Cannonball Read 18

Sticking It to Cancer One Book at a Time


The Summer of Sam, Ed, and Reggie

Ladies and Gentleman, the Bronx is Burning by Jonathan Mahler

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Jonathan Mahler’s Ladies and Gentleman, the Bronx is Burning is an unusual work of non-fiction, blending sports, news, culture, and politics into a fairly comprehensive narrative of life in New York City in the year 1977. It was a dark time in the city. Years of excessive spending on social programs had the city teetering on the brink of bankruptcy, and despite promises made by newly-elected President Jimmy Carter, help was not on the way. It was an election year in the city, with Mayor Abe […]

Not the Alphabet book I grew up on

Queer History A to Z: 100 Years of LGBTQ+ Activism b by Robin Stevenson and Vivian Rosas

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Queer History A to Z: 100 Years of LGBTQ+ Activism by Robin Stevenson and illustrated by Vivian Rosas is a middle grade alphabet book that is also a landmine of wonder tidbits. The version I found was from 2024 and was still an online copy. However, it was not complete so I hope to find a finished copy sometime. The list of letters and definitions are not just A is for Activist, or M is for Marsha P (though they do make an appearance) but […]

Superheroes to the…. rescue?

Maker Girl and Professor Smarts by Jasmine Florentine

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Deep in the collection of my online reader links, Maker Girl and Professor Smarts by Jasmine Florentine showed up and I read it via that manner. Currently available, I’m glad I read this book via the online way for this cute and silly superhero story. While there was nothing wrong with the book, everything was not for me and therefore, I did not need a physical copy to keep. It is great for the second grade on up, as it has all the elements younger […]

This book is out now, so lucky you! You don’t have to wait.

The Endless Game by J.D. Amato and Sophie Morse

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The Endless Game by J.D. Amato and illustrator Sophie Morse has some plot points that I personally dislike, but kids at least aged 9 and up would be the perfect audience for this graphic novel. The concept is for decades the two sides of the town have been at odds. Think “greasers and socs.” Think “Uptown Kids vs. Downtown Kids.” Think “Hatfield and McCoys.”  Then one day, the mayor of the town decides to have a “friendly” game of Capture the Flag to have some […]

Life, love and rock climbing

Kirby's Lessons for Falling [in Love] by Laura Gao

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Kirby’s Lessons for Falling [in Love] was neither loved nor hated. I mean, Laura Gao did a lovely job of story, text and art, but at the same time, I was thinking, “Something is missing.” It moved quickly, has some new takes on familiar themes, and for the most part I like how things turned out. Yet, giving it a score is hard as I loved most of it, but there were places I did not. Probably why I am having trouble figuring out a […]

Ice Ice Baby

Game Changers (Game Changers #1) by Rachel Reid

Heated Rivalry (Game Changers #2) by Rachel Reid

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In Game Changers, Kip Grady works in a juice bar and quietly hates his life when he meets famous hockey player Scott Hunter. Scott comes in to the bar several times and chats to Kip, and it takes Kip a while to realise Scott is hitting on him. The two embark on a relationship and though they get along like a house on fire, Kip wants more: he wants to be out, to be seen with Scott, not hidden away in his fancy apartment like […]



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