Congratulations 2007 Book Sense Book of the Year Winners!


 
WINNER:

Water For Elephants

By Sara Gruen
"For her latest novel, Sara Gruen has chosen a wonderfully captivating setting, the gritty and complex life of a 1930s traveling circus. She creates a balance of unforgettable characters and a compelling storyline that engages both imagination and emotion. This is a unique and enjoyable book that will stay with you for a long time." --Hilary Vonckx, Queen Anne Books, Seattle, WA

 

HONOR BOOKS:

  THE BRIEF HISTORY OF THE DEAD: A NOVEL
 By Kevin Brockmeier



  THE INHERITANCE OF LOSS
 By Kiran Desai

  THE ROAD
 By Cormac McCarthy



  SUITE FRANCAISE: A NOVEL
 By Irene Nemirovsky


WINNER:

I Feel Bad About My Neck: And Other Thoughts on Being a Woman

By Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner
"Levitt delves into topics as far-reaching as how and when sumo wrestlers cheat, why drug dealers often still live at home with their moms, and how Roe v. Wade is linked to the crime drop of the 1990s. Freakonomics challenges conventional wisdom and makes for fun reading." --Will Peters, Annie Bloom's Books, Portland, OR

 

HONOR BOOKS:

  THE LIFE AND TIMES OF THE THUNDERBOLT KID: A MEMOIR
 By Bill Bryson



  MAYFLOWER: A STORY OF COURAGE, COMMUNITY, AND WAR
 By Nathaniel Philbrick

  THUNDERSTRUCK
 By Erik Larson



  THE WORST HARD TIME: THE UNTOLD STORY OF THOSE WHO SURVIVED THE GREAT AMERICAN DUST BOWL
 By Timothy Egan


 
WINNER:

INKSPELL

By Cornelia Funke
"I wouldn't have thought it possible, but this sequel to Funke's Inkheart is even better. New and wonderful characters join our favorites from the first book, and the setting and action are more exciting and fantastic as well. This is an amazing book." -- Jan Warner-Poole, Storyteller Books, Vancouver, WA

 

HONOR BOOKS:

  A DOG'S LIFE
 By Ann Matthews Martin



  ELDEST
 By Christopher Paolini

  FLUSH
 By Carl Hiaasen



  THE PENDERWICKS
 By Jeanne Birdsall


 
WINNER:

OWEN & MZEE: The True Story of a Remarkable Friendship

By Isabella Hatkoff, and Dr. Paul Kahumbu, photos by Peter Greste
"Zen for preschoolers? It's the most natural thing in the world with Zen Shorts. Stillwater, a giant panda, makes friends with three children in his new neighborhood, as he charms (and teaches) them with his stories. Muth's gentle watercolors are breathtaking, and adults will find much to think about, too." --Rosemary Pugliese, Quail Ridge Books, Raleigh, NC

 

HONOR BOOKS:

 FANCY NANCY
  By Jane O'Connor, Illustrated by Robin Preiss Glasser



 FLOTSAM
  By David Wiesner

  LIBRARY LION
  By Michelle Knudsen, Illustrated by Kevin Hawkes



  PIRATEOLOGY: THE PIRATE HUNTER'S COMPANION
  By Captain William Lubber