Cannonball Read 17

Sticking It to Cancer One Book at a Time

An invitation to the party

Rambutan: Recipes from Sri Lanka by Cynthia Shanmugalingam

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Two things, if you like coconut milk and have access to fresh curry leaves (likely at a local Indian grocer), you need this cookbook; secondly, even if you do not like coconut milk and can’t get curry leaves to save your life, you probably still need this cookbook. Go ahead and get it because even if you only read it it’s still worth the money. Cynthia Shanmugalingam’s Rambutan is gorgeous. The photography is luscious. The writing is warm, funny, heartbreaking, and evocative. I can smell […]

On eating compassionately

The Happy Vegan: A Guide to Living a Long, Healthy, and Successful Life by Russell Simmons, Chris Morrow

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It’s a natural time for change: new school year, new season, new job. So, I decided to freshen up my routines across the board. Since I’ve felt sluggish, lately, I’m trying to switch up what I’m eating. Libraries have like a million food books, so I just ran through that aisle and threw all of them in my cart, Supermarket Sweep-style. The Happy Vegan had a great title, so it’s the first one I read. It’s written by mogul Russell Simmons. I don’t know much […]

New Old Food

New Native Kitchen by Chef Freddie Bitsoie, James O. Fraioli

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Bingo 15: Bird There’s really only two birds in New Native Kitchen, and it’s the three places duck gets mentioned and a handful of chicken recipes. I would also say that the phrase “birds of a feather” applies here because it is intended to introduce people to Indigenous cultures from across the country (sort of ironic but not in a bad way), and there’s a lot of emphasis on the importance of community, which given that this is a cookbook, is not that surprising. Although […]

Lost doesn’t mean you’re not a friend

Lemon Bird: Can Help! by Paulina Ganucheau

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I think Lemon Bird: Can Help! By Paulina Ganucheau might be the first in a series, but also reads as if it is a second or later book in series as well. Otherwise, this is a sweet, simple story about trying, doing your best, friends, and being a decent creature. Funny mixed animals make clever characters (and maybe hungry!) There is a lot to say about Lemon Bird. She is a bird that looks like a lemon. She is unable to fly, but really tries […]

Plum has more than a green thumb

The Guardian Test (Legends of Lotus Island #1) by Christina Soontornvat

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If Harry Potter and Avatar the Last Airbender had a story together The Guardian Test (Legends of Lotus Island #1) by Christina Soontornvat would be the results. This is a simple and sweet magical coming of age story. We know the plot, but not how things will unfold exactly. It is not overly packed with surprises, but the aged aimed at reader will be wondering what happens next. Kevin Hong will be the illustrator of this aged eight and up (solo read) novel, but probably […]

Are you one of those transformers?

Welcome to St. Hell: My Trans Teen Misadventure by Lewis Hancox

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While there are things I was not liking in Welcome to St. Hell: My Trans Teen Misadventure, overall, this is a funny book about a serious topic. The fourth wall breaking helps give breathing room, allowing things to slow down, and be absorbed. There is a lot going on. Not only are we dealing with the “normal teen angst” there is something bigger going on. The point of view is all from hindsight, and perhaps Lewis Hancox remembers a few things not as they happened, […]



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