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:

A little Dollop will do ya

Dollop and Mrs. Fabulous by Jennifer Sattler

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There is nothing new about Dollop and Mrs. Fabulous. There is the big sister as “Mrs. Fabulous” who has her rules for the tea party she is having, the one where younger sister Dollop (so bored with her own toys and games) will ask to join. And Dollop is just Dollop and she does her own thing. If that means putting her toy-friend in time out, or herself dressing as a ninja, that is what she does. However, Mrs. Fabulous tells her sister ninjas do […]

Two can keep a secret when one is dead

Two Can Keep a Secret by Karen M. McManus

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Two Can Keep a Secret by Karen M. McManus is a 99.9% typical young adult mystery story. Due to my having read a lot of YA mystery (as a physical and mental pre-teen and teenager) I knew the clues to look for. I know red herrings will be obvious (they are called red herrings for a reason). There will be a romance, at least one triangle (be it a love triangle or friendship triangle), if there are siblings/friends their role comes out quickly enough (either […]

Disney said it best: “What makes a Monster and what makes a Man?” (or in this case hero and villain)

Guys Read: Heroes and Villains by Jon Scieszka

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This series rocks!  READ THEM! You need more? (sigh) Okay…… Guys Reads started around 10 years ago with Guys Write for Guys Read: Boys’ Favorite Authors Write About Being Boys. Jon Scieszka, however, is no stranger to getting boys to read. His Time Warp Trio series was his way of writing for the boys in his classroom who did not have anything to read. Flash forward a few years and Scieszka is knows for many picture books and novels, including the Guys Read series. I […]

Journey of a girl becoming a refugee

The Day War Came by Nicola Davies

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Somehow, I missed The Day War Came when it came out in September 2018. Nicola Davies has presented current events, but this viewpoint is not always addressed. This is a five not because it is the best book ever, but because it is different. The subject has been done before (refugee children) but is done in a non-preachy manner. Nor is it about one specific group of people. I assumed Syrian due to the illustrations, but it really could be anytime or any place. I […]

Talking about a murmuration

One Dark Bird by Liz Garton Scanlon

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Ever pick up a book and think, that it looks like an “X kind-of” book? I did with One Dark Bird by Liz Garton Scanlon. It looked like it would either be a book of one long poem or each page would have a mini-poem on it. It was neither. And both. This is mostly due to Fran Preston-Gannon’s cover illustration. This book just looks like a poetry book. There are bold, deep, rich colors. They are situated in such a way that they flow […]

Grab a cup of gravi-tea and get ready for an out of this world trip

Mousetronaut: Based on a (Partially) True Story by Mark Edward Kelly

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There are two thoughts I figure one could have when seeing the cover of Mousetronaut: Based on a (Partially) True Story by Mark Edward Kelly:     One: OMG that is the cutest thing ever     Two: OMG What is that? C.F. Payne’s illustrations are classical them and it shows on said cover. And you love it or hate it. Feeling of if you like or dislike mice and/or if you like or dislike stories about mice will also affect your feelings on this cover. I […]



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