiftLit Picks the Best Books of 2009

These engaging fiction books include the magnificent novel Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese, Let the Great World Spin by Colum McCann, winner of the 2009 Natonal Book Award for fiction, and Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel, a must-read for any historical fiction fan. See all our choices of the best fiction books of 2009.

These outstanding nonfiction books include Strength in What Remains by Pulitzer-prize winning Tracy Kidder, The First Tycoon, a fascinating biography of Cornelius Vanderbilt by T.J. Stiles, and The Lost City of Z, an intriguing exploration into a mystery dating back centuries by David Grann. See all our choices of the best nonfiction books of 2009.

These beautiful stories have special appeal to women and include Half the Sky, one of the most important books of the year, by Nicholas Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn, the poignant novel The Help by Kathryn Stockett, and The Children's Book, a complex and compelling portrait of a family by A.S. Byatt. See all our choices of the best books of 2009 for women.

These fascinating books have particular interest for men and include The Good Soldiers, the unforgettable work by Pulitzer-prize winning reporter David Finkel, the dark and compelling novel The Angel's Game by Carlos Ruiz Zafon, and the riveting, disturbing, and inspiring Zeitoun by Dave Eggers. See all our choices of the best books of 2009 for men.

These stand out books for teens include the intensely moving story If I Stay by Gayle Forman, the breathtaking graphic novel Tales from Outer Suburbia by Shaun Tan, and the funny and bizarre Going Bovine by Libba Bray. See all our choices of the best books of 2009 for teens.

These outstanding books for ages 12 to 14 include the ingenious fantasy adventure Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld, The Monstrumologist by Rick Yancey, arguably the best horror novel of the year, and the gripping historical novel Flygirl by Sherri Smith. See all our choices of the best books of 2009 for ages 12 to 14.

These wonderful books for ages 10 to 12 include the outstanding mystery When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead, the beautifully written historical novel The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate by Jaqueline Kelly, and Scat, a madcap eco-adventure by Carl Hiaasen. See all our choices of the best books of 2009 for ages 10 to 12.

These entertaining chapter books for ages 8 to 10 include the endearing novel The Unfinished Angel by Newbery-medal winner Sharon Creech, the funny and imaginative mystery The Secret of Zoom by Lynne Jonell, and The Dream Stealer from the award-winning team of Sid Fleischman and Peter Sis. See all our choices of the best books of 2009 for ages 8 to 10.

These beautifully illustrated picture books for ages 5 to 8 include You Never Heard of Sandy Koufax?! by Jonah Winter, a captivating story that is sure to delight baseball fans, the enchanting story The Curious Garden by Peter Brown, and the tricky tongue twisters of Orangutan Tongs by wordplay master Jon Agee. See all our choices of the best books of 2009 for ages 5 to 8.

These wonderful picture books for ages 2 to 5 include Otis, by Loren Long, which is destined to become a classic, the stunningly illustrated story All the World by Elizabeth Garton Scanlon, and the inventive Duck! Rabbit! by Amy Krouse Rosenthal. See all our choices of the best books of 2009 for ages 2 to 5.

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