BookGateway.com is pleased to announce its books of the year award, the Bookys, for books published in 2012!
The Booky is awarded annually by the editors of BookGateway.com, a book review website for reviewers and book bloggers founded in 2010 with the express goal of encouraging a lifestyle of continued learning through the love and practice of reading. The Booky awards recognize the best books published and reviewed at BookGateway.com during the preceding year. Each reviewer that submits at least 10 reviews during the calendar year along with each Genre Editor of BookGateway.com can nominate books for Booky award recognition. Final decisions are made by the Managing Editor of BookGateway.com, Scott Asher. All Booky award winners will be featured for a month starting in February at BookGateway.com.
In alphabetical order:
A Home in Drayton Valley by Kim Vogel Sawyer
Bethany House | October 2012
Nominated by The Golden Reviewer: “I thoroughly enjoyed the book. It will make you laugh, make you cry, you will experience the prejudice against the colored people, and you will pray that Tarsie finds the love and peace she so richly deserves.”
Against the Tide by Elizabeth Camden
Bethany House | September 2012
Nominated by Robin Gwaro: “[Camden] has created a strong female character in Lydia Pallas. There are few things that will turn me away from a book faster than a female character who withers in the face of adversity. Lydia faces adversity at every turn and refuses to back down from any challenge that Camden creates for her. From childhood through the end of the novel, Lydia has to overcome seemingly insurmountable odds in order to come out on top at the end.”
A Shot of Faith to the Head by Mitch Stokes
Thomas Nelson | April 2012
Nominated by Scott Asher: “Stokes takes one step then another in a devastating deconstruction of philosophical evidentialism (the idea that a belief must be supported by evidential facts to be rational), which atheists and philosophical non-believers try to use to show faith in God is irrational… Our faith is perfectly rational and the most logical of all worldviews. We just need to be reminded why.”
The Breath of Dawn by Kristen Heitzmann
Bethany House | November 2012
Nominated by ReneeK: “Wow, another amazing story by Kristen Heitzmann… This book is a reminder that Jesus never leaves or forsakes us. Thanks Kristen for inspiring and intriguing me.”
Casting Shadows by J. Kelley Anderson
World Castle Publishing | January 2012
Nominated by Matthew Scott: “Really, I just have to say that this story was truly a page-turner for me, and I loved every second of it. I can only hope that there will be more to come from Mr. Anderson about our unlikely hero and his bumbling foray into magic.”
Dog Stars By Peter Heller
Knopf & Random House Audio | August 2012
Nominated by Scott Asher: “Heller’s debut novel will haunt you as it did me. It is at once lyrical, poetic, revolting and wistful…An amazing debut novel.”
Explore Meteor Crater and Petrified Forest featuring Noah Justice
New Leaf Publishing | April 2012
Nominated by ReneeK: “Noah is fun, energetic and his enthusiastic is contagious. Noah makes the learning fun. The scenery makes you want to pack up your bags and head out to the parks. Your kids will absolutely love it. Mom and Dad will love it just as much!”
The Intercept by Dick Wolf
William Morrow | November 2012
Nominated by The Golden Reviewer: “WOW WOW WOW! This is the best nail-biting, page-turning, twisty suspense book I have ever read. It will literally take your breath away. The story will keep you glued to your chair with all the lights on and wondering just what will happen next.”
Princess Elizabeth’s Spy by Susan Elia MacNeal
Bantam | October 2012
Nominated by The Golden Reviewer: “Ms. MacNeal is an excellent writer of historical fiction. She perfectly captures the spirit of wartime Britain. I loved the book and you will too.”
When the Blue Shift Comes by Robert Silverberg and Alvaro Zinos-Amaro
“Zinos-Amaro deftly navigates the premise, handles the characters in ways that Silverberg may have been surprised to see (the narrator is a great example), and brings to a satisfactory conclusion this 30 year old idea… If you are looking for technical writing and literary style this book positively overflows with excellent examples.”