Best Books of 2011

Last year, I joined three other YA writers and created the Class of 2011 YA Superlative Blogfest, which sings the praises of the books we thought stood out from the rest. 

Think yearbook superlatives.

With 2011 releases.

And amusing categories.

You get the idea. Here are my picks, all in one convenient location for your browsing pleasure. Because I’m a sweetheart and all that.

DAY 1: HEAD OF THE CLASS

Favorite Dystopian

True, the idea of a society believing love was a disease is completely unbelievable. Once I put that misgiving aside, though, I was drawn in by Lauren Oliver’s gorgeous prose, great romance, and characters who came to life on the page. The ending made the book for me, though I’m sad Delirium is a trilogy. It would be perfect as a stand-alone novel.

Favorite Science Fiction

Across the Universe has one of the best opening scenes I’ve read in a while. By the time I was halfway down the first page, I was sucked in. Beth Revis does a great job creating twists and turns (though there’s a certain scene I could have done without) and building the world of the Godspeed. Nearly a year after reading the book, I can still feel the atmosphere she created.

Favorite Fantasy

I would just like to acknowledge the fact that I’m cheating. See, when I went over all of the books I read that were published this year, I realized I hadn’t ready any fantasy. HOWEVER. I recently read Finnikin of the Rock (it released in 2010), and holy cow. It’s pretty much a given that I’ll like anything Melina Marchetta writes, but I was still surprised at how much I loved this book. A month after finishing it, I’m not certain I ever read it. I get the feeling that I traveled to Lumatere and hung out with Finn and Evanjalin.

Favorite Contemporary

This book’s existence made me nervous. I loved If I Stay. Fiercely. And, well, I figured there was a better than average chance this sequel would ruin the awesomeness that was the first book. So, um, yeah. I was wrong. Where She Went was everything I wanted in a sequel—and then some.

Favorite Action/Adventure

Yes, technically Variant is a sci-fi dystopian novel, but there’s plenty of action and adventure, so I’m calling it my favorite in that category. Plus, it’s my blog so I can do whatever I want. Though it reminded me a lot of The Maze Runner, I really enjoyed Variant and the twists the plot took. My main complaint? The totally awesome ending that I loved big time was also a cliffhanger. Such tease, Robison Wells.

Favorite Historical Fiction 

Can you believe I haven’t read any 2011 historical fiction? And, if I’m being totally honest, I don’t think I read any historical fiction period—regardless of its pub date. True, this is probably my least favorite genre, but still. I think it goes without saying: Historical Fiction for 2012 or Bust!

Favorite Comedy

So this wasn’t my favorite comedy if you count all of the non-2011 books I read. (Nope, it would be this book.) But I was surprised at how much I really liked Drink, Slay, Love—especially since it stars vampires. And, guys, I’m so over vampires. Here’s why I liked it: This isn’t a book that takes itself too seriously. The main character, Pearl, is a teenage vampire who loves blood. (Yes, a vampire who isn’t a vegan!) She’s forced to attend high school with humans (or, as she calls them, dinner) in order to lure them to a big bash her vampire clan is having. The voice is great, and Pearl’s observations about humans are hilarious.

Because no review of a humorous book is complete without a quote, here you go:

“To you,” he said, “I surrender my heart and soul.”She rolled her eyes. “Very romantic, considering you have neither.”

Favorite Mystery

To be honest, this is the only true mystery I read from the 2011 lot. Sure, a lot of the books I read had the element of mystery, but no others were completely focused on the mystery. Which is too bad. I really enjoyed The Liar Society, which is like Nancy Drew with attitude. The mystery was well done, but that’s not what made me like this book so much. The main character, Kate, is snarky and hilarious (yep, the book was a contender in the Favorite Comedy category) and, truthfully, my favorite part of the book. All in all, it’s got suspense, mystery, and a great protagonist who makes the story super fun.

Favorite Romance

This was what I like to call a no brainer. Stephanie Perkins writes the best romance. That is all. (This is where I spend more than one sentence telling you why you should read this book.)

Favorite Paranormal Romance

Here’s the strange thing: Paranormal isn’t my favorite genre yet three of the best books (in my opinion) published in 2011 are in this category. Which means I had the sucktastic job of picking among them. So you should know that, though they were ultimately cut, Daughter of Smoke and Bone and A Need So Beautiful were two of my favorite 2011 reads. Still, I liked Chime best of all. I won’t go on and on, but if you’re curious, you can read my review of the book.

Favorite Family Drama

I love Jenny Han’s Summer trilogy (which includes The Summer I Turned Pretty and It’s Not Summer Without You) and We'll Always Have Summer, the final book, was the perfect ending.

Favorite Genre Bender

In my review of Maggie Stiefvater’s latest book, The Scorpio Races, I said it was unlike any other book out there. I meant it. There’s a paranormal aspect, sure. But it also felt like a fantasy, too. And then something else, something I can’t put my finger on. I say forget about the genre. It’s a great book no matter what you call it.

DAY 2: POPULARITY CONTEST

Class Clown

Declan from Notes from the Blender. Declan doesn’t win the title because he goofs off or otherwise makes a spectacle of himself, but because the parts of the story told from his point of view are hilarious.

Most Likely to Become a Rock Star

Adam from Where She Went. Because, I mean, he is a rock star.

Mostly Likely to Start a Riot

Trella from Outside In. She’s tough and instigated a rebellion in Inside Out. If a riot’s going to happen, there’s a good chance she’s inciting it.

Biggest Flirt

Hannah from Sometimes It Happens, who stole her best friend’s boyfriend. Harsh.

Fashion Queen

Lola from Lola and the Boy Next Door. The girl makes her own clothes and dresses up in what can only be described as costumes.

Girl You’d Most Want For Your BFF

Lil from Don't Stop Now. Here’s why: She went on a road trip across the country to find her missing best friend.

Boy You Wish You’d Dated in High School

Jace from Mortal Instruments: City of Fallen Angels. Let’s be serious. High school me wouldn’t have cared about his mood swings. When it comes to YA men, Jace Wayland is one of the hottest. And bantering with him would be the height of fun.

Quirkiest Character

Karou from Daughter of Smoke and Bone. I mean, she’s got blue hair, collects teeth for her demon caretaker, falls for an angel, and kicks some serious butt.

Villain You Love to Hate

The Near Witch in The Near Witch. True, she’s vicious and kidnaps children, but we can’t help feeling sorry for her once we hear her story.

Favorite Parental Figure

Andy and Nathan from Lola and the Boy Next Door. To be honest, this has something to do with the fact that they’re, um, alive, not addicts, and aren’t neglectful or catatonic. The rest has to do with how awesome they are.

Coolest Nerd

Emily from Vesper: nerd by day, thrill seeker by night.

DAY 3: ELEMENTS OF FICTION

Most Envy-Inducing Plot

Oh look: It’s a tie. I’m most jealous of The Scorpio Races’ plot, which is unlike anything I’ve read before. To write a book that still manages to feel original and defy genre classification is kind of a big deal.

I’d also love to have thought of The Unbecoming of MaraDyer. True, there’s a certain part I’d totally change, but the psychological thriller aspect is really well done.

Most Wonderful World-Building

This wasn’t an easy one since plenty of authors so wonderfully built a world that came to life. But Lani Taylor didn’t just create a living, breathing Prague in Daughter of Smoke and Bone. Every other place the main character, Karou, travels springs to life, whether it’s the markets in Marrakesh or the demon realm.

Also a masterpiece: The world-building in The Scorpio Races. Stiefvater does an amazing job of bringing the island of Thisby to life. In fact, the entire time I was reading the book I could almost feel the wind and salt water, smell the sea and horses, and taste the November cakes.

Most Formidable World

As much as I’d love to live through Shatter Me in order to meet Adam (swoon) I’ll pass on the jail cell that makes up the setting for the first part of this book. I’d also skip the war-torn world outside the cell.

Wanderlust-Inducing

Yes, the island of Thisby in The Scorpio Races is home to dangerous killer water horses for a good portion of the year. But the island seems so magical and gorgeous that I’d skip the beaches in order to see the land.

Loveliest Prose

I feel like I’m using the same books over and over again, but the fact is, a great book usually excels at more than one thing. Which is why I’m listing both Daughter of Smoke and Bone and Chime here. For your literary pleasure, a sample from each:

“Loneliness is worse when you return to it after a reprieve—like the soul’s version of putting on a wet bathing suit, clammy and miserable.”

—Daughter of Smoke and Bone

“Father’s silence is not merely the absence of sound. It’s a creature with a life of its own. It chokes you. It pinches you small as a grain of rice. It twists in your gut like a worm.”

—Chime

Best First Line

Tell me this doesn’t make you want to read Chime: “I’ve confessed to everything and I’d like to be hanged. Now, if you please.”

Most Dynamic Main Character

 

Yes, I AM MENTIONING CHIME AGAIN. Three in a row. That’s saying something. (And that something is: I love this book.) What I loved so much about this book is that all of the characters are so well rounded, not just Briony, who wins for Most Dynamic Main Character. Since it seems to be Quote from Chime Day, I’ll leave you with one that shows not only Briony’s personality but her sister’s, too.

“I don’t like my shoes,” said Rose. 

“I’m wearing my shoes and you don’t see me complain.” 

“You only hear a person complain,” said Rose. “Not see.” 

How has Rose lived for seventeen years and no one has killed her, not once? 

Most Jaw-Dropping Finale

One of my favorite things is when a book’s ending is consistent with the story. And the dystopian novel Possession is a great example of that. I went into this book thinking it would end a certain way—a way most dystopians would have ended—but I was pleasantly surprised to find out where Elana Johnson took this.

Best Performance in a Supporting Role

The side character Otto in this sci-fi retelling of Sleeping Beauty is one of the most interesting I read all year. He’s genetically engineered and looks more like an alien than a human. (That’s right, he’s blue.) He can’t speak, but communicates telepathically or via a futuristic form of IM. His character is both heartbreaking and lovely.

Best Use of Theme

Oh look, another tie. And, oh look, it’s between Daughter of Smoke and Bone (for themes of love, sacrifice, and good and evil) and The Scorpio Races (for the themes of family and love) again. Can you tell I enjoyed them?

DAY 4: BEST IN SHOW
Favorite Cover

  

  

  

I couldn’t just choose one, now could I? For your benefit, I stopped myself at six. You’re welcome.

Cutest Couple

This will come as a shock to absolutely no one. The most adorable couple since Anna and Etienne is Lola and Cricket from Lola and theBoy Next Door. Really, we should just change the name of this category to Latest Stephanie Perkins Couple.

Most Likely to Succeed

I felt this way about Chime before it was nominated for a National Book Award, but the fact that it was even up for the award backs my argument. Which is: This book rocks. 

Most Likely to Make You Miss Your Bedtime

Truthfully, any book I read—unless it’s really not my cuppa tea—can make me miss my bedtime. But once I picked up Variant I knew I couldn’t put it down until I figured out the mystery.

Best Repeat Performance

It’s funny that my favorite follow-up novel is one that I almost dreaded reading. I loved If I Stay so much that I feared Where She Went would muck up the whole story. I’m sorry for ever doubting you, Gayle Forman. This was the perfect sequel and my favorite this year.

Romance Most Worthy of an Ice Bath

I won’t ruin Shatter Me for you, so I’ll just say this: The more appropriate category title for this book is Romance Most Worthy of an Ice-Cold Shower.

Pair Most Likely to Stay Best Friends Till They’re 80

Jordan Woods and Sam Henry from Catching Jordan. True, they might be more than friends by the time they’re 80, but they’ll still be BFFs. (Also, they’re understudies for the Cutest Couple award.)

Breakout Novel

The Near Witch is slow (in a good way) and haunting, sometimes creepy, and one of those books filled with sentences you wish you’d thought of. Like the first line: “It starts with a crack, a sputter, and a spark.”

Best Old-Timer

I cannot believe it took me this long to read TheSky Is Everywhere, what with everyone’s rave reviews. So to anyone who has not read this book, I’ll say: Do not be as idiotic as I was and wait to get “in the mood” for something that might possibly draw tears. This is a beautifully written story.

Most Likely to Make a Grown Man Cry

Speaking of tears… Going into Before I Die I knew the main character was going to die. What I didn’t expect was to die right along with her. This isn’t a one-Kleenex book. This requires an entire box. (I realize this was published before 2011, but it’s hands-down the most appropriate book for this slot.)

Most Pleasant Surprise

I mentioned this before, but I’m kind of over vampires. The only reason I even picked up Drink, Slay, Love is because it sounded funny. And it was. I was pleasantly surprised to read about a vampire protagonist who begins the story with no qualms about feasting on humans. (Seriously, why are all book, movie, and TV vamps vegetarians?) 

Most Creative Use of a Love Triangle

A love triangle for the sake of creating tension is supremely annoying, especially when you know who the main character is going to end up with anyway. But in Unearthly Clara has a good reason for being drawn to each boy. The first, Christian, is the object of her angelic mission, and she’s drawn to him out of obligation and a certain bond she feels toward him. That’s at odds with her feelings toward Tucker. While she loves him, she feels as if she’s abandoning her heavenly calling by spending time with him over Christian. The result: a major dilemma that doesn’t involve which boy is the hottest or sweetest. 

Sleeper Hit

I hadn’t heard of Touch by Jus Accardo until I saw it on Katy’s Goodreads feed. I’m glad I noticed. The book is fun and fast-paced but totally under-hyped.

Most Likely to Pull You Out of a Funk

Truthfully, I created this category in order to list this book. I loved A Need So Beautiful but somehow it hasn’t made an appearance during this blogfest. That’s a shame since it’s one of my favorite reads all year. As for the category, the beauty of what Charlotte does in the novel is enough to pull anyone out of a funk.  

Best Use of Dual Narrators

Here’s what I hate about multiple narrators: Often they sound so similar I’m unable to tell when the book switches from one to the next. What I loved about Notes from the Blender is that Neilly and Declan—who come together when their parents decide to marry—couldn’t be more different in character and voice. Neilly is gorgeous and popular. Dec loves death metal and fantasizes about Neilly in his spare time. Hilarity ensues.