A Map of Days by Ransom Riggs

About a month ago I got an email in my inbox from a company that features new titles and books I may be interested in.  As I opened it up and saw this title I got all excited and had to see if my local library carried a copy.  I was in luck and the book was ordered and on its way to the library.  A couple of days later I got the notification that it was in and ready to be picked up.    This is the first book in months I have been able to really get into and complete.  I have tried others and lost interest in them, but it doesn't also help that I have been pregnant since the end of June and have been super tired, working an early morning shift and chasing around a 3 year old as well. But this book changed things and I found myself even staying up late some nights just to see what the next chapter would hold.  I have really enjoyed this series and I hope that if this author releases another book or two that it won't be too far behind this one.

Here is a descripton of the storyline from the goodreads.com website.  "The #1 bestselling series returns with a thrilling new story arc set in America!

Vintage photographs reveal the never-before-seen world of peculiar America with a stunning addition—full-color images.

Having defeated the monstrous threat that nearly destroyed the peculiar world, Jacob Portman is back where his story began, in Florida. Except now Miss Peregrine, Emma, and their peculiar friends are with him, and doing their best to blend in. But carefree days of beach visits and normalling lessons are soon interrupted by a discovery—a subterranean bunker that belonged to Jacob’s grandfather, Abe.

Clues to Abe’s double-life as a peculiar operative start to emerge, secrets long hidden in plain sight. And Jacob begins to learn about the dangerous legacy he has inherited—truths that were part of him long before he walked into Miss Peregrine’s time loop.

Now, the stakes are higher than ever as Jacob and his friends are thrust into the untamed landscape of American peculiardom—a world with few ymbrynes, or rules—that none of them understand. New wonders, and dangers, await in this brilliant next chapter for Miss Peregrine’s peculiar children. Their story is again illustrated throughout by haunting vintage photographs, but with a striking addition for this all-new, multi-era American adventure—full color. "

       I enjoyed the movie adaptation that was made about the first novel in this series, but nothing beats reading the books in this case.  The way this author writes it so vivid it is a movie playing in my head all the time time while reading and my characters don't look the same as the ones that played in the movie.  I would totally recommend this series for anyone who like a bit of peculiarity and suspense.  

I know this book doesn't really follow my goal of reading books that I already own, but sometimes you know you just have to step out of the way go for a new and exciting adventure.

The Candymakers by Wendy Mass

Synopsis: Four children have been chosen to compete in a national competition to find the tastiest confection in the country. Who will invent a candy more delicious than the Oozing Crunchorama or the Neon Lightning Chew? Logan, the Candymaker's son, who can detect the color of chocolate by touch alone?Miles, the boy who is allergic to merry-go-rounds and the color pink? Daisy, the cheerful girl who can lift a fifty-pound lump of taffy like it's a feather? Or Philip, the suit-and-tie wearing boy who's always scribbling in a secret notebook?This sweet, charming, and cleverly crafted story, told from each contestant's perspective, is filled with mystery, friendship, and juicy revelations. 

I got this book at a book fair a few years ago when I was student teaching.  I could never pass up a book fair.  I don't know if it was my passion for sweets or the bright colors of the color which intrigued me more.  I know it is geared towards a younger audience, but it kept me captivated and trying to figure out what would happen next.  I would totally recommend this to a bright young reader out there.  Who knows, maybe one day my son will enjoy it as well.

While I was searching for a picture of this book online, a sequel came up called the, " The Candymakers and the Great Chocolate Chase". I admit I felt a little giddy when I found this out and not long after I searched the website of my local library and lo and behold they had the sequel checked in.  It may just be the next book I read. 

It Has Been a While.....+ New Reading Goal

Ok, so the last post I did was back in May 2017.  I was all for reading a bunch and challenging myself to do more reading. And I did  good until May.  That is when my life changed.  I left my job being a nanny and found a new job at a new Grocery Store that opened up in the city I live in.  My new work hours were from 5 am to  1 pm.  It was quite the adjustment for me and I was tired all the time, especially having to keep up with my 2 year old son and still run a household and make meals since my husband works a night shift. 
     So now here we are 10 months later and I'm finally adjusting to the early hours, even though my house still feels like it is constantly a mess.  Who can keep up with a whirlwind of an almost 3 year old who feels like he needs all his toys out each day.
    At the beginning of the year as we were cleaning out a few things and reorganizing our office I came upon some books that had been hiding on the bottom shelf.   I had bought them many years ago....some from middle school all the way through college.   There were some classic titles like Matilda and The Scarlet Letter to some I've bought but haven't read yet.  So I decided to make a New Years resolution and read those books which I haven't before and keep the ones I deem awesome and get rid of the ones that were just so-so. 
   So that is my new goal and I plan to post on each book I read and even though I may not like them, someone else may be interested in it.  If I do keep the book, you are more than welcome to borrow my copy, otherwise you can just have the ones I wasn't a fan of.   Deal?

Happy Reading!!

The Year of the Hangman by Gary Blackwood

Synopsis: "In 1776, the rebellion of the American colonies against British rule was crushed.  Now, in 1777-the year of the hangman-George Washington is awaiting execution, Benjamin Franklin's banned rebel newspaper, Liberty Tree, has gone underground, and young ne'er-do-well Creighton Brown, a fifteen-year-old Brit, has just arrived in the colonies.  Having been shipped off against his will, with nothing but a distance for English authorities, Creighton befriends Franklin, and lands a job with his print shop.  But the English general expects the spoiled yet loyal Creighton to spy on Franklin.  As battles unfold and falsehoods are exposed, Creighton must decide where his loyalties lie...a choice that could determine the fate of a nation."

My parents bought me this book years ago because it sounded really interesting and I love reading historical fiction.  It has been sitting on my shelf ever since then.  This was the first book I decided to read to kick off my New Years Resolution. 

This book was an o.k. read. I felt like it was geared more towards male readers, probably because they could relate to the young male lead character.  This book was a fast read and pretty easy to follow and picture in my head.  It would have been interesting if this story had actually taken place as some of the more well-known characters like George Washington and Benjamin Franklin lead different lives and how it changed the war.

I do agree with part of this review off of Goodreads by a commentator by the name of Cindy, "All of the characters in the story are realistic and likable (except of course the nasty uncle) and drive the story to its suspenseful end--all the while making us hope that Creighton will finally get himself together, knock the chip off his shoulder, and learn to be a respectful, hard-working member of society. He is severely tested along the way, and he learns whom to trust in life--as well as those who should not be trusted. Mostly, he learns to trust himself in ways he never could before. The Year of the Hangman is another "coming of age" story with the unique twist of being a uchronia."

If you like historical fiction and like to think "what if...." then I would suggest you read this book for yourself and see what you think.