Staff Favorite Reads of 2011
Adult Favorites
The Elegance of the Hedgehog
Muriel Barbery, 2008
F / Barbery
Favorited by Keran
The Five People You Meet in Heaven
Mitch Albom, 2003
F / ALBOM
Large Print / ALBOM
Books on Disc / F / ALBOM
Liked by Kayla E.
The Sugar Queen
Sarah Addison Allen, 2009
F / ALLEN
Liked by Robin H. & Jenny H.
The Elegance of the Hedgehog
Muriel Barbery, 2008
F / BARBERY
Books on Disc / F / BARBERY
Liked by Elaine H.
In Zanesville: A Novel
Jo Ann Beard, 2011
F / BEARD
Liked by Kasia H.
Fidelity: Five Stories
Wendell Berry, 1992
F / BERRY
Liked by Seth K.
Sisterhood Everlasting: A Novel
Ann Brashares, 2011
F / BRASHARES
Books on Disc / F / BRASHARES
Liked by Kathy W.
The Sweet Relief of Missing Children
Sarah Braunstein, 2011
F / BRAUNSTEIN
Liked by a staff member
Once Upon a River: A Novel
Bonnie Jo Campbell, 2011
F / CAMPBELL
Liked by Kasia H.
Altar of Bones
Philip Carter, 2011
F / CARTER
Liked by Michelle J.
Stiltsville: A Novel
Susanna Daniel, 2010
F / DANIEL
Liked by Lora F.
House of Leaves
Mark Z. Danielewski, 2000
F / DANIELEWSKI
Liked by Joel S.
Room: A Novel
Emma Donoghue, 2010
F / DONOGHUE
Liked by Kayla E. & Marcy J.
The Loop
Nicholas Evans, 1998
F / EVANS
PB / EVANS
Large Print / EVANS
Liked by Jordan W.
Freedom
Jonathan Franzen, 2010
F / FRANZEN
Liked by Marcy J.
The Lady of the Rivers
Philippa Gregory, 2011
F / GREGORY
Liked by Jennie G.
The Kitchen House
Kathleen Grissom, 2010
F / GRISSOM
Liked by Jennie G.
Water for Elephants: A Novel
Sara Gruen, 2006
F / GRUEN
Large Print / F / GRUEN
Books on Disc / F / GRUEN
Liked by Sarah S. & Amber C.
There’s Cake in My Future
Kim Gruenenfelder, 2010
F / GRUENENFELDER
Liked by Jenny H.
Night Road
Kristin Hannah, 2011
F / HANNAH
Liked by Michelle J.
Blackbird House
Alice Hoffman, 2004
F / HOFFMAN
Liked by Jenny H.
Saving CeeCee Honeycutt: A Novel
Beth Hoffman, 2010
F / HOFFMANN
Large Print / F / HOFFMANN
Books on Disc / F / HOFFMANN
Liked by Robin H.
Blame
Michelle Hunevan, 2009
F / HUNEVAN
Liked by Tucker C.
The First Thing and the Last: A Novel
Allan G. Johnson, 2010
F / JOHNSON
Liked by Marcy J.
Rose in a Storm: A Novel
Jon Katz, 2010
F / KATZ
Large Print / F / KATZ
Liked by Mary T.
Pigeon English
Stephen Kelman, 2011
F / KELMAN
Liked by Anne P.
The Lover’s Dictionary
David Levithan, 2011
F / LEVITHAN
Liked by Anne P.
The Borrower
Rebecca Makkai, 2011
F / MAKKAI
Large Print / F / MAKKAI
Liked by Elaine B.
Life of Pi: A Novel
Yann Martel, 2001
F / MARTEL
PB / F / MARTEL
Liked by Yen Vi C.H.
Omamori
Richard McGill, 1987
F / MCGILL
Liked by Tucker C.
The Night Circus: A Novel
Erin Morgenstern, 2011
F / MORGENSTERN
Liked by Lauren C.
Under the Mercy Trees: A Novel
Heather Newton, 2011
F / NEWTON
Liked by a staff member
The Tiger’s Wife: A Novel
Téa Obreht, 2011
F / OBREHT
Liked by Marcy J.
The Housekeeper and the Professor
Yoko Ogawa, 2009
F / OGAWA
Liked by Norma B.
Bel Canto: A Novel
Ann Patchett, 2001
F / PATCHETT
Liked by Elaine B.
State of Wonder
Ann Patchett, 2011
F / PATCHETT
Large Print / F / PATCHETT
Books on Disc / F / PATCHETT
Liked by Lisa W., Marcy J., & a staff member
The Summer of the Bear
Bella Pollen, 2011
F / POLLEN
Liked by a staff member
The Devil Colony: A Sigma Force Novel
James Rollins, 2011
S / ROLLINS
Liked by Michelle J.
Sarah’s Key
Tatiana de Rosnay, 2007
F / ROSNAY
Books on Disc / F / ROSNAY
Liked by Robin H.
Swamplandia!
Karen Russell, 2011
F / RUSSELL
Liked by Kasia H.
Doc: A Novel
Mary Doria Russell, 2011
F / RUSSELL
Liked by Bill B.
Our Lady of the Lost and Found: A Novel of Mary, Faith, and Friendship
Diane Schoemperlen, 2001
F / SCHOEMPERLEN
Liked by Elaine H.
The Lovely Bones: A Novel
Alice Sebold, 2002
F / SEBOLD
PB / F / SEBOLD
Large Print / SEBOLD
Books on Disc / F / SEBOLD
Liked by Amber C.
Snow Flower and the Secret Fan: A Novel
Lisa See, 2005
F / SEE
Large Print / F / SEE
Books on Disc / F / SEE
Liked by Robin H.
Please Look After Mom: A Novel
Kyung-sook Shin, 2011
F / SHIN
Liked by Anne P. & Marcy J.
We Need to Talk About Kevin
Lionel Shriver, 2003
F / SHRIVER
Liked by Marcy J.
The Last Song
Nicholas Sparks, 2009
F / SPARKS
Large Print / SPARKS
Books on Disc / F / SPARKS
Liked by Kayla E.
The Art of Racing in the Rain: A Novel
Garth Stein, 2008
F / STEIN
Liked by Norma B.
Never Knowing
Chevy Stevens, 2011
F / STEVENS
Liked by Michelle J.
Still Missing
Chevy Stevens, 2010
F / STEVENS
Liked by Michelle J.
The Help
Kathryn Stockett, 2009
F / STOCKETT
Large Print / F / STOCKETT
Books on Disc / F / STOCKETT
Liked by Jennie G.
The Space Between Us
Thrity N. Umrigar, 2005
F / UMRIGAR
Liked by Elaine H.
On Black Sisters Street: A Novel
Chika Unigwe, 2009
F / UNIGWE
Liked by Anne P.
Among Others
Jo Walton, 2011
F / WALTON
Liked by Kasia H.
The Family Fang
Kevin Wilson, 2011
F / WILSON
Liked by Bill B.
The Uncoupling
Meg Wolitzer, 2011
F / WOLITZER
Liked by a staff member
The Outlaw Album: Stories
Daniel Woodrell, 2011
F / WOODRELL
Liked by Kasia H.
Mysteries
Back of Beyond
C.J. Box, 2011
M / BOX
Liked by Michelle J.
Disturbance
Jan Burke, 2011
M / BURKE
Liked by Robin H.
From Away
David Carkeet, 2010
M / CARKEET
Liked by Jordan W.
And Then There Were None
Agatha Christie, 1989
M / CHRISTIE
PB / M / CHRISTIE
Books on Disc / M / CHRISTIE
Liked by Amber C.
Evil Under the Sun
Agatha Christie, 1941
M / CHRISTIE
PB / M / CHRISTIE
Liked by Rachel J.
Footsteps in the Dark
Georgette Heyer, 1932
PB / M / HEYER
Books on Disc / M / HEYER
Liked by Rachel J.
Eve
Iris Johansen, 2011
M / JOHANSEN
LP / M / JOHANSEN
Liked by Mary T.
Quinn
Iris Johansen, 2011
M / JOHANSEN
Books on Disc / M / JOHANSEN
Liked by Mary T.
The Girl Who Disappeared Twice
Andrea Kane, 2011
M / KANE
Liked by Michelle J.
Horror
The Ridge
Michael Koryta, 2011
H / KORYTA
Liked by Michelle J.
Gil’s All Fright Diner
A. Lee Martinez, 2005
H / MARTINEZ
Liked by Bronwyn S.
Zone One: A Novel
Colson Whitehead, 2011
H / WHITEHEAD
Liked by Lisa W.
Romance
Vows
Rochelle Alers, 2004
G / ALERS
Liked by Bertha K.
Surrender
Brenda Jackson, 2009
PB / G / JACKSON
Liked by Bertha K.
Heart of the Falcon
Francis Ray, 2004
G / RAY
Liked by Bertha K.
Science Fiction & Fantasy
Abarat
Clive Barker, 2002
SF / BARKER
PB / Y / BARKER
Liked by Bronwyn S.
The Desert Spear
Peter V. Brett, 2010
SF / BRETT
Liked by Jordan W.
The Warrior’s Apprentice
Lois McMaster Bujold, 2001
SF / BUJOLD
Liked by Bronwyn S.
The Passage: A Novel
Justin Cronin, 2010
SF / CRONIN
Liked by Bill B.
Embassytown
China Miéville, 2011
SF / MIEVILLE
Liked by Ian C.
The Sparrow
Mary Doria Russell, 1996
SF / RUSSELL
Liked by Marcy J.
Reamde
Neal Stephenson, 2011
SF / STEPHENSON
Liked by Lisa W.
Secrets of the Sands
Leona Wisoker, 2010
SF / WISOKER
Liked by Rachel J.
How to Live Safely in a Science Fictional Universe
Charles Yu, 2010
SF / YU
Liked by Brian Y.
Back to top
Nonfiction Favorites
Heaven is for Real: A Little Boy’s Astounding Story of His Trip to Heaven and Back
Todd Burpo, 2010
133.9013 / BUR
Liked by Kayla E.
Beyond Boundaries: Learning to Trust Again in Relationships
John Townsend, 2011
158.2 / TOW
Liked by a staff member
Merchants of Doubt: How a Handful of Scientists Obscured the Truth on Issues from Tobacco Smoke to Global Warming
Naomi Oreskes and Erik M. Conway
174.95 / ORE
Liked by Eric F.
A Place of Healing: Wrestling with the Mysteries of Suffering, Pain, and God’s Sovereignty
Joni Eareckson Tada, 2010
248.86 / TAD
Liked by Janet R.
Sex God: Exploring the Endless Connections Between Sexuality and Spirituality
Rob Bell, 2007
261.8357 / BEL
Liked by a staff member
23 Things They Don’t Tell You About Capitalism
Ha-Joon Chang, 2010
330.122 / CHA
Liked by Shih-Mei C.
The Energy of Money: A Spiritual Guide to Financial and Personal Fulfillment
Maria Nemeth, 2000
332.024 / NEM
Liked by Mary M.
If You Lived Here: Houses of the World
Giles Laroche, 2011
J / 392.36 / LAR
Liked by Elaine B.
Sea of Glory: America’s Voyage of Discovery: The U.S. Exploring Expedition, 1838-1842
Nathaniel Philbrick, 2003
508.3 / PHI
Liked by Susan D.
The Disappearing Spoon and Other True Tales of Madness, Love, and the History of the World from the Periodic Table of the Elements
Sam Kean, 2010
540.9 / KEA
Books on Disc / 540.9 / KEA
Liked by Susan D.
The Psychopath Test: A Journey Through the Madness Industry
Jon Ronson, 2011
616.89 / RON
Liked by Ian C.
The Emperor of All Maladies: A Biography of Cancer
Siddhartha Mukherjee, 2010
616.994 / MUK
Liked by Brian Y.
The Vincent in the Barn: Great Stories of Motorcycle Archaeology
Tom Cotter, 2009
629.2275 / COT
Liked by John G.
Boundaries in Dating: How Healthy Choices Grow Healthy Relationships
Henry Cloud and John Townsend, 2000
646.77 / CLO
Liked by a staff member
Rip It Up and Start Again: Postpunk 1978-1984
Simon Reynolds, 2006
781.66 / REY
Liked by Ian C.
Just Kids
Patti Smith, 2010
781.66 / SMI
Liked by Marcy J.
Big Hair and Plastic Grass: A Funky Ride Through Baseball and America in the Swinging ‘70s
Dan Epstein, 2010
796.357 / EPS
Liked by Susan D.
Kara Goucher’s Running for Women: From First Steps to Marathons
Kara Goucher, 2011
796.42 / GOU
Liked by Joy D.
What the Dog Saw and Other Adventure Stories
Malcolm Gladwell, 2009
814.6 / GLA
Large Print / 814.6 / GLA
Liked by Mary M.
Jerusalem: City of Longing
Simon Goldhill, 2008
915.694 / GOL
Liked by Elaine H.
Chicago Free & Dirt Cheap
Laura Tiebert, 2010
917.7311 / TIE
Liked by Joy D.
This Republic of Suffering: Death and the American Civil War
Drew Gilpin Faust, 2008
973.71 / FAU
Liked by Joel S. & Eric F.
Year of Meteors: Stephen Douglas, Abraham Lincoln, and the Election that Brought on the Civil War
Douglas Egerton, 2010
973.711 / EGE
Liked by Eric F.
The War Lovers: Roosevelt, Lodge, Hearst, and the Rush to Empire, 1898
Evan Thomas, 2010
973.891 / THO
Liked by Bill B.
Biographies & Memoirs
Cooked: From the Streets to the Stove, From Cocaine to Foie Gras
Jeff Henderson, 2007
364.177 / HEN
Books on Disc / 364.177 / HEN
Liked by Amber C.
Life Itself: A Memoir
Roger Ebert, 2011
791.43 / EBE
Large Print / 791.43 / EBE
Liked by Carol I.
Coming Back Stronger: Unleashing the Hidden Power of Adversity
Drew Brees, 2010
796.332 / BRE
Liked by Janet R.
How They Croaked: The Awful Ends of the Awfully Famous
Georgia Bragg, 2011
920.02 / BRA
Liked by Lora F.
Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption
Laura Hillenbrand, 2010
940.547252 / HIL
Large Print / 940.5472 / HIL
Books on Disc, 940.5472 / HIL
Liked by Keran H.
The Children’s Blizzard
David Laskin, 2004
977.031 / LAS
Liked by Lynn T.
Nothing Daunted: The Unexpected Education of Two Society
Girls in the West
Dorothy Wickenden, 2011
978.03 / WIC
Liked by Susan D.
Where Rivers Change Direction
Mark Spragg, 1999
978.7 / SPR
Liked by Lynn T.
My Thoughts be Bloody: The Bitter Rivalry Between Edwin and
John Wilkes Booth That Led to an American Tragedy
Nora Titone, 2010
B / BOOTH FAMILY
Liked by Keran H. & Carol I.
The Woman Who Could Not Forget: Iris Chang Before and Beyond
The Rape of Nanking
Ying-Ying Chang, 2011
B / CHANG, Iris
Liked by Marcy J.
The Year of Magical Thinking
Joan Didion, 2005
B / DIDION, Joan
Books on Disc / B / DIDION / Joan
Liked by Mary M.
Blood, Bones, & Butter: The Inadvertent Education of a Reluctant Chef
Gabrielle Hamilton, 2011
B / HAMILTON, Gabrielle
Liked by Lisa W.
Graphic Novels
The Exile: An Outlander Graphic Novel
Diana Gabaldon, 2011
741.504 / GAB
Liked by Robin H.
Mid-Life: A Comic Book
Joe Ollmann, 2011
741.504 / OLL
Liked by Eric F. & John G.
Radioactive: Marie & Pierre Curie, A Tale of Love & Fallout
Lauren Redniss, 2010
741.504 / RED
Liked by Carol I.
Trigun Maximum #1: Hero Returns
Yasuhiro Nightow, 2004
Y / MANGA / NIG
Liked by Tucker C.
Mobile Suit Gundam 00F. Vol. 1
Koichi Tokita, 2008
Y / MANGA / TOK
Liked by Tucker C.
Cookbooks & Food
Hungry Monkey: A Food-Loving Father’s Quest to Raise an
Adventurous Eater
Matthew Amster-Burton, 2010
641 / AMS
Liked by Lisa W.
Modernist Cuisine: The Art and Science of Cooking (v. 1-6)
Nathan Myhrovold, 2011
Q / 641.5 / MYH
Liked by Mary T.
Great Easy Meals: 250 Fun & Easy Recipes
Food Network Magazine, 2010
641.555 / GRE
Liked by Joy D.
PETA’s Vegan College Cookbook: 275 Easy, Cheap, and Delicious
Recipes to Keep Your Vegan at School
PETA, 2009
641.5636 / PET
Liked by Joy D.
Saveur: The New Comfort Food: Home Cooking from Around the World
Edited by James Oseland, 2011
641.59 / SAV
Liked by Lisa W.
At Elizabeth David’s Table: Classic Recipes and Timeless Kitchen Wisdom
Elizabeth David, 2010
641.594 / DAV
Liked by Lisa W.
Cook This Now: 120 Easy and Delectable Dishes You Can’t Wait to Make
Melissa Clark, 2011
641.5973 / CLA
Liked by Lisa W.
Simply Great Breads: Sweet and Savory Yeasted Treats from America’s Premier Artisan Baker
Daniel Leader, 2011
641.815 / LEA
Liked by Lisa W.
Bon Appetit Desserts: The Cookbook for All Things Sweet and Wonderful
Barbara Fairchild, 2010
641.86 / FAI
Liked by Lisa W.
Tart & Sweet: 101 Canning Recipes for the Modern Kitchen
Kelly Geary, 2010
664.0282 / GEA
Liked by Lisa W.
Pets & Animals
14 Cows for America
Carmen Agra Deedy, 2009
J / 327.676 / DEE
Liked by Rachel V.
Friends: True Stories of Extraordinary Animal Friendships
Catherine Thimmesh, 2011
J / 591.5 / THI
Liked by Rachel V.
The Pig Who Sang to the Moon: The Emotional World of Farm Animals
Jeffrey Moussaieff Masson, 2003
636.002 / MAS
Liked by Lynn T.
Dewey’s Nine Lives: The Legacy of the Small-Town Library Cat Who Inspired Millions
Vicki Myron, 2010
636.8092 / MYR
Large Print / 636.8092 / MYR
Liked by Lynn T.
Three Men in a Boat: To Say Nothing of the Dog
Jerome K. Jerome, 1964
827.8 / JER
Large Print / 827.8 / JER
Liked by Norma B.
Back to top
Teen Favorites
You
Charles Benoit, 2010
Y / BENOIT
Liked by Amber C.
What I Saw and How I Lied
Judy Blundell, 2008
Y / BLUNDELL
Liked by Melissa M.
Star Crossed
Elizabeth C. Bunce, 2010
Y / BUNCE
Liked by Rachel J.
Uncommon Criminals: A Heist Society Novel
Ally Carter, 2011
Y / CARTER
Liked by Robin H.
Shelter: A Mickey Bolitar Novel
Harlan Coben, 2011
Y / COBEN
Liked by Robin H.
The Hunger Games Trilogy = Trilogía los Juegos del
Hambre, including:
The Hunger Games, 2008 = Los Juegos del Hambre, 2009
Catching fire, 2009 = En Llamas, 2010
Mockingjay, 2010 = Sinsajo, 2010Suzanne Collins
Y / COLLINS
Large Print / Y / COLLINS
Books on Disc / Y / COLLINS
Spanish / Y / COLLINS
Liked by Joel S. & Amber C.
The Truth About Forever
Sarah Dessen, 2004
Y / DESSEN
Liked by Robin H.
Gone
Michael Grant, 2008
Y / GRANT
Liked by Robin H.
Evil Genius
Catherine Jinks, 2007
Y / JINKS
Liked by Bronwyn S.
The Reformed Vampire Support Group
Catherine Jinks, 2009
Y / JINKS
Books on Disc / Y / JINKS
Liked by Bronwyn S.
I am a Genius of Unspeakable Evil and I Want to be Your Class President
Josh Lieb, 2009
Y / LIEB
Liked by Robin H.
Touching Spirit Bear
Ben Mikaelsen, 2001
Y / MIKAELSEN
Liked by Amber C.
The Shadow Speaker
Nnedi Okorafor-Mbachu, 2007
Y / OKORAFOR-MBACHU
Liked by Bronwyn S.
Divergent
Veronica Roth, 2011
Y / ROTH
Liked by Lauren C.
Unwind
Neal Shusterman, 2007
Y / SHUSTERMAN
Liked by Jenny H.
The Freak Observer
Blythe Woolston, 2010
Y / WOOLSTON
Liked by Kasia H.
Blood Red Road
Moria Young, 2011
Y / YOUNG
Liked by Melissa M.
The Book Thief
Markus Zusak, 2006
Y / ZUSAK
Large Print / Y / ZUSAK
Books on Disc / Y / ZUSAK
Liked by Elaine H.
Back to top
Children’s Favorites
Poodle and Hound
Kathryn Lasky, 2009
E / Easy to Read / LASKY
Liked by Jenny H.
Should I Share My Ice Cream?
Mo Willems, 2011
E / Easy to Read / WILLEMS
Liked by Jordan W.
We Are In a Book!
Mo Willems, 2010
E / Easy to Read / WILLEMS
Liked by Robin H., Joy D., Yen Vi C.H., Elizabeth P., & Jenny H.
Easy
Winnie Finn, Worm Farmer
Carol Brendler, 2009
E / BRENDLER
Liked by Jennie H.
The Boss Baby
Marla Frazee, 2011
E / FRAZEE
Liked by Seth K.
Blueberry Girl
Neil Gaiman, 2009
E / GAIMAN
Liked by Theo M.
Ronald Morgan Goes to Camp
Patricia Reilly Giff, 1995
E / GIFF
Liked by Jenny H.
Betty Bunny Loves Chocolate Cake
Michael B. Kaplan, 2011
E / KAPLAN
Liked by Jenny H.
Library Lion
Michelle Knudsen, 2006
E / KNUDSEN
E / Book & CD / KNUDSEN
Liked by Theo M.
Waiting for Winter
Sebastian Meschenmoser, 2009
E / MESCHENMOSER
Liked by Jenny H.
The Library Pages
Carlene Morton, 2010
E / MORTON
Liked by Jenny H.
Fox and Hen Together
Béatrice Rodriguez, 2011
E / RODRIGUEZ
Liked by Rachel V.
Memoirs of a Goldfish
Devin Scillian, 2010
E / SCILLIAN
Liked by Joy D.
The Book with a Hole
Hervé Tullet, 2011
E / TULLET
Liked by Joy D.
A Friend Like Ed
Karen Wagner, 1998
E / WAGNER
Liked by Jenny H.
Scaredy Squirrel Has a Birthday Party
Mélanie Watt, 2011
E / WATT
Liked by Joy D.
Juvenile
Turtle in Paradise
Jennifer L. Holm, 2010
J / HOLM
J / Books on Disc / HOL
Liked by Elaine B.
The Medusa Plot
Gordon Korman, 2011
J / 39 CLUES / Cahills vs. Vespers
Liked by Robin H.
The Mostly True Adventures
of Homer P. Figg
W. Rodman Philbrick, 2009
J / PHILBRICK
J / Books on Disc / PHI
Liked by Lora F.
Okay for Now
Gary D. Schmidt, 2011
J / SCHMIDT
Liked by Rachel V.
Wonderstruck: A Novel in Words and Pictures
Brian Selznick, 2011
J / SELZNICK
Liked by Robin H. & Kathy W.
Postcards from Camp: A Postal Story
Simms Taback, 2011
J / TABACK
Liked by Elaine B.
Lost and Found
Shaun Tan, 2011
J / TAN
Liked by Shih-Mei C.
Breadcrumbs
Anne Ursu, 2011
J / URSU
Liked by Amber C.
Breaking Stalin’s Nose
Eugene Yelchin, 2011
J / YELCHIN
Liked by Shih-Mei C.
