Cannonball Read 18

Sticking It to Cancer One Book at a Time


Getting your vroom on

Sarabeth's Garage by Melanie Florence and Nadia Alam

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Once again, I found a book that I almost did not read. I was going through online reader copy links and Sarabeth’s Garage by Melanie Florence popped up. It had a funny looking cover, realistic, but overly cartoon based. It was colorful and okay, but not “grabbing me.” Still I was looking at Sarabeth, on the cover, with a garage behind her. It wasn’t bad-looking, okay it definitely looked like this was going to be a “girl power, girls can do anything story” but was […]

Shaping our shape of self

Unretouchable by Sofia Szamosi

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While looking at online reader copies that were new to the site I use, I found Bad Kid (a Graphic Memoir): My Life as a Troubled Teen by Sofia Szamosi. It said it was a companion to Unretouchable. Which, of course, meant that if I wanted to read Bad Kid, my brain said, you need Unretouchable. Therefore, off to the library I went to pick up a copy via interlibrary loan. Szamosi discusses the beauty industry and how she is both part of and wants […]

Freshly squished (from frozen)

The Lemonade War Book 1 by Jacqueline Davies

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While reading The Lemonade War Book 1 by Jacqueline Davies I did not think I would write it up here. It came out in the early 2000s. How could it still be relevant? Wouldn’t everyone have already read it? Therefore, I didn’t make arrangements to post. Then I was sitting at my work desk (a few days after finishing) and it had been mixing itself inside me, like mixing bugs and lemonade. Or: it was not sitting right. Why not talk about an almost 25 […]

Presenting Hesse and Karas awesome collaboration

Night Job by Karen Hesse

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Night Job by Karen Hesse and illustrated by G. Brian Karas was almost put aside to read. It is not due until later October 2025, but I needed to see how these two would work together. I think of Hesse as a slightly more serious author and Karas as a lighter illustrator. Not saying it couldn’t work, but first thoughts are first thoughts. And they became probably one of my new favorite duos. The story is a bit on the lighter side allowing Karas almost […]

Frankie is the Gal with the Pals!

Frankie and Friends: The Big Protest by Christine Platt

Frankie and Friends: The Lost Tooth by Christine Platt

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One of the main things I like about Frankie and Friends: The Big Protest by Christine Platt is that things are presented in a kid friendly way. By using the journalistic approach (which is described) we are able to see how such things as “big news” is carried out. And this accessible language (with a glossary of the highlighted words) allows us as kids (aged six/seven to read to, eight/nine to read solo) and adults to have a neat read and learn about not only […]

Wednesday’s child might be full of woe, but our Wednesday keeps on trying

Wednesday Wilson Connects the Dots by Bree Galbraith

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I was not really the audience for the book Wednesday Wilson Connects the Dots. However, it is well written by Bree Galbraith, has good representation with a diverse cast, and is a familiar story of friendship, business sense and valuing yourself and work. The illustrations by Morgan Goble help transition from a mostly illustrated read to a mostly text read and gives you pieces that might not be picked up by the words. I was not aware this was a series until after reading, so […]



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