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:

If Stacy McAnulty is involved, you have a winner

Our Solar System! A Stellar Neighborhood by Stacy McAnulty

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In September 2025 Our Solar System! A Stellar Neighborhood by Stacy McAnulty and illustrated by Stevie Lewis will be available. I was able to read via an online reader copy, but I know that a final copy will see itself becoming gifts for friends, family and local libraries. This is a new addition to the solar system/planet/space books that have gone before.  This introduction to the solar system has a slightly younger tone and feeling than the author’s other works. That is not to say […]

Just because it is spring, doesn’t mean you can’t read a book about winter things

Brown Girl in the Snow by Yolanda T. Marshall and Marianne Ferrer

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September 2025 is the start of the Autumn/Winter release books. And this year (2025) so far has it looking like there will be some terribly hot titles. I am not just talking about whether they have “hot themes” (immigration, new school, historical events) or are from or set in a warm climate, I am talking  about whether they are going to be talked about and if they are going to get noticed and which ones are going to get awards and recognition. And Brown Girl […]

Four books for the price of one review (and a lunch break filled with books)

The Peacock Who Howled with Jackals  by Nahid Kazemi

You Can't Tame a Tiger by Stephanie Ellen Sy

RJ and the Ticking Clock by Ian Duncan

Who Needs the Dark?: The Many Ways Living Things Depend on Darkness by Laura Alary

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The other day I found a few titles I was interested in via an email newsletter. When I looked them up to see if reader copies online were available, they had thumbnails of the images, but not the full  text. I read these introductions, but was hoping to find finished copies sometime in the future (as they are all summer and fall publications). The next day what to my wondering eyes did appear? It was eight tiny reindeer…. I mean, those four titles I had […]

Finding Home

As Long as the Lemon Trees Grow by Zoulfa Katouh

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If you want a really tough read, and not just because of the theme, then pick up As Long as the Lemon Trees Grow by Zoulfa Katouh. None of the difficulties I had with this book comes from the story or even technically the writing itself. However, my issues were that the beginning is slow. There is a lot of build up, taking what feels like forever to “get to the point.” The author, like her main characters, are terrible flirts (as in they like […]

Honey I Shrunk the Sleepover and found a magical artifact

Forsynthia V02: The Shrink Ray Sleepover by Rachel DiNunzio

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A while back, I found Forsynthia V01: Rise of the Cupcakes  by Rachel DiNunzio in an online reader copy. I was blown away. I thought it was one of the most fun, cute, silly, adorable, graphic novels I had seen. It was “spooky” as we had to fight attacking cupcakes, but it was sweet (not just because of the cupcakes) but because it was funny, clever and the family dynamic was perfect. The sisters get along. The parents are modern and caring (if maybe a […]

When poetry made me appreciate basketball

Hoop Queens 2 (Sports Royalty) by Charles R. Smith

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To be honest, I have no real interests in basketball. I know there is a basket and a ball. I know that people play on teams. I know that it is very popular during March. I know that you did not sit behind a friend of mine at a game because her arms would get to flapping so hard and fast I was afraid she would take off. However, I know a little about poetry. And to be honest, I was wondering how poetry would […]



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