Canberrans are huge fans of Brisbane author Trent Dalton. Photo: Museum of Brisbane.
Australian author Trent Dalton has topped Libraries ACT’s list of 2024’s most popular reads.
His Lola in the Mirror was the most borrowed book of 2024.
Described as bighearted, gritty, magical and moving, Dalton’s fantastical tale of a Brisbane girl on the run won the Australian Book Industry Awards Literary Fiction Book of the Year for 2024.
City and Government Services Minister Tara Cheyne said Libraries ACT members borrowed almost 2.5 million items each year on average.
“At one stage during 2024, there were 525 reservations placed by library members, who were patiently waiting for their copy of Lola in the Mirror to take home to read,” she said.
“It has been a busy year for all of us, including the staff and volunteers at Libraries ACT. I would like to thank them for playing such an important role in helping keep our community connected.
“Whilst library branches are currently closed for a few days for the holiday period, I hope they can join all of us and get to enjoy this special time with friends and family.”
All library branches are closed for the current holiday period and re-open on Thursday 2 January 2025. For more information on library opening hours over the summer holiday period, visit the Libraries ACT website.
Libraries ACT has compiled lists of the top five reads for 2024 in a variety of genres.
Most popular books in all formats including audio books
- Lola in the Mirror by Trent Dalton
- Past Lying by Val McDermid
- Sanctuary by Garry Disher
- The Raging Storm by Ann Cleeves
- What Happened to Nina? by Dervla McTiernan
Top five adult fiction
- Lola in the Mirror by Trent Dalton
- Past Lying by Val McDermid
- Sanctuary by Garry Disher
- What Happened to Nina? by Dervla McTiernan
- Everyone On This Train Is A Suspect by Benjamin Stevenson
Top five books by ACT authors
- The Seven by Chris Hammer
- The Tilt by Chris Hammer
- The Woman in the Library by Sulari Gentill
- Bulldozed: Scott Morrison’s fall and Anthony Albanese’s rise by Niki Savva
- Smoke by Michael Brissenden
Top five adult non-fiction
- Wifedom: Mrs Orwell’s Invisible Life by Anna Funder
- RecipeTin Eats Dinner: 150+ recipes from Australia’s favourite cook by Nagi Maehashi
- 4 Weeks to Better Sleep: A life-changing plan for deep sleep, improved brain function and feeling great by Michael Mosley
- The Anxious Generation: How the great rewiring of childhood is causing an epidemic of mental illness by Jonathon Haidt
- Question 7 by Richard Flanagan
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Top five junior fiction and graphic novels
- Dog Man: Twenty thousand fleas under the sea by Dav Pilkey
- Hypno Ninja! by Anh Do
- Ninja Games! by Anh Do
- The Scarlet Shedder by Dav Pilkey
- The Race Is On by Anh Do
Top five young adult fiction and graphic novels
- A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J Maas
- Powerless by Lauren Roberts
- Heartstopper Volume 5 by Alice Oseman
- The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne Collins
- A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J Maas
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