Yep, it's that time of year, when I foist on you my list of the books I enjoyed most in 2008. Some of them I've already mentioned, some not. And if my codes or spacing comes out goofy, I hope you'll forgive me. I have had a mean nasty cold that turned into something like strep throat last week, so my head is a little spaced. Just let me know if I mess up and I'll try to fix it!

Tammy Pierce's 2008 Favorite Books, behind the cut


YA = teen readers (12+)
(ah) = alt. history
(b) = of interest to boys
(c) = contemporary
(f) = fantasy
(gn) = graphic novel
(hi) = historical
(hr) = horror
(m) = middle reader
(nf) = nonfiction
(sf) = science fiction
(th) = thriller

YA/Teen (and some middle reader) books

Alexander, Alma -- SPELLSPAM (f)
Bodeen, S. A. -- THE COMPOUND (c)
Bunce, Elizabeth C. -- A CURSE DARK AS GOLD (f)
Cashore, Kristin -- GRACELING (f)
Castellucci, Cecil -- THE QUEEN OF COOL (c)
Chima, Cinda Williams -- WIZARD HEIR, THE (f)(b)
Clare, Cassandra -- CITY OF ASHES, CITY OF BONES (f)
Clement-Davies, David -- THE TELLING POOL (f)(b)
Collins, Suzanne -- HUNGER GAMES, THE (sf)(b)
Connor, Leslie -- WAITING FOR NORMAL (c)
Cornish, D. M. -- LAMPLIGHTER (f)(b)
Coville, Bruce -- DARK WHISPERS (f)
Davidson, Jenny -- EXPLOSIONIST, THE (f)
Delaney, Joseph -- REVENGE OF THE WITCH (f)(b)
Doctorow, Corey -- LITTLE BROTHER (sf)(b)
Durst, Sarah Beth -- OUT OF THE WILD (f)
Ferraiolo, Jack D. -- THE BIG SPLASH (c)(b)
Flanagan, John -- BATTLE FOR SKANDIA, THE; BURNING BRIDGE, THE; ICEBOUND LAND, THE; RUINS OF GORLAN, THE; SORCERER OF THE NORTH, THE (f)(b)
Fletcher, Charlie -- IRONHAND, STONEHEART (f)(b)
Flinn, Alex -- BEASTLY (f)
Friesner, Esther -- NOBODY’S PRIZE (f)
Gaiman, Neil -- GRAVEYARD BOOK, THE (f)(b)
Galante, Cecilia -- HERSHEY HERSELF, THE PATRON SAINT OF BUTTERFLIES (c)
Goodman, Alison -- EON: DRAGONEYE REBORN (f)(b)
Grimly, Gris -- BORIS AND BELLA (f)(picture book); WHERE MADNESS REIGNS: the art of Gris Grimley (nf)
Haddix, Margaret P -- UPRISING (hi)
Harris, Joanne -- RUNEMARKS (f)
Harrison, Mette Ivie -- PRINCESS & THE HOUND, THE (f)
Ibbotson, Eva -- COUNTESS BELOW STAIRS, A; SONG FOR SUMMER, A (hi)
Jones. Diana Wynne -- CHARMED LIFE (f) (xth reading)
Link. Kelly -- PRETTY MONSTERS (f) (short storiesl)
Malley, Gemma -- DECLARATION, THE (sf)
Marr, Melissa -- INK EXCHANGE (f)Mature readers_
McNish, Cliff -- ANGEL (f); BREATHE (hr); THE SILVER CHILD; THE SILVER CITY; THE SILVER WORLD (sf)
Murdock, Catherine Gilbert -- PRINCESS BEN (f)
Ness, Patrick -- KNIFE OF NEVER LETTING GO, THE (f)(b)
Nimmo, Jenny -- GRIFFIN’S CASTLE (f)
Pearson, Mary E. -- ADORATION OF JENNA FOX, THE (sf)
Pfeffer, Susan Beth -- DEAD AND THE GONE, THE (sf)
Pixley, Marcella -- FREAK (c)
Plummer, Louise -- FINDING DADDY (c)
Plum-Ucci, Carol -- STREAMS OF BABEL (sf)(b)
Pullman, Philip -- ONCE UPON A TIME IN THE NORTH (f)(b)
Roberts, Judson -- DRAGONS FROM THE SEA (hi)
Schlitz, Laura Amy -- DROWNED MAIDEN’S HAIR, A (hi); GOOD MASTERS! SWEET LADIES! (medieval monologues)
Scott, Michael -- THE ALCHEMYST (f)(b)
Sedgwick, Marcus -- MY SWORD HAND IS SINGING (hr)(b)
Service, Pamela -- YESTERDAY’S MAGIC (f)(b)
Shaw, Susan -- BOY IN THE BASEMENT, THE (2nd reading) (c)
Shusterman, Neal -- UNWIND (sf)(b)
Singleton, Linda Joy -- DEAD GIRL WALKING (f)
Trueman, Terry -- CRUISE CONTROL (c)
Ursu, Anne -- THE SHADOW THIEVES (mr)(f)(b)
Vaught, Susan -- STORMWITCH (f)
Wasserman, Robin -- SKINNED (sf)
Werlin, Nancy -- IMPOSSIBLE (f)
Weyn, Suzanne -- BAR CODE TATTOO, THE (sf)
Wiess, Laura -- SUCH A PRETTY GIRL (c)
Wittlinger, Ellen -- PARROTFISH (c)
Yeomans, Ellen -- RUBBER HOUSES (c, verse)
Yolen, Jane & Coville, Bruce -- ARMAGEDDON SUMMER (2nd reading) (c)
Yolen, Jane & Stemple, Adam -- PAY THE PIPER (f)


Adult books

Aaron, Jason (writer), Guera, R.M. (ill.)(gn)Mature readers
SCALPED 1: Indian Country; SCALPED 2: Casino Boogie
Aaron ,Jason (writer), Stewart, Cameron (ill.) (gn)Mature readers
OTHERSIDE
Anderson, Barth -- MAGICIAN AND THE FOOL, THE(f)
Azzarello, Brian (writer), Risso, Eduardo (ill.) (gn)Mature readers
100 BULLETS: 1st Shot, Last Call
Beagle, Peter S. -- LINE BETWEEN, THE (collection)
Bear, Greg -- QUANTICO(sf)
Box, C.J. -- BLUE HEAVEN(th)
Cagin, Seth & Dray, Philip -- WE ARE NOT AFRAID(nf)
Chabon, Michael -- GENTLEMEN OF THE ROAD (hi)(b)
Connolly, John -- THE REAPERS(th)
Eckerly, Pete -- APOCALYPSE STONE, THE(th)
Evans, Bill & Jameson, Marianna -- CATEGORY 7(th)
Faust, Cynthia -- MONEY SHOT(th)
Fielding, Joy -- HEARTSTOPPER(th)
Franklin, Ariana -- MISTRESS OF THE ART OF DEATH; SERPENT’S TALE, THE(th)
Goodman, Alison -- KILLING THE RABBIT(th)
Greer, Germaine -- THE FEMALE EUNUCH (nf) (3rd reading)
Gregory, Philippa -- THE BOLEYN INHERITANCE(hi)
Grisham, John -- LAST JUROR, THE; PAINTED HOUSE, A; RUNAWAY JURY, THE; TIME TO KILL, A (th)
Harris, Charlaine -- DEAD UNTIL DARK (f) (2nd reading)
Hayes, Jonathan -- PRECIOUS BLOOD(th)
Hecht, Daniel -- PUPPETS(th)
Heyer, Georgette (xth time readings), (hi) -- DEVIL’S CUB, THE; SPRIG MUSLIN; VENETIA
Kay, Guy Gavriel (f)(4th reading of series) -- LONGEST ROAD, THE; SUMMER TREE, THE; WANDERING FIRE, THE
Kellerman, Jonathan -- OBSESSION(th)
Ketchum, Jack -- GIRL NEXT DOOR, THE(th)
King, Laurie -- A DARKER PLACE; TOUCHSTONE(th)
Komunyakaa, Yusef -- DIEN CAI DAU (poetry) (nobody faint)
Krakauer, Jon -- UNDER THE BANNER OF HEAVEN (nf)
Lippman, Laura -- WHAT THE DEAD KNOW(th)
Logan, Chuck (th) -- AFTER THE RAIN (2nd reading); HOME FRONT (3rd reading); BIG LAW, THE; PRICE OF BLOOD, THE; VAPOR TRAIL (2nd reading)
Monette, Sarah & Bear, Elizabeth(f)Mature readers -- COMPANION TO WOLVES, A
Moore-Emmett, Andrea -- GOD’S BROTHEL(nf)
Munroe, Jim (writer), Salgood, Sam (ill.) (gn) -- THEREFORE, REPENT!
Olsen, Gregg -- CRUEL DECEPTIONS(nf); A COLD, DARK PLACE (th); A WICKED SNOW(th) (2nd reading)
Parker, Robert (th) -- CEREMONY (xth reading); GOD SAVE THE CHILD (xth reading)
Parker, T. Jefferson -- STORM RUNNERS(th)
Picoult, Jodi -- CHANGE OF HEART(c)
Shinn, Sharon -- FORTUNE AND FATE(f)
Simone, Gail (writer), Caldwell, Talent (ill.)(gn) -- GEN 13: Best of a Bad Lot
Slaughter, Karin -- BEYOND REACH(th)
Staub, Wendi Corsi -- IN THE BLINK OF AN EYE (th) (2nd reading)
Thomas, Ross -- FOOLS IN TOWN, THE(th)(xth reading)
Walton, Jo -- HALF A CROWN; HA’PENNY(ah)
Weir, Alison -- INNOCENT TRAITOR (hi)
Whedon, Joss (writer), Jeanty, Georges (ill.)(gn) -- BUFFY: the Long Way Home
Willingham, Bill (writer) & var. illus. (gn) -- FABLES 9: Sons of Empire; FABLES 10: The Good Prince
Wilson, G. Willow (writer) & Perker M.K. (artist) (gn) -- CAIRO



I hope you didn't go insane, what with the abbreviations and the lj-cut! So here it is, and I've already started on next year's books. So much to read, so little time. I hope you found something good. Feel free to ask. I can't promise I'll remember everything--for everything on this list, there are three or four books I didn't like--but I'll do my best to be of help!

Here's to a 2009 full of interesting books!