Cannonball Read 17

Sticking It to Cancer One Book at a Time

Junie B. and the kinda smelly book

Junie B. Jones and the Stupid Smelly Bus: The Graphic Novel by Barbara Park and Colleen A. F. Venable

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I can see why people did not like Junie B. Jones novels after reading Junie B. Jones and the Stupid Smelly Bus: The Graphic Novel, and not just because of the words “stupid” and “smelly” are used by Junie B. I will say her attitude could be likened to Eloise or DW Read from the Arthur tv series. So if you like Eloise or DW like characters, you will love Junie B. Jones. The author Colleen A. F. Venable adapted Barbara Parks’ beloved Junie B. […]

You are my Sunny, you’re so funny! You make the case when you debate in their face! 

Sunny Makes Her Case: A Graphic Novel by Jennifer L. Holm and Matthew Holm

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Jennifer L. Holm and Matthew Holm are a team for several books. Some of my favorites are from the Sunny series. I did not love  all of them, but for the most part, they have been fun. They are slightly younger than some of the others out there, but work for multiple ages. I like that Sunny is from the late 1970s. And is mostly a relatable character because growing up and growing pains do not change much.  Now, book five, Sunny Makes Her Case: […]

Two girls, couple mysteries and basketball.

Shirley and Jamila Save Their Summer by Gillian Goerz

Shirley and Jamila's Big Fall by Gillian Goerz

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When ten-year-olds Shirley and (new girl) Jamila meet accidentally at a local tag sale, their summer takes an interesting turn, one that neither expected it to take. They not only find a way to not go to the summer camps their mothers have signed them up for and find a bit of freedom, they also solve a case of stolen property and a missing gecko, not to mention they become friends. All of this and a bit more happens in Shirley and Jamila Save Their […]

My Life is Weird and so are these books (in a good way)

My Life is Weird My Mom Is a Mermaid! by Bill Canterbury

My Life is Weird My Dad Is a Unicorn! by Bill Canterbury

My Life is Weird My Teacher Is a Dinosaur! by Bill Canterbury

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Online reader looking included three new titles from the My Life is Weird by Bill Canterbury  series that are due in April and June 2025. I almost did not read them, as they looked too easy for what I was looking for. However, while they were easy, they had a little something about them that made me think about reading them. It was only until I saw that if you liked the How to Catch series by Adam Wallace that sealed the deal. I enjoy […]

She took a real trip

Scout Is Not a Band Kid by Jade Armstrong

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As I have read a lot of middle and young adult reads, the graphic novel Scout Is Not a Band Kid by Jade Armstrong, was not a new theme. Scout is a kid who is trying to get to meet their favorite author. There is a lot of hyperbole (Scout’s “reasons” are honestly above ridiculous and seem to be untrue: “She’s 100 years old!” “She’s going to die soon!” “I’ll never meet her any other way!”) surrounding her scheme to actually meet this author. Plus, […]

Surviving middle school is hard

Just Beyond #1 The Scare School by R.L. Stine, Nichole Matthews and Kelly Matthews

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R.L. Stine, Nichole Matthews and Kelly Matthews adapted Just Beyond #1 The Scare School into a graphic novel format. Or I am assuming it was a novel first, then a graphic novel. However, regardless of which came first (or didn’t come out) this is an old school RL Stine story. The theme is classic: We start with a couple of kids in “unusual clothing” (cue the “not from our world”) and how they are being chased by a robotic monster. We then see who lives […]



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