coming-of-age – Page 21 – Cannonball Read 17

When you know the author you know reading their books is a must!

Slip by Marika McCoola

November 16, 2021 by BlackRaven Leave a Comment

I have said it before and will say again, the perks of working in a bookstore rock. That biggest of all perks is the reading of a book well before it comes out. And y’all might have to wait until June for Slip by Marika McCoola (unless you can find a reader copy like I did) but you can read this review today (tomorrow and the next day, too). Not to mention that if you go to your local independent bookstore today you can preorder. […]

“If the measure of success was that I was living a more comfortable, easier life than they had, then why was I simultaneously penalized for it?”

The Donut Trap by Julie Tieu

November 6, 2021 by Emmalita Leave a Comment

I picked up The Donut Trap, put it down and then came back to it. Initially, it was presented as a romance, and it really isn’t, so I had to recalibrate my expectations. It is an absolutely lovely, nuanced, coming of age story, and I’m so glad I read it. Jasmine Tran is a recent college graduate who has stagnated. She barely managed her degree and instead of starting a career and blazing a trail, she is living at home and working in her parents’ […]

Read me Seymour…. and Betty, and Moncia, and Fred, and Robbie, and George….

The Girl From the Sea by Molly Ostertag

Lilla the Accidental Witch by Eleanor Crewes

October 12, 2021 by BlackRaven Leave a Comment

I am combining the reviews for The Girl From the Sea by Molly Ostertag and Lilla the Accidental Witch by Eleanor Crewes because they have similar themes and I am not really sure I can do a 250 word count review for them as they are similar to many other titles I have reviewed here and would be repeating myself. Both books are about being yourself, learning to trust your friends and family and finally, coming out and into your own. But they are worth […]

When Boy Meets Boy and Sparks fly….maybe

Heartstopper V01 by Alice Oseman

August 25, 2021 by BlackRaven Leave a Comment

I have tried multiple times to start the first book in the Heartstopper series. However, I learned that my trick of “starting on a random page to see if it can grab me” did not work. This book is one you must start with page one and work your way through it. And actually, one should read it slowly as, even though there is little text, and frankly little traditional action, you do not want to rush it. There is a lot going on and […]

But she can’t help it. It’s too much reality for an almost-eight-year-old.

My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She's Sorry by Fredrik Backman

August 18, 2021 by BlackRaven Leave a Comment

cbr13bingo Book Club I wanted to do a pure Bingo. Unfortunately, I could not get myself to read the book I picked, Mary Jane by Jessica Anya Blau (a choice of a book group that purchases their books via the bookstore I work at). Therefore, I went hunting for an “easy book club recommend” and found lots of books that just sounded hard. (I am not sure what they considered easy, but one list had several over 300 paged books on it.) But, as we […]

Breaking ice and barriers

Check, Please!, Book 2: Sticks & Scones by Ngozi Ukazu

August 17, 2021 by BlackRaven Leave a Comment

cbr13bingo Sportsball This time around Ngozi Ukazu is heavy on relationship status and less focus on hockey in Check, Please!, Book 2: Sticks & Scones. Bitty and Jack now have a relationship that is never totally fleshed out but is presented with the “highlights” of events. Jack has his hockey career, Bitty has his last few years of college, hockey, vlogging, and baking. Yet, the two must deal with the ups and downs of one being openly gay, in a welcoming community and the other […]

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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