Cannonball Read 17

Sticking It to Cancer One Book at a Time

Regardless if Yay or Nay for Senator Elizabeth Warren, this is a neat picture book bio

Elizabeth Warren's Big, Bold Plans by Laurie Ann Thompson

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Elizabeth Warren is a politician who can be and has been very controversial over recent years. Elizabeth Warren’s Big, Bold Plans by Laurie Ann Thompson ends right before 2020 as it was published in the spring of that year, however, the main information is still relevant. Of course, I assume that if someone is doing a biography of a person, particularly a picture book, they are a fan of that person. Afterall, unless you just want to write a scathing exposé, why write anything? And […]

A boy who was inspired by his culture and people, the classics of Western society and made his own mark on poetry

With a Star in My Hand: Rubén Darío, Poetry Hero by Margarita Engle

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Probably as dramatic and romantic as the poet himself, the life of one poet Ruben Dario, is introduced to readers in this prose poetry novel. While the information is based on events in his autobiography, With A Star in My Hand: Ruben Dario, Poetry Hero fells like the author, Margarita Engle, has taken a smidgen of poetic license to what is presented. Overall, this is a fun way to be introduced to a poet you might not be familiar with, but also an interesting format […]

A window

The Unwanted: Stories of the Syrian Refugees by Don Brown

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I am starting this review of The Unwanted: Stories of the Syrian Refugees by Don Brown with this statement: Brown has an agenda with this book, but that is not a bad thing.  It is a complicate book with a complicated theme, yet also, straight forward.  I will add, I have rewritten this review too many times. I was well over 600 words at one point. This book was upsetting, enlightening and a not an all together unpleasant journey, but not one for just anyone. […]

Three strikes! You’re IN

Sharice’s Big Voice: A Native Kid Becomes a Congress Woman by Sharice Davids

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She had “three strikes” against her: she was female, a Native American and queer. But that did not stop Sharice Davids. She took her passion, the support of friends, family, and her community, along with her “big voice,” and showed people what she could and would do. After a long, difficult, but I would suggest rewarding, journey, this allowed her to be one of the only Native American women elected to Congress and the first GLBTQ person to represent Kansas. Sharice’s Big Voice: A Native […]

I wrote this a few hours before I heard of the current events

V Is for Voting by Kate Farrrell

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NOTE: I wrote the below review before I heard about the riots. I want to present this review as it was before I had my feelings of the recent events. Before I knew that my cousin’s son was working (though in Virginia) someplace near Washington DC. Before I knew my cousin was hearing gunshots and racial slurs outside her apartment. Before she started playing phone tag to make sure her friends were safe. Before I became sick to my stomach at the horrors we keep […]

The Alphabet is not just for learning to read

R Is for Rebel by J. Anderson Coats

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After misplacing my copy of R Is for Rebel by J. Anderson Coats, I found it again a few days ago. The nice thing is that even though I had read a good chunk of it, I remembered enough as the book is pretty easy to remember, and therefore I was able to start where I left off without too much trouble. However, since there are several characters and a few overlapping stories, I do not recommend reading it that way. This middle grade read […]



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