12 Favorites of 2012

What a fall!  I've been madly busy settling into a new job with little time to breathe, let alone blog!  I hope to do much better spotlighting Jillicious reads in 2013.  To get things rolling, I am posting twelve of my favorites from 2012:


1.  Cinder by Marissa Meyer
Creative sci fi re-imagining of Cinderella where the star of the show is a cyborg. :)    


2.  The False Prince by Jennifer A. Nielsen
Courts, intrigue, betrayal, plot twists and turns! ... The False Prince has it all. 

3.  The Fault in My Stars by John Green
Two terminally-ill teens desperately trying to fully live out their days. Powerful novel that will stay with you long after the final page.   

4.  Grave Mercy by Robin LaFevers
Narrowly escaping an abusive, arranged marriage, Ismae finds refuge in a convent.  There she discovers she is the daughter of Death himself and is trained to become his assassin. And then she meets Duval.  :) 

5.  Keeping the Castle  by Patrice Kindl
Delightful blend of Pride and Prejudice, Emma and I Capture the Castle for young adults.
 
6.  The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate
Beautifully written story of a gorilla and other circus animals living in a run-down mall.  Based on a true story, this moving novel will touch your heart. 

7.  Second Chance Summer by Morgan Matson 
When Taylor's father is diagnosed with terminal cancer, the family spends their final summer together at the lake.  Lovely story of family, loss, and healing. 

8.  Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo
Compelling fantasy set in Czarist Russia, a dark mix of complex characters, adventure, court drama, and magic. 

9.  Steve Jobs: The Man Who Thought Different by Karen Blumenthal
Outstanding biography shows the good, the bad, and the ugly of the man that truly changed our world.  

10.  This is Not My Hat by Jon Klassen
Jon Klassen follows up I Want My Hat Back with another clever, darkly-hilarious picture book. 
 
11.  Wonder by R.J. Palacio 
Beautiful story of a boy with an abnormal face who just wants to be treated like a normal kid.

12.  Z is for Moose by Kelly Bingham
Comical, fresh take on the ABC book.  A riotous romp!   

ALA 2012

Last month I was able to attend the American Library Association Annual Conference in sunny Anaheim, California.  These conferences are always so much fun: time to connect with librarian and publisher friends, to meet (and stalk!) authors, and to hear about all the new books about to hit the shelves.  Here are a few highlights from this year's conference:   

Little, Brown Dance Party at the House of Blues celebrating Libba Bray's new novel, THE DIVINERS

Who's that dancing blur, you ask?  None other than Lemony Snicket himself (AKA the dancing machine Daniel Handler)! And who is the nut laughing like a hyena?  Hmmm...

The one and only Jon Scieszka at the HarperCollins Breakfast.

I won!  At the Penguin Original Art Cocktail Party, I won a piece by one of my favorites, Maira Kalman!!  I'm over the moon.  

Lovely dinner with Boyds Mills Press complete with poetry readings from Children's Poet Laureate, J.Patric Lewis. 

Newbery Caldecott Banquet with this year's Newbery winner and my favorite, the incredible Jack Gantos

The incomparable author and editor David Levithan at the Scholastic Cocktail Party.

Author James Dashner and beautiful friends Rose and Jane.  Do I look like the ugly stepsister, or what??! 

Thank you to all the publishers for hosting me at the amazing events.  I can't wait for ALA 2013 in Chicago!  

Jillicious Stacks: ARCs

One of the most glorious things about attending library conferences is coming home with stacks of ARCs (Advance Reading Copies).  These uncorrected proofs are made available to reviewers, booksellers, and librarians before they are published.  It is so fun to get your hands on one of these, particularly when it's a book you are DYING to read!  The first time I held one as a new librarian I almost cried!  (I know ... total nerd.)  

The tough part is then: 1.) trying to decide which to read first, and 2.) trying to make life stop so you can read, read, read! 

Here are five ARCs that are at the top of my stack (in no particular order as it keeps changing!):



1.  Unwholly by Neal Shusterman 
Simon & Schuster, available August 28, 2012

Long awaited sequel to the incredible, thought-provoking Unwind!! 

2. Such Wicked Intent: The Apprenticeship of Victor Frankenstein, Book 2 by Kenneth Oppel

Simon & Schuster, available August 21, 2012

Loved Book 1 and this whole premise of "Who was Victor Frankenstein?"

3.  The Diviners by Libba Bray

Little, Brown BFYR, available September 18, 2012

Three things I love:  New York City, the roaring twenties, and mystery!

4.  Safekeeping by Karen Hesse

Feiwel & Friends/Macmillan, available September 18, 2012

It's by Karen Hesse (could stop there), futuristic America, illustrated with Hesse's own haunting photographs.  

5.  The Dark Unwinding by Sharon Cameron 

Scholastic, available September 1, 2012

The debut author called it "Jane Austen with gears".  Sold!  

Which would YOU read first??