Barnes & Noble Announces 2019 Book of the Year Winner

Press Release

Charlie Mackesy’s The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse Chosen by Barnes & Noble Booksellers as 2019 Book of the Year

New York, NY – December 5, 2019 – Barnes & Noble today announced that booksellers around the country chose Charlie Mackesy’s The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse as the winner of Barnes & Noble’s 2019 Book of the Year.

“Our booksellers chose eight brilliant and diverse titles for our inaugural Book of the Year prize shortlist. We are pleased to announce Charlie Mackesy’s extraordinary The Boy, the Mole, the Fox, and the Horse as our winner,” said CEO James Daunt. “This is the book more than any other that has caught the magpie eye of our booksellers. Word of mouth amongst our booksellers has made this inspirational book the surprise bestseller of the year. We are very proud to name it now our 2019 Barnes & Noble Book of the Year.”

Barnes & Noble booksellers from around the country nominated their top books from 2019, which were then narrowed down to eight titles by a selection committee, including Mr. Daunt. The Boy, the Mole, the Fox, and the Horse was voted on by booksellers as the 2019 Book of the Year.

Here’s what Barnes & Noble booksellers had to say about the winner:

“To quote The Boy, the Mole, the Fox, and the Horse: ‘Tears fall for a reason and they are your strength, not weakness.’ Need I say more? The book is spectacular. The perfect gift for anyone. Inspirational, thought-provoking and beautifully illustrated.”

Amanda Craig, Birmingham, AL

“The boy on his journey through life, the mole who he first encounters, a fox who may not be what he first appears to be, and a horse who is hiding a secret. Every page is worthy of meditating on as you take your own journey with these characters.”

John Carroll, Tupelo, MS

“This book touches the heart and reminds us of who we want to be and the world we want to create for ourselves and others. A beautiful book for the soul as well as the eyes.”

Glenda Moret, Brentwood, TN

The other Book of the Year Finalists were:

  • The Testaments, by Margaret Atwood;
  • The Food of Sichuan, by Fuchsia Dunlop;
  • Mythos, by Stephen Fry;
  • The Silent Patient, by Alex Michaelides;
  • Olive, Again, by Elizabeth Strout;
  • No One is Too Small to Make a Difference, by Greta Thunberg;
  • and The Nickel Boys, by Colson Whitehead.

Customers can find the Book of the Year and Book of the Year Finalists at their local Barnes & Noble and on BN.com. They can also join the conversation on TwitterInstagram, and Facebook, using hashtag #BookOfTheYear.

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About Barnes & Noble

Barnes & Noble, Inc. is the largest retail bookseller in the United States, and a leading retailer of content, digital media and educational products. The Company operates 627 Barnes & Noble bookstores in 50 states, as well as the Nook Digital business and one of the Web’s premier e-commerce sites, BN.com (www.bn.com). General information on Barnes & Noble, Inc. can be found on the Company's corporate website at www.barnesandnobleinc.com.