BOOK OF THE YEAR - 2012 - R. J. PALACIO

"WONDER" by R. J. Palacio

I know it's early in 2012 to call any book 'the book of the year', and yet I really don't think any other story is going to move and affect me as much as this one did. R. J. Palacio has written a book for young adults; this is also a book for adults. There are so many ways this story can touch the reader. Here is an interview with the author, she gives the background to how the story came into being and that is a story in itself.

Click on the title above and read the story description, then please buy the book (or borrow from the library or a friend) and when you've enjoyed the story, it would be wonderful if you would put a review on our website, please. This is a title that will be on our shelves in the bookshop and on my bookshelves at home. I will even buy a copy to loan out! It's a story I think everyone should read.

NATIONAL YEAR OF READING - 2012 AUSTRALIA'S BOOK CHOICE

Between November 2011 and January 2012, more than 16,200 readers voted online to choose eight titles, one for each state and territory, which would provide the basis for Australia's biggest book group for 2012. The winners were announced on February 14th at the National Library of Australia in Canberra. The books are:

Well Done Those Men by Barry Heard for Victoria

Jasper Jones By Graig Silvey for Western Australia

Wanting by Richard Flanagan for Tasmania

Time's Long Ruin by Stephen Orr for South Australia

TheWhite Earth by Andrew McGahan for Queensland

Listening to Country by Ros Moriarty for the Northern Territory

The Idea of Home by John Hughes for New South Wales

Smoke & Mirrors by Kel Robertson for the Australian Capital Territory

What a great list of books for any book club's list for 2012. If you decide to add these titles to your club's list please send us a review on all or any of them for our website.