Cannonball Read 18

Sticking It to Cancer One Book at a Time

Getting into the pink

My Elephant is Blue: A book about big, heavy feelings by Melinda Szymanik

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My Elephant is Blue: A book about big, heavy feelings at first seems like it would be a little cliched. There will be a literally and the figurative elephant (sadness) and then something magical will happen. And while, yes, things do work out in the end, it takes time to get there. We watch as our narrator is trying to find a way to remove the heavy elephant sitting on their chest. Not even hungry for chocolate, we know tht this is not going to […]

If you are you

If Dominican Were a Color by Sili Recio

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The narrator of the story, If Dominican Were a Color, is proud of the colors of their home, the Dominican Republic. And that love shines with the text of Sili Recio and the amazing illustrations of Brianna McCarthy. From the colors of cinnamon, cocoa, the blue black of dreams and many more come to life, with deeply rich and bold illustrations. They are proud and strong. The colors explode off the page. The story itself is one we know: be proud of who you are […]

When Zafera was Zafera

The Dirt Girl by Jodi Dee

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The Dirt Girl by Jodi Dee seems familiar.  Maybe I have read it before, or maybe it is just a familiar subject. Either way this book is a solid three as I was not blown away by it, but it was also comfortably enjoyable. When Zafera goes to school for the first time, the children tease her. She is the definition of a “Wild Child of Nature.” Ladybugs and twigs in her hair, dirt on her face and dress. OF course, different means “bad” and […]

I know someone who could have been here, do you?

The Degenerates by J. Albert Mann

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SPOILER included: The Degenerates is a slow story, that ends on a not happy note! I wanted my happy ending! I know it was not realistic to have one, but these characters all deserve one. With that said, this look set in 1928 and the way “others” are treated is interesting but does lack a little “something.” (Which is partially why I was wanting these characters to have a happy ending.) The afterwards was also interesting, putting things into context. While for at least 12-13 […]

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAH (breath) HAAHAHAAHAHAHAHAH

Cryptid Club by Sarah Andersen

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This is Sarah Andersen at their best! This time instead of following Sarah, we follow the Cryptid creatures and their everyday troubles, laughs, and ghostly loves in Cryptid Club. We follow the trials and tribulation of Nessie, Mothman, Slenderman, Sam the Big Foot and friends who are waiting to give you a laugh or ten.   You might need to know a few of the cryptids involved or some jokes will fall flat (Slenderman is great with children) and what a Siren is (and why […]

World Cold and Hard, Legends & Lattes Soft and Warm

Legends & Lattes by Travis Baldree

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There’s something delightful about a story with low stakes. So often stories set in fantasy worlds have so much at stake that the quiet moments can be lost, the fates of the kingdom or the world taking over. Legends & Lattes is all about the quiet moments, of the therapeutic joy of brewing a cup of coffee. It’s also about the joy of making something with people you care about, and dare I say it, of chosen family. Not that the last part is super […]



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