Cannonball Read 18

Sticking It to Cancer One Book at a Time

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A Perfect Book

The Stolen Prince of Cloudburst by Jaclyn Moriarty

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Most of us have heard of Liane Moriarty (Big Little Lies), but did you know she has a sister who writes perfect YA and middle-grade novels? You haven’t? Well, I’m not surprised, because no one I’ve talked to has ever read any of Jaclyn Moriarty’s Australian school YA novels (The Year of Secret Assignments, Feeling Sorry For Celia, etc) or her fantasy novels (The Colors of Madeline series and others). But I am here as a lone voice in the book wilderness, having just read another […]

I wish I may, I wish I might, have a friend to play with tonight

The Witchling’s Wish by Lu Fraser

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When I posted on Facebook that I had read seven books (all though picture books) I lied, a little. You see it was actually nine (picture) books (I had a busy picture book day). And one of them was The Witchling’s Wish by Lu Fraser and Sarah Massine. Due in July 2022, this book about a young witch (with a not so pointy hat) who wants a friend. She does not mind the critters living with her, or the drips of occasional rain, but she […]

Middle-Grade Fantasy That Disappoints

The Goblin Wood by Hilari Bell

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I think if I’d read this when I was 10, I would have enjoyed it more. I felt that the characters suddenly changed their motivations so quickly near the end of this book that it was clear she was trying to wrap the book up and get them all out the door. I enjoyed the nuanced look the author was trying to take at right and wrong, and the issue with flattening complex issues, but the ending pages made it all fall apart for me. […]

A Masterpiece of Graphic Storytelling

Bone by Jeff Smith

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What can even be said about Bone that scholars and fans already haven’t said? It helped pave the way for the current middle-grade/YA graphic novel boom, it’s a beautiful masterpiece of long-form storytelling, it was completely self-published, it’s won every award….Bone is a testament to artistic effort and cartooning on the highest level. Personally I love it and have a long history with it. We had this same one-volume edition when I was younger and I reread it several times when I was in the most intense stage […]

“Some people steal to stay alive, and some steal to feel alive. Simple as that.”

A Darker Shade of Magic (Shades of Magic, #1) by V.E. Schwab

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In one word: Even-keeled This book was a gift from Cannonball Gift Exchange this year (thanks Deborah!) so I thought it a fitting first read and review of the year. It was on my to-read list, though I had no recollection of it which makes it a perfect gift! I’ve been getting more into fantasy and magical tales lately so was excited to dive into a new series. Schwab has written a magical tale with interesting world-building but in the end, I think that the […]

Family Drama

The Pinhoe Egg by Diana Wynne Jones

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In my 2022 quest to read Diana Wynne Jones’ full body of work, I’m running down the Chrestomanci books first. After completing The Lives of Christopher Chant and Charmed Life last year, I’ve moved on to The Pinhoe Egg. Picking up about a year after Charmed Life ends, The Pinhoe Egg focuses on a huge family of Dwimmers, or nature-magical mages, who are trying their best to keep their magical abilities away from what they believe is the oppressive oversight of Chrestomanci. Things have gone fine for years, with them […]



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