Cannonball Read 18

Sticking It to Cancer One Book at a Time

44 Days

The Damned United by David Peace

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In 1974 the defending champion Leeds United needed a new manager as their legendary coach Don Revie was leaving to take over the English national team. In a shocking move Leeds hired Brian Clough, an outspoken critic of Leeds and their style of play. After alienating the players, the fans, and his bosses, Clough was sacked after only 44 days. The Damned United is David Peace’s novelized version of this time period. Using artistic license to imagine Clough’s state of mind during this ordeal and […]

Go Sports Ball!

Home Run, Touchdown, Basket, Goal!: Sports Poems for Little Athletes  by  Leo Landry

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I have done my auntly duty flattening my tail-feathers on benches and bleachers, gotten eye and neck strain from trying to see a 9-year-old out in right field, been rained on, sunburned and eaten alive by a mosquito or two watching nephews playing sports. And while I can tell the difference between a puck and the goalie (usually) and which football Americans vs. Europeans are talking about, I am not a sports person.  However, the other day, one of the publishes sent me a large, […]

When life gives you hurdles, lead with your knee

Lu Track #4 by Jason Reynolds

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I have now come to the final book of Jason Reynolds’ Track series. Lu Track #4 covers the last leg of Ghost, Patina, Sunny and Lu during their time as newbies on a middle-school track and field team. It is bittersweet as I would like to know more, but also it is time to come to the finish line. We follow Lu as his changes include not being a full-time runner but is also doing the hurdles (which, of course, is a metaphor for his […]

Track the field and you’ll see Sunny shining

Track #3 Sunny by Jason Reynolds

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Track #3 Sunny is the third in the Track series and so far, perhaps the strongest of the bunch. Jason Reynolds has written Sunny in a diary format. While the information is all there (seeing Sunny running, not running, dealing with his family and friends) it is more tell than show. This can be a little awkward at times as, with a real diary, Sunny does not always start at the beginning or make sense. But there is a reason for that. Sunny’s writing is […]

Strike Three! You’re caught.

Ballpark Mysteries Super Special #3: Subway Series Surprise by David A. Kelly

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Ballpark Mysteries Super Special #3: Subway Series Surprise by David A. Kelly and illustrated by Mark Meyers, is a to first base story: Mike and Kate are two sleuths and baseball lovers, that have solved several mysteries based around baseball. They are modern-day Encyclopedia Brown meets Babe Ruth. This time they need to find out who not only stole Kate’s moms notes about the book she is writing, but who has been pulling pranks on the Mets! The Subway series between the Yankees and Mets […]

If he can stay on track

Track #01: Ghost by Jason Reynolds

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Track #01 Ghost is a book that is praised for its diverseness (an author and characters of color). However, I forgot that these characters were “not white” and focused on the struggles of Castle. Or Ghost as he prefers.  That and the fact they deal with a lesser explored sport, running, are probably the two best parts of the book. Which is to say, since that is the book, it is a good book. The metaphor Jason Reynolds gives you is Ghost is always running: […]



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