Cannonball Read 17

Sticking It to Cancer One Book at a Time

Total Football

The Barcelona Complex: Lionel Messi and the Making -- and Unmaking -- Of the World's Greatest Soccer Club by Simon Kuper

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Read as part of CBR13Bingo: Travel. I’d love to go to Barcelona some day.  My first real exposure to FC Barcelona was the 2009 Champions League Final. At the type, I wasn’t seriously following European soccer. The hype of this match reached my ears. Man U was on its last legs as the nonpareil of England, Cristiano Ronaldo was just entering his prime. Meanwhile, Barca was emerging as the sport’s dominant force with stars such as Girard Pique, Andres Iniesta and the rising Lionel Messi. […]

Max is back and knows Soccer

Max Explains Everything: Soccer Expert. by Stacy McAnulty

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Max Explains Everything: Grocery Store Expert started Max’s teaching journey and now he is back for round two with Max Explains Everything: Soccer Expert. Stacy McAnulty’s Max is exactly like before. Therefore, if you like the attitude and antics that Max did, then continue the journey with this book. If you did not like Grocery Store Expert, then please stop here. I was not a fan of Max while in the grocery store and not a fan of his while he plays soccer. Of course, […]

18 days, 13 trapped and 1 amazing rescue

Titan and the Wild Boars: The True Cave Rescue of the Thai Soccer Team by Susan Hood

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I gave a five to Titan and the Wild Boars: The True Cave Rescue of the Thai Soccer Team more for the illustrations by Dow Phumiruk and the several afterwards than the story itself. Not to say that it is a bad story, but the length of the text made it not an easy read and while I enjoyed it, it is not one of my absolute favorite stories that Susan Hood has created. Also, unlike her Ada’s Violin, I was familiar with the story whereas […]

44 Days

The Damned United by David Peace

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In 1974 the defending champion Leeds United needed a new manager as their legendary coach Don Revie was leaving to take over the English national team. In a shocking move Leeds hired Brian Clough, an outspoken critic of Leeds and their style of play. After alienating the players, the fans, and his bosses, Clough was sacked after only 44 days. The Damned United is David Peace’s novelized version of this time period. Using artistic license to imagine Clough’s state of mind during this ordeal and […]

The soccer ball quit the team. It was tied of being kicked around.

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One joy of working in a bookstore is you get to see some books before they come out and can create buzz for them. The Breakaways: Bad at Soccer Okay at Friends by Cathy G. Johnson is one. Out in March 2019 this is part of the First Second series of graphic novels dealing with today’s issues. Geared towards ages (very strong) 8 to (low) 13, we see the “C team” of a middle school girl soccer team. Faith is a fifth grader who is […]

My question is, why is this a kid’s book?

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The Berenstain Bears: We Love Soccer! is a takeoff of the original Berenstain Bears series. Some of us grew up on the 8×8 paperbacks, some of us had early readers, some of us watched the television series and some a combination. Mike Berenstain has created another set of books that take off from the originals with new and old favorite characters. He now covers themes that are a bit more modern then just “new baby” or “jealous” or “eating too much junk food” or “the […]



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