Cannonball Read 17

Sticking It to Cancer One Book at a Time

“Join a commune!” they said.

The Gulf by Adam de Souza

by Leave a Comment

The Gulf by Adam de Souza was an interesting read. However, since I have read several similar titles, the theme did not WOW or “Hit me powerfully.” However, it was a great coming of age story with some interesting twists and turns. The concepts might be a bit mature for some readers, but for the most part the content is fine for at least thirteen and up. And as always, older teens and adults should read it as it has an almost all age appeal. […]

There’s a lot to unpack and my suitcase isn’t big enough

My Father, the Panda Killer by Jamie Jo Hoang

by Leave a Comment

After finishing My Father, the Panda Killer by Jamie Jo Hoang, I texted a friend to tell her I had finally finished the difficult book I was reading. It was difficult as the pacing felt slow to me and the subject is far from easy. The main character is the first generation to be born in the states after her parents fled war-torn Vietnam during/after the war. We, like the narrator Jane, learn about things in snippets with her having to fill in the blanks. […]

The grandfather, the boy, the guitar and the song

The One About the Blackbird by Melanie Florence

by Leave a Comment

Bring the tissues when you read The One About the Blackbird by Melanie Florence and illustrator Matt James (read via an online reader copy, due later October 2025). This is a bittersweet story of the love of a grandson and grandfather and how the tables turn as time goes by, but music always pulls them together. The story is about how a young boy is always surrounded by music. One night he tells his grandfather he, too, wants to make music like his favorite song […]

Dusty town It’s a busy village Every day Like the one before Little town Full of little people Wanting to say, WHERE THE F IS SUNDAY?

The Lost Sunday by Iléana Surducan

by Leave a Comment

I won’t say a lot about the themes or story of The Lost Sunday by Iléana Surducan as it is pretty traditional. There are fairy tale tropes, the ideas are what you would expect for an Odyssey like journey of a young girl to the witches lair. The illustrations are amusing, cute, clever, simple and detailed simultaneously. There are good colors to them, without being too bold or too muted. They are supportive of the story. There are not a lot of surprises for big […]

In the Early 1980s Fujiwara Maki began a picture diary

My Picture Diary by Maki Fujiwara

by Leave a Comment

My Picture Diary is an odd little book. It is a day-to-day/day in the life of the author, Maki Fujiwara (also illustrated by) and her family. Things are fairly dull on the surface, but a lot is going on nonetheless. You can see the era (the late 1970s/early 1980s) and the culture and country (Japan); and of course, the husband and wife and the parent(s) and child relationships. The illustrations are simple, but deceptively so. The style itself is not overly detailed, but they do […]

Axolotls are all the rage

Max, a Little Axolotl #1 (An Original Graphic Novel) by Joey Spiotto

Axolotl and Axolittle by Jess Hitchman and Sarah Rebar

by Leave a Comment

I cannot say that Max, a Little Axolotl #1 (An Original Graphic Novel) is the best book I have ever read. I cannot even say it was a great book. Joey Spiotto made a cute story about coming out of your comfort zone, friendship and even a little bit about axolotls.  The thing is, as an adult, I can like and appreciate the book, but it was slightly too simple for my personal tastes. Therefore, at least five and up would be a good read-to […]



Help Our Mission

You can donate to CBR via:

  1. PayPal
  2. Venmo