Cannonball Read 18

Sticking It to Cancer One Book at a Time


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The girls with the nature names

The Wishing Flower by A. J. Irving

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I will start off my review of The Wishing Flower with a slightly controversial observation. While, yes, this book is about a queer child and her feelings acceptance, understanding, and the want for a friend, you can adapt this to also show it is “just” about a child who is a bit shyer, who does not really fit in, but in the end does find a place to fit because she found a friend; that she found someone who accepts her for herself. And in […]

Books, friends and mystery

Escape from M. Lemoncello’s Library, the graphic novel by Chris Grabenstein

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Not having read the novel, that Escape from M. Lemoncello’s Library, the graphic novel is based on (that is of the same name), I am not sure how this book was adapted. However, the author Chris Grabenstein did the adaptation, so I am assuming it is mostly the same. Regardless, this graphic novel illustrated by Douglas Holgate is a fun, easy read that has puns, hidden surprises, a good message, and a lot of books that are mentioned, that are read and that are used […]

Fabulous magical creatures

Papa’s Magical Water-Jug Clock by Jesus Trejo

Benita and the Night Creatures by Mariana Llano

Vlad, the Fabulous Vampire by Flavia Z. Drago

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It is picture book round up time my reader friends. These are a variety of ages but can work for almost all ages. Just know your reader (and of course, adults can enjoy everything too). Papa’s Magical Water-Jug Clock by Jesus Trejo and illustrated by Eliza Kinkz. When Little Jesus can finally spend time with his father on the job, he knows it will be fun. What he does not realize that is he is going to misunderstand his Papa’s words about how that water […]

Trees & Rabbits

Willow and Bunny by Anitra Rowe Schulte

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A few reviews ago I mentioned that too sweet is peppermint patties and hot chocolate. This time, this book is not exactly that sweet, but it is close to it. Willow and Bunny has a spiritual feeling that could be too sweet for some people, and maybe not enough for others. Anitra Rowe Schulte’s story is about a bunny who “hears a voice” and follows it, trusting it will not lead them astray. And sure enough they find the Willow tree and her shelter. Over […]

Normal is a setting on a VCR.

Normal Norman by Tara Lazar

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CBR15Passport, own Normal is a setting on a VCR. Which you say makes no sense at all. And that is the point.  There is no “Normal Setting” on a VCR (and do they even have VCRs anymore?). Which means there is no normal. And in Tara Lazar’s Normal Norman we learn exactly that. Normal is not a real thing. Normal is as normal does. Normal is who you are. And we learn this through funny text, equally goofy S. Britt illustrations and a young scientist […]

Last of the Lumberjanes

Lumberjanes: End of Summer Adventure by Shannon Watters, Kat Leygh

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So it turns out the Lumberjanes series has reached its conclusion with volume 20: “End of Summer Adventure”. This series has had ups and downs and I think the conclusion is a little mixed. On the one hand, the questions that really need answering are resolved. For example, what’s up with Rosie, what’s really going on in the forest around the camp, and what’s the spooky bad thing that got released a volume or two ago. But then again, the actual reveals are kind of […]



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