Cannonball Read 18

Sticking It to Cancer One Book at a Time


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Who is by your side? And who are you by?

Berrybrook Middle School V05 Enemies by Svetlana Chmakova

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The Berrybrook Middle School series is a fun series. The cast Svetlana Chmakova created is diverse and deals with classic middle school subjects (such as growing up, boyfriend/girlfriends, best friends, lost friendships, and more) with modern twists. It is realistic, but in goofy way to help keep the serious subjects from going to “deep. These graphic novels are great for the preteen to young teen (10 to 14 the best ages) reading audience. This time in Enemies (the fifth book) we have Felicity and her […]

“Doing something even though I was scared felt kind of amazing.”

Just Roll With It by Veronica Agarwal and Lee Durfey-Lavoie

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I really loved this book and I hope it ends up getting the recognition it deserves. Just Roll With It follows Maggie during her first year of middle school as she makes new friends and gets involved with the D&D/role playing club. The main reason I got this book is that it’s a realistic and careful portrayal of OCD and anxiety, which made it a very relatable read. Both of the creators have struggled with mental health and I think it really adds to the realism […]

Hijinks and Goop people

Weird Kid by Greg Van Eekhout

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The main character in Weird Kid is an alien, therefore expect a comedy of errors to happen. There is an interesting story arch that shows that that things are a not to subtle representation of puberty and the changing we go through in middle school. It is very unbelievable (though there are two interesting pieces of realism that was surprising). It is also funny. An adult can forgive the bumps that occur as kids 10 and up will get a kick out of everything happening. […]

Modern nostalgia

Bunnicula: The Graphic Novel by James Howe

Wait Till Helen Comes Graphic Novel by Mary Downing Hahn

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My 1980’s childhood called and wants its books back. Or at least, it wants to share with you two treasured favorites of mine now in a graphic novel format. Bunnicula and Wait Till Helen Comes are two books I still recommend today. They are “safe” for a younger reader, but still have the edge of a modern reader. Bunnicula: The Graphic Novel by James Howe, Andrew Donkin, and illustrations by Stephen Gilpin is what you loved as a kid now in a graphic novel format. […]

“Everywhere I looked, there was danger:” A Nuanced and Interesting Middle-Grade Novel

Turtle Boy by M. Evan Wolkenstein

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Turtle Boy was a random bookstore find for me, and I’m really glad I picked it up off the shelf. An interesting cover illustration will always get me, and the combination of bright yellow and a picture of the visual representation of my inner child intrigued me. Turtle Boy follows Will Levine, who is struggling with bullying, the death of his father, and having to do community service as part of the preparation for his bar mitzvah. In the opening chapters of the book, Will is […]

Home is where you are

The Mouse Who Carried a House on His Back by Jonathan Stutzman

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The message to The Mouse Who Carried a House on His Back by Jonathan Stutzman might be slightly above many picture book readers/listeners (or to booksellers who were dead-stinking-tired because they had not slept in a few days). In other words, know your reader. The concept is simple: Vincent travels wherever they must go. They are a mouse with boots on their feet, had on head and the house on his back. The spot on a grassy hill calls him. He puts the house down, […]



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