Bookish Awards 2017

This is based off of the Bookish Academy Awards Tag by BOOKadoodles. She changed the categories of the Oscars to fit books, but since I don’t really watch the Oscars I just decided to do this as a sort of “Best of 2017” run through. (I did delete a few of the more movie related questions, just so you know). 

Categories/Questions: 

Best Male Protagonist: 

I like Sean Kendrick from “The Scorpio Races” by Maggie Stiefvater. He is loyal and steadfast, and while some think that boring, I really appreciate those traits, especially in this day and age of the brooding, “misunderstood” (but oftentimes quite manipulating and controlling) YA male “heroes”. 

Best Female Protagonist:

I really liked Anna from “A Countess Below Stairs” by Eva Ibbotson. She didn’t let life get her down, but took everything in her stride and fought for what she believed in in any way she could and truly cared for everyone in her life. 

Best Plot Twist: 

This goes to the “Six of Crows” duology by Leigh Bardugo. There is practically a plot twist on every page, and both books kept me on the edge of my seat almost the entire time. 

Best Book Cover: 

I feel like this also has to go to “Six of Crows” and “Crooked Kingdom” by Leigh Bardugo. These covers are amazing! 

Best Male and Female Sidekick: 

The entire cast in “On the Jellicoe Road” by Melina Marchetta. I loved every one of them, and the friendship groups make for such an interesting and endearing cast of characters, you couldn’t help but root for every single one of them. 

Most Unique Plot/World

I feel like I haven’t read anything where the world really blew my mind. But “This Savage Song” by Victoria Schwab did have an interesting premise of monsters being born every time someone did something bad, like stealing or hurting someone else. 

A writer you discovered for the first time

Ryan Graudin. I read “Wolf by Wolf” and it was a blast! I have the sequel ready to go on my shelf and I don’t know why I haven’t gotten around to it yet. 

Best Action in a Book

“Illuminae” by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff. Set in space there is a lot of action in this mixed media novel, but it also comes with a lot of great relationships and an interesting plot. 

Best Novella or short Book

“The Night” by Elie Wiesel. Detailing the author’s own experiences in a Nazi concentration camp this short book packs a heavy punch!

Best Stand-Alone:

“The Scorpio Races” by Maggie Stiefvater. This follows Puck (or Kate) who decides to enter the annual races on the island where she lives in order to win the grand prize and stop her brother from leaving the family to work on the mainland. She races on her own horse, while the rest of the horses in the race are the fierce water horses that visit the island every year. This book had it all; suspense, friendship, family relationships, a rich backstory of traditions and a little bit of love. 

Best Historical Fiction or Non-Fiction

“1491: New Revelations of the Americas Before Columbus” by Charles C. Mann. There was a ton of new information in here, and while it was a tiny bit confusing sometimes, Mann really did a great job of keeping it all interesting and understandable. 

I have tried not to repeat too many books, but this has been sort of a “meh” reading year for me, so I felt like there wasn’t too much to choose from. And honestly I feel like I could have picked the “Six of Crows” duology for just about every category, so the fact that it’s only on here twice is rather astounding. 

What are your winners of the year?