Cannonball Read 17

Sticking It to Cancer One Book at a Time

“Death is boring. Life is much more fun. Things happen in life all the time. Unexpected things.” (Quintuple Bingo)

Nevermoor: The Trials of Morrigan Crow by Jessica Townsend

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4.5 stars Nowhere Bingo 25: A middle-grade book CBR17 Bingo: N (a book starting with the letter N) Morrigan Crow is a cursed child, born on Eventide (think New Year’s Eve, but unlucky) and as such, is due to die at midnight on her 11th birthday. She keeps being blamed for everything bad that happens in her surroundings and spends a lot of time writing apology notes. However, before she can meet her doom, a mysterious stranger called Jupiter North appears and takes her away, […]

“She was Grendel’s mother; she was vengeance incarnate.”

Hench by Natalie Zina Walschots

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Bingo 22: Rec’d Those Goodreads emails that include “stuff currently popular” are often annoying, but sometimes skimming them pays off. I saw a review of the sequel to Hench, which led to me clicking on Hench, and being convinced to pick it up from the library based on those reviews. We’ll call that “recommended”. Imagine the world governed by super heroes and supervillains, but the heroes might be as destructive and violent and generally damaging as the villains. Anna is a temp worker for a […]

A Magic School for Kids

The Incandescent by Emily Tesh

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CBR Square- School I read The Incandescent by Emily Tesh because she promoted it on Threads as a book with a magic school where the adults are allowed to be competent. And that doesn’t mean they don’t make mistakes, but when the students get themselves into trouble with their magic, they go to an adult who can help them and she does. So this is entirely told from the adult perspective, and one demon. I really liked it a lot. Dr. Walden is the Director of Magic […]

Yes, There Will be a Quiz

1066 and All That. A Memorable History of England, Comprising all the Parts You Can Remember, Including 103 Good Things, 5 Bad Kings, and 2 Genuine Dates by W. C. Sellar

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cbr17 bingo School A real oddball of a book!  Basically, it is a photocopy of a previously existing library book, (dated 1930) including a copy of check out card and index card (remember card catalogues?).  The back blurb states: This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations.  Within the United States, you […]

It’s a Long and Winding Road

Homeseeking by Karissa Chen

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cbr17bingo Diaspora The post WWII years in China were tumultuous times.  The Japanese, who had invaded and occupied a good deal of China, were leaving, but left in their stead a split China.  There was the nationalist government, supported by the Allies (think Chiang Kai-shek), many of whom ended up retreating to Taiwan.  Meanwhile Mao Zedong further expanded his alternative Communist regime.  And caught in the middle of all this were people just trying to live their lives, such as Suchi and Haiwen. The two […]

“Wealth is just security. Luxury is living care free.”

The Listeners by Maggie Stiefvater

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4.5 stars CBR17 Bingo: Culture (A lot of people from a lot of different backgrounds, countries and cultures are forced together for a time during World War II) Official plot summary: January 1942. The Avallon Hotel & Spa has always offered elegant luxury in the wilds of West Virginia, its mountain sweetwater washing away all of high society’s troubles. Local girl-turned-general manager June Porter Hudson has guided the Avallon skillfully through the first pangs of war. The Gilfoyles, the hotel’s aristocratic owners, have trained her […]



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