Cannonball Read 18

Sticking It to Cancer One Book at a Time


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Superheroes come in all shapes, sizes and plant material

The Secret Spiral of Swamp Kid by Kirk Scroggs

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Do you like puns, bad jokes, typical science fiction stories and friendship? Then you should try The Secret Spiral of Swamp Kid by Kirk Scroggs. This graphic novel, for ages 8 to 10 (up to young 12) is a “what could happen if Swamp Thing was a middle school kid instead of being a big ol’ Swamp Thing Man” story. We follow middle-schooler, Russel, as he deals with being different (he has one very large arm, is green, has a carrot finger, tendrils and is […]

“In brightest day, in blackest night, No evil shall escape my sight. Let all who worship evil’s might, Beware my power, Green Lantern’s light!”

Green Lantern: Legacy by Minh Le

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While Minh Le’s Green Lantern: Legacy is an easy Green Lantern story, it does capture the old school feel of the adult/original Green Lantern. It is a story that any Green Lantern would have to face: the first battle while they still face their fear of failure, wondering if are they good enough and why does everyone think they need a babysitter? (Okay, that last part is probably just 13-year-old Tai Pham). All the elements of a good graphic novel and a good story is […]

“You are stronger than you believe. You have greater powers than you know.” —Antiope to Diana, Wonder Woman movie

Diana: Princess of the Amazons by Shannon Hale

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I was going to review three of these new DC graphic novels for younger readers together. However, each one is so different that they each need their own review. Diana: Princess of the Amazons is a decent story with a good lesson and lots of girl power. It is the story of how a princess called Diana starts to learn about becoming Wonder Woman. It is for ages 7 to 10. And, while boys could read, I do think that it is aimed more at […]

One song away from being a super hero

Black Canary: Ignite by Meg Cabot

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The story of the new Black Canary unfolds in Black Canary: Ignite. But first our heroine needs to survive Junior High school. But fighting her mother’s old nemesis might be easier than taking on the principal, Dr. Vogel. Meg Cabot’s voice comes alive in a new DC novel for the younger reader. Thirteen-year-old Dinah Lance is just trying to get through tests, friendship worries, cheerleading tryouts, convincing her father to let her join the GCPD Junior Police Academy (so she can become a police officer […]

You can’t silence Love

Love is Love by Marc Andreyko

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I wasn’t quite sure what to read for the Banned Book #CBR11Bingo square. And then my friend George shared an article about an Irving school district recently banning the comic book, Love is Love. It was sad and frustrating to learn. A tribute to the victims of the Orlando Pulse shooting was censored for “extreme homosexuality” by close-minded educators. I knew instantly I had to read this collection and review it for my first ever bingo. The book may be banned, but the message won’t be […]

I was not prepared for just how left this one went

Ivory (Manhattan 10 #1) by Lola Dodge

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Lola Dodge kicks off a new series of superhero romance novellas with Ivory, the story of a Scandinavian goddess (maybe? it’s never quite clear on this point?) who finds herself mixed up with a superhero team. It’s 80% romance and 20% superhero fiction, if that’s relevant to you. This book didn’t work for me, for a lot of reasons. I liked the premise: super-powered flight attendant kills someone on her flight and ends up having to lie low with a team of supers who are […]



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