Britt's Best of 2011

Britt's top choices for 2011

(For some other fun stuff, click here!)

Invincible Summer by Hannah Moskowitz was amazing. It had all the best elements of writing packed into a book with a powerful punch. The characters still visit me in my dreams, and I find myself thinking of Chase and Camus often. When I see someone signing, I immediately picture Gideon's tiny, defiant hands communicating thoughts way beyond his years. Few books stay in my mind like this one did. 
"I want to tell her not to speak, want to say it, but her lips are on mine again and I taste me and I taste her and I don't taste what we're saying and I don't taste Noah. I taste Camus—I owe to such evenings the idea I have of innocence."

Imaginary Girls by Nova Ren Suma was a bizarre story with so many twists and turns that you were delightfully tangled until you read the last words. The dynamic between the two sisters was perfect and they both shined. I often think of the town and the strange events that took place there. I think of the underwater city with people who refused to move on, even when their lives were in danger. Ruby's character not only enchanted the people within the story, I too find myself entranced and thinking of her words. Ruby was just a creature all her own with weird ideas and a supernatural charisma.  Nova Ren Suma is an author I will be keeping my eye on.
"...I sat there in the boat under her stars and her moon, gated on all sides by the mountains, watching the last bits of her breath float up and away."

Don't Stop Now by Julie Halpern is the third book of Julie's and the one I love the best. The character's in this story fell together with an effortless air about them. They bantered without a single forced comment. Lillian and Josh were just hilarious and fantastic, and I am a sucker for the whole road-trip/growing as a person metaphor. This was a great journey with an interesting destination and nobody's expectation were in the right places. I really thought this was the best road-trip book I've read. 
"I'm on my knees in the woodchips, trying to make sense of the Penny messages."

The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making by Cathrynne M. Valente, has a title that leaves you winded and a story that leaves you breathless. This story was so much more fun then I could've imagined. September was just such an interesting girl and the whole of fairyland was not what I expected at all. At times it was downright frightening hearing of the odd things she encountered. The Wyvern she befriends is a good sort too and I enjoyed his knowledge of all things beginning with a letter from the first part of the alphabet.
"(It is well known that reading quickens the growth of a heart like nothing else.)"

And Then Things Fall Apart by Arlaina Tibensky is the ultimate book to reread, especially if you are feeling under the weather. Keek has chicken pox throughout the novel, and that makes her a little delirious, but come to fantastic conclusion about life. At least she doesn't have to worry about how sick her life makes her, when the chicken pox makes her scratch away. I loved listening to Keek rattle on about Sylvia Plath and her Bell Jar. This book will make you smile whether you are feeling a bit ill or just in need of a fantastic story. 
"Cute as a fucking button. Esther/Sylvia was as serious as a nuclear bomb."

Beauty Queens by Libba Bray is the bonus book this round, because it was completely hilarious. Seriously, everyone should read this book, unless you are easily offended. This book might offended you, but mostly only if you're a corporate schmuck or a certain dimwitted governor of a certain far away state. Regardless, this book had so many laugh out loud moments that you will not want to read this in public. 
"'What kind of person doesn't let you have gummi bears?'"

First Day on Earth by Cecil Castellucci was an out of this world novel O_o. Seriously though, this novel was amazing. It spoke volumes about finding yourself and not just being normal because you are supposed to be. Mal meets Hooper, who claims he's an extraterrestrial. Mal thinks he's full of it, but then thinks...why not? Don't we all feel like aliens sometimes? Maybe Hooper is a real alien from space, maybe he's from another country, maybe he just doesn't fit in. Maybe he doesn't want to. I really adored this short little novel. Don't let the talk of space and aliens deter you, that is only the surface of this story.
"Hello and good-bye are not as simple as everyone thinks."

The Pledge by Kimberly Derting was a unique novel that really showcased Kim's talents. She had world building, characters that were well-rounded and she even threw in a dash of magic just to keep things exciting. Not that this novel needed it. A ruling Queen in a depressing time, with checkpoints throughout the city and the threat of bombs around every corner made you pretty on edge while reading. This novel was really interesting and full of great characters and sticky situations. 
"Cushions had been sliced apart and were bleeding stuffing onto the floor."

Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi was another unique twist on dystopian YA. Tahereh is a welcome addition to the YA world and this debut allows her a fantastic entrance. Her writing is beautiful, painting images so bright and vivid, you'll have to close your eyes. This is one you will not want to put down until the final line and even then you'll just want more. 
"My eyes are two professional pickpockets, stealing everything away in my mind. I lose track of the minutes we trample over." 

Wonderstruck by Brian Selznick  will leave you wonderstruck. If you haven't yet had the pleasure of reading Selznick's first novel, The Invention of Hugo Cabret, I suggest you remedy that right quick. Selznick has mastered the art of story-telling and blends together illustrations and words into a seamless magical tale. 
"Ben felt like a bird flying above the sprawling expanse of New York City."

A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness is similar to Brian Selznick's works, except where Selznick leads you to magical place, Patrick leads you through the magic of nightmares. This book isn't all bad things that go bump in the night though. This book holds a lot of hope and self discovery. There's badness all around us, and this book let's us know that it's okay to feel angry, or hurt, or not know what to feel. 
"Stories are important, the monster said. They can be more important than anything. If they carry the truth."

The Name of the Star by Maureen Johnson is a perfectly creepy tale about a ghostly Jack the Ripper tearing apart London. It was well written, with characters that made you feel at home. There were many twists and lots of surprises on every page. If you like murder mysteries or Jack the Ripper or really fantastic novels, take this one home right away. 
"I looked at the stained-glass image of the lamb in the window above me, but that only reminded me that lambs are famous for being led to the slaughter, or sometimes hanging out with lions in ill-advised relationships."

Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendare Blake was similar to the television show Supernatural. Cas is a ghost hunter and Anna is his ghost. She's the ghost he's been waiting to kill, and she ends up proving to be quite the challenge. I really loved this novel, the characters were just so alive (well, except for Anna). Everyone had their part to play and they all did it fantastically and realistically. If creepy reads are up your alley, make sure you check this one out.  
"'Yes. Smashing. You'll be just like those four chaps in the movie. You know the one, with the oversized marshmallow.'
You've got to be kidding me."

The Huger Games by Suzanne Collins was one I hesitated to pick up because of all the hype surrounding it. I'm glad I did pick it up though, because this is now one of my favorite series. This is not a book for the faint of heart though, some of the situations are truly terrible. This book isn't overly gruesome, but it includes many horrible events. There is a lot of hope in this one, even when the characters are being severely mistreated, they find a way to keep calm and carry on. Make sure you pick this one up before the movie comes out in March 2012.
"The birds fall silent." 

Warm Bodies by Issac Marion is an adult novel that teens can really sink their teeth into. Zombies, a beast so horrifying, yet so similar to us. Zombies are simply dead people reanimated. Issac Marion poses the question of what would happen if a zombie decides to become human again. It was a fascinating read full of touching characters and zombie mayhem. A fantastic debut that will leave you craving more brains...err...Marion.
"I crush her against me. I want to be part of her. Not just inside her but all around her. I want our rib cages to crack open and our hearts to migrate and merge. I want our cells to braid together like living thread."

The Lover's Dictionary by David Levithan is another splendid read from the author. This is unlike other books though since it is written with definitions of words throughout. There is something beautiful about a book full of so few words, but so much emotion. This is a quick read and certainly one you don't want to miss if you like challenging yourself to read something new and different. 
"aberrant, adj. 
'I don't normally do this kind of thing,' you said." 

The Big Crunch by Pete Hautman is another fantastic Hautman novel, I just love his books. This book is not a love story; it might appear to be, but it's not. It's an anti love story. It's wonderful. This novel takes a year and the ups and downs of a relationship and lays it out in front of you. This is not a relationship set in the stars and the lovers are not battling to stick together though their families tear them apart. They love, they lose, they like, they've lost. The little details really drive this book home.
"The first time Wes saw June, he thought she was kind of funny-looking." 

Across the Universe by Beth Revis was a marvelous debut of sci-fi that's accessible to everyone, not just space nerds. There's conflict, there's a Big Brother force, there's love and there's art. The characters and the story were all gripping. Every page showed another face that you weren't sure you should trust. Those steel walls made everything complicated but amazing. It's hard to imagine living on a spaceship your whole life, but people do what they have to and adapt to survive. This novel wowed me from the beginning, so check it out.
"It is like a piece of my soul had been lost, empty, and it is now filled with the light of a million stars."