Cannonball Read 17

Sticking It to Cancer One Book at a Time

Strength and kindness of the dragon

Powerful Like a Dragon by Christopher Cheng

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When it comes to history, picture books are a great way to introduce the subject. You are able to present the situation and/or issue and yet, keep it so that it gives the point of view without being “too much” and it allows all ages to be exposed to concepts, ideas and events. With Powerful Like a Dragon by Christopher Cheng and illustrator Jacqueline Tam we turn to 1941 Hong Kong during World War II and the Japanese invasion of the city. The story is […]

I really got into Leila Boukarim books!

Mariam’s Dream: The Story of Mariam Al-Shaar and Her Food Truck of Hope by Leila Boukarim

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Leila Boukarim’s Mariam’s Dream: The Story of Mariam Al-Shaar and Her Food Truck of Hope is not a biography about a “woman done good.” Or an Arab woman “done good” or even an Arab refugee woman “done good.” It is all those things and much more. It shows that even if you were born into a situation where all you knew was being a refugee or if you have many obstacles to overcome, you can make your dream come true. Of course, that is a […]

You know, they are not just strolling in on a whim right?

Unaccompanied: Stories of Brave Teenagers Seeking Asylum by Tracy White

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Education, CBR17 Pie Chart Challenge I have wanted to read all of the Street Noise (the publishers) graphic novels (they only do graphic novels, so that’s redundant…). Anyways, I have wanted to read Unaccompanied: Stories of Brave Teenagers Seeking Asylum by Tracy White since I learned it was going to be published. But something always got in the way of actually reading. I figured maybe it wasn’t something I was going to read, but that was okay. I mean you can’t read them all…. Then […]

No matter how they look, a sister is a sister

My Sister the Apple Tree by Jordan Scott, Jamal Saeed, and Zahra Marwan

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Diversity  CBR17 Pie Chart Challenge My Sister the Apple Tree by Jordan Scott, Jamal Saeed, and Zahra Marwan is due this fall (September 2025). I was able to read it via an online reader copy. Now, I know I probably won’t be purchasing a finished copy for myself, but this book is a very contemporary themed picture book that is good for the older reader and should be read.  A young child starts their story with the birth of twin goats. They are envious that […]

Upheaval

A Star Shines Through by Anna Desnitskaya

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I have read A Star Shines Through by Anna Desnitskaya a few times. The first time I felt it was a good story. It wasn’t WOW but not eh either. The second time I read it I felt that it had more punch. I think it really depends on the mood you and/or the reader is in for it to make the most impact.  (All the times I have read were via an online reader copy, but it is now currently available). The author bases […]

Mevan and their bike

The Bicycle: How an Act of Kindness Changed a Young Refugee’s Life by Patricia McCormick

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I did not read the entire article I had about some new books coming, but it was highlighting summer and bicycles. The list was around half a dozen titles long, all picture books. I figured I could locate copies of most of them. And in fact, was able to find online reader copies for all of them. However, four of them stood out for me. These four were different but still had familiar elements that I found comforting.  In The Bicycle: How an Act of […]



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