Cannonball Read 17

Sticking It to Cancer One Book at a Time

Just read the G-D book, okay?

The Blacker the Berry by Joyce Carol Thomas

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This lovely book of poems about being yourself that is gorgeously illustrated, called The Blacker the Berry created two main thoughts for me. First, why did they pick this poem instead of another to be the title? Color Struck would seem like a stronger move. Of course, this led to my self-discussion of “Well struck is a harsh word, and the person choosing probably did not want a word that has a negative connotation as the first thing you see.” And then that led to, […]

If he wears a shirt, why doesn’t he need pants?

Make Your Bed with Skipper the Seal by William H. McRaven

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Make Your Bed with Skipper the Seal are the 10 steps/points that the author William H. McRaven learned while they were a human Navy Seal.  They have spoken about them at commencements and in several books for adults. This time, with Howard McWilliam creating the cartoon illustrations, they created a picture book that talks how a seal named Skipper becomes not only the best Navy Seal, but the best Seal he could be. The idea is that the little things are important such as how […]

Two days that changed it all.

The Way I Say I by Nancy Tandon

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The Way I Say It is an old school feeling story with a modern take. The entire time I was reading I was thinking, “This is so 1980s!” I felt that while the issues being discussed in this book by Nancy Tandon, they were terribly tame by today’s standards. It almost felt like I had read this book back when I was between the ages of 8 and 12. Yet, dealing with a speech issue, brain injury and friendship woes is timeless at the same […]

To the kooks, rebels, and heroes

Starboy: Inspired by the Life and Lyrics of David Bowie by Jami Gigot

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Step back from the fact this picture book, Starboy: Inspired by the Life and Lyrics of David Bowie is based on the idea of Bowie’s childhood and not a true account of his life, and you will enjoy this story that tells us to dance to the stars and dance with the cosmos. It shows that you need to be yourself and to hear what other people cannot hear. And learn that we all need to listen to those stars and that cosmos. Jami Gigot […]

Act up!

Click V03 Act by Kayla Miller

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If you have not guessed graphic novels and I became friends a few years ago. And now I love trying all sorts of books. And when I found a copy of Click V03 Act, I was excited to give it a try. I figured it would be light and quick (it was) and I would be able to enjoy it without having to deal with “really deep” storylines. And it is a fun story about friendship with contemporary themes and tone. It is best for […]

Quietude

I Go Quiet by David Ouimet

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The other day I was talking to a coworker about a book he loved, I Go Quiet by David Ouimet. First, the author picture looks exactly how you would picture this author/illustrator. Not young, not old, and not conservative. The wild mane of hair and the twinkle in his eye made me realize that yes, he is the only person who could have written and illustrated this book. Second, it is hard to explain the book, but the cover gives you a lot of it. […]



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