Candy Bunny Reader

  As the title says. I picked out these books based on their vibes.  

The second book I've read from Anna Sortino ! The first one was Give Me A Sign , which I read and reviewed last year. You can read that review here. On The Bright Side is a dual POV book. Ellie is a senior in high school, but her deaf boarding school just closed due to lack of funding. So she has to move back in with her parents who can't understand her and her disability and go to mainstream public school with an interpreter (well, two of them). Jackson is another senior who is a star athlete, but recently has been getting sick a lot and he can't perform as well as he once has. His alternative medicine-loving parents make it hard for him to go to the doctor and figure out what's going on with him (they eventually do, but reluctantly).  The school guidance counselor Ms. Lilly decides that Jackson will show Ellie around the school and help her get situated. Ellie and Jackson end up becoming good friends and even start dating, but Jackson is worried if his recently diagn...

  Goth Girl: Queen of the Universe by Lindsay S. Zrull is about Jess: a girl who's been in foster care since she was 7 years old. She finds comfort in all things goth: from Edgar Allen Poe to makeup. At her new school, Jess ends up befriending a guy named Oscar, who is a huge fan of a book series called Prince of Moons. He asks Jess to join his cosplay group so they can win of bunch of cosplay competitions and go to a huge competition at a huge convention in New York City later in the year. His goal is to make their names known so he can start his own cosplay business (he kind of already has one going on in his basement, but he wants to make it legit). Jess is relunctant about it at first, but she quickly finds that she loves sewing and making costumes and all things nerdy. She also befriends Oscar's other two other nerdy friends Emily and Gerrit.      Jess also runs an Instagram account where she posts all of her goth looks and has lots of followers, but one...

      I was looking for this book by Margaret Peterson Haddix for so long, and I was so happy when my local library system started carrying it and the other two books in the series (which I will be reading after this). So what did I think? Children of Exile is about a twelve year old girl named Rosi. She and her little brother Bobo grew up in a peaceful, utopian town called Fredtown. Everybody in her town are raised by foster parents called "Freds".  But one day, the Freds tell everyone that they will be sent home to their birth parents whom they've never met. When Rosi and the rest of the children are sent home, they quickly see how dystopian and unsafe it is. Their birth parents (well, all the parents in the community) also seem to be on edge the whole time for some reason.  Rosi and Edwy, a boy she recently rekindled her friendship with, end up uncovering a huge conspiracy about the town, and why all of the children went to live in Fredtown the first several...

  Another sweet, short post today. Check out the Navigation page for more of my favorite authors! Picture of author was found on her website, which you can visit here: https://darcielittlebadger.com/  

I know, it's a very long title, but it's exactly what it sounds like. I will also give explanations for the ones I didn't like.  I just couldn't get into the Lunar Chronicles. I really didn't like Love and Gelato! Didn't care to read the next two books, even thought they follow different main characters.   I DNF'd Ao Haru at volume 3 (mostly didn't like Kou).   I don't actually completely despise Nana--I do have respect for the series's message overall (how people can easily be manipulated into toxic relationships and how hard it can be to get out of and it's not the victim's fault), but I personally still did not enjoy it. I prefer more uplifting romance series.   The Tenant of Wildfell Hall was just boring. I also found the MC to be kind of creepy.  The Indian characters in The Secret Garden are portrayed pretty offensively. The book also has that terrible ableist trope of the "disability that wasn't actually there" for o...

  I saw one of my followers on Instagram do this tag and I thought I should do it too! I tagged some people over on Instagram, but anyone is free to do it. 1. A classic you've been meaning to read And Both Were Young by Madeline L'Engle ! I bought it at a thrift store last year and still haven't cracked it open. 2. A book on your shelf that you haven't read yet  I got two! They are part of a series: The Pumpkin Spice Cafe and The Cinnamon Bun Bookstore , both by Laurie Gilmore 3.  A recent purchase that you haven't read. The Castle Corona by Sharon Creech. 4. A Book You've Had Forever But Haven't Read I Am Malala by Malala Yousafzai ! I bought this way back in 2015. No kidding! 5.   A Recommendation From a Friend You Haven't Read Disney High by Ashley Spencer  (it's a nonfiction book about Disney Channel) 6. A Book You're Procrastinating I got a few... The Secrets of Winterhouse by Ben Gutterson,  Pennies by Lora Senf,  and  Mistress Pat by ...

  Aka all the 5 stars books! Shadow's House Volumes 1-9 by Somato Witches of Eden Volumes 5 and 6 by Yumeji Winterhouse by Ben Gutterson Sakura Saku Volume 9 by Io Sakisaka One Piece: Law's Story by Eichiro Oda and Sakagami Shusei Pet (and Bitter) by Akwaeke Emezi When it All Syncs Up (and Under All the Lights) by Maya Ameyaw The Witch Who Chases the Sun by Dawn Chen She Loves to Cook Volumes 1-5 by Sakaomi Yuzaki Monster High Comics Volume 1 by several authors Under their Skin by Margaret Peterson Haddix Nightbooks (and Gravebooks) by JA White Witchlings book 1 by Claribel Ortega Linus and Etta Could Use a Win by Caroline Huntoon Nicola Traveling Around the Demon's Realm Volumes 1-4 by Asaya Miyanagi A Kind of Spark by Elle McNicoll The Awakening of Roku by Randy Ribay Bone: Roses Story by Jeff Smith  The Gate Girl and Dragon by Grace Lin The Lightning Thief (and the Sea of Monsters) by Rick Riordan  Sheeta's Little Big World Volume 1 by Yuki Kamba The Best We Could Do...

  I finally read this whole book!  Akata Witch by Nnedi Okorafor is a YA urban fantasy book set in Nigeria. Sunny is a Nigerian-American albino girl who has always been ostracized by her community, but after befriending two other kids named Orlu and Chichi, she gets sucked into a secret society of people who are different like her. As it turns out, Sunny, Orlu, Chichi, and a fourth guy named Sasha are all "Leopard" people. These people are very spiritually attuned and can perform magic. This is what separates them from Lambs (ordinary people).  The four friends also get summoned to stop the ultimate plan of a serial killer named Black Hat Otokoto. If it isn't stopped, the whole world will literally end. This book was very magical and very atmospheric! It was so fun to read about Sunny stepping into her powers and finding a community of people like her. Very heartwarming.  I did give it 4.5 stars , but that's because of the more heavier elements that are present thro...

 TW: Mentions of scandals, losing a parent, and shootings. It's been a while since I read something by Leah Johnson ! The last thing I remember reading from her was Ellie Engle Saves Herself (you can read that review here ) two years ago, and a year before that my favorite book so far from her You Should See Me in a Crown (you can read that review here ).  So how was this book? Rise to the Sun is a dual POV book about two girls: Olivia and Toni. They both find each other at a weekend-long music festival while hanging out with each of their best friends. Each girl is trying to escape from something that's weighing each of them down. Olivia with her most recent breakup (not to mention a scandal with her recent ex-boyfriend), and Toni after losing her musician father.  The two girls end up bonding during a scavenger hunt and over their favorite musicians performing at the venue. Their respective friends Peter and Imani end up falling for each other, too.  But when a...

  And all year long. I did this kind of post last year, too! Check it out here .  

  I was not tagged, I saw one of my followers do this tag over on Instagram and thought it looked cool! I tagged some people over on Instagram, but as usual, anyone is free to do this tag, too. 1.  Green Tea: Your favorite green book. Here's a recent favorite: The Gate, Girl, and Dragon by Grace Lin. 2. Earl Grey: A book that will never get old. Just Ella by Margaret Peterson Haddix 3. Chai: A spicy romance. I don't read a lot of spicy romance, but all 3 of Emily Henry's books that I like so far (People We Meet on Vacation. Book Lovers, and Funny Story) do have some spice in them.  4. Chamomile: A relaxing read The Story Girl  duology  (The Story Girl and its sequel, The Golden Road) by LM Montgomery is pretty relaxing! 5. Matcha: A book you didn't think you were going to like The Starless Sea by Erin Morgenstern. It's actually super good! 6.  Ice Tea: A summer book on your TBR. Summer of Salt by Katrina Leno  7. Milk tea/boba: a trending booksta book ...

Um, I think I expected a little too much from this one... The graphic novel adaptation of Juliet Takes a Breath by Gabby Rivera (and illustrated by Celia Moscote) is about 19-year old Juliet, who is queer, Latina, and lives in the Bronx. She gets accepted to do a writing internship with her favorite queer feminist author, Harlowe Brisbane. After coming out to her mother as a lesbian goes wrong, and her girlfriend Lanie starts to seem distant with her, Juliet hops on the first flight to Portland, Oregon to work with Harlowe. Harlowe lets Juliet room and board at her house, and she gets familiar with people in her social circle, mostly Harlowe's ex named Max and her new girlfriend Zaira (they first meet at a writer's club). Juliet also goes a lot to the library to do research and gets close with an intern there named Kira. Juliet is happy to be surrounded by a lot of like-minded people at first, but Harlowe is probably not who she seems to be... This story did a lot of things th...

TW: mentions of trauma from foster care, and of being hurt by law enforcement.  Bitter by Akwaeke Emezi is the prequel to Pet , which I read and reviewed earlier this year. You can read that review here .  The story is about Jam's mother (from the first book) back when she was a teenager and an art student. She lives in a boarding school called Eucalyptus which is a safe haven from the rest of Lucille--which has recently been having a political uprising. Bitter wants to make Lucille a better place for her and her new social circle (consisting of her friend Blessing, Blessings girlfriend Alex, and Bitter's new boyfriend Aloe), but she finds it hard when she has her own trauma from being in different foster homes. She would rather paint and stay in Eucalyptus than go to protests with Assata. Assata is the movement of people overthrowing the corrupt people in power, which some people Bitter knows are a part of. Bitter eventually learns that she can make her own change through he...

  I was just browsing the Internet for interesting book tags and I found this one (a link to the original creator).  If you've been on my page long enough you know how much I love Studio Ghibli! So of course I had to do this one.  I tagged a few people over on my Instagram, but anyone is free to do this tag.  1. Nausicaa: Name a strong female character How about two? Anne and Cai-Li from The Witch Who Chases the Sun.   2. Sheeta: An inspiring member of royalty Several! Like Yona. And the Sailor Scouts. And the princesses of One Piece.  3. Satsuki and Mei: A pair of siblings (or friends that act like siblings)  How about friends who act like siblings? Aisha and Neil from When it All Syncs Up.  4. Kiki: A female character with supernatural gifts. So many! Amari Peters, Morrigan Crow, etc. 5. Gina and Fio: A feminine girl and a tomboy girl Nomoto and Kasuga from the She Loves to Cook manga series.  6. Angel: An underrated heroine Emilic...

Wow! Where I do I begin? When It All Syncs Up by Maya Ameyaw is a YA novel set in Canada. The MC, Aisha, loves ballet and is trying to get recognized by any prestigious ballet academy, but things weren't working out at her elite ballet academy. She decides to move in with her childhood friend Neil (after Neil himself has a huge health scare) and transfer to his public arts high school.  Unfortunately, things don't change a lot right away, but now Aisha has a new circle of support with Neil, Neil's best friend (and later Aisha's boyfriend) Ollie, a guy named Ebi, and another girl named Khadija. Aisha also learns in her new environment what does she really want to do, and try not to live up to other people's expectations (mostly her mother's).  On the surface it looks like another work-really-hard-for-your-dreams book with ballet as the center, but this story ended up being a lot deeper than that! It dealt with racism, sexism, eating disorders, alcoholism, strain...

  Aka books I want to give a second chance to read. These are books I either DNF'd, read but didn't like, or that I know I read but can't remember anything about.  Most of these I read or attempted to read before I started my blog.   Hopefully I end up liking or even loving these the second time around! 1. A Cuban Girl's Guide to Tea and Tomorrow by Laura Taylor Namey 2. Again but Better by Christine Riccio  3. Emily the Strange: The Lost Days by Rob Reger  (first of a series) 4. Old School by Tobias Wolff 5. Hatchet by Gary Paulsen 6. Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O'Dell 7. Chrissa by Mary Cassanova (an American Girl book, also a duology) 8. Vladimir Tod: Eighth Grade Bites by Z Brewer  (first of a series) 9. Love at First by Kate Clayborn 10. The Island of Dr. Moreau by HG Wells 11. Mistress Pat by LM Montgomery  (sequel to Pat of Silver Bush , which I read last year) 12. To Be Taught if Fortunate by Becky Chambers 13. Summer of Salt by K...

  A random list of romance novels I've read over the years that I love and I hope you love, too.  I will do a part 2 soon of favorite romance graphic novels (includes manga) soon!  1. The Sun is Also a Star and Instructions for Dancing by Nicola Yoon 2.  Close Enough to Touch by Colleen Oakley 3. Kisses and Croissants by Anne-Sophie Johanneau 4. Sleeping Around by Morgan Vega 5. You Should See Me in a Crown by Leah Johnson 6. Everything Leads to You  by  Nina LaCour 7. If You Still Recognize Me by Cynthia/Holden So 8. Dos and Donuts of Love and Hani and Ishu's Guide to Fake Dating by Adiba Jaigirdar 9. I Wish You All the Best by Mason Deaver 10. Moment of Truth and By Your Side by Kasie West 11.  Let's Talk about Love by Claire Kann 12. A Banh Mi for Two by Trinity Nguyen 13. Flip the Script and I'll Be the One by Lyla Lee 14. The Blue Castle by LM Montgomery 15. She Gets the Girl   by  Rachael Lippincott and Alyson Derrick 1...

  I am not sure who created this tag, but I did see this tag being done by many people over on Instagram, and I thought I'd join in! I tagged a few people over on Instagram, but there is no pressure to do it. Anyone is free to do it! 1. New Moon: A book on my TBR Pet by Akawaeke Emezi. I plan on reading it very soon! 2.  Waning Crescent: An engaging series Plenty. Some that come to mind that I haven't talked about too much on here are: Witch Hat Atelier, Eden of Witches, and Somali and the Forest Spirit 3. First Quarter: A book that changed me as a reader Plenty, but the first two that comes to mind are Stargirl and Love Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli. I read them when I was in fourth grade, and I am still thinking about them over a decade later.  4. Full Moon: An all-time favorite Anne of Green Gables , of course! 5. Wanning Gibbous: A book I did not enjoy. Several, but Beach Read by Emily Henry was a recent one. So bad I had to DNF it.  6. Waning Crescent: A book ...

  This tag was originally created by Alexa Loves Books on YouTube. The original video can be watched here .  I tagged some people over on Instagram. But anyone is free to do this tag! I do not own Sailor Moon. It is owned by Naoko Takeuchi.   1. Sailor Moon: A book that makes you hungry.  Several! I am a huge foodie so I read a lot of books centered around food. Two that come to mind are A Banh Mi for Two by Trinity Nguyen and  The Princess and the Grilled Cheese Sandwich  by Deya Muniz.  2. Sailor Mercury: A book that features science and technology. Two that come to mind are both by Margaret Peterson Haddix: Double Identity and Turnabout .  3. Sailor Venus: A book that makes you want to play video games. Bye Forever I Guess by Jodi Meadows.    4. Sailor Mars: A book inspired by mythology and folklore. Where the Mountain Meets the Moon by Grace Lin. 5. Sailor Jupiter: A book that gives you strong feelings I got several, but a re...