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:

To laugh at

How to Make a Lion Laugh (How to Make Them Laugh) by Chris Cate

Ho-Ho-Ho-Larious Christmas Jokes (How to Make Them Laugh) by Chris Cate

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A while back I wrote a review for a couple of Chris Cate’s kids joke books. The following two are both due in September of 2025, one ready for the Christmas holidays and the other for the child in your life who likes jokes. How to Make a Lion Laugh (How to Make Them Laugh) and Ho-Ho-Ho-Larious Christmas Jokes (How to Make Them Laugh) are two new joke books I read via an online reader copy. They are not the “WOW these are the best […]

First of three interconnected prequel stories to Vox Machina,

The Legend of Vox Machina: The Whitestone Chronicles Volume 1 Ripley by Critical Role, Tyler Walpole and Marieke Nijkamp

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The Legend of Vox Machina: The Whitestone Chronicles Volume 1 Ripley by Critical Role, Tyler Walpole and  Marieke Nijkamp is not OMG BEST BOOK EVER but it is a nice read. You know the story if you’ve followed Vox Machina in any of its forms, but also because it is a fairly straightforward Villain who does not see herself as Villain (and later a couple forms of revenge) story. The artwork is familiar. You know the scenes and setting. Few real surprises, but it is […]

I came in like a Cannonball!

One Can by Eric Walters

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One Can by Lana Button, Eric Walters and Isabelle Malenfant  is due in September 2025 and I had the opportunity to read it via an online reader copy. And I was not prepared for the story. I figured it might be something about how wonderful a can is and all the wonderful things it can do (store food, pennies, shells, etc) or how you can recycle it and it can have a second life. Instead of something nice and cute, something that has been done […]

One summer of food, friends, family

Speak Up, Santiago!: A Hillside Valley Graphic Novel by Julio Anta

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Speak Up, Santiago!: A Hillside Valley Graphic Novel by Julio Anta and illustrator Gabi Mendez is a story about friendship (even to yourself), family and finding your place. The cultural references, the ideas of community and more comes to life. The feeling is a younger The Misfits by James Howe, with colorful illustrations that brings Santi and his four new friends together.  In the end it is a cozy read that is both familiar and fresh. Santi is trying to come to terms with not […]

Junie B. and the kinda smelly book

Junie B. Jones and the Stupid Smelly Bus: The Graphic Novel by Barbara Park and Colleen A. F. Venable

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I can see why people did not like Junie B. Jones novels after reading Junie B. Jones and the Stupid Smelly Bus: The Graphic Novel, and not just because of the words “stupid” and “smelly” are used by Junie B. I will say her attitude could be likened to Eloise or DW Read from the Arthur tv series. So if you like Eloise or DW like characters, you will love Junie B. Jones. The author Colleen A. F. Venable adapted Barbara Parks’ beloved Junie B. […]

On guard that cha-cha-cha!

On Guard!: A Marshall Middle School Graphic Novel by Cassidy Wasserman

Swing by Audrey Meeker and Sarah Davidson

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Graphic novels are one of my favorite genres to read.  They cover several themes and ages. Currently middle and young adult graphic novels have several being published. Most of the middle readers are nice, not too in-depth but have a good message. They are fun and relatable without being too heavy for the (strong) 8-9 to (younger) 13-14. Two of those books are reviewed below.  Over a weekend that was cold, I found a quick graphic novel that I hoped wouldn’t go too deep into […]



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