CBC Books announced the winners of their first-ever book club awards, the Bookies. The contest, which celebrates some of the best Canadian literature of the past year, was decided by a reader-generated nomination and voting system.

Winners get bragging rights and a Golden Beaver, which is actually a certificate of recognition. In a tweet earlier today, CBC Books admits, Yeah, we didn’t think the trophy part through as well as we should have! Maybe actual Golden Beavers for CBC Bookies 2012?

Winners of the 2011 CBC Bookies:

• Best Science Fiction or Fantasy Book: Darwin’s Bastards edited by Zsuzsi Gartner
• Best Thriller, Mystery or Horror Book: Revenge of the Lobster Lover by Hilary MacLeod
• Best Romance Book: Major Pettigrew’s Last Stand by Helen Simonson
• Best Young Adult Book: Dear George Clooney, Please Marry My Mom by Susin Nielsen
• Best Poetry Collection: Indexical Elegies by Jon Paul Fiorentino
• Best Short Story Collection: Greedy Little Eyes by Billie Livingston
• Best Comic or Graphic Novel: Tangles by Sarah Leavitt
• Best Non-Fiction Book: One Bird’s Choice by Iain Reid
• Best Character: Nanabush from Motorcycles and Sweetgrass by Drew Hayden Taylor
• Best Relationship: Henry and L from L (and things come apart) by Ian Orti
• Best Scene: Jack’s escape in Room by Emma Donoghue
• Best Book Cover: Kiss the Joy as it Flies by Sheree Fitch
• Best Overall Book: The Tiger by John Vaillant
• Best Opening Line: Room by Emma Donoghue
• Best Book-based Movie: The King’s Speech
• Best New Writer: Sarah Selecky