Lexy's Favorite Books of 2011

• Maniac Magee by Jerry Spinelli -- I read this for Rhys's bookclub, which I lead.  It's one of the few of the more recent Newbery award winners that I'd never read, and boy was I missing out!  What a perfect little story this was.
• Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand -- I had no idea how strongly I'd be drawn into the tale of Louie Zamperini, Olympic runner and WWII POW survivor. This was far and away the best biography I've ever read.  I also read Hillenbrand's Seabiscuit, which is a runner up for my top ten list.
• Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte -- I read this with Avery, her best friend, and her friend's mom before seeing the newest version of Jane Eyre at the movie theater.  I completely and totally loved this book, and can't believe I hadn't read it sooner!  (Loved the movie too!)
• To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee -- Avery's bookclub read this, and I reread with them for the first time since high school.  I worried that it wouldn't live up to my memory of the book.  I needn't have worried!  It is just as beautiful and wonderful a book as it was the first time I read it.  I doubt I'll be waiting as long to pick it up again!
• The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood -- This is another classic that I somehow missed in high school.  I'm not usually a big fan of sci fi, but I loved this!  It was such an interesting look at society and women in culture.  
• Rocket Boys by Homer Hickam -- This was another of Avery's book club books.  The movie October Sky was based on this memoir of Homer Hickam, a young man growing up in West Virginia during the early years of the space program. The movie is good, but it can't hold a candle to this inspirational book.
• The Underland Chronicles by Suzanne Collins -- I'm cheating a little here, because instead of choosing just one, I'm listing the whole series.  We got these on audio at the recommendation of a friend and author, and we all loved them!  
• Trumpet of the Swan by E.B. White -- Somehow I missed out on ever reading this E.B. White classic until this year.  We listened to this on audio, read by the author.  It is a wonderful tale in its own right but made even better by the author's fantastic reading.  (We will forever say "water" now with a New York accent!  Wuh-der.)
• Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell -- I'd heard a lot about this book since it was released, and honestly I was a bit turned off by it.  But, instead of being a how-to book on becoming an uber success, it really expressed how rare and fantastic it is when the stars align just right to produce a prodigy.  Very interesting.
• Boy Who Harnessed the Wind by William Kamkwamba -- The inspiring true story of a boy growing up in Malawi who managed to transform a life with so few options into a promising future for him and his community.  If nothing else, it will give you a huge dose of perspective.