My Top 12 Favorite Reads of 2012

My Top Twelve Favorite Reads of 2012

(Chosen from 145+ new-to-me titles read from January 1 to December 8, 2012. However, the list might be somewhat reflective of authors I have liked on my lists in the past! In alphabetical order by title – not in order of preference. Note: Most of these titles were released in the last two years or so.)

• Ashfall by Mike Mullins – Teen/YA Fiction – Of all of the end-of-the-world-as-we-know-it/dystopian fiction I read this year, this one was the best. The huge dormant volcano under Yellowstone erupts and sends the Midwest into early winter. Alex is trying to get his family in Illinois. As well, I suddenly had the desire to stock up in vitamin C after reading this . . . to prevent scurvy.
• The Beach Street Knitting Society and Yarn Club by Gil McNeil - Adult Fiction – Jo McKenzie is a strong female character that, after her husband passes away, starts a business and knitting club.
• Bossypants by Tina Fey – Adult Nonfiction – The author talks about becoming a mother and work – a fun, humorous read!
• Courtships and Curses by Marissa Doyle – Teen/YA Fiction – A historical romance with a touch of magic!
• Dear Bully: Seventy Authors Tell Their Stories edited by Hall and Jones - Teen/YA Nonfiction – This was one of the most powerful books I read this year. I read a few other books this year about bullying that I also recommend, such as Bullied by Carrie Goldman (adult nonfiction), Everybody Sees the Ants by A. S. King (teen fiction), and Because of Mr. Terupt by Rob Buyea (juvenile fiction.)
• Don’t Kill the Birthday Girl by Sandra Beasley – Adult Nonfiction – I read two memoirs of living with food allergies this year. This one was marginally my favorite over the other, Allergic Girl by Sloane Miller. I recommend them both, but Beasley’s book is more memoir, while Miller’s is more informational on how to deal with having food allergies. I can’t decide between them, really!
• French Kids Eat Everything by Karen Le Billon – Adult Nonfiction – This is about the author’s year of living abroad in France with her family, and how kids learn to eat much differently than children in North America. Apparently in the area of rural France where they lived, there is no snacking between meals, even for the youngest children.
• See You at Harry’s by Jo Knowles – Juvenile/Teen Fiction (middle school) - This is a relatively short book, but it produced so many emotions for me - definitely a recommendation for adults, too. It is very much a tearjerker. I had trouble deciding between this one and John Green’s The Fault in Our Stars (which is more of a high school level), but this one won out by a bit in my mind. I recommend Green’s book as well, however.
• Size 12 and Ready to Rock by Meg Cabot – Adult Fiction – This is the next book in the Heather Wells mystery series. As always, this was a humorous read. This one was just fun!
• Smile by Raina Telgemeier – Juvenile/Teen Nonfiction Graphic Novel – It is about the author’s experiences with orthodontia and such while growing up.
• Son by Lois Lowery - The fourth book of The Giver series, and in my opinion the best one since the Giver. It is mainly the story of Claire, Gabe’s Birthmother. It was the book I most looked forward to reading this year.
• The Woman Who Died a Lot by Jasper Fforde - The next book in the Thursday Next series. You don’t necessarily need to have read the rest of the books to read this one, but to have read them will help more things make more sense. This is also a humorous book! My only disappointment in this book was the dissolution of the Chronoguard . . . I guess I will have to wait for the next book to find out more!