Cannonball Read 18

Sticking It to Cancer One Book at a Time


Princess Lessons for a Princess Party and thensome

Cursed Princess Club v.5 by Lamb Cat

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So there’s finally some progress on the question of Gwen’s parents and possible cursed-ness or maybe lack thereof. Jamie is still rather pointless, except to make a minor connection of interest with the Queen of the Plaid Kingdom. The Plaid Princes are sort of backseat, except for Frederick; Frederick and Gwen actually sort of make a little progress, although there might/will be trouble ahead because of course it’s still too early for the fairy tale ending. The Plaid King actually gets a little more character […]

A graphic novel about a graphic interest

Murder Book: a graphic memoir of a true crime obsession by Hilary Fitzgerald Campbell

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Hilary Fitzgerald Campbell is a cartoonist, comedian, and true crime fanatic. Her graphic memoir is a light-hearted tribute to true crime and an exploration of why she and so many of her peers love it. I reviewed Rachel Munroe’s Savage Appetites earlier this year, and I’d say this book is the funny, optimistic true crime fan memoir in pairing with Munroe’s more dramatic, sobering one. (Both equally essential reading for true crime fans.) Campbell’s graphic memoir is in black and white, both in sync with […]

I’m not tough enough for the Canadian oil sands

Ducks by Kate Beaton

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I first became aware of Kate Beaton through her charming picture book, The Princess and the Pony, released in 2015.  My, at the time, young daughters loved the book about a tiny, warrior princess who wants a noble steed like the older warriors.  Instead on her birthday she is gifted a pony that farts too much. Shortly after the publication of her graphic novel autobiography, Ducks, in 2022, it seemed everyone on the internet was declaring what a good book it was.  However, I wasn’t really […]

The kids want more … words?!

Things in the Basement by Ben Hatke

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Things in the Basement is a backlist graphic novel title by Ben Hatke (Zita the Spacegirl, Mighty Jack). It concerns a boy named Milo who is sent to the creepy basement by his mother to retrieve the one pink sock that will make his baby sister stop crying. When Milo sees the sock snatched up by a rat-like creature, he chases it, and discovers that his basement opens up in to many creepy levels, full of monsters, ancient art, and a friendly ghost. This is […]

Very Cute Middle Grade Fantasy Graphic Novel

My Sister the Werebeast by Alina Tysoe

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This is a very cute middle grade graphic novel that hits many of the themes I enjoy — school narrative, siblings having to work together, magic, and actually supportive adults so that the kids don’t have to do things all on their own. Mira and Rosie have been left to look after their little sister, Peanut, while their parents are off on an adventuring expedition. This is a world in which there used to be magic, but it supposedly vanished hundreds of years ago after […]

Dogs leveled up

DnDoggos: Get the Party Started by Scott Underhill

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Tonka, Pickles, Zoey, and Magnus are dogs, friends, and a D&D party. Magnus is the game master, Tonka is a goofy puppet-wielding bard, Pickles is an impatient fighter, and Zoey is the thoughtful cleric. Their quest? to track down the mayor’s son Squish, and figure out why all of the squeaky toys in the kingdom have gone missing. Their real-life quest? to eat as many snacks as possible. So, you know, your average D&D adventure. The narrative bounces back and forth between the imagined D&D […]



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