cosbrarian – Page 12 – Cannonball Read 17

“Because all the words I could think of—bullying, teasing, flirting—seemed too simple, too small, to hold all the hurt I was feeling.”

Maybe He Just Likes You by Barbara Dee

February 24, 2020 by cosbrarian 3 Comments

Mila used to love wearing her green fuzzy sweater. That is, until a group of boys at school started calling it lucky. It began at recess one day, when the boys joined into a group hug between her friends uninvited. Since then, they’ve narrowed their focus in on her. One day, a boy brushes her shoulder and she’s pretty sure it was intentional. Another, someone wants to touch her fuzzy sweater for luck in the basketball game. One day, a boy asks her for a […]

“But if you could tell science like a story, I’d pay attention.”

The Line Tender by Kate Allen

February 12, 2020 by cosbrarian Leave a Comment

Lucy’s mother was a marine biologist who was particularly interested in sharks. People told her mother that this enthusiasm would get her killed, but it was a brain aneurysm that ended up taking her life. Lucy was seven when that happened, and while she still finds herself occasionally swept up in bouts of grief, she and her father are getting by. Friends and neighbors help a lot. Fred from across the street is her best friend, though now at 13 years old, she is beginning […]

Stories from the 1% (no not THAT one)

I Can Make This Promise by Christine Day

February 11, 2020 by cosbrarian Leave a Comment

Recently I was lucky to present at our state comic con on Teen Girls in Space, and one of the focuses of my panel contributions was diversity in pop culture. I got to really dig into the still terrible statistics of representation in literature and media, and while it was nice to see the numbers getting better, all in all it is a “long way to go” situation – unsurprising to any Pajiban and Cannonballer, I am sure. Of the many major bummers, one super-major […]

“Not that an asteroid crashing into our planet is a good thing, but it does put everything else into perspective.”

The World Ends in April by McAnulty, Stacy

January 30, 2020 by cosbrarian Leave a Comment

Eleanor Dross is getting a little weary of her life. School, as always, is terrible. She has only one friend, and while Mack is the best, she could do without everyone else ignoring her or worse. Her grades? Let’s not talk about it. And home life, it’s fine, but nothing to, well, write home about. Her recently widowed dad is doing his best. And they have Grandpa Joe to help out too. But Joe is a “prepper” – that is to say, he’s most excited […]

“Kindness becomes a miracle.”

White Bird: a Wonder Story by R.J. Palacio

January 15, 2020 by cosbrarian Leave a Comment

Julian has a school project, to interview a family member for their biographical story. On a facetime chat, he talks his grandmother into sharing her childhood growing up in wartime France. Hesitantly, she agrees to, and not only to do that but to share parts of her story she hasn’t told before. For Julian and his grandmother are Jewish, and Sara (his grandmother) is nervous about how her history seems to be repeating. We meet her as a child along with her impressive parents: her […]

“Slick” sci-fi for the middle school set

Friendroid by M.M. Vaughan

January 5, 2020 by cosbrarian Leave a Comment

Danny Lazio doesn’t get along with kids. It’s not really his fault – his single mom does the best she can to provide, but his classmates still come down on him for it. Of course, it probably doesn’t help that he has a bit of a temper, but who can blame him when kids say he has fleas and his mom gets his clothes from the dumpster? It’s fine – having no friends just gives him more time to play his favorite game Land X, […]

Zirza on A Gothic Classic for a ReasonIt's one of those wish-you-could-read-it-again-for-the-first-time books. I loved it.
Emmalita on “It came to something when you found yourself hoping that the footsteps you heard were ghosts.”I loved the ending! I don’t think it’s been out long enough to talk about why though.
Dixie on Track Her Down by Melinda LeighI am just starting Track Her Down and I have read them all in order till now and thought I...
Roland of Gilead on How can you give us the gift of a crazy character named Rando Thoughtful and then just as suddenly take that gift away? We need to talk, Uncle Stevie.I came across this randomly years after it was written because I was searching "Random Thoughtful. But I have the...
Emmalita on “Only you, Em, would refer to heartbreak as a distraction. I think I would have a more sympathetic response if I asked to marry a bookcase.”Oh my goodness, Gallifrey was beautiful. I’m sure her mittens were gloriously murdery.

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