divorce – Page 2 – Cannonball Read 17

Wonderland-esque

The Wondrous Wonders by Camille Jourdy

October 5, 2023 by BlackRaven Leave a Comment

I thought that The Wondrous Wonders was going to be a quirky, but fun story about a young girl and wonderful, magical creatures that she has adventures with. It is an unusual fairytale that hints at the classics, but has some fresh ideas. Yet, the girl is not sweet; in fact, she is a self-proclaimed brat. Jo (we learn her name is) is dealing with her parents divorce, fathers remarriage and step siblings. She runs away from the area they are camping in, and decides […]

“I felt sad and a whole lot better at the same time:” Truly a Timeless Classic!

Dear Mr. Henshaw by Beverly Cleary

July 11, 2022 by GentleRain Leave a Comment

I was really going wild at the bookstore over epistolary novels last week and picked up Dear Mr. Henshaw, a book I hadn’t read in a super long time (maybe 20 years?). Happy to say that it holds up and is just as wonderful as I remember! It’s always weird reading a book you read a lot as a kid and seeing it through the eyes of an adult. I was struck by how big the print is, which I didn’t remember at all, and it […]

Three Cakes, Brownies, Cookies and S’mores

Just the Right Cake by Christina Tosi

June 22, 2022 by BlackRaven Leave a Comment

Just the Right Cake by Christina Tosi starts off like any other cake book. It is raining so it is the perfect day to bake a cake. But if you ask Phil, he will tell you it would be a good day to bake a cake even if it was sunny. You see, Phil loves baking with his mom and dad. But today is different. It is just him and his mom. But even though the cake is made like they always did, something is […]

Two books that I think would be great for young readers but I have personal mixed feelings about

Stepping Stones by Lucy Knisley

Apple Crush by Lucy Knisley

June 13, 2022 by GentleRain Leave a Comment

Stepping Stones and Apple Crush are middle-grade graphic novels that follow Jen, a city girl whose parents have gotten divorced. Stepping Stones covers the immediate aftermath of Jen’s mom moving them to a farm in the country with her new boyfriend Walter. Jen has to learn how to get along with her new step-sisters, especially Andy, who is bossy and a know-it-all. The conflict between Jen, who is struggling with math, and Jen, who is using her good grades to try to be perfect for her dad, […]

Old fashion feel to a book of today

Sweeping Up the Heart by Kevin Henkes

January 17, 2022 by BlackRaven Leave a Comment

Sweeping Up the Heart is a cute little book by Kevin Henkes. Known mostly for his picture books, he has created some lovely middle reader novels. However, the adult reader will realize that they have seen the subject, the message, before. This is not fresh, but for the aged 8 to 10 (or even up to a younger 12) it is a nice story of change and friendship. The subject centers around loss (via death and divorce), friendships (new and old), family, and love. Our […]

Cute in a not eat your face way

Fly by Night by Tara O’Connor.

December 16, 2021 by BlackRaven 2 Comments

Thanks to my holiday book exchange, I had a chance to pick up Fly by Night by Tara O’Connor. I had started a sampler awhile back and thought it would be slightly on the slower side, but still it was a fascinating concept. Twin sisters, one who has gone missing, and spooky felt right. And yes, it was not super-fast pace, but kept things moving. The idea of true supernature never came into play for those few pages, but it quickly does once you get […]

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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