Cannonball Read 17

Sticking It to Cancer One Book at a Time

Ode to love (self & others) and the twisted path to it

Stone Fruit by Lee Lai

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I have wanted to read Stone Fruit by Lee Lai for several years now. I have had online reader copies, opportunities to get the finished book and then one day I said, “Self, we are asking our library for an interlibrary loan if they don’t have it on shelf.”  And then I read it and thought: Perhaps this is the most straightforward maze of a story I’ve recently read. Not an easy read, but moves at the quickest snail pace. It is a combination of […]

For the dog lovers (you’ll need tissues for the funny and the sad moments)

Hazel the Handful by Jamie Michalak and Matt Myers

Where Are You, Brontë? by Tomie dePaola and Barbara McClintock

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Are you a dog person? Are you looking for two new books to read about dogs? Well the first book below has a theme of dog and sibling rivalry. And the second, well it is a bit more sad. It is about the loss of a beloved pet named Bronte by one of my all time favorite authors. Hazel the Handful by Jamie Michalak and illustrated by Matt Myers (due early April 2025; read via an online reader is a cute story about sibling rivalry […]

The size of history

We Are American, Too by Kristen Mei Chase and Jieting Chen

The Memory Cake by Caroline L. Perry and Jen Bricking

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History is all around us. And history can be as large as World War II or as small as being the second person of your race being born in a town.  We Are American, Too tackles that second theme. Kristen Mei Chase and illustrator Jieting Chen follow a family on an important day of celebration. They are honoring their history, family, their people and even themselves. The originality of the book comes from how the story is told, instead of “just another immigrant story” which […]

I want to ride my bicycle and eat noodles

Noodle on a Bicycle (Caldecott Honor Book) by Kyo Maclear and Gracey Zhang

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I can be a snob when a book is given high praise. Especially winning something like the Caldecott or even a Caldecott honor award. Now, that is not to say the book wasn’t deserving, but I have the personality that says, “Was it really that good?” Usually, I can enjoy it, but no, it was not worth the “hype.” I said usually. The picture book Noodle on a Bicycle (Caldecott Honor Book) by Kyo Maclear and Gracey Zhang (as the illustrator) was worth the award(s) […]

When Matty was gone

The Hole by Lindsay Bonilla

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If you can say that something is both sweet and bittersweet at the same time, it would be the picture book, The Hole by Lindsay Bonilla and illustrated by Brizida Magro. It is due in February 2025 and I read via an online reader copy. But it might have to stay a one time read as it is not a happy story, but so tenderly done. The loss of  the brother in this story is handled with care and empathy. The overall  tone is modern […]

Dark magic

Muted: Volume 1 by Miranda Mundt

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I almost skipped reading Muted: Volume 1 by Miranda Mundt. It looks too “girly” and maybe even a bit too graphic in the “thriller/horror” elements. And before I go much farther into the review: TRIGGERS include, but are not limited to: bullying, child death, parent death, fire, death, blood, a form of self-harm, form of racism towards other classes of witches, fantasy elements and mental abuse. And even though the cover made me iffy about reading things, I did finally “pick up” the online reader.  […]



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