African-American – Page 6 – Cannonball Read 17

Being the Man of the House

Keeping the Night Watch by Hope Anita Smith

April 16, 2019 by BlackRaven Leave a Comment

Looking at Keeping the Night Watch I figured it was going to be like Nikki Grimes or Nikki Giovanni. However, what it is like is a mix of both Grimes, Giovanni and Jason Reynolds, Jewell Parker Rhodes, Jacqueline Woods and what I think Kwame Alexander sounds like. I was unfamiliar with Hope Anita Smith before getting this gem in my shiny green package (see Go Sports Ball! review). However, unlike the others, this was not a new book but from 2008 (paper 2014). I am […]

Gotta get Busy busy busy

Olive & Pekoe: In Four Short Walks by Jacky Davis

Lizzy McTizzy and the Busy Dizzy Day by Sarah Weeks

Woke Baby by Theodore Taylor III

April 15, 2019 by BlackRaven Leave a Comment

Once upon a time there was girl who enjoyed reading. And she enjoyed telling other people about these books as well. This girl likes stories about friendship. And while she is not a dog person, she found a must have for dog lovers in a book about two doggie friends named Olive and Pekoe. Olive & Pekoe: In Four Short Walks by Jacky Davis, is a story that is broken up into four different walks. Each of these walks highlights how different these friends are, […]

When life gives you hurdles, lead with your knee

Lu Track #4 by Jason Reynolds

April 11, 2019 by BlackRaven Leave a Comment

I have now come to the final book of Jason Reynolds’ Track series. Lu Track #4 covers the last leg of Ghost, Patina, Sunny and Lu during their time as newbies on a middle-school track and field team. It is bittersweet as I would like to know more, but also it is time to come to the finish line. We follow Lu as his changes include not being a full-time runner but is also doing the hurdles (which, of course, is a metaphor for his […]

Did Not Heart as Much as The Hate U Give

On the Come Up by Angie Thomas

April 7, 2019 by Classic Leave a Comment

Well, though I did enjoy this book, I didn’t love it as much as The Hate U Give. I could not help making comparisons between Starr and Bri (the main character in this one) and also about the story-lines. I think in the end that Bri was more frustrating to me as a reader. She really doesn’t listen to anyone, though in the end that causes her to forge her own path that can lift her family up out of poverty. However, how realistic is […]

When the Fresh Prince is inspiration for a Fresh Princess

The Fresh Princess, by Denene Millner

April 5, 2019 by BlackRaven Leave a Comment

The story Denene Millner created, The Fresh Princess, is a solid one about moving, new places, making friends and being brave. However, while this story has been done before, it is a little different this time. You still get the “upset about moving” and the “jitters” trying to make new friends’ aspects, but it just has a slightly different feel. This could be since this family is black. However, this is not an “issue” (nobody comments on that), they just are a new family in […]

Life is better in running shoes

Patina by Jason Reynolds.

March 18, 2019 by BlackRaven 2 Comments

Track #02 Patina is written in the signature style of Jason Reynolds. This time we look at the life of Patina, or Patty as she prefers. Due to her mother being unable to care for her and her sister, she gives custody of her daughters to her brother and sister-in-law. This brings up many issues for Patty: the biggest being, how can she care for the people she loves. She takes on a “mother roll” to her sister, her mother, her friends and forgets herself. […]

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.

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