Best Books of 2013

While there was quite a lot of good literature published in 2013, three books stood out to me. These books made the list because they contain good plots, unique writing styles, and they're overall good books.
1. The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver. This book is written from the changing points of view of the wife and four daughters of a Protestant minister who travel to the Congo in 1959 as missionaries. Each of the narrators change through the course of the book (which spans thirty years), learning to accept differing religions and viewpoints based on their own decisions. Aside from character growth, there is an unexpected plot twist at the end which throws everything into a new light. A good plot is another reason why I enjoy this book.
2. Artemis Fowl: The Last Guardian by Eoin Colfer. The final book of the Artemis Fowl series comes with as many plot twists and unexpected happenings as the previous seven, but this is the book where human protagonist Artemis really changes the most in terms of character growth. When megalomaniac pixie Opal Koboi once again tries to destroy the fairy world, Artemis's plan involves himself making a huge sacrifice to save his friends- something he wouldn't have done previously without pressure from others. This shows how much his compassion for his friends and family has increased, which is a major change from the rather cold and emotionless boy before. The Last Guardian is written in Colfer's witty style, another reason why I enjoy this series.
3. The House of Hades by Rick Riordan. This book is witty, it is emotional, and sometimes downright hilarious. Picking up from the cliffhanger in The Mark of Athena, the crew of the Argo II are traveling to meet Percy and Annabeth at the Doors of Death- but not without some delays on both sides. The main reason I like this book is because of the changing relationships. First between Percy and Nico, which affects how the other characters see him (Nico), and the second between Leo and Calypso (this is a very sweet one because they actually are very similar). Hazel's acceptance of her half-brother and friend despite these relationships also shows that everyone should be given a chance, which is one of the underlying themes throughout both the Percy Jackson and Heroes of Olympus series.
All in all, these were some of my favorite books of 2013. They all have similar themes of acceptance, and the unique ways the authors chronicled the growth of their protagonists added to the good plots and made these books special.