The Measure by Nikki Erlick
How do you measure one's life? By it's length, accomplishments, love, family? This one stuck with me long after I finished it. One part dystopian, one part sci-fi, one part love story, this book had me crying and smiling with rich characters that you will route for and left me pensive and hopeful. One day everyone on earth gets a box with their name on it, and inside is a piece of string. It is soon discovered that the length of the string directly coincides with how long you will live. Chaos ensues, political battles are waged, personal struggles occur, and it culminates with an unforgettable ending. One of my favorite reads this year.