Thinker Awards is posted under the umbrella of Top Ten Tuesday, an original weekly meme created by The Broke and the Bookish and it’s yearly prompt of “favourite books of x year”.

The Thinker Awards:
Best in 2017 Fiction

Initial Thoughts:

Welcome to this year’s installment of the Thinker Awards, a yearly book awards ceremony hosted here on my blog showcasing the best of the best in fiction experienced during 2017. The esteemed panelists joining me in this year’s celebration are contributors and friends of mine from the YA community –

 2017 Thinker Award Panelists:

Sarah (at) The Book Traveler
J. M. (at) Book Freak Revelations
Fadwa (at) Word Wonders
Mishma (at) Chasing Faerytales
Val (at) The Innocent Smiley
Joey (at) Thoughts and Afterthoughts

The only rules I gave my panelists is that their choices had to have been experienced and/or read for the first time in 2017 (no re-reads), so winners not exclusive to 2017 releases only even if “best of 2017 fiction” is used.

But I’d like to hear from you! Which book would you give the award of “Best Overall Book of 2017“?

Happy scrolling!

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2017 Thinker Awards

(All choices link to their respective Goodreads)
  

Best Visuals
 standout imagery or world building

Sarah: Before She Ignites, Jodi Meadows
JM: Renegades, Marissa Meyer
Fadwa: The City of Brass, S. A. Chakraborty
Mishma: The Library of Fates, Aditi Khorana
Val: Strange the Dreamer, Laini Taylor
Joey: The Library At Mount Char, Scott Hawkins

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Best Voice
 compelling, authentic, or humorous narration

Sarah: A Semi-Definitive List of Worst Nightmares, Krystal Sutherland
JM: Starfish, Akemi Dawn Bowman
Fadwa: Love, Hate, and Other Filters, Samira Ahmed
Mishma: Royal Bastards, Andrew Schvarts
Val: Good Omens, Neil Gaiman & Terry Pratchett
Joey: Dear Martin, Nic Stone

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Best Fight Sequence
thrilling action scenes

Sarah: Godsgrave, Jay Kristoff
JM: Batman: Nightwalker, Marie Lu
Fadwa: The Epic Crush of Genie Lo, F. C. Yee
Mishma:  The Love Interest, Cale Dietrich
Val: A Conjuring of Light, Victoria Schwab
Joey: Nyxia, Scott Reintgen

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Best Adaptation
television or film feature

Sarah: Before I Fall, Lauren Oliver
JM: Everything, Everything, Nicola Yoon
Fadwa: N/A
Mishma: Call Me By Your Name, Andre Aciman and Armie Hammer
Val: Thirteen Reasons Why, Jay Asher
Joey: Hidden Figures, Margot Lee Shetterly

Best Cover Design
use of typography and images

Sarah: The Library of Fates, Aditi Khorana
JM: When Dimple Met Rishi, Sandhya Menon
Fadwa: Wild Beauty, Anna-Marie McLemore
Mishma: The Wish Granter, C. J. Redwine
Val: The Essex Serpent, Sarah Perry
Joey: Release, Patrick Ness

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Best Original Story
a refreshing concept

Sarah: Literally, Lucy Keating
JM: Here We Are Now, Jasmine Warga
Fadwa: Warcross, Marie Lu
Mishma: The Temptation of Adam, Dave Connis
Val: Life After Life, Kate Atkinson
Joey: The Love Interest, Cale Dietrich

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Best Surprise
an unexpected favourite

Sarah: A Semi-Definitive List of Worst Nightmares, Krystal Sutherland
JM: The Love Interest, Cale Dietrich
Fadwa: An Ember in the Ashes, Sabaa Tahir
Mishma: Blood Rose Rebellion, Rosalyn Eves
Val: The Loneliest Girl in the Universe, Lauren James
Joey: Long Way Down, Jason Reynolds

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Best Disappointment
an unfortunate let down

Sarah: The Crown’s Fate, Evelyn Skye
JM: Just Friends, Tiffany Pitcock
Fadwa: 27 Hours, Tristina Wright
Mishma: By Your Side, Kasie West
Val: Wicked Like a Wildfire, Lana Popovic
Joey: Warcross, Marie Lu

Best Book Title
the craft of wordsmiths

Sarah: Geekerella, Ashley Poston
JM: Flame in the Mist, Renee Ahdieh
Fadwa: Under a Painted Sky, Stacey Lee
Mishma: They Both Die at the End, Adam Silvera
Val: The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet, Becky Chambers
Joey: They Both Die at the End, Adam Silvera

Best Tearjerker
tissues? check.

Sarah: The Serpent King, Jeff Zentner
JM: The Names They Gave Us, Emery Lord
Fadwa: Written in the Stars, Aisha Saeed
Mishma: A Monster Calls, Patrick Ness
Val: Goodbye Days, Jeff Zentner
Joey: Goodbye Days, Jeff Zentner

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Best Book Hype
the excitement is real

Sarah: Caraval, Stephanie Garber
JM: Forest of a Thousand Lanterns, Julie C. Dao
Fadwa: A Conjuring of Light, Victoria Schwab
Mishma: The Hate U Give, Angie Thomas
Val: Caraval, Stepanie Garber
Joey: The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue, Mackenzi Lee

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Best Author on Social Media
protect them at all costs

Sarah: Victoria Schwab
JM: Becky Albertalli
Fadwa: Nic Stone
Mishma: Julie C. Dao
Val: Eric Smith
Joey: Nic Stone

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Best Debut Author & Book
welcome to the community

Sarah: The Hate U Give, Angie Thomas
JM: The Hate U Give, Angie Thomas
Fadwa: The Hate U Give, Angie Thomas
Mishma: When Dimple Met Rishi, Sandhya Menon
Val: Starfish, Akemi Dawn Bowman
Joey: Dear Martin, Nic Stone

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Best Book Community Moment
standout moment in 2017

Sarah: “…when Handbook for Mortals author Lani Sarem was #1 on the NYT bestsellers list for 23 hours but was pulled because of it’s shadiness.”
JM: “…the #BooksBindUs online event hosted by Sarah K. Vetter, comprising of multiple giveaways and blogger-positive posts — all funded/hosted by Sarah.”
Fadwa: “…making so many new friends I know I can lean on and share my bookish and non-bookish thoughts with.”
Mishma: “…all the love, support, and random fun that made 2017’s reality bearable.”
Val: “…when The Handbook for Mortal Souls or whatever tried to buy into the NYT bestseller list.”
Joey: “…my attendance at BEA/Book Con; being able to meet author and blogger voices in person was a surreal experience which I’m thankful for.”

Best Influencer of 2017
a community member who went above and beyond

Sarah: Francina Simone (at) FrancinaSimone
JM: Sarah K. Vetter (at) SKVetterWrites
Fadwa: Shenwei (at) TheShenners
Mishma: Cait (at) PaperFury
Val: N/A
Joey: CW (at) artfromafriend (formerly readthinkponder)

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Best Anthropomorphic or Animal Sidekick
supportive non-human allies

Sarah: Mr. Kindly, Godsgrave, Jay Kristoff
JM: Mr. Kindly, Godsgrave, Jay Kristoff
Fadwa: Katala, The Tiger’s Watch, Julia Ember
Mishma: N/A
Val: Bao, Edge of the Abyss, Emily Skrutskie
Joey: Naga, The Library at Mount Char, Scott Hawkins

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Best Mentor
actually a wizard

Sarah: The Man Without a Name, Waking Gods, Sylvain Neuvel
JM: Ace Anarchy, Renegades, Marissa Meyer
Fadwa: The Grandma, The Hollow Girl, Hillary Monahan
Mishma: Mr. Katz, You’re Welcome, Universe, Whitney Gardner
Val: N/A
Joey: Vicente, The Inexplicable Logic of My Life, Benjamin Alire Saenz

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Best Villain
*evil laugh*

Sarah: Osaron, A Conjuring of Light, Victoria Schwab
JM: Xifeng, Forest of A Thousand Lanterns, Julie C. Dao 
Fadwa: Osaron, A Conjuring of Light, Victoria Schwab
Mishma: Xifeng, Forest of A Thousand Lanterns, Julie C. Dao 
Val: Osaron, A Conjuring of Light, Victoria Schwab
Joey: Hat-Dog Killer, Game, Barry Lyga

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Best Friendship
those who would share their fries

Sarah: Delilah and Alucard, A Conjuring of Light, Victoria Schwab
JM: Diana and Alia, Wonder Woman: Warbringer, Leigh Bardugo
Fadwa: Taylor and Charlie, Queens of Geek, Jen Wilde
Mishma: Mateo and Lydia, They Both Die at the End, Adam Silvera
Val: Valka and Iskra, Among the Red Stars, Gwen C. Katz
Joey: Eliza, Max, and Emmy, Eliza and Her Monsters, Francesca Zappia

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Best Squad Goals
strike a pose

Sarah: The Queens, One Dark Throne, Kendare Blake
JM: Diana, Alia, Nim, and Theo, Wonder Woman: Warbringer, Leigh Bardugo
Fadwa: Sidekicks Squad, Not Your Sidekick, C.B. Lee
Mishma: Team Phoenix Riders, Warcross, Marie Lu
Val: Wayfarer Crew, The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet, Becky Chambers
Joey: Sharpshooters, Noteworthy, Riley Redgate

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Best Ship
would go down with the ship

Sarah: Rishi and Dimple, When Dimple Met Rishi, Sandhya Menon
JM: Rufus and Mateo, They Both Die at the End, Adam Silvera
Fadwa: Jay and Maria, Hold Me, Courtney Milan
Mishma: Mariko and Okami, Flame in the Mist, Renee Ahdieh
Val: Agnieszka and The Dragon, Uprooted, Naomi Novik
Joey: Citra and Rowan, Thunderhead, Neal Shusterman

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Best Supporting Character
contemporary, mystery, historical

Sarah: Sage, Geekerella, Ashley Poston
JM: Sawyer, Windfall, Jennifer E. Smith
Fadwa: Andy, Under a Painted Sky, Stacey Lee
Mishma:  Felicity, The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue, Mackenzi Lee
Val: Felicity, The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue, Mackenzi Lee
Joey:  Felicity, The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue, Mackenzi Lee

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Best Hero
contemporary, mystery, historical

Sarah: Starr Carter, The Hate U Give, Angie Thomas
JM: Starr Carter, The Hate U Give, Angie Thomas
Fadwa: Grace Glasser, How To Make a Wish Ashley Herring Blake
Mishma: Monty, The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue, Mackenzi Lee
Val: Monty, The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue, Mackenzi Lee
Joey: Carver Briggs, Goodbye Days, Jeff Zentner

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Best Supporting Character
science fiction/fantasy

Sarah: Alucard Emery, A Conjuring of Light, Victoria Schwab
JM: Alfred Pennyworth, Batman: Nightwalker, Marie Lu
Fadwa: Dara, The City of Brass, S. A. Chakraborty
Mishma: Thala, The Library of Fates, Aditi Khorana
Val: Tella, Caraval, Stephanie Garber
Joey: Steve, The Library at Mount Char, Scott Hawkins

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Best Hero
science fiction/fantasy

Sarah: Mia Corvere, Godsgrave, Jay Kristoff
JM: Diana Prince, Wonder Woman: Warbringer, Leigh Bardugo
Fadwa: Zahra, The Forbidden Wish, Jessica Khoury
Mishma: Bells Broussard, Not Your Villain, C. B. Lee
Val: Delilah Bard, A Conjuring of LIght, Victoria Schwab
Joey: Citra Terranova/Scythe Anastasia, Thunderhead, Neal Shusterman

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Best Graphic Novel/Manga

Sarah: Spinning, Tillie Walden
JM: Wires and Nerves, Marissa Meyer
Fadwa: N/A
Mishma: Pashmina, Nidhi Chanani
Val: Pashmina, Nidhi Chanani
Joey: Everyone’s a Aliebn When Ur A Aliebn Too, Jonny Sun

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Best Poetry

Sarah: Inside Out & Back Again
JM: Long Way Down, Jason Reynolds
Fadwa: The Princess Saves Herself in This One, Amanda Lovelace
Mishma: Milk and Honey, Rupi Kaur
Val: Long Way Down, Jason Reynolds
Joey: Long Way Down, Jason Reynolds

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Best Historical

Sarah: Sparks of Light, Janet B. Taylor
JM:  The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue, Mackenzi Lee
Fadwa: Under a Painted Sky, Stacey Lee
Mishma: The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue, Mackenzi Lee
Val: The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue, Mackenzi Lee
Joey: The Assassin’s Curse, Kevin Sands

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Best Contemporary

Sarah: The Hate U Give, Angie Thomas
JM: They Both Die at the End, Adam Silvera
Fadwa: When Michael Met Mina, Randa Abdel-Fatteh
Mishma: Eliza and Her Monsters, Francesca Zappia
Val: Starfish, Akemi Dawn Bowman
Joey: Noteworthy, Riley Redgate

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Best Science Fiction/Fantasy

Sarah: Tarnished City, Vic James
JM: Batman: Nightwalker, Marie Lu
Fadwa: The City of Brass, S. A. Chakraborty
Mishma: Library of Fates, Aditi Khorana
Val: Uprooted, Naomi Novik
Joey: Thunderhead, Neal Shusterman

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Best Overall

Sarah: The Hate U Give, Angie Thomas
JM: The Upside of Unrequited, Becky Albertalli
Fadwa: Wild Beauty, Anna-Marie McLemore
Mishma: When Dimple Met Rishi, Sandhya Menon
Val: Starfish, Akemi Dawn Bowman
Joey: The Library at Mount Char, Scott Hawkins

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Afterthoughts:

And that concludes the Thinker Awards 2017 Ceremony!

Were there any picks you’d up-vote as well? What’s your favourite overall book of 2017? If you decide to participate in your own awards ceremony, let me know!

Cheers,
Joey

connect: 
afterthoughtAn // twitter
anotherafterthought // goodreads
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