Cannonball Read 18

Sticking It to Cancer One Book at a Time

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Unraveling the mystery of Rachel Riley

What Happened to Rachel Riley? by Claire Swinarski

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Claire Swinarski’s “What Happened to Rachel Riley?” is an interesting & engaging middle-grade novel that delves into the complexities of middle school friendships, social dynamics, and the power of truth. The story follows Anna Hunt, a new student at East Middle School, as she becomes intrigued by the mysterious transformation of Rachel Riley, once one of the most popular girls in school, into a social outcast. Anna, a budding podcaster, sees an opportunity to investigate Rachel’s situation, create a compelling narrative and, maybe, win herself […]

A Fun Adventure From Childhood

The Wolves of Willoughby Chase by Joan Aiken

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When Sylvia comes to live with her cousin Bonnie at Willoughby Chase, she’s quickly swept up in her cousin’s shenanigans and adventures.  When Bonnie’s parents leave on a sea voyage almost immediately after Sylvia’s arrival, the girls’ governess quickly takes over the manor, firing the servants and dropping the two girls off at a “school” that is more workhouse than school.  It’s up to the two girls to some how escape and make it to London in order to try and contact Bonnie’s parents and […]

“With the three of us working together…we’ll find Bessie for sure!”

The Bawk-Ness Monster by Natalie Riess and Sara Goetter

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CBR15Bingo: Queer Lives (one character is trans) I pre-ordered this after enjoying Dungeon Critters so much and I’m glad I did, as The Bawk-Ness Monster was also just up my alley. This book follows Penny and her friends Luc and K on their quest to find the Bawk-Ness Monster, Bessie, before Penny has to move away. She remembers the cryptid saving her when she fell in the lake previously and nearly drowned, and now she wants to find it and thank it before she has […]

Magical Reads That I Come Back To Again and Again

The Magicians of Caprona by Diana Wynne Jones

Witch Week by Diana Wynne Jones

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I think I’ve already extolled the virtues of this series at length here before, so I’ll just say that this is one of my favorites of all time and I am completely biased in favor of these books. I am a lifelong Chrestomanci fan and re-read a couple of these about once a year. This year I took on The Magicians of Caprona and Witch Week, which I was less obsessed with as a kid so I don’t remember the plots quite as well, which […]

Bird families and our own

A Bird Will Soar by Alison Green Myers

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Axel is fascinated with an eagle family nesting in the woods behind his house. He loves all birds and everything about them, but checking in daily on the eaglet (eaglets?) and their parents is particularly meaningful. When a tornado decimates Axel’s neighborhood and injures one of the eaglets, his world is rocked. Under the capable hands of the local wildlife rehabilitation vet, Axel hopes the bird will heal. And in the meantime, his own broken family attempts to piece their home and their lives back […]

“Don’t be an enemy to you. Love you. Be your friend.”

Enemies by Svetlana Chmakova

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CBR14Bingo: Font (I always really like Chmakova’s handwritten font.) Enemies is the fourth in Svetlana Chmakova’s Berrybrook Middle School series, which I love. I’ve been waiting a few years for the most recent installment and this lived up to my hopes. Felicity lives in the shadow of her little sister Letty, who is always winning science fairs and getting recognition for her academic achievement. In the beginning of the book, Letty teases Felicity that she never finishes anything, and so Felicity sets out to win […]



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