Cannonball Read 17

Sticking It to Cancer One Book at a Time

They say it with love

How Do Dinosaurs Say Happy Chanukah? by Jane Yolen

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The illustrations of the cover tell you that this is another Jane Yolen and Mark Teague collaboration. And the cute lovely dinosaur on said cover shows you it is part of their How Do Dinosaurs…? series. The title tells you that this is How Do Dinosaurs Say Happy Chanukah? The format is familiar: the narrator asks does the dinosaur do X? (Something naughty or mischievous). And then you see what you should be doing to celebrate the holiday. The board book format makes it perfect […]

“In brightest day, in blackest night, No evil shall escape my sight. Let all who worship evil’s might, Beware my power, Green Lantern’s light!”

Green Lantern: Legacy by Minh Le

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While Minh Le’s Green Lantern: Legacy is an easy Green Lantern story, it does capture the old school feel of the adult/original Green Lantern. It is a story that any Green Lantern would have to face: the first battle while they still face their fear of failure, wondering if are they good enough and why does everyone think they need a babysitter? (Okay, that last part is probably just 13-year-old Tai Pham). All the elements of a good graphic novel and a good story is […]

“You are stronger than you believe. You have greater powers than you know.” —Antiope to Diana, Wonder Woman movie

Diana: Princess of the Amazons by Shannon Hale

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I was going to review three of these new DC graphic novels for younger readers together. However, each one is so different that they each need their own review. Diana: Princess of the Amazons is a decent story with a good lesson and lots of girl power. It is the story of how a princess called Diana starts to learn about becoming Wonder Woman. It is for ages 7 to 10. And, while boys could read, I do think that it is aimed more at […]

He knows when you are sleeping and when you ate the cheese

Santa Mouse by Michael Brown

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Originally written in 1966 Santa Mouse by Michael Brown certainly has a classical feeling tail…. tale.  This came across before I realized it was a retelling. There is one lonely mouse, with a very active imagination. And a mouse who is a bit modern: some of his imaginary friends have tea parties’ others play cowboys, Inuit and a “Spanish-person” with him. However, this political correctness of using Inuit could be the editors doing an updated version to fit the contemporary reader. As I think he […]

I cannot do this book justice, so don’t read my review, just take my word and read this book

The Deep & Dark Blue by Niki Smith

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There are a few weak spots in the story line of The Deep & Dark Blue. The largest two pieces are, first, it seems to start in the middle of the story. You do not learn who the two main characters, Hawke and Grayson, are right away but tossed into being introduced to a large plot point while being tossed into meeting a cousin of the twins at the same time. Yet, you are unaware right off he is a cousin. Or they are twins. […]

Shooting Stars

Dragon Hoops by Gene Luen Yang

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Dragon Hoops was not only a graphic novel, but a graphic novel by Gene Luen Yang. And not just only any old graphic novel by him, but a First Second published one. All the big points were hit. The only thing I was not looking forward to was going to be the basketball aspect. But I figured that since Check, Please! by Ngozi Ukazu was not really about hockey, that maybe this was not really about basketball. Oh, it is about basketball. But it is […]



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