Cannonball Read 18

Sticking It to Cancer One Book at a Time

A graphic novel about a graphic interest

Murder Book: a graphic memoir of a true crime obsession by Hilary Fitzgerald Campbell

by 2 Comments

Hilary Fitzgerald Campbell is a cartoonist, comedian, and true crime fanatic. Her graphic memoir is a light-hearted tribute to true crime and an exploration of why she and so many of her peers love it. I reviewed Rachel Munroe’s Savage Appetites earlier this year, and I’d say this book is the funny, optimistic true crime fan memoir in pairing with Munroe’s more dramatic, sobering one. (Both equally essential reading for true crime fans.) Campbell’s graphic memoir is in black and white, both in sync with […]

Slow burn chills

The Haunted Blizzard by Aviaq Johnston and Athena Gubbe

by Leave a Comment

The Haunted Blizzard by Aviaq Johnston and Athena Gubbe (illustrator) is a bizarre story set in an equally bizarre blizzard. Some tension, a big reveal, and questions left unanswered. The beautifully dark images tell more of the story than the minimal text. Perhaps for the more mature audiences. Let me start over. The Haunted Blizzard by Aviaq Johnston and the illustrator Athena Gubbe is a  bizarre story. It is set in a blizzard. The students are sent home due to the storm starting. A group […]

Modern meets old-world

Folk Remedy: Book 1 by Jem Yoshioka

by Leave a Comment

The graphic novel Folk Remedy: Book 1 by Jem Yoshioka is a fun, solid read that is a good book to start your graphic novel reading, expand your fantasy reading with or if you are just looking for an adventure-filled, funny tale. I was not WOWed, but I was never bored. The characters are not fully established, as some background information is missing, but they are also not one dimensional. We know they have a background (just not exactly what) and have hopes and personality […]

I’ve been reading, been writing reviews, just not posting so ….. this has been sitting in my drafts waiting…

Raised By Ghosts by Briana Loewinsohn

by Leave a Comment

The below review is for Raised By Ghosts by Briana Loewinsohn. It is my gut reaction to having finished the book the night before I wrote it. I still am not sure if I really liked this book or not. I know I did not hate it, but I wasn’t thinking “best book ever.” Which, actually, makes me think I do like it.  Most of my rating comes from the interesting setup of illustrations and the format of the panels. The traditional and artistic imagery […]

I’m not tough enough for the Canadian oil sands

Ducks by Kate Beaton

by 3 Comments

I first became aware of Kate Beaton through her charming picture book, The Princess and the Pony, released in 2015.  My, at the time, young daughters loved the book about a tiny, warrior princess who wants a noble steed like the older warriors.  Instead on her birthday she is gifted a pony that farts too much. Shortly after the publication of her graphic novel autobiography, Ducks, in 2022, it seemed everyone on the internet was declaring what a good book it was.  However, I wasn’t really […]

Poems and animals, poetry galore. Read the first and you’ll want more

If Pets Wrote Poems: A Parody Collection by Susan Johnston Taylor and Sandie Sonke

by Leave a Comment

Reading poetry used to be a fun pastime for me. However, recently, I have not been able to find a poet or collection that speaks to me. Things feel overly complicated, too lofty, too trying to be “deep and meaningful” with great subjects, but fall flat in the understanding of what the heck is being talked about. Sometimes I just need Red Fish, Blue Fish, or “Crowded Tub” by Shel Silverstein. Sometimes I like rhymes like that, but other times I just want a nice, […]



Help Our Mission

You can donate to CBR via:

  1. PayPal
  2. Venmo