As the year comes to a close, we take time to honor some of the great authors who passed away this year, leaving behind a legacy of literature that will live on.

Read the stories they left us in the Libby app and remember their remarkable lives.

Daniel Kahneman

A Nobel Prize-winning psychologist best known for Thinking, Fast and Slow, exploring cognitive biases and decision-making, died on March 27 at 90 years old.

Nelson DeMille

Known for suspenseful novels like The Gold Coast and the John Corey series, he died on Sept. 17 at 81 years old.

Barbara Taylor Bradford

Best known for her debut novel A Woman of Substance, which sold over 30 million copies, she died on Nov. 24 at 91 years old.

Nikki Giovanni

A renowned American poet and prominent figure in the Black Arts Movement, known for her celebrated work Ego-Tripping and Other Poems for Young People, passed away on Dec. 9 at the age of 81.

Adele Faber

Co-author of the parenting classic How to Talk So Kids Will Listen & Listen So Kids Will Talk, died on April 24 at the age of 96. Her work revolutionized parent-child communication and sold millions of copies worldwide.

Francine Pascal

Creator of the beloved Sweet Valley High series, which captivated teens worldwide with over 200 million copies sold, Pascal died on July 28 at 92.

Paul Auster

Acclaimed for The New York Trilogy and 4 3 2 1, Auster, a literary icon of New York, died on April 30 at 77.

Lynne Reid Banks

The celebrated author of The Indian in the Cupboard and The L-Shaped Room, passed away on April 4 at 94 years old.

James A. Moore

A prolific author celebrated for his contributions to horror and fantasy, including the Seven Forges and Tides of War series, passed away on March 27 at 58 years old.

Mike Thaler

“The Riddle King” was the creator of over 220 children's books, including the beloved Black Lagoon series. He passed away on March 23 at the age of 87.

Vernor Vinge

A Hugo Award-winning science fiction author best known for A Fire Upon the Deep, died on March 20 at 79.

Arthur Frommer

A pioneer in travel writing, he authored numerous influential guidebooks under his Frommer’s brand. He died on Nov. 18 at 95 years old.

Maryse Condé

A celebrated Guadeloupean author known for her novel Segu, Condé passed away on April 2 at the age of 90.

Kate Banks

A children’s book author best known for her works exploring nature and themes of compassion, including titles like Max’s Words and The Winter Bird. She passed away on Feb. 24 at 64 years old.

Edna O'Brien

A groundbreaking Irish author celebrated for her feminist and revolutionary works like her debut novel The Country Girls, died on July 27 at the age of 93. Her memoir, Country Girl, was published in 2012.

N. Scott Momaday

A Pulitzer Prize-winning author and poet known for his work in Native American literature, Momaday wrote influential books like House Made of Dawn and The Way to Rainy Mountain. He died on Jan. 24 at 89 years old.

*Title availability may vary by library & region.