Favorite Books 2011

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:

State of Wonder by Ann Patchett

Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese

Nonfiction

The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot
Runners up:

Charles and Emma by Deborah Heiligman
Above All, Be Kind: Raising a Humane Child in Challenging Times by Zoe Weil

Young Adult

Crossed by Ally Condie
Runners up:

Feed by M.T. Anderson
Mockingbird by Kathryn Erskine

Middle Grade

Okay for Now by Gary Schmidt
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

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?