Frank Hodge of Hodge-Podge Books (at 272 Lark St. in Albany) writes in with his picks for the past year for a variety of ages:

For young adults: Two magnificent reads to get young adults thinking:

• HURT GO HAPPY by Ginny Rorby

• THE BOY IN THE STRIPED PAJAMAS by John Boyne.

For the younger crowd:

• THE MIRACULOUS JOURNEY OF EDWARD TULANE by Kate DiCamillo

• BITSY AND THE BEAR by Angela MaCallister

• REBEKKAH’S JOURNEY by Ann Burg (until recently a resident of Albany.)