Cannonball Read 18

Sticking It to Cancer One Book at a Time

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Surviving middle school is hard

Just Beyond #1 The Scare School by R.L. Stine, Nichole Matthews and Kelly Matthews

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R.L. Stine, Nichole Matthews and Kelly Matthews adapted Just Beyond #1 The Scare School into a graphic novel format. Or I am assuming it was a novel first, then a graphic novel. However, regardless of which came first (or didn’t come out) this is an old school RL Stine story. The theme is classic: We start with a couple of kids in “unusual clothing” (cue the “not from our world”) and how they are being chased by a robotic monster. We then see who lives […]

Bronze-Age Crete

Minoan Wings V01 Dragonfly Song by Wendy Orr

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The novel Minoan Wings V01 Dragonfly Song is a contemporary toned story set in the Bronze Age. The historical facts were well researched by the author, Wendy Orr. And what is presented is not just the factual information, but also there is an arc about mythology and religion (such as the goddess worship vs the bull/masculine, the representation of the animals and nature), and one that feels like it has more modern ideas of equality and gender (the goddess, the mother,  the priestess, daughters). Though maternal ruled villages […]

Alphabetical Adventure.

The Imaginary Alphabet by Sylvie Daigneault

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When I saw the cover of The Imaginary Alphabet I thought it looked neat, but nothing special. I mean who wants another alphabet book? Well, I would have to say, nobody really; I know I don’t. But neither did Sylvie Daigneault. They made a book that is yes, A is for Alligators, but also so much more. There is a sentence then a fantastical colorful, busy, detailed image on the next page. Not only do you see the alligators and the other A words in […]

Athena growing up

Athena: Goddess of Wisdom and War by Imogen and Isabel Greenberg

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Imogen and Isabel Greenberg know Greek mythology. I am sure they know a lot of things, but we will focus on Greek Mythology and the Goddess of Wisdom and War: Athena.  Or more accurately the title is, Athena: Goddess of Wisdom and War. This is the first in a stand-alone series. Athena’s grandmother, Gaia is book two, but you can read it first if you wish. And since I had read her story first, my opinion of Athena was a little jaded. I was expecting […]

Bring out the Gnomes

The Magic Cap. by Mirelle Messier

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It was a picture book kind of day and Edelweiss was very obliging with the future publications being available. One due late May/early April 2023 was The Magic Cap. This fairytale (possible retelling, but modern tones) is about two siblings who lived in a cottage next to the woods. This was long ago, and they had just themselves (Arlo and Isaura), their pet hedgehog, Crispin but little else. When Crispin becomes ill the children try to capture a gnome for help. Things do not work […]

Real villains

The Ogress and the Orphans by Kelly Barnhill

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As of this writing/posting of the review for The Ogress and the Orphans by Kelly Barnhill I am only halfway through. I published before finishing as I had some ideas I wanted to put down as I was/am not completely sure why this book has critics excited. It is terribly slow, and the real action does not start to take place until the middle of the book. And then, when things are about to finally happen, the orphan that meets the Ogress is asleep with […]



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