Cannonball Read 17

Sticking It to Cancer One Book at a Time

Three might be company, but four is one too many

Just Jamie by Terri Libenson

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Terri Libenson has several middle-school novels in her Emmie & Friends series. First we saw Invisible Emmie, then Positively Izzy and now we have Just Jamie. And while each book ties into the others, each is a standalone story as well. Done in a slightly nontraditional graphic novel format, Libenson creates a slightly idealistic (things are wrapped up nicely, certain convenient events happen to move the story along) but also a realistic view of Middle School. Jamie has her group of friends. Three of them […]

Gotta get Busy busy busy

Olive & Pekoe: In Four Short Walks by Jacky Davis

Lizzy McTizzy and the Busy Dizzy Day by Sarah Weeks

Woke Baby by Theodore Taylor III

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Once upon a time there was girl who enjoyed reading. And she enjoyed telling other people about these books as well. This girl likes stories about friendship. And while she is not a dog person, she found a must have for dog lovers in a book about two doggie friends named Olive and Pekoe. Olive & Pekoe: In Four Short Walks by Jacky Davis, is a story that is broken up into four different walks. Each of these walks highlights how different these friends are, […]

When you’re awkward, even for a naked mole rat

Sweety by Andrea Zuill

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While the theme of Sweety (being yourself no matter how “odd” or “weird” you might seem to others) has been done before, this has a slightly different feeling to it. Andrea Zuill has made it slightly more modern in some ways, but also has kept a classic feeling as well.  The classic aspect of the story is Sweety has a large, traditional family and how she and her family interact. The fact that Sweety asks if “being herself” while looking for friends could be seen […]

Paging Dr. Spencer Reed….. Your book isn’t so hot…but guess what?

Rumple Buttercup: A Story of Bananas, Belong, and Being Yourself by Matthew Gray Gubler

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While Rumple Buttercup: A Story of Bananas, Belong, and Being Yourself is about a subject that is usually aimed at kids (be yourself and you will find your friends because your weirdness is okay! And that is because we are all weird in our own special way), seems to be more adult based.  The story feels more mature than what this subject tends to be aimed out. And due to the fact, the size is not the traditional picture book size, but one of those […]

Sundown is near, but the Passover plate is not here!

Pippa’s Passover Plate by Vivian Kirkfield

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If you are looking for a book that will teach you about the celebration of Passover, Pippa’s Passover Plate by Vivian Kirkfield is not it. This is more for the young child who celebrates the holiday already and therefore familiar with the practices, symbolism and meanings behind things such as the Seder plate. There are some pieces of information about the celebration (the plate needs to be found before sundown and at the end what goes on the plate) but without explanations to why they […]

I Love My Girlfriends

Text Me When You Get Home by Kayleen Schaefer

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Best for: Women needing a nudge to tend to their friendships with other women. In a nutshell: Through memoir and research, author Kayleen Schaefer explores the special bond women share, and how those bonds can be tested by society. Worth quoting: “It can hurt to break up with a friend just as much, if not more, than to break up with a lover, but women don’t grieve these losses as publicly.” “Devoting ourselves to finding spouses, caring for children, or snagging a promotion is acceptable, […]



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