Cannonball Read 17

Sticking It to Cancer One Book at a Time

Adult literacy

My Kentucky Moonlight School by Kim Michele Richardson

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My Kentucky Moonlight School is another book (read via an online reader) due in August 2026 but is a must to talk about now. Kim Michele Richardson’s story is about a family, their community and how they learn to read during “Moonlight sessions” of schooling. It is sweet, educational and even a little humorous at times.  This is enhanced by Chloe M. Giroux who illustrates the adventures of this family with earthy tones, bright shading and light use, and just the right amount of details. […]

I wish we didn’t need books like this

Stolen Colors: A Story About Body Safety and Consent by Patel Khushboo and Tara Anand

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The due in March 2026 picture book, Stolen Colors: A Story About Body Safety and Consent by Patel Khushboo with Tara Anand’s illustrations was read via an online reader copy. And it was another WOW book. Which thankfully I have had a lot of recently as I was on a slow slump on not loving the books I was reading. We start off with a young girl who loves to paint, but that is taken away from her when her teacher assaults her. We follow […]

Welcome to my Two Books in One Review review 

Thank You, School by Louise Borden

Finding My Wave by Alexandra Katona

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I found two books (hence the title) that were nice, cozy and enjoyable but I did not want to weaken reviewing either solo as I didn’t want to add fluff to them. Therefore, please enjoy these shorter reviews that hopefully do not leave out the good stuff. Thank You, School by Louise Borden and illustrator Paige Keiser  due March 2026 Read via an online reader copy. Through a series of poems, children thank each person (from bus drivers to teachers) who help make their school […]

Our Little Rainbow Warriors

The Rainbow Troops by Andrea Hirata

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The Rainbow Troops (Laskar Pelangi) was first published about 20 years ago in Indonesia, where it soon became an absolute bestseller. The book, very loosely based on Andrea Hirata’s own childhood, is set on Belitong Island, where the people are poor, but the surrounds are rich in tin. Most children in the region struggle to obtain an education, but the young Malay boy Ikal and his friends do have one option open to them; a small Muhammadiya (Islamic) school run by an early teacher, Pak […]

Down With The Miss Vicky’s!

Down with Lime Books!: A Story about Book Banning by Jan Zauzmer

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Miss Vicky might tell us Down with Lime Books! But what she does not realize is that the kids like lime books, and pink and purple, and blue, and yellow and read…. I mean red. Yes they love to read them all. Of course, this humorous look at book banning is silly and a bit tongue in cheek, but Down with Lime Books!: A Story about Book Banning by Jan Zauzmer and Blanca Millán is about a serious subject As mentioned, the character Miss Vicky […]

The not so social media

Gabby Torres Gets a Billion Followers by Angela Dominguez

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Gabby Torres Gets a Billion Followers by Angela Dominguez has its moments, but I was not the audience, and therefore, most of the moments were lost on me. However, ages 8 to (young) 13 would really enjoy it. The modern themes keep it contemporary, but with a classically familiar feeling of the coming of age story. Gabby is 9 years old. She is an only child and precocious (it’s obvious why her parents were good with just one of her!). She is obviously a bit […]



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