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).

My Diary from the Edge of the World by Jodi Lynn Anderson (a birthday post)

Hello everyone! A good friend of mine had her birthday a couple of days ago, and in honor of her birthday, I would like to post about one of her favorite books. My Diary from the Edge of the World by Jodi Lynn Anderson was recommended to me by this friend over a year ago, and I enjoyed it! So today I will recommend it to you!

My Diary from the Edge of the World is written from the perspective of a girl named Gracie Lockwood, who lives in a world just like ours... except for the fact that humans aren't the only species in charge. Sasquatches roam about the woods, genies are always up for gambling, dragons migrate south for the winter, and so much more. But there are also dark clouds. Dark clouds that will take a person away to die.

When a dark cloud arrives at Gracie's house, they know that it is there to take away her sickly little brother Sam, and the Lockwood's will do anything to keep their family together. Even if it means journeying to The Extraordinary World. A place that may not even exist...

Rules for Stealing Stars by Corey Ann Haydu

Hi everyone! I have a great recommendation for you today! Today's recommendation is for a book by Corey Ann Haydu. Rules for Stealing Stars is one of the two books that I have read by her. The other is The Someday Suitcase, which is one of my favorite books, but difficult to write about because it is so emotional.

Rules for Stealing Stars is a book from the perspective of a girl name Priscilla, or Silly as she is called by her family. Silly's mother is having some problems, and cannot always be counted on to be there for her. Neither can her dad who is often absorbed in his research of fairy tales, myths, and folklore. Her three older sisters aren't always open to including Silly either. Eleanor and Astrid, the twins, can always count on each other, and her sister closest to her in age, Marla, has never really gotten along with Silly.

When the family moves to their mother's childhood home in New Hampshire, Silly knows that her sisters are keeping a secret from her, and when they finally clue her in, it is more incredible than Silly could have ever imagined!

The Secret Horses of Briar Hill by Megan Sheperd

Hi everyone! Today's post is about a book I read over the summer called The Secret Horses of Briar Hill by Megan Sheperd. Wait! Don't get scared away because of the horses. I'm not a big horse fan, so if you're thinking something like, Horses? Give me a break! Time to close the tab... STOP. RIGHT. THERE. I thought so too at first, but a good friend recommended this book to me, and who am I to turn down a recommendation? I ended up really enjoying this book, and I read nearly the whole book the day I got it. I sat down on my front porch after my trip to the library, and I just couldn't put it down. So.... are you ready to hear what it's about? LET'S GO!!!!

The Secret Horses of Briar Hill takes place in England during World War II at Briar Hill Hospital, a home for sick children. The main character Emmaline, has a secret. She can see winged horses in the mirrors of Briar Hill. The winged horses bring color and joy into her life, even though she can only see them. Until...