My Top 2011 Picks

I started blogging late in 2011, but it has been a great reading year for me since January.  I loved a lot of my 2011 reads, but here is a shorter list for those who are short on time.  Although many of the books I read would have honourable mentions, here are my top picks from my 2011 Reading List, in no particular order.
*Clicking on the image will bring you to my initial post about the novel.  

The Hunger Games trilogy by Suzanne Collins

Although this book is found in the Young Adult/Teen section, I absolutely loved these books!  The Hunger Games trilogy consists of The Hunger Games, Catching Fire, and Mockingjay.  These books by Suzanne Collins were a little bit of action and love and a lot of exciting and awesome.  Start this trilogy, no matter what your age, when you have a few days to spare because you are not going to want to put these books down.  The movie comes out in 2012 so you can look forward to that!  Buy the book here.

 
 The Help by Kathryn Stockett

The Help was a very popular book this year.  Part of its success was probably because of the release of the 2011 movie.  The story, dealing with inequality between coloured maids and their bosses, was funny and heartfelt.  The book had me laughing and crying.  Buy the book here. 





Little Princes by Conor Grennan

The book Little Princes is the true story of Conor Grennan, who travels to Nepal to volunteer in an orphanage.  He finds out the truth behind the past of these young children - they are actually victims of child trafficking and many of them have families who are still alive and well.  Grennan takes it upon himself to help these children reunite with their families.  Little Princes was a great non fiction read filled with Grennan's memories of his time in Nepal.  This book also made it onto the CTV Canada AM book corner.  Buy it here. 

Sarah's Key by Tatiana De Rosnay

This book, though fiction, was eye opening to historical events that occurred in 1942 in Paris, during the Vel d'Hiv roundup.  I'm not a huge history fan, but I liked this book.  It goes back and forth between plots in 1942 and 2002, as a journalist tries to connect events that are close to her family.  Buy it here.





Secret Daughter by Shilpi Somaya Gowda

Secret Daughter is the story of Asha, a young adult who was given up for adoption when she was born.  Her biological mother was forced to give her up since boys are the strongly favoured sex in their culture.  A family in the United States adopts Asha, one of her adoptive parents being from a similar background and culture.  So many issues are touched upon in this book.  It's a really heartwarming story that I think many of you would love.  Buy it here. 



Honourable mentions include Water for Elephants, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, Room, and Once Upon a Day. 

The Hunger Games, Catching Fire AND Mockingjay (Suzanne Collins)

 I read The Hunger Games Trilogy by Suzanne Collins after hearing so many good things about these books.  One recommendation was from my friend Amanda's blog. 

These books were read by me during the summer in record time.  I could attempt to write a blog post about each individual book, but they were read right after one another so quickly that I probably couldn't even get my thoughts right about what happened in which book.  What I do know is how much I loved these books. 

The first novel, The Hunger Games, introduces you to a different world, a place you couldn't even imagine.  Each  year, one boy and one girl from each district is chosen to fight in a battle to the death on live TV. 

Sounds strange, right?  I thought so, too, but there was something about this book that just kept me so captivated.  You fall in love with the characters and their stories, and the descriptions that Collins includes in the book make you feel like you are right there in the action.  There's always something about these books that take place in an exciting and different world that make me feel like I'm a kid again (um, Harry Potter anyone?).  They also make me wonder how someone could come up with these crazy and awesome ideas. 

The story continues in Catching Fire and Mockingjay.  Both books have equally exciting plots (I don't really want to give anything away, if you haven't read the first book...).  If you read and like the first book, I don't think it's possible to go without following up with Catching Fire and Mockingjay! 


This Young Adults trilogy is highly recommended by me.  Although I was a wee bit embarrassed to be buying this book from the "Teen" section (since I can't even count the number of times I'm asked whether I'm still in high school), I'm so glad I did. 

Seriously, go out and find these books now if you haven't already.  Start reading and let your imagination go to The Hunger Games.