Superlatives of 2012, Day 1

In my end of year wrap-ups last year, I participated in an AWESOME series called the Faves of 2011, hosted by Nomes at Ink Crush. It appears that she is not hosting this series again, so I went ahead and decided to do it myself! This was originally a five day series, but since I’ve already covered favorite reads and covers I’m going to shave this down to two days of posts.

Note: Three books that I read in December come up on this list, but they haven’t come out yet (they are 2013 releases) and my reviews can’t be linked. I’ve linked the book cover pictures to the Goodreads page for each book if you want more information about it.

Part I: Books

1. Always recommending this book award

Every Day by David Levithan

2. Most powerful book

Prisoner B-3087 by Alan Gratz (review coming in February)

3. Brilliantly funny

Five Very Good Reasons to Punch a Dolphin in the Mouth by The Oatmeal

4. Best ache-y, heart-breaking, tear-jerker read

A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness

5. Most beautiful story

Also A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness

6. Delicious rainy day comfort read

Let It Snow by John Green, Maureen Johnson, and Lauren Myracle (okay, it’s more of snowy day comfort read!)

7. Adrenalin-fuelled, unputdownable award

The Book of Blood and Shadow by Robin Wasserman (review coming next Thursday)

8. The beautiful prose award

Frankenstein by Mary Shelley

9. Most atmospheric and vivid setting

Bunheads by Sophie Flack (the ballet world!)

10. Would make the best movie

The Book of Blood and Shadow by Robin Wasserman (hands down!)

11. Most original and imaginative

Explorer: The Mystery Boxes (a graphic novel short story collection on the theme of mystery boxes!)

12. Best under-appreciated, hidden gem book

Between You & Me by Marisa Calin

13. I-had-no-idea-I-would-love this-so award

Prisoner B-3087 by Alan Gratz

14. Most haunting story

A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness

15. Outside my comfort zone but gosh how I loved it

Envy by Gregg Olsen (I didn’t think I liked paranormal books)

16. Series that I’m loving

The Jessica Darling series by Megan McCafferty

17. Completely awesome premise award

Fly on the Wall: How One Girl Saw Everything  by E. Lockhart

Part II: Characters

1. Favorite female main character

Ruby Oliver. Always.

2. Favorite male main character

Al in Why We Broke Up by Daniel Handler

3. Best couple <3

Becca and Alex in The Holders by Julianna Scott (review coming in February)

4. Who I so want to be best friends with

Frankenstein’s Monster. He needed a friend and I would have been his friend.

5. Who I fell completely in love with (new literary crush)

You guys, there are just NO GOOD CRUSH-WORTHY ladies in this year’s books. They’re too busy being straight and whatnot. #lesbianproblems

6. Worst (best & baddest) villian

The Sixers in Ready Player One by Ernest Cline

7. Best character twist (who you loved then hated or vice versa)

If I say what I really want to say — or even name the book! — it spoils the book! So I’ll say Marcus Flutie in the Jessica Darling series by Megan McCafferty.

8. Best kick-ass female

Three stood out: Kyra in The Chosen One by Carol Lynch Williams (for escaping a cult), Lina in Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys (for surviving and thriving in Siberian WWII work camps), and Nora in The Book of Blood and Shadow by Robin Wasserman (for literally kicking ass).

9. Best kick-ass male

Conner in Unwind by Neal Schusterman

10. Broke your heart the most

Every Day by David Levithan

11. Favorite pet/animal character award

The rats in The Watch That Ends the Night by Allan Wolf (I love that they get a voice in this verse novel)

12. Best YA parents award

I guess Alice’s dad in the Alice series. Scanning down my list of books, I just see a long list of really awful parents!

13. Favorite sibling relationship

Becca and Ryland in The Holders by Julianna Scott

14. Favorite best friends/friendship award

Phyre and You in Between You & Me by Marissa Calin
Min and Al in Why We Broke Up by Daniel Handler

15. Best/worst character names

Phyre in Between You & Me by Marisa Calin and America/Maxon/Aspen in The Selection by Kiera Cass (tie for worst)
A in Every Day by David Levithan (best)

Bonus: best love triangles!!!

Xander –> Cassia <—> Kyle in Ally Condie’s Matched trilogy (still rooting for Xander — haven’t read Reached yet!)

Aspen <–> America <–> Maxon in The Selection by Kiera Cass (rooting for Maxon)

Alex <–> Lena –> Julian in Pandemonium by Lauren Oliver (Julian?)