homeschooling – Cannonball Read 17

Cleaning up the forest and your thoughts

No Ivy League by Hazel Newlevant

January 17, 2025 by BlackRaven Leave a Comment

No Ivy League by Hazel Newlevant was not what I expected from what I had read about it and the cover. Hazel’s story is a coming of age story, which is not a new theme. However, the way Newlevant presents it feels fresh. The graphic novel has an odd cover look to it. First it looks like it is going to be about a middle schooler or young highschooler, but for the middle school age. But then it looks more teen and for the 15 […]

Not what I was expecting

No Ivy League by Hazel Newlevant

October 16, 2019 by crystalclear Leave a Comment

This… was not what I was expecting. With a title like this, I was assuming this was going to involve prestigious colleges. Not even close. I picked this ARC up at BookCon this year. I went to the publisher, Lion Forge, because I wanted to get a ticket for Mooncakes the next day. (Which I got. Woohoo!) They still had tickets for this, so I figured, “Why not?” This is a graphic novel memoir about a summer in the life of author Hazel Newlevant. She […]

When your first female friend shows you that change can be good as well as nervous making

Friends With Boys by Faith Erin Hicks

September 23, 2019 by BlackRaven Leave a Comment

Friends With Boys is more a three and half as something was missing for me. It also feels like a second book should happen but has not. I know the author/illustrator, Faith Erin Hicks, is no stranger to series (I have the Nameless City series on my TBR list) therefore, it might not be unheard of. Yet, at the same time, this is a standalone title. There is an open-ended completion to the story. And because of that, a second read is recommended. I know […]

“It’s amazing how few words a person can get by with.”

After Zero by Christina Collins

February 4, 2019 by cosbrarian Leave a Comment

Elise grew up as the home-schooled daughter of a single mother and has recently transitioned to public school for her eighth grade year. Theirs is a solitary existence – her mother rarely leaves the house, working as a professor for online math classes, struggling with bouts of depression since the death of her husband on the day of Elise’s birth. Elise deals with the solitude, and these days it has actually been helpful: for quickly after starting the school year, Elise made it a goal […]

Guess I shouldn’t judge a book by its corny title.

November 15, 2016 by Blingle Bells Leave a Comment

Well, this book was totally not what I expected. There’s a particular genre of book about certain home-related endeavors…I guess I would call it the “Christian blogger” genre. I’m a Christian and I read plenty of blogs, in fact, you could say that some of my best friends are Christian bloggers so obviously I couldn’t possibly have a bias against them – but I still find the entire genre incredibly uninspiring. You can find them about marriage, organizing, homeschooling, parenting, even home decor – do […]

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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