Best of 2011: Characters

Continuing on with the best of 2011, today I've got my favorite characters, both male and female!


Favorite Males:

5. Noah Shaw from The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin: Hot, sexy, cocky playboy... with a heart of gold. There is something so undeniably droolworthy about Noah, but he's also just this inherently great guy who will steal your heart because of it.

4. Kaleb from Hourglass by Myra McEntire: What's not to like when your first introduction to a guy is him naked and passed out on the couch at your boyfriend's? Oh, wait, there should be negative reasons in there... well, I missed them, because from the first time we meet Kaleb, I loved this guy. The sometimes ridiculous things he would say, the softness to him, the way he'll fight for the girl he likes without being too overboard with it. Yeah. Kaleb is just. Wow.

3. Will from Angelfire by Courtney Allison Moulton: All sword jokes aside, I adore Will. He's awkward and kind of missing some social skills and doesn't really get pop culture. But he's intense, and fierce, and loyal, and caring. There is an incredible depth to Will. Also, he gets impaled enough to just make you want to hug him.

2. Harlin from A Need so Beautiful by Suzanne Young: He's a high school drop out. He drives a motorcycle. He doesn't live at home with his parents. Delinquent? Maybe. Hot and sexy? Absolutely. But Harlin is such a gentle soul, a pacifist more than anything and he feels so, so much. His love for Charlotte is almost shocking in it's intensity, and everything about Harlin is just... awesome.

1. Adam from Where She Went by Gayle Forman: Broken boys always have and always will do me in, and Adam is one of the most broken boys in YA, at least to me. So watching him try to figure it out, watching him see what he can fix, watching his constant suffering... wow. He had one of the single most well done character developments, and he's also a really great guy, attitude and sleeping around and everything else that comes with being a rock star aside. I love this boy, inside and out.

Favorite Females:

5.  Hartley Grace from Deadly Cool by Gemma Halliday: Witty, sarcastic and fiery. Hartley has a flair to her that is easy to see on the first page, and even in her times of weakness, she's still pretty much an all around awesome chick. I loved watching her grow, and watching her try to figure everything else.

4. Jasmine from Amplified by Tara Kelly: Jasmine doesn't take people's crap, and I love her for it. She speaks her mind, goes after what she wants, and doesn't really let fear stand in her way. She is unbelievable realistic, and has so much depth and heart to her.

3. Jill MacSweeney from How to Save a Life by Sara Zarr: In terms of character development, this is one of my favorite girls ever. Jill can see her own flaws, but trying to fix them is another story. There is something absolutely stunning about the way Jill sees the world and herself, and the way that shifts and changes in this book. She is protective of her mom, pained over the loss of her dad, and pushes away those who care about her. I loved this girl from start to finish.

2. Ruby from Imaginary Girls by Nova Ren Suma: I don't even really know how to explain why love of Ruby. She has an inexplicable prowess, can command an entire room without doing a thing, and she is undeniable protective of her sister. She is just an awesome character, even through the eyes of her sister.

1. Mandarin from Like Mandarin by Kirsten Hubbard: Easily one of the most multifaceted, layered characters out there, Mandarin had me just as intrigued as Grace had been. Flaunting in some ways, and closed off in others, Mandarin is a bit of a mess, a bit adventurous, and a lot of amazing.

So who are your favorite boys and girls of YA?