I posted a short Best of 2008 list during my 12 Days of Giving feature, but there are many more books that I loved in 2008. As we approach the end of the year, I thought I'd share my favorite reads of the year. Here are the books I read in 2008 that garnered five stars* from yours truly. Books are 2008 pubs unless otherwise noted.
Children's/YA Books:
Chains by Laurie Halse Anderson
Down Cut Shin Creek by Kathi Appelt (2001)
The Underneath by Kathi Appelt
The Squad: Perfect Cover by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
Starring Sally J. Freedman as Herself by Judy Blume (reread, 1977)
George Washington Carver by Tonya Bolden
Bad Kitty Gets a Bath by Nick Bruel
Tracking Trash by Loree Griffin Burns (2007)
Graceling by Kristin Cashore
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
Elijah of Buxton by Christopher Paul Curtis
Boy: Tales of Childhood by Roald Dahl (listened to audiobook, book published 1984)
Ten Cents a Dance by Christine Fletcher
Looks by Madeleine George
Rapunzel's Revenge by Shannon & Dean Hale, ill. by Nathan Hale
Girl, Hero by Carrie Jones
Fireboat by Maira Kalman (2002)
Claudia and Mean Janine (BSC Graphix) by Ann M. Martin & Raina Telgemeier
Greetings from Nowhere by Barbara O'Connor
Airborn by Kenneth Oppel (2004)
Skybreaker by Kenneth Oppel (2006)
Clementine's Letter by Sarah Pennypacker
How to Build a House by Dana Reinhardt
The Sea of Monsters by Rick Riordan (2006)
Nate the Great Collected Stories by Marjorie Sharmat (audiobook)
Good Enough by Paula Yoo
Adult Books:
Garden Spells by Sarah Addison Allen (2007)
Prey by Michael Crichton (2002)
Helping Homeschoolers in the Library by Adrienne Furness
Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen (2006)
Remember Me? by Sophie Kinsella
Doomsday Book by Connie Willis (1992)
*Five stars in my LibraryThing rating. Good Reads does not allow half-stars, so sometimes a 4.5 star rating on LT ends up being a 5 star rating on Good Reads.