Cannonball Read 17

Sticking It to Cancer One Book at a Time

Flinging Stardust Everywhere

The Stuff of Stars by Marion Dane Baue

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The Stuff of Stars is what I would call “a real WOW!” book. Marion Dane Bauer has created text that is poetic and traditional text simultaneously. Along with the illustrations of Ekua Holmes, Bauer’s text is extremely strong. A read-aloud time will be most joyous as you will be able to “James Earl Jones” it (i.e.: just have a booming good time saying the words). While The Stuff of Stars is about a scientific theory, there is a hint of spiritually as well. Both story […]

Being the Man of the House

Keeping the Night Watch by Hope Anita Smith

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Looking at Keeping the Night Watch I figured it was going to be like Nikki Grimes or Nikki Giovanni. However, what it is like is a mix of both Grimes, Giovanni and Jason Reynolds, Jewell Parker Rhodes, Jacqueline Woods and what I think Kwame Alexander sounds like. I was unfamiliar with Hope Anita Smith before getting this gem in my shiny green package (see Go Sports Ball! review). However, unlike the others, this was not a new book but from 2008 (paper 2014). I am […]

Bowie and Sylive say it best: Just Dance

Just Dance by Patricia MacLachlan

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Patricia MacLachlan is an “old school” author or what I call a “grandparent friendly author” as nothing “bad” happens in the story. Sure, Sylvie Bloom gets sick near the end of the book, but nobody is worried she will die. Nor are there any drawn-out weeks of worrying. Even the “excitement” of the dog locked in a car really is not all that worrisome as you know that Sheriff Bud will miraculously save the day. Even Sylvie’s name, Bloom, is happy and a shadowing to […]

Track the field and you’ll see Sunny shining

Track #3 Sunny by Jason Reynolds

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Track #3 Sunny is the third in the Track series and so far, perhaps the strongest of the bunch. Jason Reynolds has written Sunny in a diary format. While the information is all there (seeing Sunny running, not running, dealing with his family and friends) it is more tell than show. This can be a little awkward at times as, with a real diary, Sunny does not always start at the beginning or make sense. But there is a reason for that. Sunny’s writing is […]

Why are chemists great for solving problems? A: They have all the solutions.

Charlotte the Scientist Finds a Cure by Camille Andros

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First, I consider myself a feminist and for girl power and helping kids be their best. However, I also believe do not make things an “us and them” situation. The not subtle fact that our title character Charlotte, in Charlotte the Scientist Finds a Cure, is a girl doing science is great, but subconsciously it might turn off boys. Therefore, putting itself solidly in the “this is a girl book” category and boys might be less likely to pick it up. Camille Andros has created […]

A wholly satisfying ending to a great fantasy trilogy

The Winter of the Witch by Katherine Arden

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Spoiler warning! This is the third and final volume in the trilogy, and the action starts immediately after the second book. This is not the place to start. If you are not caught up, drop everything and start from the beginning with The Bear and the Nightingale.  Vasilisa “Vasya” Petrovna managed to defeat one enemy, but at a great cost. Releasing the legendary firebird has caused much of Moscow to catch fire and the citizens, spurred on by the vengeful and jealous Father Konstantin are looking for […]



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