Salem’s top reads of 2022

Winter is the perfect time to cozy up with a good book, but Salemites have been reading about everything from Minecraft to Trevor Noah all year.

Here are Salem’s most checked-out books of 2022 from the Salem Public Library, courtesy of city librarian Kim Carroll.

If you’re looking for suggestions on what to read next, Salem’s librarians are hosting a best books of 2022 event to share recommendations as voted on by library staff, patrons and critics. Come to the library Sat., Jan. 7 from 1-2:30 p.m. for the free program, held in the Anderson A and B rooms.

Overall most checked out

1. Dog Man by Dave Pilkey (juvenile graphic novel)
2. Rescue on the Oregon Trail by Kate Messner (juvenile fiction, Oregon Battle of the Books)  
3. Born a Crime : Stories from a South African Childhood by Trevor Noah (current Salem Reads selection)
4. Dog Man: Fetch-22 by Dav Pilkey (juvenile graphic novel) 
5. The Match by Harlan Coban (adult thriller)

Adult fiction

1. The Match by Harlan Coben
2. Run, Rose, Run: A Novel by Dolly Patron and James Patterson
3. Dream Town by David Baldacci
4. The maid: A Novel by Nita Prose
5. The Paris Apartment: A Novel by Lucy Foley

Adult non-fiction

1. Born a Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood by Trevor Noah
2. Crying in H Mart: A Memoir by Michelle Zauner
3. Atomic Habits: Tiny Changes, Remarkable Results: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones by James Clear
4. The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma by Bessel Van der Kolk
5. The Dawn of Everything: A New History of Humanity by David Graeber

Teen fiction

1. The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne Collins
2. A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah Maas
3. Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo
4. Keeper of the Lost Cities by Shannon Messenger
5. A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah Maas

Teen non-fiction

1. It’s Trevor Noah: Born a Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood by Trevor Noah (adapted for younger readers)
2. All Boys Aren’t Blue: A Memoir-Manifesto by George M. Johnson
3. The 57 Bus by Dashka Slater
4. Ain’t Burned All the Bright by Jason Reynolds
5. Dungeon Master’s Guide by Mike Mearls

Children’s fiction

1. Dog Man by Dav Pilkey
2. Rescue on the Oregon Trail by Kate Messner
3. Rowley Jefferson’s Awesome Friendly Spooky Stories by Jeff Kinney
4. The Dragonet Prophecy by Tui T. Sutherland
5. Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Getaway by Jeff Kinney

Children’s non-fiction

1. Guinness World Records : Gamer’s Edition 2020
2. Unofficial Minecraft STEM Lab for Kids : Family-Friendly Projects for Exploring Concepts in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math by John Miller
3. The Unofficial Minecrafters Master Builder Workshop by Megan Miller
4. Star Wars: The Secret Life of Droids by Jason Fry
5. Star Wars, The Force Awakens: The Visual Dictionary by Pablo Hidalgo

Picture books

1. Pete the Cat and the Perfect Pizza Party by Kimberly and James Dean
2. Don’t Let the Pigeon Stay Up Late! by Mo Willems
3. The Pigeon Needs a Bath! by Mo Willems
4. Pete the Cat and the Missing Cupcakes by Kimberly and James Dean
5. The Pigeon Has To Go To School! by Mo Willems

Contact reporter Rachel Alexander: [email protected] or 503-575-1241.

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