Cannonball Read 17

Sticking It to Cancer One Book at a Time

Sisters might point things out that others are too polite to mention, but I wanna point out some good books

What Are Sisters For? by Anya Glazer

How to Hug a Pufferfish by Ellie Peterson

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There is no theme to connect What Are Sisters For? And How to Hug a Pufferfish, other than both are fun new books to get for your collection. Anya Glazer illustrated and wrote What Are Sisters For? I personally would say: to blame for things that you did; trade for chocolate cookies; and cut the fuzz out of your favorite koala bears ears (not really a plus, though). And speaking of koalas, we have two koala sisters, Ada and Bea. Ada the older, always has […]

For those who question and have big feelings

Aaron Slater, Illustrator by Andrea Beaty

Meesha Makes Friends by Tom Percival

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The Questioneers and Big Bright Feelings series are a set of books dealing with social themes, such as confidence, being different, trying and failing, fears, lack of friendships all set for the (strong) four and up crowd. Aaron Slater, Illustrator by Andrea Beaty and David Roberts on illustrations, and Tom Percival doing double duty with Meesha Makes Friends continue the themes. Beaty and Roberts use bold, bright, busy text and colors in Aaron Slater, Illustrator. The rhymes and fantastic illustrations (that are brassy, sassy, and […]

Go talk your weird love to the wind

Thirty Talks Weird Love by Alessandra Narvaez Varela

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When I first started to read Thirty Talks Weird Love my first thought was, “Well this is crap.” But I realized I was tired and told myself to go to bed. That is the main thing you need to know about Alessandra Narvaez Varela’s book: be rested. This book is an emotional rollercoaster and if you are the tiniest bit uncomfortable or not in a good headspace, do not try this book. The journey of finding and being perfection, and how we see ourselves are […]

The Girl Who is Spring

Feelings: A Story in Seasons by Manjit Thapp

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Feelings: A Story in Seasons is promoted as both a poetry book and as a graphic novel. However, it is more than that. It is also a picture book with its sensual and heavy illustrations. It is a book about emotions and the depression that changes them during the different seasons the author, Manjit Thapp, faces. This book is a poetic look at how depression is the season we are reading about. It is presented to us as a chapter, Summer, Fall, Winter, Monsoon, and […]

Little book, big story

The Golden Hour by Niki Smith

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Triggers with experiencing violence event are explored in The Golden Hour. This is a sweet look at the difficulties one boy faces with anxiety, depression, and his PTSD after witnessing gun violence involving a teacher at school. Through therapy, grounding techniques and new friends Manuel starts healing. I know it seems odd that it is sweet, but Niki Smith tastefully shows you the journey Manuel takes. Smith brings in elements of Manuel coming from a single parent home. They show you a bit of his […]

Might not kill you but just might help cure insomnia

This Lie Will Kill You by Chelsea Pitcher

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When I was between ages 12 and 15-16, I would have devoured this young adult novel, This Lie Will Kill You by Chelsea Pitcher. It has everything: romance, love triangles, a good bad boy, murder, mayhem, mystery, red herrings, strange person in a mask, and metaphorical masks as friends have secrets. As an adult, I feel that this book was cliched, convoluted, with a too neat ending, and had an obvious twist. The characters were unlikable to my adult-self, but as a teen I would […]



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