Cannonball Read 17

Sticking It to Cancer One Book at a Time

Roaming pack of dogs and her own worn out memories to keep her company

Land of Mirrors by María Medem,

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Every so often I find myself reading a book that I think I like but am not sure. Land of Mirrors by María Medem, Aleshia Jensen (translator) and Daniela Ortiz (translator) is one of those books. It is a graphic novel, but does not flow necessarily as a “pure” one. There is something “different” about it. It might be because it is translated or it might be because of the almost abstract minimal illustrations. However, whatever the reason this is the most organized piece of […]

Author Ponweera has you covered for your reading needs

My Best Friend's Bangles by Thushanthi Ponweera

Crossing the Finish Line by Thushanthi Ponweera

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After reading I Am Kavi by Thushanthi Ponweera, I decided to look for other books by them. I did not expect a lot as I Am Kavi had a feeling of being a first novel and maybe the start of a promising new author for me. And it was new 2023 and I was lucky enough to be reading it in 2025, therefore, I felt I had a good chance of finding more titles. I found out that in 2024 My Best Friend’s Bangles (illustrated […]

Her dedushka teaches

Dedushka: Memories of My Grandpa and Ukraine by Katerina Spaeth

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When you try to read a book online and you can’t find the format for your equipment, or you just can’t find a copy, you get a little more than a little more than frustrated. Or at least  I do. And that is what happened with Dedushka: Memories of My Grandpa and Ukraine by Katerina Spaeth. I could not find a reader copy anywhere. And I was not looking forward to waiting until September 2025 for it. But, finally one day in April there was […]

This book went to the dogs

Smithy and Me by Darcy Day Zoells

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The illustrations are fun and colorful in Smithy and Me by Darcy Day Zoells. And while they are not overly detailed they are not lacking either. They set the tone, give the story the push along to make you wonder “what is next?” and keep the reader engaged. The story is “50/50” (you will or won’t like it). I might not have been the exact reader for it, but it is going to be a big hit and I see awards in the future. The […]

War and a family

Shell Song: Based on a True Family Story by Sharon Fujimoto-Johnson

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Shell Song: Based on a True Family Story by Sharon Fujimoto-Johnson and also illustrated by Fujimoto-Johnson is currently available, but I read via an online reader copy. The start of the story is set right before the bombing of Pearl Harbor. Afterwards, the narrator’s grandfather is sent to an internment camp with other men. In age appropriate language (at least five and up) the experiences of the grandfather and family back home unfold. As set in Hawaii, seashells will play a role in keeping the […]

Princesses, pirates and sisters

Story Spinners: A Sisterly Tale of Danger, a Princess, and Her Crew of Lady Pirates by Cassandra Federman

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I started a review once that said that I like sibling books and sister books in particular. Story Spinners: A Sisterly Tale of Danger, a Princess, and Her Crew of Lady Pirates written and illustrated by Cassandra Federman is one of those books. Currently available, this is a cute story about modern day sisters, with one having some old school ideas that get messy when the sisters unite to tell their “other sister” a bedtime story. Of course, there is more than that. The oldest […]



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