Cannonball Read 17

Sticking It to Cancer One Book at a Time

Teamwork is Dreamwork

Tryouts: (A Graphic Novel) (The Brinkley Yearbooks) by Sarah Sax

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I didn’t write up my review for Tryouts: (A Graphic Novel) (The Brinkley Yearbooks) by Sarah Sax until after things closed for the year. But that’s okay. I will just add it as my fourth book review of 2025 as I had a few books at the end of 2024 I missed, but will let you know about them now January 2025. And the rest of the books afterwards should be 2025 all the way. Tryouts is a typical story of girl power, sports, teamwork […]

Putting the IN in Introvert and the Ex…. never mind….

The Verts: A Story of Introverts and Extrovert by Ann Patchett

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I know little to nothing about the author Ann Patchett. I’ve heard they are: YES BEST EVER! And they are: NO DON’T READ EVER! I leave it up to you to decide if The Verts: A Story of Introverts and Extroverts by Patchett is for you. Due in mid-September 2024, I read this picture book via an online reader copy. I had debated if I wanted to read it as the subject is one I care about, but am very picky about how it is […]

I wanted a title that represented the fact that, yes, there are religious themes, but not that would turn people off as they can just be “Nope!” to that theme, but they are really nice books, even if they aren’t your thing.

Lullaby for the King by Nikki Grimes

Home Is Right Where You Are: Inspired by Psalm 23 by Ruth Chou Simons

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One does not just say you should read Lullaby for the King by Nikki Grimes and illustrated by Michelle Carlos to just anyone. You do, however, say, “This was a lovely story that if you have a need for a Christian book that is about the Christ child’s birth, and you do not want a fluffy book, a Santa/Christmas book or has only people in it, you should give this a chance.”  This story starts off and finishes on a poetic note. Things flow and […]

Pet a pooch, get a lick, smell a dog

The Smell of Wet Dog: And Other Dog Poems and Drawings by Barney Saltzberg

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Who likes the smell of wet dogs? Well, probably there are a few diehard canine lovers, but most of us? Nope. And that includes the narrator in the poem of the same named poem as the title of this collection, The Smell of Wet Dog: And Other Dog Poems and Drawings by Barney Saltzberg. But that does not mean there are not things they do love. And we see the things that are good (and other bad things) in the poems included in this due […]

People and things we hold dear

Loose Threads: A Story about Me, Mom, and Dad by Airien Ludin

Boots by Elizabeth Pulsford

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An unpleasant subject is the subject of death and grief. However, it happens, and a good way to talk about it is with a story. I will say grab two large, soft, boxes of tissues and you will need them, but you won’t regret trying out the books below. (Both were read via online reader copies.) Loose Threads: A Story about Me, Mom, and Dad written and illustrated by Airien Ludin (due mid/late October 2024) is a story about how a young girl has everything […]

Red Kites and Black Birds

The Pebble: An Allegory of the Holocaust by Marius Marcinkevičius

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The Pebble: An Allegory of the Holocaust by Marius Marcinkevičius, illustrated by Inga Dagilė and translated by Jura Avizienis is a clever telling of the Holocaust story via one child’s experiences. We follow a child from inside to the ghetto, to the day they leave and do not return. The mystical element might be assumed “real” and therefore, having a younger child missing the metaphor, but older readers/children and adults will appreciate it. The artwork is sparse, but creates a tone that allows the realism […]



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