Cannonball Read 18

Sticking It to Cancer One Book at a Time

“Observe the plans within plans within plans.”

Dune by Frank Herbert

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For some reason, I’d never gotten around to reading Dune before now, in spite of it being wildly popular when I was in high school, a time when I was more inclined to read sci-fi/fantasy. Part of that popularity had to do with the release of the 1984 film starring Kyle McLachlan; in fact, I even have a personal story. When I was a freshman, I won third place in a Dune poster contest sponsored by Universal Pictures. The third-place prize was a t-shirt and a copy […]

Out in Paperback April 19!

How to Become a Planet by Nicole Melleby

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With the paperback of How to Become a Planet coming out April 19th, I have to share my review of this delightful middle grade novel that made me cry so much and healed my heart. Melleby’s books are some of my absolute favorites when I need a story that will make me spend a couple hours wrapped up in my feelings and getting a cathartic cry. You’re going to want tissues on hand when reading How to Become a Planet, but in the end the crying […]

Greek Life

The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller

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The Song of Achilles came out over a decade ago and won the prestigious Orange Prize, but it’s been having a moment of late due to social media. The novel is a retelling of the events of The Iliad from the perspective of Patroclus, an exiled prince and the friend/companion/lover of the great warrior Achilles. The two grow up together, train together, and reluctantly go off to war together. Patroclus finds his love for Achilles tested by the latter’s behavior during the war and his […]

Tear-Worthy Young Adult Book

Counting by 7s by Holly Goldberg Sloan

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Counting by 7s is a young adult novel written by Holly Goldberg Sloan. It is meant for middle-school-aged readers but can be enjoyed by many more. 12-year-old Willow Chance is considered a “highly gifted child,” a fact that gives her some trouble making friends. Her obsessions with botany and medicine fuel her life, along with her love of her adoptive parents, Jimmy and Roberta Chance. But, as she enters middle school, things start to get messy and everything she knows and loves is gone. SPOILER […]

Wunder-full Book

Nevermoor: The Trials of Morrigan Crow by Jessica Townsend

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The Nevermoor series by Jessica Townsend has been one of my favorites since I listened to the 1st book as an audiobook in a long car ride with my family a few years ago. The Nevermoor series is currently 3 books, soon to be 4 in October 2022, but is probably going to end up as 6 to 9 books. This is a fantasy, adventure, and mystery series great for 9+ readers. The first book, and the best, in my opinion, is Nevermoor: The Trials […]

Fantasy Book With Much Unexpectedness

Furthermore by Tahereh Mafi

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Furthermore by Tahereh Mafi is a fantasy book for ages 9-12. Set in a magical place called Ferenwood, this book follows 12-year-old Alice Alexis Queensmeadow a girl deprived of many things. In Ferenwood, everything relies on color, because color means magic. But Alice is severely lacking in color. Her skin and hair are both white. Other than her clothes, the only color on her body is the pale pink of her cheeks and the slight honey of her eyes. It is Ferenwood tradition for all […]



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