Cannonball Read 18

Sticking It to Cancer One Book at a Time


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I’m boxed

Boxed In by Sarah Lynne Reul

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If you are an artist in any way (poetry, painting, sculpture, etc) you probably have had some form of “artist anxiety” (or what I call it). What Sarah Lynne Reul calls it in Boxed In (which honestly is a bit better). Our story follows a young girl who does not want to use her new paint set because what if she makes a mistake? New things deserve perfection.  And she fears making mistakes. Due late February 2027, Reul explores this other kind of “artist block” […]

Even Shakespeare’s Hamlet didn’t have these many love problems

Henry Hamlet's Heart by Rhiannon Wilde

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Mostly, I write this review of the novel Henry Hamlet’s Heart by Rhiannon Wilde because I want to put it out there so a discussion can occur. First, a bit of history. I started this book ages ago as an online reader. I had trouble reading it, lost my place, just thought it was drawn out and too much about the “right this second every detail that really didn’t seem to do anything to move the story forward.”  I lost my online copy and figured […]

Warning: Spider friend inside

Weaver and the Web by Chris Baker

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I would have liked a few more facts added within the story that is presented in Weaver and the Web, but the way it is presented is practically perfect. Chris Baker is someone who knows how to weave a story that is mixed with facts and the illustrations are amazing and cool like the night. Byron Eggenschwiler might have a mouthful of a last name, but they know how to compliment and have their own stories with the rich colors and shadows of the night. […]

Though I’m not the audience for this, I think y’all need to read

Balloon by Bruce Handy and Julie Kwon

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Sorry Bruce Handy, but I am not digging the mostly wordless text to the story called Balloon. It is Julie Kwon’s illustrations that captured my attention and kept me moving along. However, I love the story that inspired your book. I really love that your son named his cat Balloon in honor of the lost balloon. And yes, the cat of your daughter has an equally cool name. I love unusual names for pets and I can only think of a few other names that […]

Carl Lewis Wishes He Was Coach….

Track V05 Coach by Jason Reynolds

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Once upon a time I was ignorant of Jason Reynolds the freaking awesome author. I do not remember which of his works I read first, but the Track series are the ones that stuck with me. The first four books are the kids the Coach trains, with each book done in its own style. With book five, Coach, it continues the world of Track and Field, learning, growing, and has its own format. It is a good conclusion of the series by showing us the […]

Reading the Room…. Or the Frog.

Frog Face by Blythe Russo

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Frog and I have a similar issue. Sometimes, I just am not smiling. A lot of the time I’m just sitting quietly and have to deal with people telling me, “You’re so quiet!” or “Why are you grumpy?” or “Why are you not smiling/Smile more!” Well, the first is rude as I don’t ask you why you’re so loud. But the second and third is being presumptuous. This is my face. I don’t always walk around with a fool grin on my mouth. I just […]



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