My Favorite Books So Far This Year

We’re already halfway through 2012 (can you believe it?), so I thought I’d share some of my favorite 2012 books so far this year:

Ask the Passengers by A.S. King

This one doesn’t come out until October, but keep it on your radar. A.S. King’s latest novel deals with sexual identity, family, and small town life with a blend of wry humor and keen observation. Beautiful, poignant, and realistic, this one’s at the top of my favorites for the year.

Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein

Where to begin with Elizabeth Wein’s Code Name Verity? This is a complex novel of young female pilots in World War II packed with torture, treachery, intrigue, and wartime violence with an intense friendship at the core. While a bit slow to start, this one’s worth sticking around for.

Liar and Spy by Rebecca Stead

Rebecca Stead has written another fantastic middle grade novel set in New York City. Liar and Spy features a boy narrator dealing with a family crisis that requires a move to a new apartment building with some interesting neighbors. Lots of humor and quirkiness, but not without a moving family story at its heart.

Second Chance Summer by Morgan Matson

There was nothing unexpected about this summertime novel, but Morgan Matson proves she’s a contemporary YA star with the perfect mix of tender family moments, believable female friendships, and charming romance all in a dreamy, small-town lake setting.

Amelia Anne is Dead and Gone by Kat Rosenfield

A compelling mystery coupled with lyrical, dream-like writing make Kat Rosenfield’s debut YA novel a mesmerizing read. Two stories are interwoven – one of Becca, who just wants to escape her small town, and one of Amelia Anne, who is found dead there and upsets the balance of life for Becca and others.

Friends with Boys by Faith Erin Hicks

A charming graphic novel from Faith Erin Hicks about a formerly home-schooled teenaged girl trying to make friends in high school and deal with her mother’s abandonment. I have a longer review at No Flying, No Tights.

Runners-Up:

• The Fault in Our Stars by John Green
• The List by Siobhan Vivian
• This is Not a Test by Courtney Summers
• Unbreak My Heart by Melissa Walker
• The Darkest Minds by Alexandra Bracken
• The Disenchantments by Nina LaCour

Non-2012 Books I’ve Loved:

• Hold Still by Nina LaCour (being made into a movie on Kickstarter!)
• How to Save a Life by Sara Zarr
• The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater
• Why We Broke Up by Daniel Handler and Maira Kalman
• I Kill Giants by Joe Kelly

July 6th, 2012  ♥  Books, Reviews  ♥  No Comments »