Cannonball Read 17

Sticking It to Cancer One Book at a Time

Alternative facts by your mother can make you one heck of a writer

There is No Shrimp … And Other Lies My Mother Told Me (UFO Catcher Ken Presents) by Kenny Loui

by Leave a Comment

Is this book by Kenny Loui perfect? No, but it is freaking entertaining and fun. The title (There is No Shrimp … And Other Lies My Mother Told Me (UFO Catcher Ken Presents) ) tells you everything you need to know (though sometimes his mother’s lies are less malice and more “age appropriate” explanations, having a tease (at her son’s expense) and/or herself uncomfortable explaining the situation). These lies range from the downright silly (why are all of her photographs in black an white? Because […]

If Disney’s WALL-E met Noah’s Ark and narrated by all the nature hosts you know

The Last Zookeeper by Aaron Becker

by Leave a Comment

is known for their wordless picture books. And The Last Zookeeper is another gem in that genre.  It is always funny to me to write a review about a book with no words. There is a quote from Jane Goodall at the start, but that is it in this  due mid-March 2024 Disney’s WALL-E meets Noah’s Ark story. The theme is simple, environmentalism. However, it goes deeper. The emotional pull of what happens if we do not pay attention to our world and that environment is […]

Which Witch is the worst Witch?

Courtney Crumrin and the Night Things (Courtney Crumrin, #1) by Ted Naifeh

by Leave a Comment

Can you like and dislike a book at the same time? I say yes, as the graphic novel Courtney Crumrin and the Night Things (Courtney Crumrin, #1) by Ted Naifeh is exactly that.  And due to that, I am not really sure I want to explore the rest of the books in the various Courtney Crumrin series. Unless, there is a collection of everything…. Well a girl can dream right? There is really nothing likable about any of the characters, even Courtney who we follow through […]

When a firebird crashes into your life

Atana V01: Atana and the Firebird by Vivian Zhou

by Leave a Comment

The best way to describe the graphic novel, Atana V01: Atana and the Firebird is that it is a mix of K. O’Neil,  Swan Lake by Rey Terciero & Tidesong by Wendy Wu. In other words, it is a traditional fantasy story with female protagonists and magical elements. The artwork is uncomplicated, with basic details. It is not flashy but not plain either (there is a lovely image at the end that is perfect in that it has both the simplicity and it holds a […]

Of butterflies and spirits

A Blanket of Butterflies (The Spirit of Denendeh Volume One) by Richard Van Camp

As I Enfold You in Petals (The Spirit of Denendeh, Volume 2). by Richard Van Camp

by Leave a Comment

A while back I found a reader copy request form. After asking and receiving it, I realized it was book two. I did find book one, but never got around to reading it. After receiving the second book, there was still no reading of it. I only realized why I had the delay the night I read them. They are books that must be read “at the right time,” otherwise you will not be ready for them. The books were A Blanket of Butterflies (The […]

It’s a Love and Air thing

Family is Family by Melissa Marr

Puff: All About Air by Emily Kate Moon

by Leave a Comment

Let me tell you a not so secret secret: I like books. But what is a somewhat secret is that I do not write reviews for all the books I have read. However, I am going to write reviews for the two below (both read via online reader copies) Family is Family by Melissa Marr and illustrated by Marcos Almada Rivero, due March 2024  While the “all families are different” theme has been done before, this is the first time I have seen it done […]



Help Our Mission

You can donate to CBR via:

  1. PayPal
  2. Venmo