Cannonball Read 18

Sticking It to Cancer One Book at a Time

Shiver me timbers and all that good stuff

Sea of Thieves: Sea Dog's Search by Jeremy Whitley

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Sea of Thieves: Sea Dog’s Search by Jeremy Whitley and illustrated by Rhoald Marcellius is more of a 2.5 than a 2. That is not to say this graphic novel is not good, in fact, it is a lot of fun. But nothing “grabbed” me into saying “Best book.” We know the stories of female pirates proving themselves to their families and self, and the illustrations are in a traditional comic format. However, if I had known about the podcasts, shows, and the other items […]

Politics, Economy and Gender of Gaming

In Real Life by Cory Doctorow

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My review of In Real Life by Cory Doctorow has borrowed pieces from a couple online reviewers. I figured they said what I was feeling, and it’s validating to know I wasn’t the only one that wasn’t “wowed” but the book, yet still found enjoyment. I will start  with: This is not a perfect story, still, I had… fun reading it. The online world vs real world has been done before.  You can … connect on a virtual level, but it can’t replace human (…) […]

I picked the nice online images from the book

Twig by Skottie Young

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The story behind Twig by Skottie Young and Kyle Strahm is almost as interesting as the book itself. I have tried for about two years now to read it. I have had a few online reader copies, tried to order it, and other reasons kept piling up as to why I was unable to read. Finally I said, “Hello Library? Could you PLEASE get this book for me?” And they did! And I am glad I waited. I know that at the time of release, […]

“And there is nothing more dangerous than a creature who pretends to be one thing and is in truth another.”

Lady Macbeth by Ava Reid

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This is a retelling of Shakespeare’s Macbeth focused on Lady Macbeth. This version is split into five acts (just like the play!), with Lady Macbeth as a 17-year-old new bride of the title character. Something I found particularly interesting is that the author chose to reflect the various languages spoken in eleventh-century Scotland, so the characters have different versions of their names depending on the language used. In the book, the main character thinks of herself as Roscille, so for the sake of this review, […]

Free the Press. Free the Truth

Ink Girls by Marieke Nijkamp

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Ink Girls by Marieke Nijkamp and illustrated by Sylvia Bi could be called “one of “those protest books.” And maybe that is the best way to start the review. However, it is more than that. It is about how we see ourselves and others see us. It is about learning to stand up for what is right and not the easy thing. It is about how the youth of a community/city can be a strong voice regardless of being “young.” There is found/finding family (one […]

Instead of hiding their skeletons, the witches invited them to tea and fed them coffee cake.

Deja Brew by Celestine Martin

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Deja Brew was a perfect read for me at this particular moment. I’ve enjoyed this whole cozy series centering the Caraway family of witches in the fictional magical town of Freya’s Grove on the Jersey shore. Celestine Martin blends magic, family (good and bad), rediscovering fun, finding your authentic self, and a heartachingly sweet (and spicy) romance. Sirena is a kitchen witch who has lost her confidence in the kitchen and is burnt out from the constant grind of work. After a terrible October where […]



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