“Did you have a good year?” some people ask. Their judgment of 2016 might be dependent on how much money they made, or if everyone they knew lived, if they became famous, or even who won the election. However, money comes and goes, people around us are born and die, and every few years the leadership of the government changes. There are always going to be some amazingly beautiful experiences along with some hard, painful, even dark times, all interspersed with days that you just plod ahead keeping the cart moving. That’s part of mortal life. The real question is, did you change within? Did you personally grow?
I judge a year by the books I have read. Books have the power to change a person’s life, to inspire them and challenge them, to break down walls and become the catalyst for growth, new thought, and healing. A book can challenge you to set goals and give you the hope you need to keep working towards them. A book can inspire you to become a better writer, artist, teacher, or person. Some books just make you laugh. Some are like chocolate and a ray of sunshine on a cold, rainy day. And then there are books who are like an old friend who provides comfort when you need it most. So, here is my list of my favorite books for 2016, concluding with the winners for the year.
Mystery:
The Waves Break Gray – Sibella Giorello
The Stones Cry Out – Sibella Giorello
Crocodile on the Sandbank – Elizabeth Peters
YA Mystery:
Stone and Spark – Sibella Giorello
Romantic Suspense:
Twilight – Kristen Heitzmann
Told You Twice – Kristen Heitzmann
Adult Suspense:
The Chemist – Stephenie Meyer
YA/NA Contemporary Romance:
P.S. I Like You – Kasie West
There You’ll Find Me – Jenny B. Jones
The Truth About Forever – Sarah Dessen
Greensleeves – Eloise Jarvis McGraw
YA Fantasy:
David (The Unseen #3) – Johnny Worthen
Fantasy:
The Thief – Megan Whalen Turner
Tea With the Black Dragon – R.A. MacAvoy
Moon Dancing – Anna Zogg
The Xerxes Factor – Anna Zogg
Anansi Boys – Neil Gaiman
Kingfisher – Patricia A. McKillip
Paladin of Souls – Lois McMaster Bujold
Historical Romance:
The Rose of Winslow Street – Elizabeth Camden
Doing No Harm – Carla Kelly
Huckleberry Summer – Jennifer Beckstrand
Fantasy/Romance:
Gladly Beyond – Nichole Van
Intertwine – Nichole Van
Adult Fiction:
Where the River Ends – Charles Martin
Non-Fiction:
Where the Blind Horse Sings – Kathy Stevens
Lehi in the Desert – Hugh Nibley
An Approach to the Book of Abraham – Hugh Nibley
Children’s:
The Mouse and the Motorcycle – Beverly Cleary
Middle Grade:
Sarafina and the Black Cloak – Robert Beatty
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire – J.K. Rowling
The McVentures of Me, Morgan McFactoid – Mark Waxman
Third place goes to Where the River Ends, by Charles Martin (a poignant, deeply moving book). Second place goes to The Stones Cry Out, by Sibella Giorello (all her books are amazing!) And the winner for 2016 is… (drum roll) Greensleeves – by Eloise Jarvis McGraw. Read it, and you’ll know why I picked it as my favorite.
Carol Nicolas 