Cannonball Read 15

Sticking It to Cancer One Book at a Time

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Brain Washing. But in a nice way.

Invisible: A Graphic Novel by Christina Diaz Gonzalez 

The Cool Code by Deirdre Langeland

Ride On by Faith Erin Hicks

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Junior high is tough. And so is reading several creepy/thriller/horror novels or graphic novels in a row. Needed a major brain cleaning, I found three middle reader graphic novels that worked wonders. And not only were they “light” for my adult brain, they had messages and dealt with issues that kids today (and I’m sure we more mature kids have and are having to) deal with. I highly recommending doing this kind of washing of the brain at least once every two to three “intense” […]

“One of the most important things you can do is learn to do is prioritize:” Good Advice for Any Age

Camp by Kayla Miller

Crunch by Kayla Miller

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CBR14Bingo: Verse (both books are set in the same universe/setting) Camp and Click are standalone books in the same series. It does help to know the character relationships, but it doesn’t really take away your ability to understand the narrative. In Camp, Olive and Willow go to summer camp for the first time. They’re best friends but Olive is more outgoing and Willow is shy and just wants to hang out with Olive. The tension between Olive wanting to try new things and meet new […]

“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 […]

Meet Booger Lizk’t of Elberon or Tommy Tomkins to you

Tales of a Seventh-Grade Lizard Boy by Jonathan Hill

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I finished this book in a day, starting at the dentist, finishing as I enjoyed some cold pizza (shh don’t tell my dentist) from dinner, and it became a new favorite.  Granted, Tales of a Seventh-Grade Lizard Boy might not be an OMG BEST BOOK EVER, but I really enjoyed how we take the being different theme and make it (while specific to our hero Tommy) a generic idea. That is a favorite thing about science fiction/fantasy. You take the Idea You Want to Present […]

“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 […]

“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 […]



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