Cannonball Read 17

Sticking It to Cancer One Book at a Time
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About BlackRaven

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I am a Professional Book Pusher. Reading is a passion, as is writing, bragging about nephews, and alligator wrestling. My first year participating was 2018. (Learn more about this Cannonballer: BlackRaven's Quick Questions interview.)

BlackRaven's Reviews:

A piece of the story

Song of a Blackbird by Maria van Lieshout

October 8, 2025 by BlackRaven Leave a Comment

To be honest, I have a lot of books that get misplaced. I put them in safe places and well, they are so safe even I can’t find them. But there is always a way to find them. And with Song of a Blackbird by Maria van Lieshout that way was the library and interlibrary loan.  A powerful and beautifully done story of family and the horrors of war unfolds across the pages. As it is told via a blackbird, things at times become almost […]

Filed Under: Fantasy, Fiction, Graphic Novels/Comic Books, Health, History, Mystery, Non-Fiction, Religion, Suspense, Young Adult Tagged With: #Netherlands, 1940-1945, 20th Century, 21st Century, amsterdam, Dutch Resistance, europe, family, German occupation, Holocaust, Maria van Lieshout, Multigenerational, resistance, war, World War 2

BlackRaven's CBR17 Review No:446 · Genres: Fantasy, Fiction, Graphic Novels/Comic Books, Health, History, Mystery, Non-Fiction, Religion, Suspense, Young Adult · Tags: #Netherlands, 1940-1945, 20th Century, 21st Century, amsterdam, Dutch Resistance, europe, family, German occupation, Holocaust, Maria van Lieshout, Multigenerational, resistance, war, World War 2 ·
Rating:
· 0 Comments

I like books but not this one, but maybe you will

How NOT to Make a Jelly Sandwich by Ross Burach

October 8, 2025 by BlackRaven Leave a Comment

In my role as a bookseller, behind the scenes operator and an aunt I find many different types of books with varying degrees of likable success. One of those books I found recently was an online reader called How NOT to Make a Jelly Sandwich by Ross Burach who is doing double duty as author and illustrator.  The book’s result became one that was not different in the sense the idea was different (a girl makes a sandwich in a creative way as we have […]

Filed Under: Children's Books, Comedy/Humor, Cooking/Food, Fiction, Graphic Novels/Comic Books Tagged With: imagination, Play, Ross Burach, sandwiches

BlackRaven's CBR17 Review No:445 · Genres: Children's Books, Comedy/Humor, Cooking/Food, Fiction, Graphic Novels/Comic Books · Tags: imagination, Play, Ross Burach, sandwiches ·
Rating:
· 0 Comments

Experience of sadness

Sad Book by Michael Rosen

October 8, 2025 by BlackRaven Leave a Comment

A while back I found the companion book to Michael Rosen’s Sad Book. Therefore, I figured I should see how the whole thing started and got a copy of the book from my library. After finishing it, I think that The Sad Book is a well done book on dealing with grief, but the second book, Where Are You, Eddie? (coming in Summer 2026) was more detailed and the stronger read of the two. With that said, I feel that The Sad Book could be […]

Filed Under: Children's Books, Fiction, Health, Non-Fiction, Poetry Tagged With: & Sons, family, fathers, grief, Michael Rosen, parents, Social Themes

BlackRaven's CBR17 Review No:444 · Genres: Children's Books, Fiction, Health, Non-Fiction, Poetry · Tags: & Sons, family, fathers, grief, Michael Rosen, parents, Social Themes ·
Rating:
· 0 Comments

Ricky and his pal Robot

Ricky Ricotta V01 Ricky Ricotta's Mighty Robot by Dav Pilkey and Dan Santat

October 8, 2025 by BlackRaven Leave a Comment

I need two ratings for the book, Ricky Ricotta’s Mighty Robot. One rating for me and one for the readers it is aimed at. My rating is a 2 as I did not care for things. There was nothing that was “exciting” to me personally. The illustrations were the bright spot as they are bold and well colored, but not overly detailed so they do not distract from the story but support it. However, if I was recommending to younger readers (as young as five […]

Filed Under: Children's Books, Comedy/Humor, Fantasy, Fiction, Graphic Novels/Comic Books, Mystery, Science Fiction Tagged With: bullies, Dan Santat, Dav Pilkey, Dav Pilkey and Dan Santat, friendship, Ricky Ricotta, robots, superheroes

BlackRaven's CBR17 Review No:443 · Genres: Children's Books, Comedy/Humor, Fantasy, Fiction, Graphic Novels/Comic Books, Mystery, Science Fiction · Tags: bullies, Dan Santat, Dav Pilkey, Dav Pilkey and Dan Santat, friendship, Ricky Ricotta, robots, superheroes ·
Rating:
· 0 Comments

And you thought Disney had issues

Beauty by Hubert

October 8, 2025 by BlackRaven Leave a Comment

Beauty by Hubert is the ultimate comment of society. Women, beauty, power and more all come to a head in bloody battles, violent and several sexual situations such as rape, borderline incest, and more horrific things than the last. This is not a Happily Ever After Fairy Tale, this is the bloody reality of pain, hunger, obsessions, lust, greed and cruelty. When Beauty wins a wish from a fairy she helps escape from being trapped in the form of a toad, she sets off events […]

Filed Under: Fantasy, Fiction Tagged With: Hubert, literary, Social Themes, war, women

BlackRaven's CBR17 Review No:442 · Genres: Fantasy, Fiction · Tags: Hubert, literary, Social Themes, war, women ·
Rating:
· 0 Comments

Nancy D goes 21st century

he Secret of the Old Clock: A Nancy Drew Detective Story by Marci Kay Monson and Ryan Wheatcroft

October 8, 2025 by BlackRaven Leave a Comment

Who used to read the Nancy Drew books? There are the originals, reissues, and adaptations for all ages. The first book was about an old clock mystery. I read it back in the day, but was more of a Hardy Boy fan and never read too many Nancy’s adventures. Yet, when I had the opportunity to get an online copy of  The Secret of the Old Clock: A Nancy Drew Detective Story by Marci Kay Monson and illustrations by Ryan Wheatcroft (due later April 2026), […]

Filed Under: Children's Books, Fiction, Mystery Tagged With: activity, classic, Law & Crime, Marci Kay Monson, Marci Kay Monson and Ryan Wheatcroft, Nancy Drew, Ryan Wheatcroft

BlackRaven's CBR17 Review No:441 · Genres: Children's Books, Fiction, Mystery · Tags: activity, classic, Law & Crime, Marci Kay Monson, Marci Kay Monson and Ryan Wheatcroft, Nancy Drew, Ryan Wheatcroft ·
Rating:
· 0 Comments
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Recent Comments

  • Zirza on A Gothic Classic for a ReasonIt's one of those wish-you-could-read-it-again-for-the-first-time books. I loved it.
  • Emmalita on “It came to something when you found yourself hoping that the footsteps you heard were ghosts.”I loved the ending! I don’t think it’s been out long enough to talk about why though.
  • Dixie on Track Her Down by Melinda LeighI am just starting Track Her Down and I have read them all in order till now and thought I...
  • Roland of Gilead on How can you give us the gift of a crazy character named Rando Thoughtful and then just as suddenly take that gift away? We need to talk, Uncle Stevie.I came across this randomly years after it was written because I was searching "Random Thoughtful. But I have the...
  • Emmalita on “Only you, Em, would refer to heartbreak as a distraction. I think I would have a more sympathetic response if I asked to marry a bookcase.”Oh my goodness, Gallifrey was beautiful. I’m sure her mittens were gloriously murdery.
See More Recent Comments »

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