Cannonball Read 17

Sticking It to Cancer One Book at a Time

Play Time

Playing Wicked by Alex R. Kahler

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Playing Wicked is a lovely book that is creating a safe place for queer culture. However, it is also just a book about play and imagination. The theme of a non-traditional gender role is naturally presented. It is not preachy and there are layers. Alex R. Kahler’s main character, Dante, likes playing at being all types of characters. But sometimes he wants to be the wicked one. And not just any wicked character, but the wicked Queen. Dante is a typical kid who knows that […]

How to love the imperfect

How to Love a Country: Poems by Richard Blanco

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cbr12bingo  Pandemic I probably should use my Pandemic slot last, as you can fill in anything you want, but at the same time, How to Love a Country: Poems is the perfect book for it. I am planning on using poetry for another slot, but Richard Blanco’s collection does not seem to fit another category, so here he is and I get to a) use poetry more than once and b) introduce you to a (possible) new poet that I would never have heard of […]

I have a soft spot for Drag Queens

Be Amazing: A History of Pride by Desmond Napoles

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An interesting fact about Be Amazing: A History of Pride is that it is not due until around July 21, 2020. One would have thought it would come out in June to make sure it could represent Pride Month. Yet, Desmond Napoles (aka Desmond is Amazing) has written a book that should not be limited to one month. Pride should not just be in June; pride should be year around. I expected this book to be about Desmond (despite the word history), but it is […]

One sibling on the way for a special big brother

When Aidan Became a Brother by Kyle Lukoff

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When Aidan Became a Brother is one of those books that can be a bit difficult to write about. Mostly because how do you talk about it without telling the whole story? Also, as a picture book, 250 words might be more than the entire book has. Therefore, I will say this book is a realistic journey from being born female to becoming Aidan. I am assuming this as Kyle Lukoff has had a similar journey themselves and therefore can honestly portray a child taking […]

The Art of Fielding keeps moments real and beautiful

The Art of Fielding by Chad Harbach

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Henry, Mike, Owen, Guert, and Pella are all apart of each other’s lives in ways that are wonderful and beautiful to watch unfold. Henry is a star shortstop who doesn’t know just how great of a player he is. Mike, captain of the football and baseball teams at Westish College, knows and recruits him to play for their Division III collegiate baseball team. Henry rooms with a star freshman, Owen, who is the recipient of multiple academic awards who has dreams of changing Westish College […]

One word: DANG

Auntie Uncle: Drag Queen Hero by Ellie Royce

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Auntie Uncle: Drag Queen Hero is a modern take on gender and how it is fluid. It is how Drag is not just “dressing up” but being who you are.  The best part is how normal and realistic the situation is. Uncle Leo helps with homework, plays with his nephew and they have fun. Auntie Lotta sings, dances and has fun with her nephew. Just because Leo is Lotta/Lotta is Leo is beside the point. These are things we can relate to: having fun with […]



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