Best reads of 2012!

It’s time for the BEST READS OF THE YEAR awards! 

The rules:

1) These are all books I read for the first time in 2012, though they were not necessarily published in 2012.

2) Books that aren’t coming out until 2013 are not eligible, even if I read them this year.

3) Books are listed in no particular order. It was hard enough to choose a top five in many categories… there’s no way I can RANK them. *pulls out hair*

4) I am not allowed to choose more than five books per category, though I can choose fewer, if I didn’t read enough things I loved enough to merit an award. Because I am like the Pulitzer committee.

5) Books may receive more than one award if they deserve it.

 

BEST YOUNG ADULT:

The Fault in Our Stars, John Green

Code Name Verity, Elizabeth Wein

The Crown of Embers, Rae Carson

The Disenchantments, Nina Lacour

The Raven Boys, Maggie Stiefvater

 

BEST MIDDLE GRADE:

Liesl and Po, Lauren Oliver

Liar and Spy, Rebecca Stead

Wonder, R. J. Palacio

Son, Lois Lowry

The Cavendish Home for Boys and Girls, Claire Legrand

 

BEST ADULT FICTION:

Gone Girl, Gillian Flynn

Children and Fire, Ursula Hegi

The Age of Miracles, Karen Thompson Walker

Heft, Liz Moore

 

BEST NON-FICTION:

Wild, Cheryl Strayed

Let’s Pretend this Never Happened, Jenny Lawson

Steal Like an Artist, Austin Kleon

 

BEST SHORT FICTION:

Birds of a Lesser Paradise, Megan Mayhew Bergman

Drinking Coffee Elsewhere, Z.Z. Packer

 

And now for some more specific awards:

THE TEARJERKER AWARD: The Fault in Our Stars, John Green—when I finished, there was a moat of tissues surrounding my armchair. I think I cried more at this book than I did at the season 5 finale of Six Feet Under, and THAT, my friends, is a feat.

THE CLIFFHANGER AWARD: The Crown of Embers, Rae Carson. I am dying for The Bitter Kingdom. DYING. Though in a way I’m afraid to read it, because I’m terrified Rae is going to kill off my favorite character. DON’T DO IT, CARSON. PLEASE DON’T DO IT.

THE GORGEOUS COVER AWARD: Shadow and Bone, Leigh Bardugo; The Peculiar, Stefan Bachmann; The Great Unexpected, Sharon Creech.

THE MOST SATISFYING RE-READ AWARD: I Capture the Castle, Dodie Smith and Jellicoe Road, Melina Marchetta. Somehow, these books seem to be getting BETTER as I read them over and over.

THE LAUGH-OUT-LOUD-ON-THE-SUBWAY AWARD: Remarkable, Lizzie K. Foley

BEST BOOK WITH MULTIPLE NARRATORS: The List, Siobhan Vivian

BEST BOOK WITH ILLUSTRATIONS: The Broken Lands, Kate Milford

THE “HOLY CRAP, I WISH I COULD WRITE SENTENCES LIKE THAT” AWARD: Breadcrumbs, Anne Ursu and The Raven Boys, Maggie Stiefvater

 

And, okay, I know this is a 2012 list, but I can’t resist. Here are some 2013 debuts you are going to freaking LOVE, all of which I had the privilege of reading this year:

Better Nate Than Ever, Tim Federle (Feb 5, 2013)

The Art of Wishing, Lindsay Ribar (March 21, 2013)

The Wig in the Window, Kristen Kittscher (June 18, 2013)

OCD Love Story, Corey Ann Haydu (July 23, 2013)

Magic Marks the Spot, Caroline Carlson (September 9, 2013)

GET READY.

 

Happy reading in 2013, friends! Tell me your favorite books of the year in comments! 

 

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