Cannonball Read 17

Sticking It to Cancer One Book at a Time

A little rain

Island Storm by Brian Floca

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Island Storm by Brian Floca and Sydney Smith is an interesting picture book. I read via an online reader copy and it is due later in July 2025. While the story itself was not my favorite, I really enjoyed the illustrations. They set the tone well, making action out of a piece of paper (or screen).  I was not sure how to say it, therefore I took the publisher’s description and had (I believe an AI program) come up with something. And that something is: […]

Lost a job, found love in her parents basement

I Hated You in High School by Kathleen Gros

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I Hated You in High School by Kathleen Gros is A LGBTQ “friend’s kid sister to friends to enemies to friends to lovers” story that shows even in adulthood you can be unsure of yourself and can still be coming of age and terms with who you are. Overall it is a fun graphic novel that is not too sappy or pushy, but does have a few moments of very Pro-Pride that could be a little sugary. Things are pretty obvious where they are going […]

Ching Ming Festival, or Tomb-Sweeping Day

Clear and Bright: A Ching Ming Festival Story by Teresa Robeson and William Low

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Clear and Bright: A Ching Ming Festival Story by Teresa Robeson and illustrated by William Low is currently available, but I read via an online reader copy. This book is a nice book on diversity. It is a fun read, not a WOOW BEST BOOK EVER (or WBBE) but it has a lot of great points. We learn about the Ching Ming Festival, or Tomb-Sweeping Day. We see how a family passes down their traditions to the next generation. As the publisher’s description says, our […]

This reminds me of a younger Summer of My German Soldier

Enemies in the Orchard: A World War 2 Novel in Verse by Dana VanderLugt

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Enemies in the Orchard: A World War 2 Novel in Verse by Dana VanderLugt is a combination of a sweet and informative book. Perhaps it is also a bit idealistic, as it shows a part of World War II that is not known as well as other parts of American history, and is done in a “less intense” way. It is an interesting look at war and friendship nonetheless. There is a double POV story telling that is a familiar format, but adds to the […]

Not sure if I’ll read the sequels

The Changeling: Volume 1 by Tina N. Lugo

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Tina N. Lugo’s The Changeling: Volume 1 was not a “pure” three, but is not a 2 either. Maybe a 2.75? It is a series that needs all volumes to be read at once and that would have probably boosted the rating. Volume 2 should be available and volume 3 is due end of April/early may 2025.  There are a few pages of introduction in this first volume that allows the reader to have background information on the characters, which allows you to be able […]

I only counted one of the four as they are short short (but cute) board books

Hello, Beach! by Katherine Pryor and Rose Soini

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All three board books which were read, were read via an online reader copy. All (but the one I have not yet read) are currently available. If you like easy board books that have a seasonal overtone, then the Katherine Pryor and Rose Soini books are for you. We have the books Hello, Beach!, Hello, Rain!, and Hello, Garden!  And due in September 2025 is Hello, Snow! Overall, things are terribly simple as they are aimed at not just the board book crowd to look […]



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