Since 2011 is drawing to a close, and since part of being a writer is being an avid reader, I’d like to share my favorite books of 2011. (Not all of these books were published this year, but I read them all for the first time in 2011.)
Adult Fiction
I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith
Runners up:
Runners up:
State of Wonder by Ann Patchett
Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese
Nonfiction
The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot
Runners up:
Runners up:
Charles and Emma by Deborah Heiligman
Above All, Be Kind: Raising a Humane Child in Challenging Times by Zoe Weil
Above All, Be Kind: Raising a Humane Child in Challenging Times by Zoe Weil
Young Adult
Crossed by Ally Condie
Runners up:
Runners up:
Feed by M.T. Anderson
Mockingbird by Kathryn Erskine
Mockingbird by Kathryn Erskine
Middle Grade
Okay for Now by Gary Schmidt
Runners up:
Runners up:
Moon over Manifest by Clare Vanderpool
The Mostly True Adventures of Homer P. Figg by Rodman Philbrick
The Penderwicks by Jeanne Birdsall
Early Chapter Books
Ivy and Bean by Annie Barrows
Runners up:
Lulu and the Brontosaurus by Judith Viorst
Runners up:
Lulu and the Brontosaurus by Judith Viorst
Cowgirl Kate and Cocoa by Erica Silverman
Best Writing-Themed TV Episode
The Book Job (The Simpsons)
What about you? What were your favorite books this year? Do you love and/or hate any of my picks?
Thinking Through Our Fingers 
I love this–thanks for all the great book ideas. You know I love I Capture the Castle! and I adore the Penderwicks (there are 3 in the series, did you know that?).
Other books I really liked this year: I loved Major Pettigrew's Last Stand (adult)
YA:
Franny Billingsley's Chime (National Book Award nominee)
Wolves, Boys, and Other Things that Might Kill Me
Back When You were Easier to Love
Entwined
Middle Grade:
Rules, Shug (also Moon over Manifest), Love Aubrey
Children's:
Mirror, Mirror (a cool book written in reversible verse–seriously, it's amazing)
I'm sure there were more, but I can't think of them anymore.
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I love Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children. Looking for Alaska sucked me into an edgy book and held my attention for the entire ride. Sarah's Key and The True Story of Hansel and Gretel broke my heart and then healed it a little. And Crossed is sitting patiently in my house, ready to be my first dessert of the two week break.
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