Cannonball Read 18

Sticking It to Cancer One Book at a Time


Join the CBR18 Book Bingo Reading Challenge—Now Underway!   

I hear it now, This is SO You, giiiirl!

Halloween: Capturing the Spirit of New York City for Fifty Years, 1974–2024 by Larry Racioppo

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A book about my favorite holiday? You didn’t have to ask me twice, as this is so Me or works for the You cbr18bingo, Bingo Category. The cover of Halloween: Capturing the Spirit of New York City for Fifty Years, 1974–2024 by Larry Racioppo was what caught my attention: black and white graffiti and a masked Superman. This was the opposite of what I was used to; or so it felt. I knew that since I love Halloween I should at least browse it. Now […]

And you can read this book and that book and this other one….

Millie Fleur's Pumpkin Problem by Christy Mandin

Millie Feur’s Worst Day Ever by Christy Mandin

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My reading experiences have allowed me to find several solo reads and books in series that just really grab me and I get terribly excited over. One series that are more companions than true sequels are the Millie Fleur books by Christy Mandin. Having read the first two, Millie Fleur’s Poison Garden and Millie Fleur Saves the Night I figured that reading the third, Millie Fleur’s Pumpkin Problem would be a no-brainer read.  Thankfully, considering how spooky Millie can be, there were no brains (in a […]

The Trick or Treating Treat

Black and the Trick-or-Treating Trouble by Shannon Hale, Dean Hale and LeUyen Pham

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At first, I thought Bingo Square 26 cbr18bingo would be a hard one to find a book for. I then remembered that author Shannon Hale’s birthday is January 26 and I had read a book by them that is out and about. It was not the 26th online reader copy that I read, but I could pretend it was.  The Princess in Black and the Trick-or-Treating Trouble by Shannon Hale, Dean Hale and LeUyen Pham (illustrator) is a cute addition to the Princess In Black […]

Just a family tradition

Cemetery Game by Alan Woo and Rachel Wada

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Cemetery Game by Alan Woo and illustrator Rachel Wada is due September 2026 and was read via an online reader.  And now comes the more fun part of the review, but also a bit tricky to write. I was not a huge fan of things. I liked the idea of culture, family and traditions, but it felt flat. I liked the presentation, but the illustrations felt off, like maybe a bit computerized or not fully human formed. Yet, this is a nice book. It introduces […]

When your Christmas is Halloween

Halloween Tree by Susan Montanari

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When I first saw the title Halloween Tree I thought the cover was not matching what I was thinking. What I was thinking about was Ray Bradbury’s novel of the same name. But then I wondered if it was possible to adapt it to a picture book format? Especially with such a cute cover? Yes, it is possible, but the real question is should it be adapted. Well, thankfully (I guess) it was not that Halloween Tree but its own unique story. Susan Montanari’s Halloween […]

Celebrate Ramadan

Ramadan for Everyone: A Muslim Community Story by Aya Khalil

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Again, I almost did not read a book. I have read several books about Ramadan, and thought that perhaps Ramadan for Everyone: A Muslim Community Story by Aya Khalil would be just like those. Turns out, it is and is not like other books. We have the concept of Ramadan, the events and things one does to honor Allah, but there is more as well. The young girl of the story has a voice that is different from other stories, and yet is familiar too. […]



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