As an elementary school teacher, I spend a lot of my free time reading books that I can use with my students. All of that reading often limits the amount of time I have for television shows or comic books. When Chris suggested the team each have a post sharing their favorites from 2012, though, I was eager to share the things I’ve loved this year.
Best Novels Of 2012
Most of what I read is either for upper elementary or early teens. I did manage to sneak in a few that were targeted at adults or were books I think many adults would enjoy!
1. Let’s Pretend This Never Happened by Jenny Lawson. This book is completely laugh out loud funny, and not my usual genre. She calls it a “mostly true memoir”, as she describes many of the horrifyingly embarrassing moments in her life. If you think your life is crazy, or wonder how you can maintain your sense of humor through it all, you need to read this book.
2. Redshirts by John Scalzi. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Funny, and yet it still had some thought provoking and emotional moments. Great book for fans of science fiction, especially if you have any Star Trek background.
3. Seraphina by Rachel Hartman. This book is marketed for young adults, but the unique take on dragons would appeal to fantasy readers of any age. Hartman writes with beautiful language, but there is still enough action to keep the story moving.
4. Outpost by Ann Aguirre. I reviewed Outpost (and the first book, Enclave) for Fandom Post earlier in the year. I loved the characters and their struggles as they try to survive in a post-apocalyptic world. This is a powerful story about love, loyalty, and making your own family. A story about courage and cowardice. Deuce is a heroine I feel lives up to my “Buffy” standards… and that is some powerful praise.
5. Necromancing the Stone by Lish McBride. While this is the second book in a series, it is well worth your time to read them both. The snarky humor and urban fantasy style reminded me of the Dresden Files series.
Best Movies Of 2012
1. The Hobbit: I had just finished discussing this with my fifth grade reading group, trying to cram it in before the movie came out. While there were a few changes I wasn’t excited about, especially at the end, the overall story and visuals of the movie were amazing. Honestly, I would have considered it worth the price of admission just for the Riddles in the Dark segment. Gollum’s portrayal is perfect. I can’t wait to talk to my students about the movie after the holiday break!
2. The Avengers: There aren’t many movies I am eager to see multiple times in the theater, but this one was of them. I loved the humor, the action, and the interactions between the diverse members of the team. Black Widow kicking her heels off before she kicked some butt made me smile.
3. Brave: I teared up so many times while watching this movie. The animation was fabulous, and the music gave me chills. I’m a sucker for movies where a girl stands up for herself, and this one had the added bonus of having a mother who was still alive and not evil. Wonderful.
4. The Dark Knight Rises: Catwoman. Yes, I loved Catwoman. Wouldn’t it be awesome if we had a decent Catwoman movie? Okay, so this wasn’t a Catwoman movie, but I still liked it. I may be in the minority here, but I loved the ending, too.
5. The Hunger Games: While there were some elements from the book that were lacking in the movie adaptation, I thought the visual spectacle of the Capital was beautifully portrayed. Having another powerful heroine do so well at the box office hopefully will lead to more movies with strong leading ladies.
Best Comic Books Of 2012
I started off the year strong, but ended up having trouble keeping up with all the comics I intended to read. I think I’ll bump down my kidlit reading goal in 2013 so I can catch up with the stories I’m coming to love.
1. Batgirl – As one of the very few comics I generally read the month it comes out, Batgirl ranks right at the top of my list. I love Gail Simone’s story telling style, and the recent events with the Joker show that she isn’t afraid to veer into the truly creepy. The art jumps out at me, and showcases Barbara’s joys and fears.
2. Angel and Faith – While I have fallen behind on this one, I have loved the story overall. My favorite was the Family Reunion arc, which brought Willow and Connor into the story. I still need to read the separate Willow and Spike minis, but I’m looking forward to reading the whole story once it is complete.
3. Alabaster: Wolves – A complete departure from what I had been used to with the hero style comics, Alabaster: Wolves was dark and eerie. I adore the art style and the tone of the dialogue and story.
4. Cowboy – “Justice ain’t got no age”, but this graphic novel is great for all ages! Cowboy has a western flair, with a fabulous sense of humor.
5. Princeless: Save Yourself. I loved this volume of comics. Princeless will appeal to all ages, with a great combination of action, adventure, and wit.
