Cannonball Read 18

Sticking It to Cancer One Book at a Time

A warrior detective, a priest, and a princess team up

Yamada Monogatari: The Emperor in Shadow by Richard Parks

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I have had the final Yamada Monogatari on my TBR for a long time. I finally picked it up and it’s what I needed for a couple of snow days in a row the deep South. I’m a native Midwesterner so snow and cold are not new to me, but last night might have been the first time in a decade since I moved that I saw measurable snow stick around more than a few hours (not even going to get into the ice). Work […]

On guard that cha-cha-cha!

On Guard!: A Marshall Middle School Graphic Novel by Cassidy Wasserman

Swing by Audrey Meeker and Sarah Davidson

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Graphic novels are one of my favorite genres to read.  They cover several themes and ages. Currently middle and young adult graphic novels have several being published. Most of the middle readers are nice, not too in-depth but have a good message. They are fun and relatable without being too heavy for the (strong) 8-9 to (younger) 13-14. Two of those books are reviewed below.  Over a weekend that was cold, I found a quick graphic novel that I hoped wouldn’t go too deep into […]

Kissed by an angel, second life or Toto, whatever you call it, it’s all about love

Toto by Hyewon Yum

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Toto by Hyewon Yum is currently available, but I had an online reader copy. Things are cute, but also serious as we are dealing with a birthmark on our narrator’s face. The usual things happen (people stare, the girl is nervous about it, her mother tries to hide it) but it is at school when our gal learns how special her mark (that she calls Toto) is. Things did not “wow” me, but I enjoyed the book. It is a nice addition to the idea […]

Part cloud, part puppy all fun and (video) games

Cloud Puppy V02 Game On! by Kelly Leigh Miller

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Cloud Puppy V02 Game On! by Kelly Leigh Miller is a fun continuation of Cloud Puppy V01. I read this via an online reader copy. It is due in early March 2025.  While I like Cloud Puppy (part cloud, part puppy) it can be visually overly cute and sugary. It is for for the reader who likes friendship stories and stories about gaming (including LARPING). It does lend itself to a more stereotypical “girl story” but as one of the stories included tells us, we […]

You are my Sunny, you’re so funny! You make the case when you debate in their face! 

Sunny Makes Her Case: A Graphic Novel by Jennifer L. Holm and Matthew Holm

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Jennifer L. Holm and Matthew Holm are a team for several books. Some of my favorites are from the Sunny series. I did not love  all of them, but for the most part, they have been fun. They are slightly younger than some of the others out there, but work for multiple ages. I like that Sunny is from the late 1970s. And is mostly a relatable character because growing up and growing pains do not change much.  Now, book five, Sunny Makes Her Case: […]

Bee is for Honey and more

Diary of a Bee by Stepanka Sekaninova

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I did not know what to expect with Diary of a Bee by Stepanka Sekaninova and illustrated by Linh Dao when I saw the online reader copy (due mid April 2025). I figured it would be something like, “I wake up, brush my teeth, eat breakfast, go to (fill in space), lunch, dinner, snacks and go to bed.” You know, like a kid would do. But instead it is a fictionalized life of a bee. We start with “pre bee” and how they grow, hatch, […]



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