Candy Bunny Reader

  Man, I keep forgetting this is an ongoing post series on my blog. Note to self: when you run out of ideas, just talk about underrated books.  The previous parts can be seen on the navigation page! 

  Of course I got more books to gush about! Here are the first 3 parts in case you missed them: Part 1 , Part 2 , Part 3 Let's see if our reading tastes are still similar! 1. A Wrinkle in Time by Madeline L'Engle 2. The Wayside School series by Louis Sachar 3. Sweet Bean Paste by Durian Sukegawa 4. The Mothkeeper by Kay O'Neill 5. The Witch's Boy by Kelly Barnhill 6. The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane by Kate DiCamillo 7. The Morrigan Crow series by Jessica Townsend 8. The Last Cherry Blossom by Kathleen Burkinshaw 9. The Serafina series by Robert Beatty 10. My Life in France by Julia Child 11. She Gets the Girl by Rachael Lippincott and Alyson Derrick 12. Fake Dates and Mooncakes by Sher Lee

  Another great book by one of my favorite authors! Did you know around the time this book was released (October 2024), an actual flood happened in Asheville, NC, which is where this book also happens to take place? It was also because of a hurricane: Hurricane Helene. Robert Beatty decided that a portion of his sales from this book will go to help victims of the floods. i bought a copy of this book to help out the cause. Thank you, Mr. Beatty! Sylvia Doe and the 100-Year Flood is a middle grade urban fantasy novel about 13 year old Sylvia Doe, who has run away from another foster family back to Highground Home for Children, where she feels she truly belongs. This is quite a problem for her social worker and the state, since she can't permanently live in the place like an orphanage from the old days (the book takes place in modern times). But on top of that, Hurricane Jessamine has passed through the area and has flooded the area, destroying a lot of things and hurting a lot of p...

Let's talk about an author that became a favorite of mine this year! So Robert Beatty doesn't have as many books as the previous two authors I talked about, but pretty much everything he's written so far that I have read has been awesome! The first book I read from him was Serafina and the Black Cloak . I gave it 5 stars. The sequels Serafina and the Twisted Staff and Serafina and the Splintered Heart were great, too. I gave them both 4.5 stars. I did not like the fourth book, Serafina and the Seven Stars, that much. I gave it 3.5 stars. The main issue I had with this book is that I felt that it didn't tie in with the previous three books. The first three books had mystery stories that tied in well with each other, but book 4 didn't feel like an actual sequel for them. It felt more like a random standalone book that just happened to have the same characters and setting. I wonder if maybe Robert Beatty didn't plan on writing a 4th book and he probably only wrot...

  Welcome to part 9 of my ongoing series of books I don't see talked enough about online! I hope you like these books, too. Links to Goodreads summaries will be provided.  You can check out previous parts here: Part 1 , Part 2 , Part 3 , Part 4 , Part 5 , Part 6 , Part 7 , Part 8 1. Chasing Redbird by Sharon Creech . A sentimental tale of a girl who tries to heal her family from their problems when she uncovers a hidden trail leading from her town to the next town over. Also deals with her first crush on a boy who may or may not like her back.  2. Serafina series by Robert Beatty (link takes you to the first book). A fascinating historical fantasy series of an eccentric girl and her best friend solving mysteries in and around the Biltmore estate in Asheville, North Carolina. I personally recommend reading just the first 3 books. Book 4 doesn't add much.  3. The Story Girl by LM Montgomery . A cozy, slice of life book set on Prince Edward Island in Canada of two br...

  Have you ever read a book that was so good that you thought "this would make a perfect movie or tv show?" That's how I feel about the books on this list. What books do you think need adaptations?  1. Heartless by Marissa Meyer -it's a retelling of Alice in Wonderland and a villain origin story all rolled into one! Lots of people love those two tropes. They'd work perfectly in a movie. 2. Fake Dates and Mooncakes by Sher Lee -an Achillean (gay) romance story with a diverse cast, set in New York City, and involves cooking. Might be perfect who people who are fans of Heartstopper and similar pieces of media.  3. The Cupcake Diaries series by Coco Simon -I could see these being an animated series for young kids. 4. The Blue Castle by LM Montgomery -a movie adaptation of this might attract people who like historical fiction and romance. Perfect for cottagecore lovers, too! 5. Any of Margaret Peterson Haddix's books, such as the Shadow Children series -they are al...

I do this tag every year in September! Here are this year's answers.  As always, feel free to do this tag if you see it! 1.  Are there any books you've started this year that you need to finish?  As of writing this, A Psalm for the Wild-Built by Becky Chambers. I am also rereading Witch Hat Atelier up to Volume 11. Sometime I need to get my hands on the newest volume that I haven't read yet, which is #12.  2.  Do you have an autumnal book to transition to the end of the year? I have two! Tuki by Jeff Smith. I am not sure if it's super autumnal themed, but I also want to begin The Dos and Donuts of Love by Adiba Jaigirdar soon.  3.  Is there a new release you're still waiting for? I also have two! Silverborn , which is Book 4 of the Morrigan Crow series by Jessica Townsend. Also Sylvia Doe and the 100 Year Flood by Robert Beatty. 4.  What are 3 books you want to read before the end of the year? The Princess and the Grilled Cheese Sandwich by D...

  All the books I read in August! I read a total of 13 books .  It was a mostly positive reading month. Although I did have one 3 star book (the Josee manga).  Here are the books and links to their Goodreads summaries (click on the titles): The Witch Boy , The Hidden Witch , and The Midwinter Witch all by Molly Ostertag . All three got 5 stars! The Remarkables by Margaret Peterson Haddix . 5 stars. A Sign of Affection Omnibus (Volumes 1, 2, and 3) by Suu Morishita -5 stars. Josee, the Tiger, and the Fish by Seiko Tanabe -3 stars The Golden Road by LM Montgomery (sequel to The Story Girl )-4 stars Starry River of the Sky by Grace Lin -4 stars Call the Name of the Night Volume 1 by Tama Mitsubushi -5 stars Siuil a Run Volume 1 Deluxe Edition by Nagabe -4.5 stars Witch Hat Kitchen Volume 1 by Kamome Shirahama and Hiromi Sato -5 stars Willa of Dark Hollow by Robert Beatty -4 stars Ellen Tebbits by Beverly Cleary -5 stars

  Here are my answers for this year's Midyear Freakout Tag! I do these every end of July.  Let me know what you think! 1. Best book of the year so far? If You Still Recognize Me by Cynthia So 2. Best sequel(s) you read so far? Serafina and the Twisted Staff, and Serafina and the Splintered Heart, both by Robert Beatty 3. New releases you haven't read yet but want to. Funny Story by Emily Henry 4. Most anticipated releases for the 2nd half of the year. Silverborn, The Mystery of Morrigan Crow by Jessica Townsend  Sylvia Doe and the 100 Year Flood by Robert Beatty My Salty Mary by Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton, and Jodi Meadows 5. Biggest disappointments of the year. Ellie Engle Saves Herself by Leah Johnson Little Women by Louisa May Alcott Heartstopper Volume 5 by Alice Oseman 6. Biggest Surprise of the Year Bianca Torre is Afraid of Everything by Justine Pucella Winans 7. Favorite new author. Robert Beatty! 8. Some new favorite character(s). I got several: Ermengarde in A L...

Another underrated masterpiece by my new favorite author! Willa of the Wood by Robert Beatty is a historical fantasy middle grade book about Willa, who is a Faeran. The Faeran are a magical creature species that live in the Appalachian Mountains' forests, and live in clans. Willa is a jaetter--which, in her clan, are Faeran who are assigned to steal items from day-folk (humans) during the night for the padaran (the clan leader who is basically treated like a god).  But within the swoop of one night, she discovers some things that changes everything she knew about her clan and day-folk in general. To put it simply, the old ways, wisdom, and magic of her clan are dying, and many of those in her clan aren't as benevolent as they seem to be.  Willa feels like her world is shattering, but she finds solace and company in the least expected of people.  This book was full of unexpected surprises! What I love about Robert's Beatty's writing is how atmospheric and emotional it i...

All the books I read in February! I read a total of 7 books.  I've been reading mostly sequels lately, but they were all really good! Links to certain books will be provided if applicable. I hope your reading month went well, too! 1. One Piece Volumes 19, 20, and 21 by Eichiro Oda. 4 stars, 5 stars, and 5 stars, respectively. 2. Serafina and the Twisted Staff, and Serafina and the Splintered Heart, both by Robert Beatty. Both 4.5 stars. 3. Prarie Lotus by Linda Sue Park. A middle grade historical fiction book about the half-Chinese Hanna and her father going to live in a small new town in South Dakota. Hanna faces a new school, opening a new dress shop with her father, and some racism. Full review here .  4 stars.  4. They Called us Enemy by George Takei. A graphic novel memoir of actor George Takei's experience in the Japanese internment camps during WW2. Full review here .  5 stars.

These are not all 5 star books, as you can see. These are books (and two series that's still ongoing) that I read this year that now just have a special place in my heart 😍. Tell me your favorite books of the year! Sleeping Around by Morgan Vega The Witch Hat Atelier manga series by Kamome Shirahama Daughter of the Moon Goddess by Sue Lynn Tan One Piece manga series by Eichiro Oda Jane of Lantern Hill by LM Montgomery The Long Way to a Small Angry Planet by Becky Chambers Ruby Holler by Sharon Creech Serafina and the Black Cloak by Robert Beatty The Last Cherry Blossom by Kathleen Burkinshaw Nevermoor Trials of Morrigan Crow by Jessica Townsend

  Well, I only read 4 books this month, compared to last months 15 books, but all 4 books got a high rating from me! So it was a great reading month. I'll have links to reviews when necessary. 1. The Witch's Boy by Kelly Barnhill . A wonderful, magical, and emotional story of two children, Ned and Aine, who meet each other in unusual circumstances to protect the magic of their world and their two kingdoms. 4.5 stars . 2. Serafina and the Black Cloak by Robert Beatty -a historical fantasy book of an eccentric girl and the nephew of Cornelius Vanderbilt trying to solve the mystery of the scary man in magical black cloak who is making children in and around the Biltmore Estate disappear. 5 stars . 3. One Piece Volumes 8 and 9 by Eichiro Oda . Still continuing with my One Piece journey! Both 5 stars .  What books did you read in October? How many did you like?

I read this book a few days ago and I can't stop thinking about it! I loved every single second of it. Serafina and the Black Cloak by Robert Beatty is a historical fiction fantasy book about Serafina, a young girl who lives with her father in the Biltmore Estate in Asheville, NC. Well, he father is one of the workers and they live in the basement of the estate. Except for her father and a couple of the other low-ranking workers, no one knows that Serafina exists, and she wonders why her father has to keep her a secret. So she spends her days catching rats, reading books, and a multitude of other things while keeping out of site of the Vanderbilt family and their elite circle.  But one day Serafina sees a man in a magical black cloak magically swallow up a girl named Clara Brahms, who was visiting the estate with her mother. Eventually more kids of the rich families who visit the Vanderbilts go missing, and as Serafina tries to investigate, she ends up meeting and befriending Brae...