Cannonball Read 17

Sticking It to Cancer One Book at a Time

Pass the tacos and hold the screams

Apocalypse Taco by Nathan Hale

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When I first saw the cover of Apocalypse Taco, I was wondered if it was going to be a mystery or a cultural coming of age story. I never expected mutant tacos that replicate cars or a multiple armed and legged person who is besties with a tooth monster. Never having read Nathan Hale, I had no idea what to expect. But then again, I did not expect mutant bee-squid creatures or alien dimensions. But, of course, neither did our main characters, 11-year-old twins Axl […]

Fun with Classics and Art

Andy Warhol What Colors Do You See? Board Book by Mudpuppy

Bookish Cats Board Book by Mudpuppy

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I am not always a fan of the “click bait” book for toddlers. You know the type: they are trying to make an activist of your baby, or posh or something that a hipster parent wants. The child themselves could not care less what the subject is. They are more worried if they can they eat it or not. But every so often one of these modern books is clever and something that is worth the time to partake in. Since I will be laughing […]

Swashbuckling fantasy

Lily the Thief by Janne Kukkonen

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I once was talking to a coworker about a book I read and liked but the way I described it was that I had never loved and hated a book so much in my life. It was amazing, but I was mentally-physically ill while reading as the emotions were so great. It was not an easy read, to say the least. And while I cannot say I loved and hated Lily the Thief that extremely, it did create an experience that I felt strongly. I […]

From two masters of the graphic novel

The Eternal Smile: Three Stories by Gene Luen Yang

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My weekend reading included three graphic novels, and while two were “intense” they were not deeply intense like The Eternal Smile: Three Stories was. This book takes three similar themed, but very different stories and punches you in the face. At first you are seeing the reality of the story. Things seem straight forward at first: A young man battles the “big bads” of the world, wins maiden fair and should live happily ever after. A greedy, cigar chomping frog tries to find that one […]

I do not like it when I do not like a book and then have to review it

I Do Not Like That Name by Erin McGill

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I Do Not Like That Name started out fun, but the ending was rushed and flat. Erin McGill’s characters want an elephant and they can send in cereal box tops to get one. When the elephant finally arrives, it has no name. A quick rundown on how Sophia (a girl) and Herb (a rabbit) got them name happens. An even quick pick of the elephant’s name follows. Then end. Um. Okay. Next? McGill does have some cute illustrations that are fun to browse. Herb has […]

Snow Days

Snowy Farm by Calvin Shaw

One Snowy Morning by Kevin Tseng

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It is January in New England and we finally have gotten some serious snow that was snow and not just “crappy stuff” that actually stayed for a little while. If we could get rid of the extreme nasty cold temperatures it would be perfect. Yet, this not so nice weather has allowed me to stay inside and read. And as I was not in the mood for a “deep dark serious reading” for most of the weekend (though I did do at least one of […]



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