Cannonball Read 18

Sticking It to Cancer One Book at a Time


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Two books that I think would be great for young readers but I have personal mixed feelings about

Stepping Stones by Lucy Knisley

Apple Crush by Lucy Knisley

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Stepping Stones and Apple Crush are middle-grade graphic novels that follow Jen, a city girl whose parents have gotten divorced. Stepping Stones covers the immediate aftermath of Jen’s mom moving them to a farm in the country with her new boyfriend Walter. Jen has to learn how to get along with her new step-sisters, especially Andy, who is bossy and a know-it-all. The conflict between Jen, who is struggling with math, and Jen, who is using her good grades to try to be perfect for her dad, […]

Old fashion feel to a book of today

Sweeping Up the Heart by Kevin Henkes

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Sweeping Up the Heart is a cute little book by Kevin Henkes. Known mostly for his picture books, he has created some lovely middle reader novels. However, the adult reader will realize that they have seen the subject, the message, before. This is not fresh, but for the aged 8 to 10 (or even up to a younger 12) it is a nice story of change and friendship. The subject centers around loss (via death and divorce), friendships (new and old), family, and love. Our […]

Cute in a not eat your face way

Fly by Night by Tara O’Connor.

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Thanks to my holiday book exchange, I had a chance to pick up Fly by Night by Tara O’Connor.  I had started a sampler awhile back and thought it would be slightly on the slower side, but still it was a fascinating concept. Twin sisters, one who has gone missing, and spooky felt right.  And yes, it was not super-fast pace, but kept things moving. The idea of true supernature never came into play for those few pages, but it quickly does once you get […]

Tori on Tori

Just Pretend by Tori Sharp

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Just Pretend by Tori Sharp is a fresh friendship story that is also familiar. Tenderly written, this graphic novel is realistic and relatable. While there is a moral, the main point is just come along for Tori’s journey. We follow Tori after her parents have gotten divorced. With a feeling of being set in the 1990s (or around then), this book is timeless. The issues that divorced parents have, the issues siblings have with each other, and the issues children have with their parents allow […]

Once upon a school year a girl named Izzy had feelings and more

Izzy Kline Has Butterflies by Beth Ain

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cbr13bingo FREE In late June 2021 I started Izzy Kline Has Butterflies while sitting at a table, outside the local café which was closed, and I was eating a greasy piece of pizza from the shop up the road. But I figured the owners would not mind. I know them well enough, and it was not like I was being disrespectful while enjoying this treat. Besides, it was too nice to sit inside.  Therefore, it was only appropriate that I finish Beth Ain’s book sitting […]

If Big Little Lies Met To Kill A Mockingbird

The Night the Lights Went Out by Karen White

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I can’t claim the title of this review as my own. The cover of The Night the Lights Went Out features a pull quote from a review stating, “If Big Little Lies met To Kill a Mockingbird.” As much as I love Karen White’s books, I instantly thought, “Yeah, right.” I’m pleased to say I was wrong. This book is pure entertainment. I couldn’t put it down. I get the reticence to compare a beach-y read to a literary classic, but let’s roll with it this […]



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