Here are my picks for the 12 best books of 2012, listed in alphabetical order:
1. Buddy: How a Rooster Made Me a Family Man by Brian McGrory. Memoir.
McGrory, Brian. Buddy: How a Rooster Made Me a Family Man. New York: Crown Publishers, 2012. Print.
Columnist Brian McGrory seemed to have the perfect life. He lived in a big, sunny brownstone within walking distance to Newbury Street, Fenway Park, and his dream job at The Boston Globe. He had a beach house in Kennebunkport where he would escape for weekends with his beloved dog Harry. When Harry passes away, however, Brian's life changes drastically. He falls in love with a beautiful veterinarian named Pam, and moves to the suburbs to start a new life with her and her daughters, dogs, rabbits, and a territorial rooster named Buddy.
If you liked Marley & Me you will love Buddy. This book will make a great gift for your favorite uncle, co-worker, or stepdad.
2. Extra Yarn by Mac Barnett, illustrated by Jon Klassen. Picture Book
Barnett, Mac, and J Klassen. Extra Yarn. New York: Balzer + Bray, 2012. Print.
3. In One Person by John Irving. Adult Novel.
Irving, John. In One Person: A Novel. New York: Simon & Schuster, 2012. Print.
4. The Letter Q: Queer Writers' Notes to their Younger Selves edited by Sarah Moon. Young Adult Nonfiction.
Moon, Sarah. The Letter Q: Queer Writers' Notes to Their Younger Selves. New YorkY: Arthur A. Levine Books, 2012. Print.
5. Liar & Spy by Rebecca Stead. Middle Grade Novel.
6. The Lost Thing by Cynthia Linville. Poetry.
Linville, Cynthia. The Lost Thing: Poems. Cold River Press, 2012. Print.
7. Sharp by David Fitzpatrick. Memoir.
Fitzpatrick, David. Sharp: A Memoir. New York: William Morrow & Co, 2012. Print.
8. Survive by Alex Morel. Young Adult Fiction.
The Bell Jar meets Hatchet meets Into the Wild.
9. Unspoken by Henry Cole. Picture Book.
Cole, Henry. Unspoken: A Story from the Underground Railroad. New York: Scholastic, 2012. Print.
Morel, Alex. Survive. New York: Razorbill, 2012. Print.
9. Unspoken by Henry Cole. Picture Book.
Cole, Henry. Unspoken: A Story from the Underground Railroad. New York: Scholastic, 2012. Print.
Semple, Maria. Where'd You Go, Bernadette: A Novel. New York: Little, Brown and Company, 2012. Print.
If you like the TV show Portlandia, you will love this funny book about a mother who absolutely hates Seattle. The New York Times calls it "comedy heaven."
11. Wonder by R.J. Palacio. Middle Grade Fiction.
11. Wonder by R.J. Palacio. Middle Grade Fiction.
Palacio, R J. Wonder. New York: Alfred
A. Knopf, 2012. Print.
12. Would It Kill You to Stop Doing That? A Modern Guide to Manners by Henry Alford. Adult Nonfiction
Alford, Henry. Would It Kill You to Stop Doing That?: A Modern Guide to Manners. New York: Twelve, 2012. Print.
