family – Page 155 – Cannonball Read 17

Sorry the image is blurry, but it kinda fits the book….

I Left the House Today! by Cassandra Calin

April 6, 2021 by BlackRaven Leave a Comment

I Left the House Today! declares Cassandra Calin. Yet, if she leaves too often, she will only have about half of what she writes about in this delightful little book. Of course, sometimes she must be dragged out there blinking and wondering what is going on, but regardless of if she is in or out, she always has something to say. In Calin’s relatable comics of everyday issues humor, pain and reality are put into (no more than four) panels. Calin talks leg hair, parents […]

As Chang says: Don’t Yuck another’s Yum

Geraldine Pu and Her Lunch Box, Too! by Maggie P. Chang

March 30, 2021 by BlackRaven Leave a Comment

Geraldine Pu and Her Lunch Box, Too! was not something that looked like a must read. Afterall, it seemed obvious: it was going to be about a girl who carries a lunch box and there will be some issue with it: classmates think she is a “baby” for having a lunch box. Or someone was going to bully her, and the lunchbox was going to take the brunt of the abuse. However, as the adage goes: Don’t judge a book by its cover. Geraldine is […]

When Langston Found Langston

Finding Langston by Lesa Cline-Ransome

March 30, 2021 by BlackRaven Leave a Comment

Finding Langston by Lesa Cline-Ransome is an interesting look at the late 1940s, Chicago, growing up and literature that was way too short. I would have enjoyed more of the history of the time and seen a bigger connection to the two people called Langston. Still, I enjoyed what I read but, like I said, there needed to be more: more of the history of the times (Why were the black families moving north? Why were the soldiers were coming back? Even the fact that […]

Water, water every where you look and everything to see

The Underwater Welder by Jeff Lemire

March 15, 2021 by BlackRaven Leave a Comment

I missed the morning meeting where my coworker mentioned the book The Underwater Welder as part of her book review, but the in the minutes she mentioned that Jeff Lemire’s book was one that she had reread as it was one of her favorite books. And though I only read the minutes, there was something about those few words, and the fact I know some of her reading style, her passion about books, that made me ask to borrow her copy. I put it aside […]

The language we say and don’t say

The Shape of Thunder by Jasmine Warga

March 15, 2021 by BlackRaven Leave a Comment

The Shape of Thunder is a 3.5 rating instead of a three or four (I am not sure what I will put as my rating officially as I’m writing out a draft before posting). This is because I was looking for “something” that never came about in this Jasmine Warga middle grade reader (around ages 10 to 14, but younger (and older) could read). The story alternates chapters with the two main characters, Cora and Quinn. They were best friends until “the event” and Cora […]

Two books, one review and lots of love

Extraordinary Albert by Bonnie Grubman

The Boy in the Orange Cape by Adam Ciccio

March 12, 2021 by BlackRaven Leave a Comment

Both stories of this review are books that are about being different and acceptance. The execution and the endings are different, but their results are the same: both characters who are different are accepted, one by his peers and the other of himself. The Boy in the Orange Cape had intrigued me because I am thinking: Why is he wearing the cape? I looked at the cover, read the description and when the opportunity can to get a copy, I jumped on it. I will […]

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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