Cannonball Read 17

Sticking It to Cancer One Book at a Time

I promise there is pudding under the whipped cream (I needed a snack break)

Trickster: Native American Tales, A Graphic Collection by Matt Dembicki,

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I would like to compare the newer edition (2021) of Trickster: Native American Tales, A Graphic Collection to the one I read (2010) as some of the text used does not reflect modern expressions or what is considered politically correct. However, the afterwards of the editor Matt Dembicki, shows the process of working with the authors, storytellers and artists and the care taken to represent the people. This is a good book to teach how cultures express themselves (language flow fits cultural influences), plus how […]

The Impact of Seven Words

Seven Words by Susan G. Robb

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Seven Words by Susan G. Robb My rating: 4 of 5 stars Written as a devotional for Lent, the books is split up into chapters and sections that can be read in small portions for the 40-day period. The focus of the book is literally what the title says; each chapter breaks down the words and phrases Jesus speaks on the cross. Ms. Robb is a pastor and uses her theological background to look at the implications of the last seven words Jesus spoke before […]

St. Oscars world

The Past is Red by Catherynne M. Valente.

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I did not think I would like the short novel; The Past is Red by Catherynne M. Valente. I felt I would never understand it and was going to stop reading as things felt disjointed, the narrator was bouncing all over, and there was stuff that was very off. The book felt like a translation that was not smoothly translated at that. However, once I understood the flow (there was one), the bounces between “really then, then, and now,” plus how reliable the narrative is […]

Rated PG-16 and odd

Artichoke Tales by Megan Kelso

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Artichoke Tales by Megan Kelso is a very odd book. At first, I was enjoying this slow-paced story that seemed to have a point. But while I was busy trying to figure out who was who (as the artichoke heads and same tunic clothing made everyone look the same) I was sideswiped. There is a switch in the story and there was no warning. Are we “Then” or “Then-Then” or “Now”? Is this Ramona, Brigitte, or Dorian? (I picked those three as they are mother, daughter […]

It is Redwall!

Redwall: The Graphic Novel by Brian Jacques

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The world we loved and continue to love, though the author has passed to the great Abbey in the sky came to life in Redwall: The Graphic Novel. Stuart Moore adapted Brian Jacques beloved book. I would recommend this for those who are already fans as there are some things that would turn a novice reader away. They could enjoy, but the lack of any color to the illustrations could turn some readers off. This would probably be the main issue a fresh to the […]

That’s a nice tree

Deborah’s Tree by Jane Yolen

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Deborah’s Tree by Jane Yolen and illustrated by Cosei Kawa is a picture book that has multiple layers. It is a book on religion and women’s history. I knew the name Deborah was biblical but did not know the history of the woman behind the story. Deborah was a female judge. In fact, the only one the bible mentions. We follow Deborah from a child to an adult. We see her visions (let us put divine intervention aside for the moment and I will say […]



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