Cannonball Read 17

Sticking It to Cancer One Book at a Time

Heavy emotions

The Heavy Bag: One Girl's Journey Through Grief (US Version) by Sarah Surgey

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Books about grief are not new, however, the tone of The Heavy Bag: One Girl’s Journey Through Grief (US Version) has a more European or “classical” feeling to it. This allows things to not be the “same old” we are used to. However, as it does say “US Version” in the title, it might have been adapted to a more American audience or possibly just translated into English (the French title is, Un sac très lourd). The more poetic nature of dealing with the issues […]

Trying to find the Better Place

Better Place by Duane Murray

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I thought that the graphic novel, Better Place by Duane Murray was about a kid who played hockey. Maybe he would have some problems in school, some bully or something, but nothing overly serious or we had not seen before. But then we find that the mature theme of death is put into play and the child, Dylan (of cover fame), is not your average hockey player. In fact, hockey is far from what he does. He and his grandfather are not just two peas in the pod, […]

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

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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 […]

Is this book prefect? No, but it is a da*n good start

Why? A Story for Kids Who Have Lost a Parent to Suicide by Melissa Allen Heath

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I am going to say that Why? A Story for Kids Who Have Lost a Parent to Suicide is a terribly sad, but honest, and well-done book. Due in mid-November 2023 anyone who has lost a person to death by suicide should read this. Granted, it might be a bit “touchy feely” but then again it is for kids and not adults. The voice is that of the child and again, honest. They talk about why daddy was sick, that you cannot catch depression (point […]

Just like Aunt Bea

Zora, the Story Keeper by Ebony Joy Wilkins

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I read a book. I thought about it so I could write a review. And then I wondered, is this something I can do justice to? I mean, there is nothing hard about Zora, the Story Keeper. It is a story about a girl, Zora, and her beloved Aunt Bea. And in the end, after their beautiful times together, where they told stories, and costumes are worn, Aunt Bea passes away, so it is also a book of grief and holding onto the stories Aunt […]

Bitter and sweet

Ronan and the Endless Sea of Stars: A Graphic Memoir by Rick Louis

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CBR15Passport New Authors to me Ronan and the Endless Sea of Stars: A Graphic Memoir is a bittersweet story of living with a child who has an incurable condition. It is spiritual, realistic, and surreal all at once. Sometimes the tone is a bit on the romantic side, but it is a forgivable offense as this is a love story to the child as much as a memoir of the fathers. I have never been a mother, though an aunt three times (plus various “adopted […]



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