Cannonball Read 17

Sticking It to Cancer One Book at a Time

Baby, you’re a star

Bitsy Bat, School Star by Kaz Windness

by Leave a Comment

The theme of Bitsy Bat, School Star is simple. Bitsy does not fit in at school. But as her father says, why would you want to fit in? Afterall, Bitsy is a special star. Her special brain works differently because she is representing a neurodivergent person. She, like the author, Kaz Windness, is autistic. Of course, they do not come out and say that, but just use the natural senses of a bat  to represent the situations an autistic person might encounter. Such as loud […]

The Amazing John “The Kid” Constantine will pull a magic trick out of his sleeve, or destroy the world. Whichever comes first.

The Mystery of the Meanest Teacher: A Johnny Constantine Graphic Novel by Ryan North

by Leave a Comment

Do you like DC comics for the pre-teen to teen level? Then you might like The Mystery of the Meanest Teacher: A Johnny Constantine Graphic Novel by Ryan North, with Derek Charm as the illustrator. It is a fun story with a few magical twists, and how middle school/boarding school can be a real killer. This is a superhero story with an overconfident protagonist, and with a lot of magic. We follow John “The Kid” Constantine, as a middle school student, who gets into some trouble […]

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

Fearbook Club by Richard Ashely Hamilton

by Leave a Comment

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 […]

Time for school

A Smart, Smart School, by Sharon Creech

by Leave a Comment

When it comes to Sharon Creech, I feel there are two categories of fans. Those who love everything she does, and those who mostly like her work. Oh, I am sure there are a few people who do not like her at all, but those people are wrong.  I am in that second category. I have liked most of the things I have read, but have found a few special ones. I like A Smart, Smart School, but it is not my favorite. However, if […]

You get points for the “corn dog” image

Ellie Mae Dreams Big! by Kristina McMorris

by Leave a Comment

I am not always a fan of the “artistic interpretations” a child could find themselves in. But with Ellie Mae Dreams Big! I am not saying it is my favorite, but it is a book that works well on several levels. It is modern with the idea that if Ellie wants to have an out of this world cheese sandwich restaurant on the moon, she can do that. Or she could teach dance to lions and giraffes or be a painting ballerina (same time). Ellie/You […]

Those who prepare for the first day of school.

Get Ready for School by Janet Nolan

by Leave a Comment

There are many first day of school or getting ready for school stories/books. However, Get Ready for School is a terribly modern telling of the school and those inside (from the principal to teachers to the janitor). These people have much preparing still for the first day of school, and there is so much to do before the school is ready, they are not sure if they are ready for the students to come and learn. From wi-fi troubles to sensory bins to computers, a […]



Help Our Mission

You can donate to CBR via:

  1. PayPal
  2. Venmo