Cannonball Read 17

Sticking It to Cancer One Book at a Time

When the Bully is the Hero, the Girl is in love with a God and there are spaceships up your nose.

Animal Crackers by Gene Luen Yang

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Gene Luen Yang can write the instructions to how to make a sandwich and I would read it. That does not mean I will love it, but I will always appreciate it. And Animal Crackers is in that category. I was not jumping up and down about it, and even with a second reading (although a bit of a quick one) and being able to put together a few more pieces I missed the first time, I still did not love this graphic novel. This […]

Adapting to Graphic Novel puts a new spin on things

The Lost Hero: Graphic Novel by Rick Riordan

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I had a big spell where trying to concentrate on reading anything more challenging than push or pull the door recently. I took a break from reading and got myself sorted out a little and finally finished The Lost Hero: The Graphic Novel. Adapted from the novel by Rick Riordan, Robert Venditti’s story is the “other side” of the Greek/Roman mythology of his famous series Percy Jackson. Knowing that series can help. Even having read the original novel could help. But there are still a […]

Friends! Adventure! Robots! All she needs now is a catch phrase.

Legends of Zita the Spacegirl by Ben Hatke

The Return of Zita the Spacegirl by Ben Hatke

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The graphic novels featuring Zita the Spacegirl are back in two more adventures (from 2012 and 2014). The first (technically second) book is Legends of Zita the Spacegirl #2 and the second (technically third) book is The Return of Zita the Spacegirl. Ben Hatke published Zita in 2011 but had been working on her for years. Both stories flow well and are solid stories. Even though the first two books “wrap up” that books story, there are open endings to each of them. Therefore, it […]

“All tyranny is abominable.”

Zorro by Isabel Allende

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As a kid growing up in the 80’s and 90’s, The Family Channel’s “Zorro” was must-watch-tv. While “Batman: The Animated Series” would eventually take over as my favorite hero show when I became a hardened and cynical fourth grader, Zorro has always held a special place in my soul. Yes, my soul. Zorro is hero descended from Spanish and Native Americans, born to help. And, to help with panache. You can imagine the impact that would have on a little Hispanic boy. In a way, […]

Disney said it best: “What makes a Monster and what makes a Man?” (or in this case hero and villain)

Guys Read: Heroes and Villains by Jon Scieszka

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This series rocks!  READ THEM! You need more? (sigh) Okay…… Guys Reads started around 10 years ago with Guys Write for Guys Read: Boys’ Favorite Authors Write About Being Boys. Jon Scieszka, however, is no stranger to getting boys to read. His Time Warp Trio series was his way of writing for the boys in his classroom who did not have anything to read. Flash forward a few years and Scieszka is knows for many picture books and novels, including the Guys Read series. I […]

A Million Times Better Than the Movie

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Jumper by Steven Gould (1993) – I can’t believe I’ve actually read two good books in a row.  I would probably give this one five stars if it had a real ending. When I picked this one up, I thought, “This can’t be the book from that awful movie,” but it was.  Imagine my surprise when I discovered it was a million times better.  The author has two great things going for him – he is a seventeen year old runaway with a special ability […]



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