Cannonball Read 18

Sticking It to Cancer One Book at a Time


A semi-autobiographical debut novel that opens up a world

Like Vanessa by Tami Charles

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Like Vanessa is a sweet and realistic story of liking yourself, while finding your home, family and who you truly are. Tami Charles bases her character Vanessa on some of her own experiences making this an interesting combination of fact, fiction, history and contemporary issues. In 1983 Vanessa is a dark-skinned girl living in the inner city. Vanessa, her cousin, her beloved grandfather Pop-Pop and her father live in a small apartment. But they could not be farther apart if they live in a mansion. […]

When Pencil Met Purple Marker

When Pencil Met the Markers by Karen Kilpatrick

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Pencil should have stopped meeting writing tools after they meet Eraser. Karen Kilpatrick and the gang (Luis O. Ramos, Jr. and German Blanco) have created a new Pencil and Eraser picture book book (ages 4 to 7) with When Pencil Met the Markers. But this time the point of the story is that it is okay to “color outside the lines.” In fact, it is encouraged after the initial, “Oh no! You cannot do that! You cannot be different!” We also learn that you cannot […]

“I can remember how grown-up I felt then, and earlier, since about nine. Because we age one way, in one direction, every age we are is the most grown-up we’ve ever been.”

Animal: The Autobiography of a Female Body by Sara Pascoe

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Sara Pascoe is here for you. There is no stone she won’t turn over and no story she won’t tell, because she is going to use her embarrassments, misunderstandings, failures, and larks to help you learn. If you are looking for a medical textbook on what it means to be a human woman then go ahead and look elsewhere. If you want a smart and unflinching comedian to share her life story with you while looking back through biology, history, and cultural norms in order […]

Out of Print, but should not be forgotten

Refresh, Refresh by Danica Novgorodoff

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Refresh, Refresh has come up on my radar several times. I was not interested as it looked like either a bloody fantasy with no point or another war book. A graphic novel would be an interesting take on either theme, but was I in the mood for it? In a recent grabbing of graphic novel covers catching my eye, I said, “Worse case I do not like and do not finish.” I had a feeling (though not sure why) it was about Vietnam. And it is […]

One clever idea to help a spirit tiger

Tiny Feet Between the Mountains by Hanna Cha

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A former coworker and a good kid (I have known them since they were a customer of about 7-years-old) told me about their friends’ book, Tiny Feet Between the Mountains. My friend said that Hanna Cha was also a good person and they really liked the book. I love a good recommendation and found a copy. My first thought was that it has some very lovely illustrations. The cover alone was worth the price of admission. Then, there is a sweet, modern story about being […]

If the clothes fit, wear them

What Riley Wore by Elana K. Arnold

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What Riley Wore is another book about being a gender-fluid/non-gender conforming child. With the neutral name of Riley and with neutral images (you see Riley’s bottom, but nothing that shows gender) we see Riley in their daily routine. And we see them as they have a busy week with their family, friends and even during their alone time. Elana K. Arnold’s text and Linda Davick’s illustrations create a modern story about being yourself, doing what fits the occasion and not worrying about expectations of others. […]



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