Cannonball Read 18

Sticking It to Cancer One Book at a Time


Rough but Important Middle Grade Novel

No Place Like Home by James Bird

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This is a rough, emotional story, but also a story full of hope and love. Opin is living in a car with his mom and older brother, Emjay, since they left his father several years ago because he was violent and abusive. Emjay has a tendency to run off when they stop places on their way to Watts Los Angeles and is full of anger, which sometimes is expressed in violence and being cruel with his words towards his family. But Opin finds a dog, […]

Don’t assume you know by the cover

The Ramadan Drummer by Sahtinay Abaza

Arthi’s Bomma by Mamta Nainy

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I have read several books on Ramadan and on India (not together, but the theme of the review is different takes on familiar areas). They were starting to blend together (I was talking about one book and realized that I was combining two different ones). Therefore, when I saw The Ramadan Drummer I was both interested and assumed it would be “just another Ramadan story.” Which, it was not. Sahtinay Abaza’s story starts out similarly to other Ramadan stories, in which the young boy of […]

It’s too early to write a clever title but honestly you should have your kids read this

Travis Daventhorpe for the Win! Volume One by Wes Molebash

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In the idea of the Judd Winick’s Hilo adventures, but with a bit more “weight”, yet equally funny, magical and scientific, we have Travis Daventhorpe for the Win! Volume One. Good for ages 8 to 11/young12, this book has all the fun of robots, dinosaurs, friends, bullies, wizards and dodgeball! (Okay, dodgeball might not be fun, but the scientific experiments Travis does are.) Travis is new to middle school. He has little to no social skills, but he can build sentient robots that can do […]

I get why, but I really don’t like that cover

I Am Only a Foreigner Because You Do Not Understand by L. Nichols

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familIt might be odd to start my review of I Am Only a Foreigner Because You Do Not Understand with its trigger warnings, but I feel that before you even think about getting into L. Nichols and their  follow up to Flocks, you should know that there are some illustrations which can be tough for sensitive readers (not just some suggested and shown nudity that might be offensive for some, but it is edgy and how it relates to the story. Plus they can go […]

Feeling fear

Why Are We Afraid? by Fran Pintadera

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Finally a review about a book that is currently out and you do not have to wait a year (okay five months) for! Why Are We Afraid? is billed as  a children’s book. However, the more mature theme and the slightly adult illustrations make this story not for the very young or sensitive reader.  Frank Fran Pintadera’s story is interesting, and for the right reader, an interesting exploration of fears, but not easy to work with. Overall, the theme of fear done in a poetic […]

I like to eat, read books, and read books about eating

Bring Back the Babka! by Marilyn Wolpin

Rising by Sidura Ludwig

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I am always hungry. I was hungry when I read these books and writing reviews for them made me hungry.  And while you may or may not be able to devour good food, soon you will be able to devour Bring Back the Babka! (I was able to read a special finished copy provided to me by my lovely Barefoot Books deal!) And 2024 will show us my other read of food, glorious food! When brothers search for their mother’s missing babka in Bring Back […]



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