Hennepin Co. Library Releases 2012's Most-Read Books
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- The Hennepin County Library has released the top 25 books read by adults, teens and children – and there are consistent authors and genre favorites.
For adults, 24 of the top 25 adult titles checked out were fiction. The one non-fiction title in the Top 25 – for both 2011 and 2012 – was "Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption." Crime and mystery fiction by well-known writers – like John Sandford and Janet Evanovich – were clear favorites.
Not surprisingly, "The Hunger Games" by Suzanne Collins was the most checked-out teen book in 2011 and 2012. Collins' "Catching Fire" and "Mockingjay" held the No. 2 and No. 3 spot. Other novels, including "Divergent" by Veronica Roth and "The Book Thief" by Markus Zusak, round out the top five.
Jeff Kinney's "Dairy of a Wimpy Kid" dominated children's books, taking the top six children's spots in 2012. J.K. Rowling and Mary Pope Osborne fantasy books took up most of the remaining places in the list.
Check out the entire list:
TOP 25 ADULT BOOKS AT HCL IN 2012
1. Kill Shot: An American Assassin Thriller by Vince Flynn
2. Stolen Prey by John Sandford
3. Shock Wave by John Sandford
4. Explosive Eighteen: a Stephanie Plum Novel by Janet Evanovich
5. V Is for Vengeance by Sue Grafton
6. The Litigators by John Grisham
7. Fifty Shades of Grey by E.L. James
8. Private: #1 Suspect by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro
9. The Help by Kathryn Stockett
10. Lone Wolf by Jodi Picoult
11. Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn
12. State of Wonder by Ann Patchett
13. Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese
14. The Affair by Lee Child
15. Room by Emma Donoghue
16. Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival by Laura Hillenbrand
17. Love in a Nutshell by Janet Evanovich
18. Private Games by James Patterson and Mark Sullivan
19. Buried Prey by John Sandford
20. Northwest Angle by William Kent Krueger
21. Guilty Wives by James Patterson and David Ellis
22. Kill Alex Cross by James Patterson
23. Zero Day by David Baldacci
24. The Drop by Michael Connelly
25. The Best of Me by Nicholas Sparks
TOP 25 TEEN BOOKS AT HCL IN 2012
1. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
2. Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins
3. Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins
4. Divergent by Veronica Roth
5. The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
6. Matched by Ally Condie
7. Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs
8. Crossed by Ally Condie
9. The Maze Runner by James Dashner
10. I Am Number Four by Pittacus Lore
11. The Power of Six by Pittacus Lore
12. The Fault in Our Stars by John Green
13. Inheritance: or, The Vault of Souls by Christopher Paolini
14. The Death Cure by James Dashner
15. Insurgent by Veronica Roth
16. Uglies by Scott Westerfield
17. Twilight by Stephenie Meyer
18. The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie
19. The Scorch Trials by James Dashner
20. The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky
21. Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher
22. Breaking Dawn by Stephenie Meyer
23. Stormbreaker by Anthony Horowitz
24. Clockwork Prince by Cassandra Clare
25. Between the Lines by Jodi Picoult & Samantha Van Leer
TOP 25 CHILDREN'S BOOKS AT HCL IN 2012
1. Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days by Jeff Kinney
2. Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Greg Heffley's Journal by Jeff Kinney
3. Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Cabin Fever by Jeff Kinney
4. Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Ugly Truth by Jeff Kinney
5. Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Last Straw by Jeff Kinney
6. Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules by Jeff Kinney
7. The Lost Hero by Rick Riordan
8. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J. K. Rowling
9. The Son of Nepture by Rick Riordan
10. Wonderstruck by Brian Selznick
11. Eve of the Emperor Penguin by Mary Pope Osborne
12. Leprechaun in Late Winter by Mary Pope Osborne
13. A Goon Night for Ghosts by Mary Pope Osborne
14. Blizzard of the Blue Moon by Mary Pope Osborne
15. Summer of the Sea Serpent by Mary Pope Osborne
16. The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick
17. 11 Birthdays by Wendy Mass
18. Dragon of the Red Dawn by Mary Pope Osborne
19. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J. K. Rowling
20. Winter of the Ice Wizard by Mary Pope Osborne
21. A Ghost Tale for Christmas Time by Mary Pope Osborne
22. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J. K. Rowling
23. Dolphins at Daybreak by Mary Pope Osborne
24. Harry Potter and the Goblets of Fire by J. K. Rowling
25. The Throne of Fire by Rick Riordan
TOP 25 EASY (VERY YOUNG CHILDREN'S) BOOKS AT HCL IN 2012
1. Lego Star Wars: The Phantom Menace by Hannah Dolan
2. Curious George Goes to the Zoo by Cynthia Platt
3. Fancy Nancy and the Mean Girl by Jane O'Connor
4. Fancy Nancy and the Delectable Cupcakes by Jane O'Connor
5. I Can Be a Ballerina by Christy Webster
6. Biscuit and the Lost Teddy Bear by Alyssa Capucilli
7. Splendid Speller (a Fancy Nancy book) by Jane O'Connor
8. Beautiful Brides by Melissa Lagonegro
9. Barbie, a Fairy Secret by Christy Webster
10. Star Wars: The Adventures of Han Solo by Lindsay Kent
11. I Can Be a Horse Rider by Mary Man-Kong
12. Curious George and the Ice Cream Surprise by Monica Perez
13. Olivia Meets Olivia by Ellie O'Ryan
14. Clifford's Birthday Party by Norman Bridwell
15. The Berenstain Bears All Aboard by Jan and Mike Berenstain
16. Danger at the Dieselworks illustrated by Tommy Stubbs
17. Clifford the Firehouse Dog by Norman Bridwell
18. Happy Birthday, Princess by Jennifer Weinberg
19. I Broke My Trunk by Mo Willems
20. One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish by Dr. Seuss
21. Fancy Nancy and the Too-Loose Tooth by Jane O'Connor
22. Clifford Visits the Hospital by Norman Bridwell
23. Clifford Takes a Trip by Norman Bridwell
24. A Fairy Frost by Tennant Redbank
25. Avengers Assemble by Victoria Taylor
For more information on the list, click here.
