The New York Times came out with their list of 2012 Notable Children's Books. A quick description can be found at
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/02/books/review/notable-childrens-books-of-2012.html
Young Adult:
Bitterblue by Kristin Cashore
Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein
The Fault In Our Stars by John Green
Jepp, Who Defied the Stars by Katherine Marsh
Never Fall Down by Patricia McCormick
Son by Lois Lowry
Middle Grade:
Beyond Courage: The Untold Story of Jewish Resistance During the Holocaust by Doreen Raplpaport
The False Prince by Jennifer A. Nielsen
Hand In Hand: Ten Black Men Who Changed America by Andrea Davis
The Hero's Guide To Saving Your Kingdom by Christopher Healy
The Last Dragonslayer by Jasper Fforde
Liar and Spy by Rebecca Stead
The Secret Tree by Natalie Standiford
See You At Harry's by Jo Knowles
Splendors and Glooms by Laura Amy Schlitz
Who Could That Be At This Hour? by Lemony Snicket
Wonder By R. J. Palacio
Picture Books:
Brothers AT Bat: The True Story of an Amazing All-Brother Baseball Team by Audrey Vernick and Steven Salerno
The Day Louis Got Eaten by John Fardell
Dragons Love Tacos by Adam Rubin and Daniel Salmieri
A Gold Star for Zog by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler
Hello! Hello! by Matthew Cordell
I'm Bored by Michael Ian Black and Debbie Ridpath Ohi
King Arthur' Very Great Grandson by Kenneth Kraegel
This Is Not My Hat by Jon Klassen
