Sandy's Picks 2012 - Chapter Books

It's that time of year again! Time to look back on what I read in 2012 and pick out the titles that I think were the best of the best. I'm not simply looking for literary quality or books that are award-worthy as I make this list (though such qualities certainly don't hurt a book's chances as making the cut). I'm just looking back at the books that made me happiest when I read them, and the books that have stuck with me as the year progressed.

According to Goodreads.com, I have read a total of 109 books this year. Of course, this number is not entirely accurate. This count does not include a wide range of picture books and non-fiction that I paged through and didn't record, nor does it include each volume of several manga series that I plowed through this year, where I reviewed the series as a whole instead of each individual volume.

Today we'll start out by taking a look at novels written for children, AKA Chapter Books.

The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate
When Ivan, a gorilla who has lived for years in a down-and-out mall, meets Ruby, a baby elephant that has been added to the mall's exhibit, he decides that he must find her a better life. This book just melted my heart with lovely poetic writing and a powerful story based on real events.

One Dead Spy by Nathan Hale
Nathan Hale, who was an officer and spy for the American rebels during the Revolutionary War, shares his story, from his unlucky days at Yale to his later unlucky days as an officer, with a hangman and British officer. This graphic novel takes American history and makes it fascinating. There's lots of humor for sure, but also lots of great historical fact, lots of military history, and lots of great detail that tends to be eliminated or glossed over in typical study.  One Dead Spy is the first in what will be a series of books as Nathan Hale, the hangman, and the British soldier return to discuss different periods of American history.  It was published simultaneously with the second title, Big Bad Ironclad, which discusses naval warfare during the Civil War.

The Unfortunate Son by Constance Leeds
Luc, a boy born with one ear and raised by a drunken father in fifteenth-century France, finds a better home with fisherman Pons, his sister Mattie, and their ward Beatrice, the daughter of a disgraced knight. Even after being kidnapped and sold into slavery in Africa, he remains remarkably fortunate. This books stands out to me thanks to solid writing and a fascinating historical setting. While I've had trouble pinning down my top choice for this year's Newbery Medal, I think that my final vote has to go to The Unfortunate Son.

The Lions of Little Rock by Kristin Levine

In 1958 Little Rock, Arkansas, painfully shy twelve-year-old Marlee sees her city and family divided over school integration. But her friendship with Liz, a black girl who tries to pass for white at Marlee's school, helps her find her voice and fight against racism. Kristin Levine told a great story a few years ago dealing with racism and friendship with her first book The Best Bad Luck I Ever Had, and her latest effort just just as powerful.

Starry River of the Sky by Grace Lin

Discovering that the moon has disappeared from the sky above a Chinese village where he works, runaway Rendi wonders about strange local behaviors until a mysterious storyteller arrives at the town's inn and astonishing transformations begin to happen.  Just as she did with her Newbery Honor-winning book Where the Mountain Meets the Moon, author Grace Lin has masterfully reworked Chinese fairy tales to tell a moving story.  You do not have to have read Where the Mountain Meets the Moon to understand Starry River of the Sky as the two books stand completely on their own, but a few overlapping elements will be greatly appreciated by those who have read both.  Both books are well worth the effort. 

Wonder by R.J. Palacio
Born with a facial deformity that initially prevented his attendance at public school, Auggie Pullman enters the fifth grade at Beecher Prep and struggles with the dynamics of being both new and different. I will admit: I kept putting this one off because of all of its early hype. But I'm so glad that I finally read it! The story is both heartwarming and heartwrenching. Not only is it a great story centering around a medical condition, but it's also simply a great school story that explores interpersonal relationship in an upper elementary setting.

Summer of the Gypsy Moths by Sara Pennypacker
A foster child named Angel and twelve-year-old Stella, who are living with Stella's great-aunt Louise on Cape Cod, secretly assume responsibility for the summer vacation rentals when Louise unexpectedly dies and the girls are afraid of being returned to the foster care system.  I loved this book so much.  It's got humor and heart and two girls who hide a dead body.  What else do you need?



What were your favorite children's novels of 2012?  Share your favorites in the comments.