Cannonball Read 17

Sticking It to Cancer One Book at a Time

Alternative facts by your mother can make you one heck of a writer

There is No Shrimp … And Other Lies My Mother Told Me (UFO Catcher Ken Presents) by Kenny Loui

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Is this book by Kenny Loui perfect? No, but it is freaking entertaining and fun. The title (There is No Shrimp … And Other Lies My Mother Told Me (UFO Catcher Ken Presents) ) tells you everything you need to know (though sometimes his mother’s lies are less malice and more “age appropriate” explanations, having a tease (at her son’s expense) and/or herself uncomfortable explaining the situation). These lies range from the downright silly (why are all of her photographs in black an white? Because […]

Languages for the power

My Mother's Tongues: A Weaving of Languages by Uma Menon

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My Mother’s Tongues: A Weaving of Languages is a clever story of a young girl and her family’s talents with languages. Well, her mother can speak two different languages. She has one for her mother and daughter, and another for the cashier. However, sometimes the two are mixed. And the young girl explores her family and how they learned to speak several languages, and what that means. The connection between the generations is sweet and the cultural connections are delightful to learn. Uma Menon introduces […]

Forced to join the yearbook club was the least of his problems

Fearbook Club by Richard Ashely Hamilton

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I read R. L. Stine (Fear Street), Christopher Pike, Ritchie Cusick, etc, as a teen. Those teen thriller/horror stories that were fun, not overly serious, bit of romance, but had a bit of ghosts and ghouls and always a climax where the villains are unmasked (sometimes literally, sometimes figuratively). And when I was reading Fearbook Club, I figured this must be the younger versions of those authors. Maybe a more humorous Goosebumps. Richard Ashely Hamilton made a story that was (as I said) a fun […]

It’s time for the girls to get the job done

Aru Shah and the End of Time: the Graphic Novel by Roshani Chokshi

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Step aside all you Pandavas (heroes), Aru (and Mini) are in town! Aru Shah and the End of Time: the Graphic Novel is a heavy feminist take on the hero/heroine story arc. Two Indian American girls (who are two of the reincarnated Pandava brothers who battled in a civil war with their 1000 cousins), must battle mythical beings, with help from the Gods that claim them. With quirky humor mixed in, this heavy on text graphic novel has some fun illustrations, interesting adventures and a […]

They want to believe

Out There (a graphic novel) by Seaerra Miller

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Do you believe in UFOs? Little Green Men? (Why are they always green? Little? And men?) Do you believe that we are not alone? Well Julia and her dad believe. And ever since he was abducted by aliens, he has been trying to find the truth. After all, they told him they had a message for him, but not yet. He would have t find the place. But of course, Julia’s friends, mother, and the boy she meets on the road trip to Roswell, NM […]

Moms and Sequels

Busy Betty & the Circus Surprise  by Reese Witherspoon

Because I'm Your Mom by Ahmet Zappa

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Many times, a sequel does not live up to the first one. And tht is true in movies and books. However, these sequels are good follow ups and stand alone. And while I have not read the prequel to Ahmet Zappa’s reviewed book, I am sure it is similar and does justice to it. Also, both of these books focus on moms and with Mothers Day coming up, you might want to give them a look-see (though the Busy Betty and the Circus Surprises is not […]



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