Blog

Introducing the top fifteen books of 2021!

At  BookPal, we believe in the power of books to ignite continuous learning and growth. Five years ago, we created the Outstanding Works of Literature (OWL) Awards to recognize books that do just that.

Every year, it is our pleasure and honor to announce the winners in each category—and this year is no exception. In our fifth year of the OWL Awards, we've continued to reflect the various trends within the three most popular overarching themes among our clients: Business, Education, and Miscellaneous.

The result is fifteen categories, for which we had several hundred submissions. After narrowing the submissions down to a longlist of 5 per category, then a shortlist of 3 per category, our editorial team has selected the top title in each category. Read on to learn more about each standout book, and some of our thoughts while reading:

Big Idea

Rebel Ideas: The Power of Diverse Thinking by Matthew Syed

In Rebel Ideas, international bestselling author Matthew Syed argues that our brainpower as individuals isn't enough. To tackle problems from climate change to economic decline, we'll need to employ the power of "cognitive diversity." Drawing on psychology, genetics, and beyond, Syed uses real-world scenarios to introduce us to the true power of thinking differently.

"Such a thought-provoking book! It's structured in such a way that you can take insights from each chapter, including compelling examples, which made it very readable and engaging. There’s a lot from this book that I could take away and implement in both my personal and work life."

Leadership

Bringing Up the Boss: Practical Lessons for New Managers by Rachel Pacheco

Rachel Pacheco, former chief people officer and an expert at helping start-ups solve their management and culture challenges, brings a practical guide for new managers, especially those in fast-growing or start-up organizations. Bringing Up the Boss combines anecdotes, data, how-to exercises, and templates to help the reader build the fundamental skills of being a great boss.

"I really liked this book! It was well written with easily understood concepts. I would recommend it to any new manager or someone who has been a manager a long time."

Management & Culture

Just Work: How to Root Out Bias, Prejudice, and Bullying to Build a Kick-Ass Culture of Inclusivity by Kim Scott

From Kim Scott, author of the revolutionary bestseller Radical Candor, Just Work reveals a practical framework for both respecting workers' individuality, making sure all voices are heard, and collaborating effectively. It is the essential guide leaders need to create more just workplaces and establish new norms of collaboration and respect.

"Overall, a thought-provoking and powerful read. Kim Scott shared stories that were sometimes hard to read, but necessary for illustrating the powerful points addressed. Her organization of the arguments and suggestions were thoughtful and helpful in breaking down and digesting the material. This is definitely a book I would recommend to others and refer back to myself as a resource. Scott's writing feels transparent, assertive, and genuine, which was refreshing to see."

Sales & Marketing

Get Different: Marketing That Can't Be Ignored! by Mike Michalowicz

Mike Michalowicz offers a proven method to position your business, service, or brand to get noticed, attract the best prospects, and convert those opportunities into sales. Told with the same humor and straight-talk that’s gained Michalowicz an army of ardent followers, with actionable insights drawn from stories of real life entrepreneurs, this book lays out a simple, doable system every entrepreneur and business owner must ask about their marketing.

"The book contains resources and worksheets that are extremely helpful and make this a must-have guide for any business owner and/or marketing professional. It guides the reader to think about ways to 'get different' with your marketing and how to stand out from the others in your industry. The ideas presented in the book were so actionable, we even implemented some in our 2022 planning exercises!"

Women in Business

My Life in Full: Work, Family, and Our Future by Indra Nooyi

For a dozen years as one of the world’s most admired CEOs, Indra Nooyi redefined what it means to be an exceptional leader. My Life in Full chronicles the former PepsiCo CEO's legendary career and the sacrifices it so often demanded. She takes readers through the events that shaped her as well as key insights she learned along the way.

"An insightful and inspiring work. Indra's writing was captivating and precise with stories from her childhood in India and family life, coming to America, and the hardships and accomplishments of her successful career. You feel like you truly get to know her as a person from reading about what her childhood home was like and her relationships with her family members within a multigenerational household. She shares stories about what it was like coming the US, getting married, working, and having children with such honesty and realism. Her points and arguments for improving the 'work and family conundrum' are thoughtful and poignant, written from lived experience and personal passion. Her writing is to the point and without fluff, which made it approachable and transparent. I thoroughly enjoyed the read and would recommend!"

Picture Books

The 1619 Project: Born on the Water by Nikole Hannah-Jones, Renée Watson, & Nikkolas Smith

The 1619 Project’s lyrical picture book in verse chronicles the consequences of slavery and the history of Black resistance in the United States, thoughtfully rendered by Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Nikole Hannah-Jones and Newbery honor-winning author Renée Watson. With powerful verse and striking illustrations by Nikkolas Smith, Born on the Water provides a pathway for readers of all ages to reflect on the origins of American identity. 

"I was blown away by this book! Not only are the poems masterful, the stories they hold convey such emotion. This book is a great tool to teach readers about the true history of Black Americans and the United States. Nikkolas Smith's illustrations are absolutely beautiful and pair perfectly with each poem."

Elementary

Geraldine Pu and Her Lunch Box, Too! by Maggie P. Chang

Meet spunky, funny, and friendly Geraldine Pu as she takes on a bully and makes a new friend in this beginning-level graphic novel. Geraldine Pu’s favorite part of school is lunch. She loves her lunch box, which she calls Biandang. She can’t wait to see what her grandmother, Amah, has packed inside it each day. Then one day, Geraldine gets stinky tofu...and an unexpected surprise. What will she do?

"Such a cute story! The graphic novel format made it engaging and fun to read. The book does a great job of introducing new words and cultures in a way that feels natural."

Middle School

Dead Wednesday by Jerry Spinelli

On Dead Wednesday, every eighth grader in Amber Springs is assigned the name and identity of a teenager who died a preventable death in the past year. Worm Tarnauer feels invisible every day. So he's not expecting Dead Wednesday to feel that different. But he didn't count on being assigned Becca Finch (17, car crash). And he certainly didn't count on Becca showing up to boss him around! Letting this girl into his head is about to change everything.

This book has an interesting premise with a great lesson: don't hold back on being happy; life is short. It's very relatable for a middle school audience and is entertaining as well as thought-provoking."

High School

The Cost of Knowing by Brittney Morris

Sixteen-year-old Alex Rufus's curse of seeing the future distracts him from being and doing his best, but when he sees his little brother Isaiah's imminent death, everything changes. With Alex now in a race against time, death, and circumstances, he and Isaiah must grapple with their past, their future, and what it means to be a young Black man in America in the present.

"I read this in 3 days, couldn't put it down! While the target audience was teen males, there were so many themes that any age, gender, or race can learn from: history of Black culture, what it means to be a Black man, racial profiling, mythology, brotherhood & family, grief, and relationships. The final few chapters were very powerful and moving."

Advanced Reading

We Are Not Like Them by Christine Pride & Jo Piazza

Told from alternating perspectives, an evocative and riveting novel about the lifelong bond between two women, one Black and one white, whose friendship is indelibly altered by a tragic event—a powerful and poignant exploration of race in America today and its devastating impact on ordinary lives. at its heart, it's a story of enduring friendship—a love that defies the odds even as it faces its most difficult challenges.

"This is an important novel to read as it deals with a very serious issue in our country today. I enjoyed how the novel showed the two sides of the shooting. It did a great job of explaining how an entire community can feel the pain and loss of a child, even one they never knew personally."

Health & Wellness

What Happened to You?: Conversations on Trauma, Resilience, and Healing by Oprah Winfrey & Bruce D. Perry

Through deeply personal conversations, Oprah Winfrey and renowned brain and trauma expert Dr. Bruce Perry offer a groundbreaking and profound shift from asking "What's wrong with you?" to "What happened to you?" This subtle but profound shift in our approach to trauma is one that allows us to understand our pasts in order to clear a path to our future—opening the door to resilience and healing in a proven, powerful way.

"This book was very eye opening and insightful. I like the mix of stories with clinical examples. It really changes my perspective on how people act, how I can relate to them, and what I can do for my future kids. It provides many nuggets of wisdom that give a better understanding to how our brains work and the effect of trauma on our lives."

Gift & Special Interest

Per My Last Email: Witty, Wicked, and Wonderfully Weird Workplace Words and Phrases by Stephanie K. Wright

Tired of phrases like "circle back," "follow up," or the dreaded "let's take this offline"? This hilarious guide will reinvigorate your vocabulary with direct and delightful alternatives to stale corporate speak. Per My Last Email provides you with fresh new words to sprinkle throughout your workday and lift you out of your office-speak rut while making you laugh at the same time.

"This book is so funny! I could relate to all of the scenarios. I plan to keep it around, as it will definitely provide levity to my work day. Who knows, I may even use some of the phrases in my next email!"

Religion

Pillars: How Muslim Friends Led Me Closer to Jesus by Rachel Pieh Jones & Abdi Nor Iftin

Rachel Pieh Jones recounts the personal encounters and growing friendships that gradually dismantled her unspoken fears and prejudices and deepened her appreciation for Islam, all the while gaining a far richer understanding of her own Christian faith. Jones shows how her Muslim friends' devotion to the five pillars of Islam leads her to rediscover ancient Christian practices her own religious tradition has lost or neglected.

"The beginning of the book was especially captivating and it was fascinating to learn about the author's life in Somalia—adapting to their ways of life and faith after growing up in a Baptist American environment. I enjoyed the way the author organized the chapters by the various Pillars of Islam. Overall, it was an enjoyable and thought-provoking read."

Politics & Current Events

The Sum of Us: What Racism Costs Everyone and How We Can Prosper Together by Heather McGhee

One of today's most insightful and influential thinkers offers a powerful exploration of inequality and the lesson that generations of Americans have failed to learn: Racism has a cost for everyone--not just for people of color. In The Sum of Us, Heather McGhee leaves us with a new vision for a future in which we finally realize that life can be more than a zero-sum game.

"Heather McGhee presents a well-researched exploration into structural racism in the United States. She includes history, research, and individual stories to make an otherwise dense subject matter engaging and easy to follow. It is enlightening to see how hundreds of years of racism have programmed society to behave the way it does. It's a book I will continue to think about and recommend to anyone I know."

Biography & Memoir

Hola Papi: How to Come Out in a Walmart Parking Lot and Other Life Lessons by John Paul Brammer

In this hilarious, tenderhearted book, John Paul Brammer shares his story of growing up biracial and in the closet in America's heartland, while attempting to answer some of life's most challenging questions: How do I let go of the past? How do I become the person I want to be? Is there such a thing as being too gay? Should I hook up with my grade school bully now that he's out of the closet? Questions we've all asked ourselves, surely.

" I really enjoyed this read! I very much resonated the author’s writing in spite of the fact that we come from two very different experiences. It's an easy read, but addresses some hard topics (abuse, racism, etc.) very well with a positive and down-to-earth attitude."

Congratulations to all the longlist, shortlist, and category winners of this year's OWL Awards! BookPal would like to extend a special thanks to all publishers and authors who submitted their titles. We appreciated all of them, and look forward to the inspiring and groundbreaking titles to come in 2022!

Stay up-to-date on trending titles, industry news, and more with the BookPal Newsletter!

This post was written by Megan Habel, Brand Strategist at BookPal. She is currently reading The Wedding Ringer by Kerry Rea.