Cannonball Read 18

Sticking It to Cancer One Book at a Time


Keeping your Family together

When We Were Alone by David Alexander Robertson

Grandpa’s Girls by Nicola I. Campbell

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Both books are very different but have the common thread of having a Native American influence, or backdrop. These would be great books to add to any collection. They both are fabulous examples of the meaning of friendship. I preferred When We Were Alone more than Grandpa’s Girls for several reasons. One reason I enjoyed it was the serious tone of the book. This might turn some people off, but even then, David Alexander Robertson has infused a great hopefulness as well. When We Were […]

Fathers and Sons

Knock Knock by Daniel Beaty

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I was hoping for something different when I saw the cover of Knock Knock by Daniel Beaty. I was not completely sure what I excepted, but I thought it would be about the waiting for the knock and the joy we feel after we open it for that “surprise” on the other side. Be that surprise is a new sibling, a parent coming home from work or school or was in the service. Or the joy of having a grandparent or sibling that lives far […]

The boy named Penelope who was also a ninja

Born Ready: A True Story of a Boy Named Penelope by Jodie Patterson

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I have been aware of Born Ready: A True Story of a Boy Named Penelope for awhile now. I was not necessarily rushing to read, but I knew that it would be on the TBR pile soon enough. When I finally got my hands on a copy of Jodie Patterson’s book, I was glad I read it, but at the same time a bit disappointed. There was nothing “new” added to the theme of a transgender child. We see at a young age Penelope telling […]

A Special kind of lunch

Lailah’s Lunchbox: A Ramadan Story by Reem Faruqi

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Lailah is in a new school in a new country. She misses her old friends, friends who were old enough last year to partake in the fasting of Ramadan. This year, she is deemed old enough by her mother, and wishes she could share her concerns and excitement with those friends. But here at the new school, she is shy and worried no one will understand the importance of this honor. She worries that people will make fun of her and feel sorry when she […]

This is a beautiful book with a sensitive subject

Fox: A Circle of Life Story by Isabel Thomas

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I was thinking Fox: A Circle of Life Story was going to be more about the cycle of trees, plants, the seasons, the forest and not about the cycle of life of a mother fox. Isabel Thomas created a poetic, beautiful story of life and death. We follow a fox as she wanders the woods, crossing the human road, and her unfortunate end. The concept of death is lightly presented, but also nothing is held back. It is a serious look at the cycle of […]

Watch your penguin… I mean baby!

Vampenguin by Lucy Ruth Cummins

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Vampenguin written and illustrated by Lucy Ruth Cummins cannot have 250 words written about it. When you say, “A baby vampire trades places with a penguin at the zoo for the day and they cause a bit of mischief.” You have said it all. Of course, you can then say things like, “Why were the parents so clueless?” They and the older sibling had plenty of opportunities to notice the change. Even if they are looking at the other animals or talking on the cellphone. […]



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