Cannonball Read 18

Sticking It to Cancer One Book at a Time


If glass work is men’s work, why did one woman revive the lost art of millefiori?

A Thousand Glass Flowers: Marietta Barovier and the Invention of the Rosetta Bead by Evan Turk

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I have a ton of reader copies that are picture books. The great thing about them is you can read one or two (or three) at lunch. This particular picture book, A Thousand Glass Flowers: Marietta Barovier and the Invention of the Rosetta Bead took a little longer than usual. Partly because of that really long title! However, once you get into Evan Turk’s story, you know it was worth it. As a child of the 15th century Italy, Marietta was fascinated by her father’s […]

Being sick and loss of a phone means you get to read. A lot.

Bedhead Ted by Scott SanGiacomo

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Bedhead Ted is funny without being crude or lewd. The humor that Scott SanGiacomo created is not the LOL kind of humor, but a more subtle humor due to the atmosphere of the story. Of course, there are laughing out loud moments too. There is a friendship story, tall tales, rumors, misunderstandings, jealousy, bullies, magic hair, what makes an actual superhero and a girl who does not smile. And possibly a giant monster raccoon. Aimed at ages 6/7 to 10, this is familiar story will […]

And the Best Aunt Ever award goes to… ME!

My Little Pony: Holly Jolly Harmony by D. Jakobs

My Little Pony Best Gift Ever: A Perfectly Pinkie Present by Bonnie Ventura

Rainbow Dash: Reading Rainboom! by Talluah May

Twilight Sparkle: Best Aunt Ever! by Talluah May

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I have three nephews with such amazingly similar but unique interests. However, reading is not one of their current strong suits. I mean it used to be for the middle one, the younger occasionally, but the oldest is special needs and reading is not his cup of tea. But he loves superheroes and My Little Pony currently. And I will do anything to get him to see that books are fun. So, no brainer! And the great thing is, he gets ponies, I get to […]

Take a trip to the other side of the world and find yourself

Ichiro by Ryan Inzana

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What is this book? Well, I can tell you what it is not. It is not easy. It is not straightforward. And it is not something to rush through. Our hero Ichiro must deal with life, death, family, moving across the ocean from New York to Japan and will begin learning what is right and wrong. We see history (American, Japanese, even a bit of Chinese), mythology (I am assuming Japanese as while I know some, I am very lacking in my Asian cultures) and […]

Only reason this book is not a 5 is because I was looking for something different with the illustrations

The Dark Matter of Mona Starr by Laura Lee Gulledge

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The Dark Matter of Mona Starr is not something you can really tell what it is about by the cover. I figured she might be into science or going to take a poetic journey. Instead, it is a book about one girl dealing with the Matters of her life: or the depression she is facing. Laura Lee Gulledge does not want to make it easy on you, she hits you right out of the gate, but it is not all “doom and gloom.” There are […]

Have sword, will slay dragons

How Mirka Got Her Sword by Barry Deutsch

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How Mirka Got Her Sword by Barry Deutsch feels like a translation due to a few bumps in the flow of wording. However, that is the only real major bump in this modern folktale. Ages 10 to 14 probably will not see anything with that. The art helps fill in a few of those spots as will the readers imagination.  The lack of color and the mix of busy and minimal details also give the feeling of a classic, but contemporary too, folk tale. Words in […]



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