2011 is almost over, so let's take a look forward so you can win some of the best books of 2011!

As y'all saw, I posted the Squeakers' Best of 2011 list yesterday. Well do you want to win some of those books? Do ya? Do ya?! Well, now you can!

This contest is going to focus on some of the 2012 releases I'm most excited about. As is tradition, it's a GUESS THE COVER contest! I tried to make them as hard as I could, so brace yourselves! Some of these I've talked about on Squeaky Books. Some I haven't. Some are easier then others. Some I'm hoping are so hard that NO ONE will guess them. Muahahaha! I'm so evil(even though I've never succeeded)

CONTEST DETAILS

• Below are cover snippets of 16 different YA 2012 releases
• The more you guess correctly, the more entries you get!
• Fill out the form to enter
• You must name at least ONE cover correctly in order to be entered
• Winner(s) will be randomly chosen
• Winner(s) will get to choose their prize(s) from the Squeakers' Best of 2011 list
• If 0-74 people enter, the winner will get to choose 1 book from the list, if 75-149 people enter the winner will get 2 books, if 150-200 people enter a second winner will be added who gets to choose one book from the list.
• INTERNATIONAL (To anywhere TBD ships)
• You must be 13 years old or older
• Ends 12-31-11 9:59pm MST
• Winner announced 1-2-12

I no longer require people to be followers to enter my contests (especially since GFC is going away soon), but there is a question about how/if you follow. Don't stress about your answer. I'm just curious.

I think that covers(ha!) everything. Ready to see the covers? Remember, these are all 2012 releases:

Tada! It's that time of year again! The voting this year wasn't quite as sucessful as last year. Only had 112 people vote (compared to 139). Not sure why... I supposedly have more followers. Oh well. The BIGGER problem was that even though there were over 400 votes, there were 160 books nominated. That's crazy! Apparently y'all were pretty split on which books were the best. Therefore, the voting this year was REALLY close. If you'd like to see last year's list, CLICK HERE. And now on to this year's list! Oh and before you comment you might want to look at this (and just 'cause it's funny).

Also I'll mention that these books will feature prominently in an upcoming contest (if you've been following the blog since last year you might know what that contest is). I'd advise you start brushing up on your 2012 releases...

And now the list!

#14 (With 4 votes each) 
Half-Blood by Jennifer Armentrout ( Goodreads | Amazon )
The Girl of Fire and Thorns by Rae Carson ( Goodreads | Amazon )
Destined by P.C. Cast ( Goodreads | Amazon )
The Gray Wolf Throne by Cinda Williams Chima ( Goodreads | Amazon )
City of Fallen Angels by Cassandra Clare ( Goodreads | Amazon )
The Iron Queen by Julie Kagawa ( Goodreads | Amazon )
A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness ( Goodreads | Amazon )
Inheritance by Christopher Paolini ( Goodreads | Amazon )
The Near Witch by Victoria Schwab ( Goodreads | Amazon )

#13 (With 5 votes each)
Uncommon Criminals by Ally Carter ( Goodreads | Amazon | My Review )
Entwined by Heather Dixon ( Goodreads | Amazon | My Review )
The Power of Six by Pittacus Lore ( Goodreads | Amazon )
Hourglass by Myra McEntire ( Goodreads | Amazon | My Review)
Supernaturally by Kiersten White ( Goodreads | Amazon | My Review)

#12 (With 6 votes each)
Forever by Maggie Stiefvater ( Goodreads | Amazon )
The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater ( Goodreads | Amazon | My Review )
Ashes, Ashes by Jo Treggiari ( Goodreads | Amazon | My Review )

#11 (With 7 votes each)
The Iron Knight by Julie Kagawa ( Goodreads | Amazon )
Son of Neptune by Rick Riordan ( Goodreads | Amazon )

#10 (With 8 votes each)
Enclave by Ann Aguirre ( Goodreads | Amazon | My Review )
Clockwork Prince by Cassandra Clare ( Goodreads | Amazon )
Where She Went by Gayle Foreman ( Goodreads | Amazon )
The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin ( Goodreads | Amazon )

#9 (With 9 votes)
Bloodlines by Richelle Mead ( Goodreads | Amazon )

My Thoughts: I've never had any desire to read any of Mead's books. But I will admit this one has a pretty cover.

#8 (With 10 votes)
Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins ( Goodreads | Amazon )

My Thoughts: Anna and the French Kiss was definitely not my kind of book, so I've decided not to read this one. But I'm not surprised at all to see it on this list. Stephanie's writing is undeniably fun and cute.

#7 (With 11 votes)
Crossed by Ally Condie ( Goodreads | Amazon | My Review)

My Thoughts: In case it isn't obvious, I adore this book. SOOOO happy it made it on the list. It totally deserves to.

#6 (With 13 votes)
Wither by Lauren DeStefano ( Goodreads | Amazon | My Review)

My Thoughts: I really enjoyed this book, so I'm glad it's up here. It's not one of my top 10 of 2011, but it's definitely an honorable mention for me.

#5 (With 14 votes)
Across the Universe by Beth Revis ( Goodreads | Amazon | My Review)

My Thoughts: People, if you thought THIS one was good, wait for the sequel. (Sorry to be so mean, but I had to say it.)

#4 (With 15 votes)
The Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor ( Goodreads | Amazon )

My Thoughts: Um... have you been looking at my blog AT ALL recently? I clearly ADORE this book. So happy at least 15 of you do as well! I just realized that I still haven't posted my review of this! Bad, Enna Isilee! Bad!

#3 (With 16 votes)
Delirium by Lauren Oliver ( Goodreads | Amazon | My Review)

My Thoughts: Thought this was a great book. Not one of my top of 2011, but definitely one people should read if they like dystopia/romance.

#2 (With 19 votes)
Blood Red Road by Moira Young ( Goodreads | Amazon | My Review)

My Thoughts: Yes, yes, a thousand times yes. SOOOOO happy this made 2nd place. Would have preferred #1, but I'll take what I can get. If you haven't seen me gush over this book, please look here and here. I'll give you one guess as to what my favorite book of the year is.

#1 (With 35 votes)
Divergent by Veronica Roth (Goodreads | Amazon | My Review)

My Thoughts: What an awesome book. It has an amazing protagonist, an incredibly detailed and interesting world, and a kick-butt story that can appeal to all kinds of readers. I recommended this one to my aunt and she loved it. It's one that almost anyone can enjoy.

Well? What do we think? Is it close to what you have on your personal top books of 2011 list? I'll be posting my top 11 in '11 list at the very end of the year. I'm surprised by how many I haven't read on this one, but unlike last year there aren't any that I haven't heard of. And all of the top 9 books I've either read, or am perfectly fine with never reading. All in all, a purty interesting year for books.

Karou won! That means I have some winners to announce, but first a different announcement:


PLEEEEASE tell your friends to nominate. Some of the numbers are SO CLOSE and I'm looking to tip the scales. I'll leave it open until 11:59mst on 12-19-11. CLICK HERE TO NOMINATE! I'd like at least 20 more people to vote.

Now winners. I've already contacted my twitter winner, and it looks like we didn't have enough people for the prize pack. But don't worry, it'll be back next round.

But my commenter winner I can (and will) announce now! You remember how I said I'd do this? I'm going to announce three names (with links to your blogger profile) and the first person to e-mail me their address gets it! Squeakybooks@yahoo.com Here we go...


Holly was the first to e-mail me! Congrats!

It's time, it's time! It's finally time! Remember how I told you I was going to be advocating Karou in the Tournament of Heroines? Well she's fighting Mara from The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer right now!

PLEASE CLICK HERE and go vote. I'd like it if you voted for Karou (I know I certainly think she deserves to win) but if you think Mara is the better heroine, vote for her!


Here's how! I'm giving away TWO copies if Karou wins! It's OPEN INTERNATIONAL (to anywhere TBD ships)! You can enter to win both different ways:

Book #1 will be given away to someone who votes for Karou and leaves a comment. Leave a comment at the voting post that says "No one defeats the daughter of smoke and bone!" Your comment must contain that EXACT PHRASE to be entered into the contest. Be sure to add a little something extra too, but above all remember to BE NICE!

Book #2 will be given away to someone who tweets any and all (tweet as much as you'd like!) of the following tweets:

• I voted for Karou in the #HeroineTourney! Vote #TeamKarou and win a copy of DAUGHTER OF SMOKE & BONE by @LainiTaylor! http://bit.ly/u2axXu
• No one defeats the daughter of smoke and bone! Vote #TeamKarou & enter to win a copy of The book! http://bit.ly/sSX990 #HeroineTourney
• In fact, you can tweet anything that has the hashtags #TeamKarou and #HeroineTourney so long as you link to either this post or the voting post(and are nice. Mara-bashing tweeters will be disqualified! Be logical, not mean.)! You can @Enna_Isilee or @LainiTaylor if you'd like, but that's not required
• I'll DOUBLE your entries if you change your twitter icon to this image. 

But wait! There's more! I'll add an extra prize of a mystery prize pack of books (good ones!) to anyone who blogs about voting for Team Karou! Leave a link in the comments!

Remember, I'll give away all 3 prizes if Karou wins, so spread the word! I'll give away 1 of them no matter what, but I won't tell you which, so participate in all! I'll give away the prize pack only if at least 4 blogs post, otherwise I'll save it for next round ('cause we'll win!). I'll be contacting the twitter winner via twitter, but since I'm not requesting that you put your e-mail in your comment (in fact, please don't!) what I'm going to do is list three names on my blog on Saturday morning, the first person to e-mail me gets it! Understand? I'll be doing this EVERY TIME Karou competes, so let's keep her winning!

You only have 24 hours starting now! When this timer runs out, the contest and voting ENDS!

To whom it may concern: this is in case anyone is offended by what I wrote in the "Why you should vote for Karou instead of Mara" section. Isn't the whole point of that book wondering whether or not Mara is sane? I was not trying to be rude or offensive at all. But the section is "Why should you vote for Karou instead of Mara" and I feel like I can't be honest to either character unless I say what I've said. It's just my opinion, you don't have to agree. But please know that I mean no offense.

I'm today's hunt stop for the 2011 YA Story Scavenger Hunt!

Follow the hunt every day during the month of December! Answer the daily trivia questions from MG and YA books published during 2011 to be entered into the YA book giveaway.

Today's question is from Wither by Lauren DeStefano.


Remember to fill out your answer in the form at Most Important Letter here!