Cannonball Read 17

Sticking It to Cancer One Book at a Time

When there is trouble, call for these cousins

Blue Stars Mission One: The Vice Principal Problem by Kekla Magoon, Cynthia Leitich Smith

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Blue Stars Mission One: The Vice Principal Problem is about two cousins, Riley and Maya, who are radically different, but must stop the evil Vice Principal Balderdash (whose name rhymes with Baldera$$ and matches his personality) from taking away all the fun and only have Detention! Of course, the cousins have a rocky start, but with gadgets and a distraction that would make James Bond jealous, they will best their archnemesis! The two girls are different not just because of personalities (Riley is bubbly, artistic, […]

Family History and Mysteries

Tangleroot by Kalela Williams

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Gosh, where to start with this book. Tangleroot opens with Noni being forced to give an opening speech to introduce her mother, Radiance, as the new president of Stonepost college, but the speech has been edited because Radiance is pushing to have the college renamed after their ancestor, Cuffee Fortune, who built and opened the college. Noni isn’t able to finish the speech and accidentally hot mics her mom when she reiterates that she didn’t want to the speech. Radiance is a force, and she’s […]

Race against the tide

Crystal Cave (Sueño Bay Adventures, Volume 5) by Nancy Deas and Mike Deas

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For the most part, you can read Crystal Cave (Sueño Bay Adventures, Volume 5) by Nancy Deas and Mike Deas separately from the others in the series. However, I am assuming it probably is best to start with book one, Shadow Island (I wasn’t sure who/what the pet/friend of our main character was). The story itself is not necessarily a new one, but it is told in a fun way that keeps you reading. Good illustrations and a nice fantasy/mystery/realistic story. The idea is that […]

The Food Cart, The Girl and the Community

Noodle & Bao by Shaina Lu

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The story of Noodle & Bao is obvious (the little guy taking on the big guy/the small town getting taken over by big money), but overall it is fun and fresh. There were a few bumps in the flow of things and the animals and human living side-by-side is odd (maybe it is because the people are that type of personalities?) but it keeps things light as we see gentrification at work. The use of details and colors are minimal but important. The extras at […]

Politics, Economy and Gender of Gaming

In Real Life by Cory Doctorow

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My review of In Real Life by Cory Doctorow has borrowed pieces from a couple online reviewers. I figured they said what I was feeling, and it’s validating to know I wasn’t the only one that wasn’t “wowed” but the book, yet still found enjoyment. I will start  with: This is not a perfect story, still, I had… fun reading it. The online world vs real world has been done before.  You can … connect on a virtual level, but it can’t replace human (…) […]

Free the Press. Free the Truth

Ink Girls by Marieke Nijkamp

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Ink Girls by Marieke Nijkamp and illustrated by Sylvia Bi could be called “one of “those protest books.” And maybe that is the best way to start the review. However, it is more than that. It is about how we see ourselves and others see us. It is about learning to stand up for what is right and not the easy thing. It is about how the youth of a community/city can be a strong voice regardless of being “young.” There is found/finding family (one […]



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