Cannonball Read 18

Sticking It to Cancer One Book at a Time


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Carl Lewis Wishes He Was Coach….

Track V05 Coach by Jason Reynolds

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Once upon a time I was ignorant of Jason Reynolds the freaking awesome author. I do not remember which of his works I read first, but the Track series are the ones that stuck with me. The first four books are the kids the Coach trains, with each book done in its own style. With book five, Coach, it continues the world of Track and Field, learning, growing, and has its own format. It is a good conclusion of the series by showing us the […]

The sneakers don’t make the girl

Nansi Graphic Novel Volume 1 Way Off Track by Carl Brundtland

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Nansi Graphic Novel Volume 1 Way Off Track by Carl Brundtland and Claudia Davila is a quick and cute story about running your own race and not worrying about what others have or if they are better. You just have to do your best and be better than you were. Also, we have the theme of no matter how cool they sound, shoes do not make the girl (well, I might argue that point, but certainly the sneakers in question do not make the girl […]

The Big Cheese is a Big Wheel

The Big Cheese by Jory John

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There is a new Jory John and Pete Oswald book coming out in early November 2023. And it is a big deal. In fact, you could say it is a big wheel called The Big Cheese. Starting back in 2017 withThe Bad Seed, the themes of the Food Group books are lessons for everyone about personalities, emotions, social themes, and more. When we meet Cheese they are a big deal. They tell us they started life normal enough, but had big plans. And they achieved them. And […]

She overcame death to win Gold

Unbeatable Betty: Betty Robinson, the First Female Olympic Track Field Gold Medalist  by Allison Crotzer Kimmel

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The only thing keeping Unbeatable Betty: Betty Robinson, the First Female Olympic Track Field Gold Medalist  by Allison Crotzer Kimmel from being a 5 is that it felt a little unorganized in places. However, the author has done an amazing job of telling us the story of a woman who is little known in the sports world; even though Betty Robison was literally the first woman to accomplish winning a gold medal in her sport. I was not always feeling that the “big picture” was […]

When life gives you hurdles, lead with your knee

Lu Track #4 by Jason Reynolds

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I have now come to the final book of Jason Reynolds’ Track series. Lu Track #4 covers the last leg of Ghost, Patina, Sunny and Lu during their time as newbies on a middle-school track and field team. It is bittersweet as I would like to know more, but also it is time to come to the finish line. We follow Lu as his changes include not being a full-time runner but is also doing the hurdles (which, of course, is a metaphor for his […]

Life is better in running shoes

Patina by Jason Reynolds.

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Track #02 Patina is written in the signature style of Jason Reynolds.  This time we look at the life of Patina, or Patty as she prefers. Due to her mother being unable to care for her and her sister, she gives custody of her daughters to her brother and sister-in-law. This brings up many issues for Patty: the biggest being, how can she care for the people she loves. She takes on a “mother roll” to her sister, her mother, her friends and forgets herself. […]



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