Best of 2011

BEST of 2011: Adult Fiction/Nonfiction

There were a lot of potentially great 2011 books that I haven’t gotten around to reading yet (Joan Didion’s Blue Nights has been languishing unread on my bedside table for weeks now!), but after surveying our entire library staff, here are our picks for 2011’s Best Books for Adults:

Fiction Picks

Agent X by Noah Boyd
Rogue former FBI agent Steve Vail races against time to track down a Russian intelligence officer who may have been caught trying to identify treasonous Americans. in this sequel to 2010’s The Bricklayer.

The Art of Fielding by Chad Harbach
A baseball star at a small college near Lake Michigan launches a routine throw that goes disastrously off course and inadvertently changes the lives of five people, including the college president, a gay teammate, and the president’s daughter.
Tracy’s Review

Chasing Fire by Nora Roberts
Montana wildfire fighter Rowan has a strict rule: never get romantically involved with anyone she works with. But the moment she meets new recruit Gull Curry that rule is severely tested. And when it becomes clear that someone blames Rowan for her jump partner’s death, and is determined to get revenge, Rowan finds that she needs Gull’s help and support more than ever.

The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
The Cirque des Rêves arrives in the night, without warning, and captivates its audience from dusk till dawn. What the audience—and most of the performers—do not know is that the circus is merely the arena for a much grander scheme. Two magicians have set their protégés on a collision course, a deadly game where not even the participants themselves are sure of the rules—or the consequences.
Tracy’s Review
Lucinda’s Review

Now You See Me by S.J. Bolton
Stumbling onto a murder scene that a reporter likens to the crimes of Jack the Ripper, young detective constable Lacey Flint races against time to prevent additional deaths and realizes that the killer is taunting her with secrets from her past.

Night Road by Kristin Hannah
Former foster child Lexi has become Mia’s best friend, and Mia’s twin brother, Zach, has fallen in love with her. The twins’ mom, Jude, couldn’t be happier that her children are happy-until one dark night when Lexi is implicated in a terrible accident and the family is torn apart. Years later, Jude must consider reconciling with Lexi.

Swamplandia! by Karen Russell
This book is a bit bizarre and probably not for everybody, but fans of the off-kilter worlds created by Katherine Dunn and Kelly Link will inhale this wildly fantastical tale. It features a 13-year-old alligator wrestler, a 16-year-old who channels ghosts, and a 17-year-old boy who studies Latin and runs away from home to work at a hell-inspired amusement park called The World of Darkness. Home is Swamplandia!, a family-run tourist attraction deep in the Everglades presided over by their father, “Chief” Bigtree.

Unveiled by Courtney Milan
At the urging of her brothers, Margaret agrees to pose as her own father’s nurse in order to spy on the man who has exposed their family secrets and plans to inherit her father’s dukedom. But when Ash comes to the manor to inspect his expected inheritance, she quickly discovers that he is not the villainous interloper she anticipates. Quietly compelling and emotionally complex, this Victorian tale of revenge and redemption, family loyalty and secrets is easily a cut above the standard historical romance fare.

When She Woke by Hillary Jordan
In this dsytopic thriller based loosely on Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter, a young woman awakens to a nightmarish, hostile new life where her skin has been genetically altered—turned bright red as punishment for the crime of having an abortion.

You Know When the Men Are Gone by Siobhan Fallon
Eight gripping stories make up this debut story collection set primarily around the military base in Fort Hood, TX. The characters are real and haunting, and their stories are full of complexity and humanity. With simple yet elegant prose, Fallon makes the domestic lives of soldiers and their loved ones real and important.

Nonfiction Picks

The Big Short: Inside the Doomsday Machine by Michael Lewis
Insights into the economic crisis, from the author of The Blind Side.

Bossypants by Tina Fey
Tina Fey’s uncensored account of her life, stitching together the serious and the comic.

Confidence Men by Ron Suskind
Drawing on extensive research and interviews, the Pulitzer Prize winner examines Wall Street, Washington, and the education of a President.

The Memory Palace by Mira Bartók
This richly textured personal narrative chronicles the author’s childhood with her brilliant but schizophrenic mother as well as the perpetual shadow cast over her adult years by her mother’s illness.

Moonwalking with Einstein by Joshua Foer
U.S. Memory Champion Joshua Foer shares the “Art and Science of Remembering Everything.”

Tiger, Tiger by Margaux Fragoso
This memoir is an absolutely gut-wrenching and a fearlessly honest account of family dysfunction and sexual abuse by an unrelated pedophile.
Tracy’s Review.

Best of 2011: Young Adult/Teen Books

2011 was a great year for YA literature! In fact, we had a hard time narrowing down the list for our favorite books of the year. I can hardly believe that some of my favorite teen fiction authors didn’t make the cut even though they had great books out this year that I highly recommend (ahem… Sara Zarr). But we had to draw the line somewhere.

Fiction Picks:

Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendare Blake
Cas travels from town to town with his mother and their cat Tybalt, killing homicidal ghosts and secretly preparing himself for the day that he will confront the ghost that killed his father. Now he has a new ghost in his sights: Anna Dressed in Blood. But something about her is different than the others. This is a creepy, vividly written tale with dynamic, complex characters.
Tracy’s Review.

Ashfall by Mike Mullin
After a supervolcano erupts under Yellowstone, 15-year-old Alex, who has been left home alone for the weekend, treks through a dangerous landscape of ash and snow, trying to survive both nature and a new world in which all the old rules of civilization have vanished.

Beauty Queens by Libba Bray
When an airplane full of beauty queens from the Miss Teen Dream Pageant crashes on a remote island, the surviving girls are forced to push themselves to the limits in order to survive. This is a quirky, witty read filled with biting humor and hilarious “commercial breaks.”
Lucinda’s Review.

Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys
It is 1941 and Stalin’s reign of terror is in full dominion, but fifteen-year-old Lina  is stunned when Soviet officers invade her home to arrest her family and deport them from Lithuania to Siberia, giving them only twenty minutes to pack a few belongings. This is only the beginning of Lina’s journey, filled with deplorable, life-threatening conditions. Both beautiful and powerful, this is a truly lovely book reminiscent of like Hautzig’s The Endless Steppe and even The Diary of Ann Frank.
Tracy’s Review.

Chime by Franny Billingsley
This darkly romantic historical fantasy is written in gorgeous, mesmerizing prose and features an unforgettable narrator in Briony, a 17-year-old who can see the spirits that haunt the marshes in the town of Swampsea. She blames herself for her stepmother’s death and her twin sister’s brain injury. But then a charming young man enters her life and exposes secrets even Briony cannot guess at.

Daughter of Smoke & Bone by Laini Taylor
This fantasy—artfully grounded in the real, macabre city of Prague—tells the story of a 17-year-old raised by four mysterious chimaera, beings made up of disparate human and animal parts. Karou leads two separate lives: art student and errand girl to the Wishmonger, who takes teeth in exchange for wishes. Then she meets a vengeful angel determined to destroy the chimaera, and Karou knows she must uncover the secrets behind Brimstone’s work and those of her past.

Divergent by Veronica Roth
In a not-too-distant future Chicago, everyone is divided into five factions with five different belief systems. Now that she is sixteen, it is finally time for Beatrice Prior to choose her permanent faction. But her choice won’t be easy. When she takes her aptitude tests, Beatrice learns that she is a Divergent, someone who does not fit easily into any of the predetermined classifications and whose very existence threatens her society. Smart, gutsy characters and a sweet romance subplot add depth to this addictively fast-paced read.
Tracy’s Review.

Dust & Decay by Jonathan Maberry
Six months after the events in Rot & Ruin, Tom, Benny, Nix, Lilah, and Lou Chang leave Mountainside in search of a better life. Upon returning to the lawless land of the great Rot and Ruin, they are pursued by murderers and the living dead and face the horrors of Gameland—where teenagers are forced to fight for their lives in the zombie pits.
Lucinda & Tracy’s Dual Review.

I’ll Be There by Holly Goldberg Sloan
Two brothers, kidnapped by their mentally unstable father a decade, get a taste of a normal life after seventeen-year-old Sam befriends a preacher’s daughter. But what will happen when their criminal father discovers their secret? Intertwining a gripping survival story with a sweet tale of first love, this is a memorable, heartfelt story about the connections that people make and the brief intersections that can change your life
Tracy’s Review.

The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater
Every November, someone dies in the Scorpio Races, a dangerous horse race unlike any other because the horses are unlike any others. The water horses, both terrible and beautiful, rise from the ocean every autumn to terrorize the people of Thisby. And every year, the people—both awed and afraid—prepare for the traditional race along the beach. This year, Puck—the first female to ever enter the Scorpio Races—is determined to win even though it means taking on the four-time champion, Sean Kendrick. This is an eerie, romantic adventure that is completely unlike anything else you’ve read.

This Dark Endeavor by Kenneth Oppell
Science, history and a spot of horror merge in this gripping gothic prequel to Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein. At 16, Victor Frankenstein already shows signs of the “mad scientist” he will become: he’s obsessive, temperamental, and wildly jealous of his twin brother Konrad. But when Konrad becomes dangerously ill, Victor will do anything—even defy his beloved father to investigate the forbidden practice of alchemy—to save his brother.

Where She Went by Gayle Foreman
Love, heartache, betrayal, and music intertwine in this emotional sequel to If I Stay. Told from Adam’s perspective, it details his breakdown after Mia dumps him in favor of a future in New York. Now, stranded in in New York in between flights, Adam decides it is time to confront the girl he can’t get over. The majority of the story takes place in a single day, and readers experience each moment right along with Adam, unsure how it will end until the very last page.

Where Things Come Back by John Corey Whaley
Cullen Witter is a sardonic, imaginative 17-year-old who fills his journal with the titles of books he might someday write and thinks about leaving his Arkansas hometown, a “black hole” that no one can escape for long. Then the town becomes obsessed with the sighting of a supposedly extinct woodpecker and his younger brother Gabriel vanishes without a trace. Juxtaposed with Cullen’s story is the seemingly unrelated tale of a teenage missionary who travels to Ethiopia and back. Cullen’s is a wry, compelling narrative, interwoven with 3rd person accounts that seem unrelated at first but gradually coalesce into a single story with unexpected connections.

Winter Town by Stephen Emond
Evan and Lucy, childhood best friends who now see each other only during Christmas break, struggle to preserve their relationship in the midst of family expectations, bad choices, and a budding romance. Interspersed throughout are both realistic sketches and drawings of the comic strip that Evan and Lucy create together. This is a real and honest look at relationships, growing up, and self-discovery.

You Against Me by Jenny Downham
When Mikey’s 15-year-old sister accuses an older boy of rape and refuses to leave their apartment, he’s not 100% sure he believes the story but feels obligated to avenge her. He’s also dealing with work, an alcoholic mom, and a confused 7-year-old sister. Meanwhile, Ellie wants more than anything to believe that her brother Tom is innocent, and her wealthy parents have launched a full-scale campaign to clear her brother’s name. Then Mikey and Ellie meet. This is a suspenseful, unforgettable novel with strongly drawn characters and complicated emotions.

Nonfiction Picks:

It Gets Better edited by Dan Savage and Terry Miller
This collection of essays and testimonials from celebrities, political leaders, and everyday people stresses to gay and lesbian teens that they can overcome bullying and lead fulfilling lives.

Best of 2011: Middle Grade/Tween Books

Here are our favorite 2011 books for middle-grade readers and tweens! A few of the titles skew a little older (10/11+).

The Apothecary by Maile Meloy
It’s 1952, and fourteen-year-old Janie isn’t happy when her family moves from sunny Los Angeles to dreary London. Then she meets Ben and his father—an apothecary with a secret book of “scientific magic”—and becomes involved in a mission to save the world from nuclear war. This is a fast-paced historical fantasy/adventure.

Breadcrumbs by Anne Ursu
Fifth-graders Hazel and Jack are best friends. Together, they prefer imagination and fantasy over reality. So when Jack suddenly stops talking to her, Hazel becomes convinced that something magical is at work and embarks on a quest into the woods to rescue her friend from an evil Snow Queen.

The Chronicles of Harris Burdick: 14 Amazing
Authors Tell the Tales by Chris Van Allsburg
An inspired collection of short stories by an all-star cast of best-selling storytellers based on the thought-provoking illustrations in Chris Van Allsburg’s The Mysteries of Harris Burdick.
Lucinda’s Review.

The Emerald Atlas by John Stephens
Three siblings who were separated from their parents under mysterious circumstances a decade ago discover a magical book in their new orphanage. When the book transports them into the recent past—where an evil witch holds an entire town captive in search of the very book they hold—they must find a way to save the town and keep their family together.

Ghetto Cowboy by G. Neri
Twelve-year-old Cole is dumbfounded when his mother dumps him on the doorstep of the father he’s never met. Even worse, his father thinks that he’s a cowboy—in the middle of the Philadelphia ghetto!—and expects Cole to learn the “cowboy way.”

Inside Out & Back Again by Thanhha Lai

This novel in free verse follows a year in the life on ten-year-old Hà and her family, from their life in Saigon, to their flight from their home in the wake of the Vietnam War, through the difficult transition to life in America. This is a quick and surprisingly lighthearted read, filled with perception and humor.
Tracy’s Review.

Jefferson’s Sons by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley
Everyone at Montecello knows that Beverly, Harriet, Madison, and Eston are the children of Thomas Jefferson and his slave Sally Hemings, though it can never be spoken of. But what does it mean when the man who wrote “all men are created equal” is your father—and also your slave master?

A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness
Conor is plagued by a recurring nightmare, but when a real monster appears in his room one night, he isn’t afraid—until the monster demands to know the secrets of Conor’s dream. This is a powerful, timeless book full of sharp humor, insight, and a dark eeriness that is echoed perfectly in nightmarish pen and ink drawings.

Okay for Now by Gary D. Schmid
In this companion book to the award-wining The Wednesday Wars, Doug Swieteck is bummed when his blowhard dad loses his job and the family has to move from Brooklyn to small-town Marysville, NY. It is obvious that the town sees Doug as a criminal-in-training, but after discovering drawing and making a friend, Doug begins to feel okay—for now.

Small Persons with Wings by Ellen Booraem
As a child, Mellie’s best friend was a Small Person with Wings (not a fairy!) named Fidius. After years of ridicule from her classmates, she stopped believing in their existence. That is until her family inherits her grandfather’s run-down inn—overrun with bickering, demanding Parvi Pennati (aka Small Persons with Wings)— and she is pulled into a series of magical misadventures in search of a magical ring that has linked her family to the Parvi for centuries.

Wonderstruck by Brian Selznick
In 1977, shortly after his mother’s death, 12-year-old Ben runs away from his Minnesota home to seek the father he never knew in New York City. Fifty years earlier, in 1927, a young deaf girl named Rose runs away from her father’s New Jersey mansion to track down her favorite silent film star. Ben’s story is told in words; Rose’s is revealed through a series of richly detailed pencil drawings.

The Unwanteds by Lisa McMann
In a society where creativity is a crime, thirteen-year-old Alex is separated from his twin brother and sent for Elimination. Instead, he finds himself in a wondrous place where the “Unwanteds” hone their artistic abilities, learn magic, and prepare for an inevitable battle.

Late additions:

Dead End in Norvelt by Jack Gantos

Best of 2011: Our Favorite Easy Picture Books

I’ve been working to compile a list of the Best Books of 2011 and have asked our entire library staff to participate. I hope to make this an annual event. So, without further ado… Here is part one of our series: Picture Books.

The Babies on the Bus by Karen Katz
This book gives new life to the classic “Wheels on the Bus” song and makes for a happy, loveable read-aloud and sing-along. The bright, colorful illustrations will hold toddlers’ attention. Ages 3 to 5.

Blackout by John Rocco
Told through a series of graphic novel–style panels, this is the story of an ordinary summer night in the city. A little girl is eager to play a game, but everyone in her household is too busy. Then there is a blackout; with the power suddenly out, no one is busy at all and the the neighborhood comes alive. The visual images are bold and striking, and small details add a lot to this story about family togetherness. The contrast between light and dark plays an important but subtle visual role. Ages 4 to 8.

Blue Chicken by Deborah Freedman
This deceptively simple farmyard caper is filled with bold splashes of color (mostly blue) and the discoveries of a curious chicken who accidentally spills some (blue) paint. Ages 3 to 5.

Bumble-Ardy by Maurice Sendak
Sendak’s (Where the Wild Things Are) latest is a raucous tale populated by pigs, and his signature subtly sinister style is in full force. Ages 4 to 7.

Cloudette by Tom Lichtenheld
This solo effort from the illustrator of Amy Krouse Rosenthal’s Duck! Rabbit! is utterly charming and not a bit condescending to children despite the little “life lesson.” This is a lovely book about self-determination and overcoming obstacles as Cloudette, a very small cloud, looks for a way to contribute. Side chatter from the bigger clouds provides comic relief, and the illustrations are surprisingly sunny and cheerful.

Grandpa Green by Lane Smith*
A boy follows his grandfather though his topiary garden in this moving and clever story about art, family stories, and memory. The gorgeously verdant illustrations are the star here, though the special relationship between the boy and his grandfather is touching. Ages 5 to 8.

Hooray for Amanda and Her Alligator by Mo Willems
This playful collection of “6-1/2 stories” gives kids the feeling of reading their first chapter book. The highs and lows of Amanda’s friendship with her pet alligator are treated with honesty and humor, and the text and simple illustrations provide occasional moments of real poignancy.

I Want My Hat Back by Jon Klassen
The bear’s hat is gone, and he wants it back. Patiently and politely, he seeks out his fellow forest creatures to inquire “Have you seen my hat?” It’s like a sly game of clue, with clever visual hints. It’s an adorable tale with a delightfully wicked twist at the end. Ages 4 to 8.

Little Owl’s Night by Divya Srinivasan*
Little Owl is darned adorable, and this book provides a clever twist on the traditional bedtime story. Gorgeous, both visually and verbally. Ages 3 to 5.

Melvin and the Boy by Lauren Castillo
This quiet tale of companionship and compassion has a bit of an ecological message, but it is not overblown. The marker-edged watercolor illustrations are beautiful and echo and the book’s gentle tone. Turtle FAQs at the end will appeal to budding scientists and animal enthusiasts. Ages 4 to 8.

Neville by Norton Juster, Illus. by G. Brian Karas
This is a one-of-a-kind picture book about about friendship and the trauma of moving, from the author of The Phantom Tollbooth. The illustrations are whimsical and nuanced despite their simplicity, and the story has a great payoff at the end. It should work well as a read-aloud with lots of opportunities for audience participation. Ages 4 to 8.

A Pet for Petunia by Paul Schmid
Petunia desperately wants a pet skunk, and she would do anything to get one. She wheedles, begs, and then lets loose with a rant that will delight children and feel all too familiar to parents. Think Viorst’s Lulu and the Brontosaurus or Willems’ Pigeon stories. The spare illustrations—in a limited color palette of black, white, purple, and hints of gold—perfectly reflect the childlike tone of the book.

Press Here by Hervé Tullet*
This ingenious, interactive picture book will incite wonder and delight in children ages 2 to 200. It doesn’t require batteries or have any fancy flaps or tabs. Instead, Tullet asks kids to suspend belief and participate by pressing on dots, shaking the book, turning it, and blowing on it—gently of course. When they turn the page, they see the results of their actions. The illustrations—somewhat reminiscent of Lei Lionni, without the personification—are simple, leaving room for the reader’s imagination. Ages 2 to 5.

Stars by Mary Lyn Ray, Illus. by Marla Frazee*
In direct and poetic language, Ray explores stars both heavenly and symbolic. This is a quiet, gentle read and the taller than average dimensions and gorgeous artwork by Frazee (All the World and A Couple of Boys Have the Best Week Ever) help create a feeling of awe. Ages 3 to 7.

Stuck by Oliver Jeffers*
After he gets his kite stuck in a tree, Floyd heaves his shoe up there in an attempt to dislodge the kite. When that doesn’t work, he tries something else, and then something else, each new rescue object becoming increasingly ridiculous. Jeffers’s (Lost and Found) illustrations are vibrant and deceptively simple, leaving a lot of white space to keep the reader’s focus on Floyd, his latest object, and the progressively overstuffed tree. This is an absurdly funny foray into logic and problem solving that is sure to elicit giggles and eager suggestions from the kiddos. Ages 4 to 7.

*Bullitt County Public Library copies have been ordered. If you are interested in placing a hold if/when the item is processed, you may fill out a patron request form at any Library location.

REVIEW: The Chronicles of Harris Burdick by Chris Van Allsburg

Rating: 5/5 Stars
Audience: Middle School/Ages 10 and up
Genre: Supernatural Short Stories

An inspired collection of short stories by an all-star cast of best-selling storytellers based on the thought-provoking illustrations in Chris Van Allsburg’s The Mysteries of Harris Burdick.

For more than twenty-five years, the illustrations in the extraordinary Mysteries of Harris Burdick by Chris Van Allsburg have intrigued and entertained readers of all ages. Thousands of children have been inspired to weave their own stories to go with these enigmatic pictures. Now we’ve asked some of our very best storytellers to spin the tales. Enter The Chronicles of Harris Burdick to gather this incredible compendium of stories: mysterious, funny, creepy, poignant, these are tales you won’t soon forget.

This inspired collection of short stories features many remarkable, best-selling authors in the worlds of both adult and children’s literature: Sherman Alexie, M.T. Anderson, Kate DiCamillo, Cory Doctorow, Jules Feiffer, Stephen King, Tabitha King, Lois Lowry, Gregory Maguire, Walter Dean Myers, Linda Sue Park, Louis Sachar, Jon Scieszka, Lemony Snicket, and Chris Van Allsburg himself.

Here is a book trailer:

Lucinda’s Thoughts:  I have always been a Chris Van Allsburg fan and the Mysteries of Harris Burrdick has always intrigued me.  The mysterious drawings have always provoked many “What ifs?” and this collection of tales seems to be the answer to that question.   The stories are all well-written and made me think to myself “Would I have gotten this tale from that picture?”  Many of the stories are definitely “out of the box” and the characters are unexpected and original.  The stories will keep a reader’s interest right up to the last page and leave them asking for more.  For example, M.T. Anderson’s Just Dessert was so well constructed that after I read the story I wondered about the nature of reality and its malleability.  Stephen King’s The house on Maple Street is very reminiscent of his early work and John Scieszka’s Under the Rug could have been an Edgar Allen Poe work.  If you like dark mysteries and enjoy stories that are just a little bit west of sideways, this is the work for you.  I give it two thumbs up!

Best of 2011: Our Favorite Book Trailers

Happy New Year! New Year is usually the time for looking forward, but first we are looking back on the year that is past. Over the next few weeks, I will be posting about our favorite books of 2011. But before I identify our best books of 2011, we thought it might be nice to whet your appetite a bit!

Here are our favorite Book Trailers of 2011… Don’t they make you want to read the book?!

Honorable Mentions:

Where Things Come Back by John Corey Whaley


This quiet trailer, put together on a shoestring budget, perfectly complements the mood of the book.

The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making by Catherynne M. Valente


Weird, quirky animated illustrations and an equally weird and quirky—and catchy!—song.

Blackout by John Rocco


Rocco’s illustrations from the book are wonderfully vibrant, almost glowing, and we love how first person accounts of the blackout are intermingled with the artwork.

Page by Paige by Laura Lee Gulledge


The music and animated illustrations tie together beautifully to tell the story.

Before Ever After by Samantha Soto


Whimsical and charming!

The Apothecary by Maile Meloy


Gorgeous colors, an air of mystery, and music reminiscent (to me anyway!) of Harry Potter.

A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness


Beautiful and eerie…This trailer does a wonderful job of creating the same atmosphere and eliciting the same emotions that you feel reading the book.

Our Top Five:

#5. Little Owl’s Night by Divya Srinivasan


Little Owl is adorable—and even better animated!

#4. Liesl and Po by Lauren Oliver


The animation is lovely, and the official Leisl & Po song—”A Train with Wings”—haunting.

#3. Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs


Princess Bride with a dark(er) side!

#2. The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern


I love the silent film allusions; this trailer beautifully echoes Morgenstern’s gorgeous, atmospheric writing.

#1. The Scorpio Races by Maggie Steifvater


Maggie Steifvater is one talented lady! She’s an author, an artist, and a musician. She created this stop motion animated trailer with “several hundred frames, some cool paper, and a very manky paintbrush” and composed her own music!