Happy 2018!

Happy 2018 everyone! Boy do I have a lot in store for you today! Along with the new year, I have decided to make some changes about the way I run my blog. As you know, I had a challenge for myself way back in 2016, to read 150 books in that year. By the time 2017 came around I had made it 137 books, so last year I tried again. And yet again I failed, landing a grand total of 88 books. Not nearly as well as I had done the year before. In case you don't remember, or you weren't a reader of my blog back then, I had rules for what books counted and what books didn't.

To refresh your memory:

Rule 1) Every book that I read has to be a book that I have not read before this year. For instance, if I read the same book twice this year, I cannot count it as two books read. But if I haven't read the book in a couple of years, however, and I read it again THIS year, I can count it once.

Rule 2) I have to read the book all the way through for it to count.

Rule 3) I do not count picture books. Yes, I know. Picture books are books too, but if it counted every time I read one of those, I would be done incredibly quickly and I want to make this a real challenge!

Rule 4) Graphic novels count, too (of course).

Brave by Svetlana Chmakova

Hello everyone! As you may know, I recently wrote a post for Awkward by Svetlana Chmakova. (You can click here for that post!) I have decided to also write a post for Brave, another graphic novel by Svetlana Chmakova. Brave takes place in the same school as Awkward, so some of the characters overlap from book to book. I've gotta say though, I think I enjoyed Brave even more than Awkward! So if you are a fan of Awkward, you have to read this book!

Brave is about a boy named Jensen who is a part of the Art Club. Jensen is a dreamer, not always the best student, and doesn't know many kids outside of his club, and the ones he does know, don't treat him nicely. The Art Club has always been his safe haven. Jensen doesn't always fit in with his group of friends, and they aren't always super nice to him, but he doesn't think that is much of a problem. I mean hey, he has friends right?

Awkward by Svetlana Chmakova

Hello everyone! Recently I have been looking for graphic novels that I haven't read before (and believe me I have read a LOT of graphic novels!), and I came across a graphic novel artist named Svetlana Chmakova. The two graphic novels that I ended up reading by her were Awkward and Brave. This post is going to be all about Awkward!

(Hint: Stay tuned for my post for Brave!)

In Awkward, the main character's name is Penelope, or Peppi for short. When she moves to a new town and is instantly humiliated by tripping on her first day, Peppi does something she regrets. When a boy comes over to help her, Peppi pushes him away. Literally. After that, Peppi soon finds her people, and becomes a part of The Art Club.

There is also the Science Club, the Art Club's rival. After a series of arguments and conflicts between the two clubs, things take a turn. Both the science and art clubs find out that only ONE of the two clubs is going to be getting a table at the School Club Fair. After that, the competition is on!

All's Faire in Middle School by Victoria Jamieson

Hi everyone! Today, I am recommending a graphic novel that I read recently. All's Faire in Middle School is a graphic novel written by Victoria Jamieson, the author of one of my favorites, Roller Girl. One summer, I remember reading Roller Girl over and over again. Every time I finished it, I would flip back to the beginning and start again. I was soooo excited when I heard the Victoria Jamieson was coming out with another graphic novel, and so I have to share it with you all!

All's Faire in Middle School, is about a girl named Imogene, or Impy for short. Impy's parents work at a Renaissance Faire, and Impy has spent her whole life there. Impy has been waiting her for her chance to become a squire for the faire, and to prove her bravery, she decides to embark on the treacherous journey of... MIDDLE SCHOOL! All her life, Impy has been home schooled by her parents while at the faire, so going to a public middle school for the first time... well, there are some difficulties...

Real Friends Written by Shannon Hale, Illustrated by LeUyen Pham

Hi everyone! I have a really good recommendation for you today! So, who here likes graphic novels?

Last week I started reading this graphic novel called Real Friends. It is written by Shannon Hale, and illustrated, by LeUyen Pham. Shannon Hale and LeUyen Pham have worked together (along with Dean Hale) on the Princess in Black series. I think that it is really cool that they worked on Real Friends together, too!

I love this graphic novel, and since about a week ago, I have already read it 6 times!

Real Friends is a “sort-of memoir” as I like to call it, because it is based off of true events that happened to Shannon Hale in her childhood, but is not 100% accurate. Some events were altered slightly, some people’s names were changed, and of course, some parts might not have been remembered exactly how it happened. Because, after all, it’s all about perspective...