Cannonball Read 17

Sticking It to Cancer One Book at a Time

I’m a travelin’ man and I’ve made a lot of stops All over the world

This Was Our Pact by Ryan Andrews

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#cbr11bingo #Travel The 10-to-14-year-old reader will see the literal journey Ben and his friends take, and the adult will see the metaphysical one in graphic novel This Was Our Pact. Regardless which journey you see, Ryan Andrews created something darn magical. While some of Andrews illustrations were slightly awkward for me (there is the one panel where the bear is laughing and frankly, movie Alien comparisons might not be out of place), but they always fit the mood and tone of the story. Color, or […]

Talk about your Odd Couple

Owly: The Way Home by Andy Runton

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#cbr11bingo #ReadingtheTBR I was putting away some of the reader copies recently and noticed, Owly: The Way Home. Andy Runton must have a magic wand that enchanted the book as I was not in a cute, big-eyed-owl mood, but I had to have this book. And had to read it, despite the tower of books taller than me I already have on the TBR list. This graphic novel is good for young readers. It is a basic story with simple text but both story and […]

Getting your period really isn’t anything to be excited about, Margaret

Are You There, God? It's Me, Margaret by Judy Blume

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#CBR11 Bingo: Banned/Challenged (has been on the list among the most banned/challenged books for several decades now) Margaret Simon, almost twelve, has just moved from New York City to the suburbs, and she’s anxious to fit in with her new friends. When she’s asked to join a secret club she jumps at the chance. But when the girls start talking about boys, bras, and getting their first periods, Margaret starts to wonder if she’s normal. There are some things about growing up that are hard for […]

“When you write and draw in pencil, your eraser is your best friend.” ― Anthony T.Hincks

When Pencil Met Eraser by Karen Kilpatrick

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#cbr11bingo #Illustrated I was not sure about When Pencil Met Eraser as it looked like another odd couple story. And, it pretty much is that. The characters of Pencil and Eraser created by Karen Kilpatrick and Luis O. Ramos, Jr are complete opposites, and that means what you think it means. There is a little tension between these two at first. Pencil likes to draw lines, shapes and keep creating. Eraser likes to make some empty space that it feels enhances the image (such as […]

Here there be Dragons and friendship

Dragon Night by J.R. Krause

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Dragon Night is one of those books after reading (and even while reading) I was thinking, “Do I/did I like this?” The answer is, “YesBut.”  A “YesBut” is: Yes, I liked 99.9% of this But there is something I do not. And the thing is, I am not sure what it is about J.R. Krause’s story about being afraid of the dark and overcoming it, about the meaning of words night and knight and about friends and special friendships that is just a smidgen off. […]

The Witch is OK

The Okay Witch by Emma Steinkellner

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The cover of the advanced reader copy of The Okay Witch by Emma Steinkellner recalled some classic “witch books” and stories such as Sabrina the Teenage Witch, Kiki, and a few that I know I know but cannot come to the front of my brain. The only real difference is that our main characters are of color. And while that is mentioned in an almost casual manner in the book (not only are our heroes persecuted for being witches, there are “other reasons” people do […]



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