Cannonball Read 18

Sticking It to Cancer One Book at a Time


Revisiting a queer collection from my ’90s youth

Am I Blue by Marion Dane Bauer

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I picked up Am I Blue?, an anthology of “gay and lesbian” stories for young adults right around when it was published in 1994. I was in middle school, which I had entered with a new haircut that earned me a lot of accusations from more ignorant classmates. But I think this was just a coincidence; I don’t remember questioning my sexuality or gender despite those comments. I expect I either picked it up out of curiosity about the gay community, or that my mom […]

Dogs are purest good boys, even in Animorphs

Megamorphs #1: The Andalite’s Gift by K. A. Applegate

The Alien by K. A. Applegate

The Secret by K. A. Applegate

The Android by K. A. Applegate

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Oops, I forgot to review my books! I am still chugging along in The Animorphs series! I fell off of it briefly but am catching back up. I was going to skip some volumes, but it turns out my brain is too COMPLETEST for that, so at this point I’ve read the first ten books, plus the first Megamorphs volume. Megamorphs #1: The Andalite’s Gift: Megamorphs is sort of the “super specials” of the series (shoutout to my BSC babes). Those are an ensemble narrative, […]

Jello-Coated Updo

Barely Floating by Lilliam Rivera

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Nat is an amazing swimmer, and the pool is her favorite place to be. She’s not afraid to boast about it, or even challenge the older boys to swim races, but she has to be loud and proud. She’s a fat Latina in an sport known for its skinny white athletes. One day, she learns about a local artistic swimming team (formerly known as synchronized swimming). She had no idea that swimmers could not only be strong and fast, but glamorous and creative. Nat adores […]

“Could animorphing BE any creepier?”

The Message by K. A. Applegate

The Predator by K. A. Applegate

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As of book five, I have officially read an Animorphs book from each main character’s POV, and I gotta say, I’m a Marco girlie. But I was always a big fan of the funny short guy (Max Casella in Newsies, I’ll love you forever). In book 4, The Message, Cassie and Tobias begin receiving telepathic messages from an unknown creature in need. The group figures out it’s likely an Andalite that is seemingly stuck in their spaceship underwater, and they learn to morph into dolphins […]

“A soft heart only makes it easier for a knife to slip in.”

The Dreadful Tale of Prosper Redding by Alexandra Bracken

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Prosper Redding is of the Massacusetts Reddings: a very rich, very privileged family whose lineage goes back to the pilgrims. Prosper is a bit of a black sheep, caring mostly about art and his twin sister Prue.  His grandmother, a severe matriarchal type, seems to particularly despise him, probably because he doesn’t do much to contribute to the Redding Name. Even he couldn’t guess how much he was despised, though — until the day of a local fair, when he is dragged down to the family […]



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