Cannonball Read 17

Sticking It to Cancer One Book at a Time

When poetry made me appreciate basketball

Hoop Queens 2 (Sports Royalty) by Charles R. Smith

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To be honest, I have no real interests in basketball. I know there is a basket and a ball. I know that people play on teams. I know that it is very popular during March. I know that you did not sit behind a friend of mine at a game because her arms would get to flapping so hard and fast I was afraid she would take off. However, I know a little about poetry. And to be honest, I was wondering how poetry would […]

Once upon a time, Roller Derby met Wrestling. They fell in love and made Extreme Pillow Fighting

Pillow Talk: A Graphic Novel by Stephanie Cooke

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Pillow Talk: A Graphic Novel by Stephanie Cooke and illustrator Mel Valentine Vargas is almost a perfect 5, but there were a few small things that I would have liked to have seen. With that said, this is a fun book about body image, taking back sexuality and standing up for yourself. If wrestling and roller derby got together and added pillows (and minus the roller skates) you have Pillow Talk. It is a clever way of taking a familiar story that could have just […]

Of Earthly Delights by Goldy Moldavsky

Of Earthly Delights by Goldy Moldavsky

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Please note that I received this book via NetGalley. This did not affect my rating or review. Going to be very careful to not reveal anything, but wow. I thought this entire book was great. It took me til twist #1 for me to understand everything fully I had read. I went back and re-read some of the earlier portions which made everything make sense. And then happily finished this book. It’s a really good Gothic romance young adult novel. Think of “The Secret Garden” […]

The little journal with a lot of heart and a really long title

It's Your Weirdness That Makes You Wonderful: A Self-Acceptance Prompt Journal (Positive Mental Health Teen Journal) by Kate Allan

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When I post a review, I try to write out my review first. I was making the final tweaks, and slipped, and the entire review of It’s Your Weirdness That Makes You Wonderful: A Self-Acceptance Prompt Journal (Positive Mental Health Teen Journal) disappeared!  However, this makes for a great restart as I really could have used the journal to get some of my frustrations out. Because one could have (I could have) easily gone down a rabbit hole of “I’m no good.” “How could I […]

Raise the curtain

Upstaged by Robin Easter

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I have read a lot of middle reader novels and a lot of graphic novel middle readers. I have read a lot of stories that deal with LGBTQ issues. And of course, most (if not all) have dealt with growing up, coming of age, finding yourself and situations like those. Therefore, it takes a lot for me to really love a book with the above criteria. And while I liked and enjoyed Upstaged by Robin Easter, I did not love it.  However, I did like […]

Describe in two words: FREAKING WOW

Chance: Escape from the Holocaust by Uri Shulevitz

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The book: Chance: Escape from the Holocaust by Uri Shulevitz One word: WOW. Okay two words. FREAKING WOW I cannot tell you how fantastic this book is. Just read. It is not easy, it is sad, heartbreaking, scary, beautiful, hopeful and more. It covers all the emotions. It shows you a piece of World War II that we don’t know about. Again, WOW and go read. For mature readers at least 12-13 and up, but I would recommend older. But if you read with them, […]



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