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).

Forever or a Long, Long time by Caela Carter

Hello everyone! Since we had the day off from school on Friday, I had a lot of time for reading. I finished reading a book called Forever or a Long, Long Time by Caela Carter. I thought this book was absolutely amazing, and it was one that I HAD to share with you.

Forever or a Long, Long Time is a book about two siblings named Flora and Julian. Flora and Julian have spent most of their lives moving from foster home to foster home, and so they don't remember their beginning. They don't know where they came from. They don't know that they were born. All they know is that they always have each other, and that they always will.

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?

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!

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!

Finally by Wendy Mass (a birthday post)

Hi everyone! My best friend had her birthday a couple of days ago. As a part of my present to her, I am writing a post for one of her favorite books, Finally. Finally is the sequel to 11 Birthdays, (you can click here for my 11 Birthdays post) and is the second book in the popular Willow Falls book series.

Finally is a book about a girl named Rory, who has been wanting to turn 12 for FOREVER! Rory has a whole list of things that her parents said she could do, have, or get when she turned 12 and she is really holding them to their promise.

When Rory finally does turn 12, things do not go as well as she had hoped...

Star-Crossed by Barbara Dee

Hello everyone! Today’s post is about a book that I read almost a month ago called Star-Crossed written by Barbara Dee. I thought it was a really well written book, and the type of story that this world needs more of. Star-Crossed is a book from the perspective of a LGBTQ+ girl named Mattie, who likes both boys and girls. Throughout the course of the story Mattie realizes this fact, and comes to terms with it. Before reading this book, I had never read anything like it, but I am so glad that I did end up reading this book! Star-Crossed is a great novel, and I story that I can’t wait to share! So let's get ready! Get set! And... GO!

Every Soul a Star by Wendy Mass

Hello everyone! In honor of the recent solar eclipse (leave me a comment if you saw it!), today’s post is for Every Soul a Star, a novel by Wendy Mass featuring (you guessed it!) a solar eclipse! In case you didn’t know, the first post that I ever wrote on ReadingWayPastBedtime, was about another book written by Wendy Mass called 11 Birthdays. You can click here to view my post for 11 Birthdays. (Please excuse my many typos on that post!) I have enjoyed reading books by Wendy Mass for years now, so you may have seen her name on ReadingWayPastBedtime before. Anyway, I'd say it's time to get started! Are you ready? Here….. We…… goooooooo!

Sticks & Stones, and Bubbles by Abby Cooper

Hello everyone! A couple of days ago, I finished reading a book called Bubbles by Abby Cooper. This is Abby Cooper's second novel, and after reading the book, I realized I never wrote a post for her first book, Sticks & Stones. Then I thought, Hey! Why not write a post for both of the books?! Today, I am going to do just that!

Finding Perfect by Elly Swartz

Hello everyone! Today I am here to recommend a book that I finished reading in only a couple of hours. I was that into it. The book is called Finding Perfect by Elly Swartz, and I highly recommend it.

As you know, in the past I have written posts with and without trailers that I make, and for this post, I am going to write a short summary, and include a trailer that I have made. Yes. I loved it that much!

Finding Perfect is about a girl named Molly. Molly likes everything to be perfect, and to do so, she does everything the same way. Color coding, alphabetizing, and placing each one of her glass animals exactly one inch apart. She likes it this way. Perfect.  

Molly lives with her older sister, younger brother, and her father. Molly’s mother left less than a year ago, and moved to Canada for her work. She promised that she would be back in a year, and Molly has been counting down the days until she returns. But even Molly isn’t sure if she will come back for good.

One of My Favorites...

Hello world! Have you missed me? I'm sorry that I haven't written a post in FOREVER, so I have decided that I am going to make this post extra special! I am not only going to include a trailer of one of my favorite books that I have read this year, but I am also going to talk about something that I have been doing all year.
   
This year I have been trying really hard to read 150 books. I know, that it's a bit of a lofty goal considering that I have to follow my rules.
   
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 twice. 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.
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!
   
Right now I have read 134 books following these rules. I know I may not make it to my goal, but I am still going to try!
   
Today I really want to show you a trailer that I made for one of my favorite books! It is called Some Kind of Happiness  by Claire Legrand. I read this book a couple of months ago, after reading another book by Claire Legrand called Foxheart. I had really enjoyed Foxheart, and so I decided to read Some Kind of Happiness.  You are probably getting tired of reading all about me, so now I invite you to watch the trailer that I have made for the wonderful book.... Some Kind of Happiness!

 I invite you to post one of your favorite reads this year, in the comment section below! Happy Holidays!

~Greek Girl