Courage – Cannonball Read 17

Danielle’s Story

The Courage Party: Helping Our Resilient Children Understand and Survive Sexual Assault by Joyce Brabner

September 11, 2024 by BlackRaven Leave a Comment

TRIGGER WARNING (including but not limited to): talk of Sexual Assault on a minor; other sexual assaults; frank language A few weeks ago, I started a sad, but interesting, book. It’s about a child (Danielle) who was sexually assaulted by an older boy. But that’s just the start. Because her guardian, Joyce, has always been honest with her; told her how to act in situations, especially this one; she is able to fight and run off. And unlike many stories like this, our young […]

Hero Poetry

Queer and Fearless: Poems Celebrating the Lives Of LGBTQ+ Heroes by Rob Sanders

April 18, 2024 by BlackRaven Leave a Comment

Since April is Poetry Month and Queer and Fearless: Poems Celebrating the Lives Of LGBTQ+ Heroes is due mid-April I felt this was as good as any time to read and review this Rob Sanders book. The idea is of course, Heroes of the Movement. We see the men and women that started the pathway for others. There are names you’ll probably know, such as Marsha P. Johnson and Harvey Milk, but a few were new to me and possibly to you as well (or […]

I think I’d like to be Flora’s aunt

Rosetown Summer by Cynthia Rylant

July 18, 2022 by BlackRaven Leave a Comment

cbr14bingo Font Level Two Cynthia Rylant is known for their cute, young stories. If you like having a Happily Ever After ending you will usually get it. And Rosetown Summer is no exception. This adorable novella is a book two (Rosetown was book one in the Rosetown Books) that can be read as a standalone. The joys of the familiar mix with the fear of the unknown and change, but as our main character travels along the road from fourth to fifth grades, she learns […]

What does Emi have I don’t? Courage!

Emi Isn’t Scared of Monsters by Alina Tysoe

June 24, 2022 by BlackRaven Leave a Comment

If you have followed What’s Up Beanie on Instagram or WebToons you know what a loveable stinker Alina Tysoe’s characters can be. In Emi Isn’t Scared of Monsters we have her signature style come alive when a young girl gets ready for bed. Flashlight? Check! Her dog Cookie? Check! Helmet? Check! Wait a minute, a helmet? Yes! Emi needs a helmet as she is getting ready to not sleep but keep an eye out for monsters! Baiting her trap, she and Cookie prepare for Monster […]

Thank you Pacific Ocean! And good night!

Lloyd Finds His Whalesong by Skylaar Amann

July 6, 2020 by BlackRaven Leave a Comment

What book was going to be my cbr12bingo Music block? Though I could not remember the title right off, I knew a book about a whale I had read would be perfect. After bugging a coworker to 1) read it and 2) tell me the title I found it. The background to the book is almost as fun. as the book itself. As I said, after I had found this book that had caught my eye because of its lovely blue cover, that allowed me […]

Day Five was the most emotional part for me…not sure I will ever truly get over that one.

Eight Days: A Story of Haiti by Edwidge Danticat

October 25, 2019 by BlackRaven 2 Comments

Edwidge Danticat writes about Haiti with love and realism. With the picture book, Eight Days: A Story of Haiti they created a beautiful and sad story about a young boy trapped for over a week after the earthquake of Haiti a few years ago. However, this came out soon after the actual event, so it was timely. Now, one might have to explain the actual event, but sadly, we still have natural disasters, and this could be used to talk about them as well. Based […]

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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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