Picture Books, Easy Readers, and Easy Chapter
1. A Balloon for Isabel by Deborah Underwood (P)
A charming story about a little girl porcupine who just wants a balloon at graduation the same as all of the other little animals. Adorable illustrations and a charming story. I read this book for my own enjoyment a couple of times.
2. Mr. President Goes to School by Rick Walton (P)
Mr. President becomes overwhelmed and disappointed with life in the white house so he puts on a disguise and goes back to Kindergarten. Then he uses the skills he learns there to solve his presidential dilemmas. Fabulously funny story, and it didn't hurt that it was illustrated by my all time favorite illustrator Brad Sneed.
3. Imogene's Last Stand by Candace Fleming (P)
Imogene is precocious and she wants to save the town's historical society. This book teaches history in the cutest way I have seen yet and the illustrations are marvelous. Make sure to read the end pages and cover or you may miss out on the best part of all.
4. Flat Stanley by Jeff Brown (EC)
Stanley gets squashed by a bulletin board in his sleep and uses his powers of slenderness to solve crimes and perform feats of wonder before his little brother figures out how to unsquash him. I read this aloud to my younger kids and they loved it, too.
5. Tuts Mummy Lost and Found by Judy Donnelly (ER)
Highly educational and extremely interesting, even for a 35 year old woman. The book includes illustrations and photographs. It's really, really cool.
Middle Grade and Young Adult
1. Entwined by Heather Dixon
A retelling of the twelve dancing princesses. I don't generally go in for fairy tales, but I love, love, love this book. The characters are brilliant! It actually made me laugh out loud. And I don't mean little snorts or chuckles. I'm talking full blown belly laughs. And I got my romance fix all at the same time. Read it, you will love it.
2. Forgotten by Cat Patrick
This was a new idea in a book for me, which I found refreshing. London forgets everything at the change of each day. She retains her long term memory, so she relies on notes from herself and information from a friend to get through each day. And then she falls in love...
3. The Raging Quiet by Sherryl Jordan
At a very young age, Marnie finds herself forced into a marriage to a much older and harder man. He takes her far from her home and family and then dies unexpectedly, leaving her alone in a strange place. Marnie manages to make friends with the local clergyman, and then with a wild deaf boy called Raver. The story of Marnie and Raver is beautiful and painful. I loved it.
4. As You Wish by Jackson Pearce
Viola suffers from the teenage need to be loved. Specifically by the young man, her best friend, who broke her heart. Then one day she accidentally summons a genie out of his own world to make her wishes come true. Pearce has a new (at least to me) perspective on the world of the Jinn which I found intriguing. It's the kind of love story that ends just the way you want it to.
5. Sing Me to Sleep by Angela Morrison
First let me say that I have sworn off Angela Morrison books for good. Now let me tell you why. I am the kind of reader that absorbs the characters into my heart as if they are real people. Morrison writes beautiful, poignant novels about difficult situations. They break my heart and stick to my ribs like oatmeal so that I can't shake them off. At the time I swore her off I had read pretty much every book I could find that she had written. Sing Me to Sleep is lovely and emotional. It's worth the read, but make sure you are ready for the ride.
6. The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate by Jacqueline Kelly
Calpurnia Tate wants to break out of the mold set for women at the turn of the century.
7. The Wide Awake Princess by E.D. Baker
Another fairy tale retelling that I loved. Sleeping Beauty's little sister is immune to magic so when everyone else falls asleep she is left with the duty of saving her family's kingdom. Brilliant.
Adult
1. Moloka'i by Alan Brennert
Rachel contracts Leprosy at age seven and is sent to live at the leper colony on the island of Moloka'i without her family. This is a historical novel that made me aware of a part of history I knew nothing about. It was a marvelous read that kept my mind and emotions enthralled clear through.
2. The Last Train to Hiroshima: The Survivors Look Back by Charles R. Pellegrino
If you should choose to read this book, make sure you get the second edition. The first edition, which I read, has some errors due to bad research. It is still worth the read. Real people, a real experience, told from all sides. (That's right, I read some non-fiction this year, people.) I would love to own this book for my own library. My favorite part came at the end when one of the victims was making a presentation in a country in Europe. A boy in the audience asked him which country dropped the atomic bombs. After a moment the man replied that he couldn't remember. Of course he would really never forget, but he had experienced true forgiveness and it no longer mattered to him.
3. Take Joy: The Writer's Guide to Loving the Craft by Jane Yolen
If I've never told you that Jane Yolen is my hero, now you know. This book was written with other writers in mind. I loved everything she said about how any why you should write.
4. The Cross Gardener by Jason F. Wright
I recently saw Wright speak at a women's event and he is shockingly funny. At least shockingly if you have read his books. Which I have. The Cross Gardener has one of those spine tingling endings that we love so much. I usually can see where a writer is going with a story, but this one broadsided me majorly. I'd recommend any of Wright's books, really. Call me, I'd be happy to lend them to you:)
5. Maid to Match by Deeanne Gist
This is a sweet, passionate, squeaky clean and well plotted romance novel. Yes, I said well plotted. I love a good, clean romance novel. But books like this one in the genre are few and far between. I will be keeping an eye on Gist in the future.
6. The Price: The True Story of a Mormon Who Defied Hitler by Karl-Heinz Schnibbe
Have you heard of Helmuth Hubener? He was a hero. He lost his life in a word based fight against Hitler. Many of us know of and love Hubener. We tend to overlook the heroism of his comrades. This book is Schnibbe's story, told from his own perspective and memory. I loved getting to know him better.
Ok! Now what were your best reads of 2011?
