Cannonball Read 17

Sticking It to Cancer One Book at a Time

I’ve got taste in buds

Pebble and Wren by Chris Hallbeck

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Pebble and Wren by Chris Hallbeck is an adorable story of friendship, finding yourself and your talents. And pancakes. Along the way we are educated on some fun science facts (at least one of I am with the dad: I am the adult and HOW did I not know that????) Granted, as an adult reader these science breaks did cut the flow of things, but most kids will not have a problem with this. Because of this, this graphic novel could work well in a classroom […]

Brain Washing. But in a nice way.

Invisible: A Graphic Novel by Christina Diaz Gonzalez 

The Cool Code by Deirdre Langeland

Ride On by Faith Erin Hicks

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Junior high is tough. And so is reading several creepy/thriller/horror novels or graphic novels in a row. Needed a major brain cleaning, I found three middle reader graphic novels that worked wonders. And not only were they “light” for my adult brain, they had messages and dealt with issues that kids today (and I’m sure we more mature kids have and are having to) deal with. I highly recommending doing this kind of washing of the brain at least once every two to three “intense” […]

The fun of family

Hide and Shh!: A Not -So-Sneaky Sister Story About Inclusion by Christina Dendy

A Song of Frutas by Margarita Engle

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These books have a loose connecting theme. Not only are they picture books, but they are about things that we might not be exposed to often. I mean A Song of Frutas and Hide and Shh!: A Not -So-Sneaky Sister Story About Inclusion are about the fruit vendors of Cuban, with Spanish words mixed in and two siblings, one who lives with Down Syndrome, finding common ground (and the not exposed to is having a special needs sibling). I grew up with first cousins, a […]

Between reality and dreaming

Who Owns the Clouds? by Mario Brassard

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I read the English version, of À qui appartiennent les nuages? by Mario Brassard and Gérard DuBois under the name Who Owns the Clouds? Which seems to fit the story look more than the French name. I mean, I love the French title (even though I cannot read it). It looks sexy and has a bit of a tone to it that also fits, but the English translation allows the feeling I had for the book come out. This is an experience book, I cannot tell you […]

How does your garden grow?

Poison Ivy: Thorns by Kody Keplinger

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A few spoilers below: Poison Ivy: Thorns by Kody Keplinger is a solid story about a young girl coming of age and learning about pushing back. Pamela (Ivy to be) is abused in many ways: a classmate, her father, and even herself. The elements that make Pamela into Poison Ivy are actually logical and heartbreaking. After all, you be “mind raped” by your classmate (having lies told about you, being harassed in the hallways), your principal saying to you, “now now little girl, don’t dress […]

Doesn’t it suck when you’re dead?

Undeaded by Eliott Ventadour

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The publisher description of  Undeaded by Eliott Ventadour says it all: After being declared clinically dead, traveling salesman Ed Zamsa tries to go on with his life regardless of his strange condition. As if things weren’t hard enough without being dead. Therefore, all I will say this book is WARPED and it is BIZARRE, and it is NOT safe for work. It has language, sex, murder, and mayhem. There is an offbeat sense of humor not everyone will appreciate or get. Even if some of […]



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