Cannonball Read 17

Sticking It to Cancer One Book at a Time

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:

He’s Grumpy. He’s a Ghost.

The Grumpy Ghost Upstairs by Mamiko Shiotani

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Online reader copies are all the rage right now, it is environmental and quick and easy to receive. Of course, I sometimes have a hard time reading books from them, but The Grumpy Ghost Upstairs by Mamiko Shiotani and translated by Polly Lawson was an exception. I tend to be able to read picture books online as there is less text and more space to enjoy the overall work. This was especially true with Shiotani’s book. The illustrations and text was Goldilocks/Baby Bear just right. […]

There lived a fox

Fox and the Mystery Letter by Alex G. Griffiths

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Recently one of my coworkers reviewed Fox and the Mystery Letter by Alex G. Griffiths as author and illustrator. I was interested in it as this coworker and I have one of two things happen when a book is talked about by the other: We both love it. Or one of us hates it. There’s not much in-between.  That same day I saw the review for the book and they talked about it in other places, was the same day I received an email with […]

“Join a commune!” they said.

The Gulf by Adam de Souza

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The Gulf by Adam de Souza was an interesting read. However, since I have read several similar titles, the theme did not WOW or “Hit me powerfully.” However, it was a great coming of age story with some interesting twists and turns. The concepts might be a bit mature for some readers, but for the most part the content is fine for at least thirteen and up. And as always, older teens and adults should read it as it has an almost all age appeal. […]

A lost world

The Horizon Volume Two by Jh and Abigail Blackman

The Horizon Volume Three by Jh and Abigail Blackman

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Honestly, I think The Horizon Volume Three contributed to some bad dreams I had after finishing it. I had finished volume two of The Horizon a few days before, and that probably did not help. I had forgotten some of volume one, but at the same time you almost didn’t need it as it was its own story, but if you want to know how The Boy and The Girl meet and a bit of the war and situation the children are facing you should. […]

Being a samurai isn’t easy

The Worst Ronin by Maggie Tokuda-Hall

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I’ve wanted to read The Worst Ronin since before it came out as I was seeing online reader copies. I did not actually get a copy until it was over a year old. With that said, it was worth the wait. I don’t think I would have appreciated the humor or elements before now. I recommend for ages at least 12 and up as there are several places where there is violence, injury, blood and other sensitive subjects.   Overall, it is the opposite of what […]

There’s a lot to unpack and my suitcase isn’t big enough

My Father, the Panda Killer by Jamie Jo Hoang

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After finishing My Father, the Panda Killer by Jamie Jo Hoang, I texted a friend to tell her I had finally finished the difficult book I was reading. It was difficult as the pacing felt slow to me and the subject is far from easy. The main character is the first generation to be born in the states after her parents fled war-torn Vietnam during/after the war. We, like the narrator Jane, learn about things in snippets with her having to fill in the blanks. […]



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