2005 PNBA Book Award Winners

Booksellers in the Pacific Northwest selected these books as the best in 2005. I present them here because of their award-winning status. All these authors live and write in the Pacific Northwest, though their subject matter may not involve the Northwest. Comments below are those of the PNBA Awards Committee. All these books are available now at northwest-books.com.

Ordinary Wolves by Seth Kantner

Each year as booksellers, we hope that a novel like Ordinary Wolves will come along, a story crackling with truth about places both foreign and familiar. Native Alaskan Seth Kantner has written a vivid and stirring coming of age story about a white boy raised with Eskimos in the harsh Alaskan tundra. when he tries to reconcile his upbringing with the exit ramps and Taco Bells of the modern world, heâ??s drawn back to the North.

Songs of the Gorilla Nation: My Journey Through Autism, by Dawn Prince Hughes

A brave book by a brave woman, Songs of the Gorilla Nation is Dawn Prince-Hughesâ?? memoir about growing up with Aspergerâ??s Syndrome, isolated and alone, until she finds a family of gorillas that help her discover her humanity by allowing her to become part of their lives. In a world of rules and norms, Songs of the Gorilla Nation reminds us to breathe, smell, and taste.

The Childrenâ??s Blizzard by David Laskin

In The Childrenâ??s Blizzard, David Laskin has written a gripping chronicle of one of the most horrific storms ever to pass through the United States. In 1888, a monstrous blizzard swept down across the prairies, taking everyone in its wake by surprise. the next morning more than 500 people were dead, many of them schoolchildren. With the storm as his focus, Laskin traces the haunting stories of five families and creates intimate portraits of their lives.

Ella the Elegant Elephant by Carmela & Steven D'Amico

We like everything about Ella the Elegant Elephant! Authors Carmela Dâ??Amico and Steven Dâ??Amico have created an excellent world of elephants with exquisite illustrations and exuberant dialogue and action. But mostly itâ??s Ella who enthralls us - by being true to herself, she teaches her fellow pachyderms that itâ??s all right to be different and unique as long as you are kind.

Broken for You by Stephanie Kallos

Set in Seattle, Broken for You is a charming story about human connection and the healing power of surrogate families. First-time novelist Stephanie Kallos has written a beautiful novel about two very different and eccentric women - 42 years apart in age - who, when dealing with broken hearts and broken promises, manage to make something strong and good out of the bits and pieces of their lives.

Honey, Baby, Sweetheart by Deb Caletti

Deb Caletti has captured the essence of what it means to be young and in love. and old and in love. Ruby has never been a reckless girl, but in one fearless moment she pretends to be someone different and her life is forever changed after that. Honey, Baby, Sweetheart is a wonderful young adult book about love and loss and living through it.

All these books are available now at northwest-books.com.

Northwest Bestsellers, week ending Jan. 23, 2005

The Pacific Northwest Independent Bestseller List based on reporting from the independent booksellers of the Pacific Northwest Booksellers Association and Book Sense. Most of these books arenâ??t books from the Pacific Northwest, but are books that are currently selling well in the Pacific Northwest. Week ending Sunday, January 23, 2005.

Find the best books from and about the Pacific Northwest at northwest-books.com.

HARDCOVER FICTION

1. The Broker, John Grisham
2. The Da Vinci Code, Dan Brown
3. Gilead, Marilynne Robinson
4. We Are All Fine Here, Mary Guterson
5. Chainfire, Terry Goodkind
6. Kafka on the Shore, Haruki Murakami
7. Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell, Susanna Clarke
8. State of Fear, Michael Crichton
9. The Memory of Running, Ron McLarty
10. The Da Vinci Code (Illustrated Ed.), Dan Brown


HARDCOVER NONFICTION

1. Collapse, Jared Diamond
2. Blink, Malcolm Gladwell
3. America (The Book), Jon Stewart and The Daily Show Staff
4. Eats, Shoots & Leaves, Lynne Truss
5. Animals in Translation, Temple Grandin
6. Chronicles, Bob Dylan
7. God's Politics, Jim Wallis
8. He's Just Not That Into You,Greg Behrendt, Liz Tuccillo
9. The South Beach Diet, Arthur Agatston, M.D.
10. French Women Don't Get Fat, Mireille Guiliano

MASS MARKET

1. Angels & Demons, Dan Brown
2. The Last Juror, John Grisham
3. The Cat Who Talked Turkey, Lilian Jackson Braun
4. The Sinister Pig, Tony Hillerman
5. Death in a Strange Country, Donna Leon
6. Deception Point, Dan Brown
7. The Second Chair, John Lescroart
8. Trojan Odyssey, Clive Cussler
9. Pompeii, Robert Harris
10. The Bookman's Promise, John Dunning

CHILDREN'S FICTION AND ILLUSTRATED

1. The Wide Window (A Series of Unfortunate Events #3), Lemony Snicket
2. The Miserable Mill (A Series of Unfortunate Events #4), Lemony Snicket
3. Goodnight Moon, Margaret Wise Brown, Clement Hurd (Illus.)
4. The Grim Grotto (A Series of Unfortunate Events #11), Lemony Snicket
5. Because of Winn-Dixie, Kate DiCamillo
6. Land of Elyon Book 1: The Dark Hills Divide, Patrick Carman (Buy The Dark Hills Divide now from northwest-books.com)
7. The Ersatz Elevator (A Series of Unfortunate Events #6), Lemony Snicket
8. The Slippery Slope (A Series of Unfortunate Events #10), Lemony Snicket
9. Dragon Rider, Cornelia Funke
10. The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, Ann Brashares

Browse through the latest books from the Pacific Northwest at northwest-books.com.

Northwest Bestsellers, week ending Jan. 16, 2005

The Pacific Northwest Independent Bestseller List, as brought to you by Book Sense and PNBA, for the week ended Sunday, January 16, 2005. Based on reporting from the independent booksellers of the Pacific Northwest Booksellers Association and Book Sense. Most of these books aren't from the Pacific Northwest but are what's selling in now in the region.

Find the latest books from and about the Pacific Northwest at northwest-books.com.

HARDCOVER FICTION

1. The Broker, John Grisham
2. The Da Vinci Code, Dan Brown
3. Chainfire, Terry Goodkind
4. Gilead, Marilynne Robinson
5. State of Fear, Michael Crichton
6. The Sunday Philosophy Club, Alexander McCall Smith
7. The Five People You Meet in Heaven, Mitch Albom
8. By Order of the President, W.E.B. Griffin
9. Night Fall, Nelson DeMille
10. The Plot Against America, Philip Roth

HARDCOVER NONFICTION

1. Collapse, Jared Diamond
2. Blink, Malcolm Gladwell
3. America (The Book), Jon Stewart and The Daily Show Staff
4. Chronicles, Bob Dylan
5. The South Beach Diet, Arthur Agatston, M.D.
6. Animals in Translation, Temple Grandin, Catherine Johnson
7. He's Just Not That Into You, Greg Behrendt, Liz Tuccillo
8. French Women Don't Get Fat, Mireille Guiliano
9. Confessions of an Economic Hit Man, John Perkins
10. Witness, Amber Frey

MASS MARKET

1. Angels & Demons, Dan Brown
2. The Last Juror, John Grisham
3. The Cat Who Talked Turkey, Lilian Jackson Braun
4. The Sinister Pig, Tony Hillerman
5. Deception Point, Dan Brown
6. Official Scrabble Players Dictionary, Merriam-Webster (Eds.)
7. A Question of Blood: An Inspector Rebus Novel, Ian Rankin
8. Digital Fortress, Dan Brown
9. The Second Chair, John Lescroart
10. 3rd Degree, James Patterson

CHILDREN'S FICTION AND ILLUSTRATED

1. The Wide Window (A Series of Unfortunate Events #3), Lemony Snicket
2. The Austere Academy (A Series of Unfortunate Events #5), Lemony Snicket
3. The Second Summer of the Sisterhood, Ann Brashares
4. Life of Pi (Student Edition ), Yann Martel
5. Goodnight Moon, Margaret Wise Brown, Clement Hurd (Illus.)
6. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, J.K. Rowling
7. Peter and the Starcatchers, Dave Barry, Ridley Pearson
8. The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, Ann Brashares
9. Land of Elyon Book 1: The Dark Hills Divide, Patrick Carman
10. Because of Winn-Dixie, Kate DiCamillo

Find the latest books from and about the Pacific Northwest at northwest-books.com.

Northwest Bestsellers, week ending Jan. 9, 2005

The Pacific Northwest Independent Bestseller List, as brought to you by Book Sense and PNBA, for the week ended Sunday, January 9, 2005. Based on reporting from the independent booksellers of the Pacific Northwest Booksellers Association and Book Sense. Most of these tooks are not from the Pacific Northwest, but represent what readers in the NW are reading. Remember, however, you can find the latest books from and about the Pacific Northwest at northwest-books.com.

HARDCOVER FICTION

1. Chainfire, Terry Goodkind
2. The Five People You Meet in Heaven, Mitch Albom
3. Gilead, Marilynne Robinson
4. Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell, Susanna Clarke
5. Runaway, Alice Munro
6. State of Fear, Michael Crichton
7. The Final Solution, Michael Chabon
8. The Plot Against America, Philip Roth
9. Skeleton Man, Tony Hillerman
10. The Da Vinci Code (Illustrated Ed.), Dan Brown

HARDCOVER NONFICTION

1. Collapse, Jared Diamond
2. He's Just Not That Into You, Greg Behrendt, Liz Tuccillo
3. Eats, Shoots & Leaves, Lynne Truss
4. The South Beach Diet, Arthur Agatston, M.D.
5. Chronicles, Bob Dylan
6. Confessions of an Economic Hit Man, John Perkins
7. The Little Book of Snowflakes, Kenneth Libbrecht
8. French Women Don't Get Fat, Mireille Guiliano
9. What's the Matter With Kansas?, Thomas Frank
10. When Will Jesus Bring the Pork Chops?, George Carlin

MASS MARKET

1. Angels & Demons, Dan Brown
2. The Sinister Pig, Tony Hillerman
3. The Last Juror, John Grisham
4. Deception Point, Dan Brown
5. Death in a Strange Country, Donna Leon
6. The Ultimate Weight Solution Food Guide, Dr. Phillip C. McGraw
7. Official Scrabble Players Dictionary, Merriam-Webster (Eds.)
8. Dragon's Kin: A New Novel of Pern, Anne McCaffrey, Todd McCaffrey
9. Cadillac Beach, Tim Dorsey
10. The Complete Book of Food Counts - 6th Edition, Corinne T. Netzer

CHILDREN'S (FICTION AND ILLUSTRATED)

1. The Bad Beginning (A Series of Unfortunate Events #1), Lemony Snicket
2. The Reptile Room (A Series of Unfortunate Events #2), Lemony Snicket
3. Goodnight Moon, Margaret Wise Brown, Clement Hurd (Illus.)
4. The Wide Window (A Series of Unfortunate Events #3), Lemony Snicket
5. The Grim Grotto (A Series of Unfortunate Events #11), Lemony Snicket
6. The Second Summer of the Sisterhood, Ann Brashares
7. The Ersatz Elevator (A Series of Unfortunate Events #6), Lemony Snicket
8. Land of Elyon Book 1: The Dark Hills Divide, Patrick Carman (NW author - buy the book HERE)
9. Dragonology, Ernest Drake, Helen Ward (Illus.), Douglas Carrel (Illus.)
10. The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, Ann Brashares

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Browse through a great collection of books from the Pacific Northwest at northwest-books.com.

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Four Great New Books

Best Places Northwest
By Giselle Smith
While other guides give travelers choices, Best Places distinguishes itself by providing readers with the absolute best choices and stands by its guides with a money-back guarantee. This new and updated edition of Best Places Northwest covers the Pacific Northwest from Whistler in British Columbia to Spokane to Oregon's Gold Beach and profiles the most exciting romantic getaways, weekend retreats, family vacations, and the best places to dine, stay, and play throughout the region. Read More

Neighbor Power : Building Community the Seattle Way
By Jim Diers
Building on the lessons of early labor leaders, civil rights volunteers, and political activists, Jim Diers has developed his own models and successful strategies for community development. Neighbor Power chronicles his involvement with Seattleâ??s communities. This book not only gives hope that participatory democracy is possible, but it offers practical applications and invaluable lessons for ordinary, caring citizens who want to make a difference. Read More

The Land of Elyon, Book I: The Dark Hills Divide
By Patrick Carman
Inquisitive twelve-year-old Alexa Daley is spending another summer in the walled town of Bridewell. This year, she is set on solving the mystery of what lies beyond the walls. Legend says the walls were built to keep out an unnamed evil that lurks in the forests and The Dark Hills. But what exactly is it that the townspeople are so afraid of? As Alexa begins to unravel the truth, pushing beyond the protective barrier she's lived behind all her life, she discovers a strange and ancient enchantment -- and exposes a danger that could destroy everything she holds dear. Read More

Bad Dirt : Wyoming Stories 2
by Annie Proulx
The beautiful and harsh terrain of Wyoming and the tough and often eccentric people who make their lives there are again on display in this collection of stories (a sequel to the much-lauded Close Range: Wyoming Stories). Read More

Bestsellers ending Jan. 2, 2005

The Pacific Northwest Independent Bestseller List, as brought to you by Book Sense and PNBA, for the week ended Sunday, January 2, 2005. Based on reporting from the independent booksellers of the Pacific Northwest Booksellers Association and Book Sense. Remember, you can find the latest books from the Pacific Northwest at northwest-books.com.

HARDCOVER FICTION

1. State of Fear, Michael Crichton
2. The Da Vinci Code, Dan Brown
3. The Five People You Meet in Heaven, Mitch Albom
4. Gilead, Marilynne Robinson
5. Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell, Susanna Clarke
6. The Plot Against America, Philip Roth
7. Runaway, Alice Munro
8. Bad Dirt, Annie Proulx (Buy it at northwest-books.com)
9. Skeleton Man, Tony Hillerman
10. The Stupidest Angel, Christopher Moore

HARDCOVER NONFICTION

1. Collapse, Jared Diamond
2. Eats, Shoots & Leaves, Lynne Truss
3. The Little Book of Snowflakes, Kenneth Libbrecht
4. The Perricone Promise, Nicholas Perricone, M.D.
5. Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim, David Sedaris
6. What's the Matter With Kansas?, Thomas Frank
7. Chronicles, Bob Dylan
8. He's Just Not That Into You, Greg Behrendt, Liz Tuccillo
9. When Will Jesus Bring the Pork Chops?, George Carlin
10. The South Beach Diet, Arthur Agatston, M.D.

MASS MARKET

1. Angels & Demons, Dan Brown
2. The Last Juror, John Grisham
3. The Sinister Pig, Tony Hillerman
4. Deception Point, Dan Brown
5. Digital Fortress, Dan Brown
6. The Cat Who Talked Turkey, Lilian Jackson Braun
7. 3rd Degree, James Patterson
8. Dragon's Kin, Anne McCaffrey, Todd McCaffrey
9. The Conspiracy Club, Jonathan Kellerman
10. Seduced by Moonlight, Laurell K. Hamilton

CHILDREN'S (FICTION AND ILLUSTRATED)

1. The Bad Beginning (A Series of Unfortunate Events #1), Lemony Snicket
2. The Reptile Room (A Series of Unfortunate Events #2), Lemony Snicket
3. The Grim Grotto (A Series of Unfortunate Events #11), Lemony Snicket
4. The Wide Window (A Series of Unfortunate Events #3), Lemony Snicket
5. Dragon Rider, Cornelia Funke
6. Life of Pi (Student Edition ), Yann Martel
7. Peter and the Starcatchers, Dave Barry, Ridley Pearson
8. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, J.K. Rowling
9. The Second Summer of the Sisterhood, Ann Brashares
10. The Ersatz Elevator (A Series of Unfortunate Events #6), Lemony Snicket