Cannonball Read 17

Sticking It to Cancer One Book at a Time
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Once upon a time, Roller Derby met Wrestling. They fell in love and made Extreme Pillow Fighting

Pillow Talk: A Graphic Novel by Stephanie Cooke

May 7, 2025 by BlackRaven Leave a Comment

Pillow Talk: A Graphic Novel by Stephanie Cooke and illustrator Mel Valentine Vargas is almost a perfect 5, but there were a few small things that I would have liked to have seen. With that said, this is a fun book about body image, taking back sexuality and standing up for yourself. If wrestling and roller derby got together and added pillows (and minus the roller skates) you have Pillow Talk. It is a clever way of taking a familiar story that could have just […]

Filed Under: Comedy/Humor, Fiction, Graphic Novels/Comic Books, Health, Romance, Sports, Young Adult Tagged With: body image, college, coming-of-age, confidence, Extreme Sports, family, friendship, LGBTQ, Mel Valentine Vargas, pillow fighting, Social Themes, Stephanie Cooke, teams

BlackRaven's CBR17 Review No:239 · Genres: Comedy/Humor, Fiction, Graphic Novels/Comic Books, Health, Romance, Sports, Young Adult · Tags: body image, college, coming-of-age, confidence, Extreme Sports, family, friendship, LGBTQ, Mel Valentine Vargas, pillow fighting, Social Themes, Stephanie Cooke, teams ·
Rating:
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Not so picture-perfect

Bunt! Striking Out on Financial Aid by Ngozi Ukazu

October 15, 2024 by BlackRaven Leave a Comment

I looked at the cover and said to myself that I knew exactly what this book was about. Well, I wasn’t wrong, but I wasn’t right.  I guess I was on a superhero kick at the time as I felt it would have more of that element. I also thought she would have to struggle to paint/do art. And instead, she isn’t a “real magical power superhero” but our gal does perform a pretty neat trick: Getting Art Students to do the dreaded Group Project […]

Filed Under: Children's Books, Comedy/Humor, Fiction, Graphic Novels/Comic Books, Romance, Sports, Young Adult Tagged With: art, college, family, financial, friendship, LGBTQ, Mad Rupert, Ngozi Ukazu, Scholarships, Social Themes, softball

BlackRaven's CBR16 Review No:490 · Genres: Children's Books, Comedy/Humor, Fiction, Graphic Novels/Comic Books, Romance, Sports, Young Adult · Tags: art, college, family, financial, friendship, LGBTQ, Mad Rupert, Ngozi Ukazu, Scholarships, Social Themes, softball ·
Rating:
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Family History and Mysteries

Tangleroot by Kalela Williams

October 15, 2024 by LB Leave a Comment

Gosh, where to start with this book. Tangleroot opens with Noni being forced to give an opening speech to introduce her mother, Radiance, as the new president of Stonepost college, but the speech has been edited because Radiance is pushing to have the college renamed after their ancestor, Cuffee Fortune, who built and opened the college. Noni isn’t able to finish the speech and accidentally hot mics her mom when she reiterates that she didn’t want to the speech. Radiance is a force, and she’s […]

Filed Under: Fiction, History, Young Adult Tagged With: college, contemporary, enslavement, family, family history, family secrets, historical fiction, Kalela Williams, New Adult, Racism, Virginia

LB's CBR16 Review No:14 · Genres: Fiction, History, Young Adult · Tags: college, contemporary, enslavement, family, family history, family secrets, historical fiction, Kalela Williams, New Adult, Racism, Virginia ·
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Dice & Deathtraps is not D&D but you know it’s D&D

The Last Session Vol. 1 by Jasmine Walls

September 19, 2024 by BlackRaven Leave a Comment

Have you ever played a Dungeons & Dragons game or a D&D like game? Have you had envy and/or jealousy of a friend’s friend/girlfriend/boyfriend/partner? Are you not a fan of change; even good changes? Are you queer? Do you like comics/graphic novels? Do you like stories about things like that in graphic novel format? Then this is the book for you.  For the most part, in The Last Session Vol. 1 by Jasmine Walls, Dozerdraws (Illustrator), and Micah Myers (Letterer), the story is familiar. The […]

Filed Under: Comedy/Humor, Fantasy, Fiction, Graphic Novels/Comic Books, Health, Romance, Science Fiction, Young Adult Tagged With: college, Dice & Deathtraps (fictious game), dozerdraws, family, Fantasy games, friendship, Jasmine Walls, LGBTQ, Micah Myers, Relationships, tabletop games

BlackRaven's CBR16 Review No:451 · Genres: Comedy/Humor, Fantasy, Fiction, Graphic Novels/Comic Books, Health, Romance, Science Fiction, Young Adult · Tags: college, Dice & Deathtraps (fictious game), dozerdraws, family, Fantasy games, friendship, Jasmine Walls, LGBTQ, Micah Myers, Relationships, tabletop games ·
Rating:
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A game of reality

Lo and Behold by Wendy Mass

January 18, 2024 by BlackRaven Leave a Comment

CBR16SweetChallenge #Cozy (has a feeling of cozy, and deals with themes in a less intense manner) The graphic novel Lo and Behold by Wendy Mass and illustrated by Gabi Mendez is a sweet story about Addy, a young girl who must learn to have empathy, sympathy and forgiveness for her father, mother, and most importantly, herself. There is a lot about VR technology and its real world applications. Adults can enjoy it as well as kids (strong 8/9 to 12-13). There is a little about […]

Filed Under: Children's Books, Comedy/Humor, Fiction, Graphic Novels/Comic Books, Health, Mystery Tagged With: animals, CBR16SweetChallenge, college, experiments, family, friendship, mothers, parents, science, siblings, Social Themes, substance abuse, virtual reality, Wendy Mass

BlackRaven's CBR16 Review No:29 · Genres: Children's Books, Comedy/Humor, Fiction, Graphic Novels/Comic Books, Health, Mystery · Tags: animals, CBR16SweetChallenge, college, experiments, family, friendship, mothers, parents, science, siblings, Social Themes, substance abuse, virtual reality, Wendy Mass ·
Rating:
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The speech I wish I was given

Assume the Worst: The Graduation Speech You’ll Never Hear by Carl Hiaasen

July 7, 2023 by BlackRaven Leave a Comment

Some references in Assume the Worst: The Graduation Speech You’ll Never Hear are dated as it was originally published in 2018. However, Carl Hiaasen’s signature style of humor is there and he is still giving you some very good sage advice. Some languages is included (after all this is for adults) therefore, it would be best for high school and up, but is  aimed at the college graduate. The entire book is an essay and/or a graduation speech that you should be given. But everyone always […]

Filed Under: Comedy/Humor, Health, Non-Fiction Tagged With: Carl Hiaasen, college, Concepts, graduation, roz chast, Social Themes

BlackRaven's CBR15 Review No:485 · Genres: Comedy/Humor, Health, Non-Fiction · Tags: Carl Hiaasen, college, Concepts, graduation, roz chast, Social Themes ·
Rating:
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Recent Comments

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