One of the last books I read in 2011 turned out to be my favorite!
Shadowcry is the first volume in the Wintercraft series by British author Jenna Burtenshaw. In this dystopian world, a town's people live with the constant threat of war. When war does come, young Kate Winter gets pulled into the fray, only to learn that she is one of those known as the "skilled," all of whom possess the power of life over death. I was so taken with this story I had to order a second copy from the U.K. since it had yet to be released in the U.S.!