Cannonball Read 17

Sticking It to Cancer One Book at a Time
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“Monsters are easier to fight when you’ve got people on your side.”

Dungeons and Dragons: Dungeon Club: Roll Call by Molly Knox Ostertag and Xanthe Bouma

December 6, 2022 by GentleRain 2 Comments

I honestly don’t remember pre-ordering this, but I’m glad I did! The magic of a book showing up like a little unexpected gift in my mailbox never gets old. Dungeons and Dragons: Dungeon Club: Roll Call has an unwieldy title but is a sweet middle grade graphic novel about using D&D and the power of imagination to build friendships and overcome fears. Olivia and Jess are best friends who love playing D&D together, but when Olivia decides to start a D&D club at school and […]

Filed Under: Children's Books, Fiction, Graphic Novels/Comic Books Tagged With: bullying, Dungeons and Dragons, Graphic Novel, middle grade, Molly Knox Ostertag and Xanthe Bouma, power of friendship

GentleRain's CBR14 Review No:139 · Genres: Children's Books, Fiction, Graphic Novels/Comic Books · Tags: bullying, Dungeons and Dragons, Graphic Novel, middle grade, Molly Knox Ostertag and Xanthe Bouma, power of friendship ·
Rating:
· 2 Comments

“Olive’s not a hundred dollar bill. There are going to be people in her life who don’t like her.”

Act by Kayla Miller

Clash by Kayla Miller

November 4, 2022 by GentleRain Leave a Comment

I continue my slow acquisition of this series through random bookstore visits with Act and Clash. The series follows Olive as she learns various important lessons in middle school about friendship and standing up for what’s right. In Act, Olive finds out that some kids are unable to go on field trips because their parents can’t afford the extra cost. She decides to run for student council and this causes some turmoil in her friendships and requires her to learn how to get her message […]

Filed Under: Children's Books, Graphic Novels/Comic Books Tagged With: drama, economic injustice, friendships, graphic novels, Kayla Miller, middle grade

GentleRain's CBR14 Review No:125 · Genres: Children's Books, Graphic Novels/Comic Books · Tags: drama, economic injustice, friendships, graphic novels, Kayla Miller, middle grade ·
Rating:
· 0 Comments

A Delightful Medley of the Finest New Middle Grade Graphic Novels

Freestyle by Gale Galligan

Growing Pains by Kathryn Ormsbee and Molly Brooks

The Baby-Sitters Club #12: Jessi's Secret Language by Chan Chau

Frizzy by Claribel A. Ortega and Rose Bousamra

Tidesong by Wendy Xu

The Tryout by Christina Soontornvat and Joanna Cacao

October 23, 2022 by GentleRain Leave a Comment

My love of middle grade graphic novels continues to deepen as more and more great books come out. Over the past week I read these six, which almost all came out recently (Tidesong came out in 2021). What really struck me about most of them is the wonderful diversity of viewpoints and experiences, which makes for a varied and rewarding reading experience. Hopefully as the generation of kids reading these grows up, we will see a similar boom in YA and adult graphic novels. Freestyle […]

Filed Under: Children's Books, Fantasy, Fiction, Graphic Novels/Comic Books Tagged With: Chan Chau, Christina Soontornvat and Joanna Cacao, Claribel A. Ortega and Rose Bousamra, female friendships, friendship, Gale Galligan, graphic novels, growing up/coming of age, Kathryn Ormsbee and Molly Brooks, middle grade, Self-acceptance, Self-confidence, Wendy Xu

GentleRain's CBR14 Review No:113 · Genres: Children's Books, Fantasy, Fiction, Graphic Novels/Comic Books · Tags: Chan Chau, Christina Soontornvat and Joanna Cacao, Claribel A. Ortega and Rose Bousamra, female friendships, friendship, Gale Galligan, graphic novels, growing up/coming of age, Kathryn Ormsbee and Molly Brooks, middle grade, Self-acceptance, Self-confidence, Wendy Xu ·
Rating:
· 0 Comments

“Can I still listen to BTS if I’m a lesbian?”

Ti kniver i hjertet (Ten knives in the heart) by Nora Dåsnes

October 21, 2022 by Malin Leave a Comment

3.5 stars Tuva is about to start seventh grade (age 11-12 here in Norway) and is very much looking forward to seeing her best friends Linnea and Bao and catching up after a long summer apart. She shares all of her hopes and fears writing and drawing in her diary. When she gets back to school, however, nothing is as she was expecting. Linnea has a boyfriend now, and doesn’t really want to hang out, playing in their secret treehouse in the woods. She just […]

Filed Under: Children's Books, Fiction, Graphic Novels/Comic Books, Romance, Young Adult Tagged With: cbr14, coming-of-age, friendship, Graphic Novel, infatuation, LGBTQIA, Malin, middle grade, Nora Dåsnes, Norwegian, Ti kniver i hjertet

Malin's CBR14 Review No:29 · Genres: Children's Books, Fiction, Graphic Novels/Comic Books, Romance, Young Adult · Tags: cbr14, coming-of-age, friendship, Graphic Novel, infatuation, LGBTQIA, Malin, middle grade, Nora Dåsnes, Norwegian, Ti kniver i hjertet ·
Rating:
· 0 Comments

Heartfelt and Important Middle Grade

Frizzy by Claribel A Ortega, Rose Bousamra

October 16, 2022 by LB Leave a Comment

Oh my gosh, my heart! I’ve been looking forward to this graphic novel since Claribel A Ortega first announced they were writing this story, and I’m so glad I was able to receive an early copy. Marlene hates going to the salon and straightening her hair every Sunday, but has been taught it’s necessary for her to be presentable and accepted, both by her peers and her family. Seeing her Tía Ruby with her natural curls at her cousin’s quiñce and seeing her favorite character […]

Filed Under: Children's Books, Fiction, Graphic Novels/Comic Books Tagged With: Claribel A Ortega, Claribel A Ortega, Rose Bousamra, Dominican, frizzy, Graphic Novel, middle grade, natural hair, Rose Bousamra

LB's CBR14 Review No:13 · Genres: Children's Books, Fiction, Graphic Novels/Comic Books · Tags: Claribel A Ortega, Claribel A Ortega, Rose Bousamra, Dominican, frizzy, Graphic Novel, middle grade, natural hair, Rose Bousamra ·
Rating:
· 0 Comments
The Japanese manga, "Witch Hat Atelier" volume one next to a book bingo card.

Beautiful illustrations and engaging start to a magical manga: CBR14 Bingo “Rec’d”

Witch Hat Atelier, volume one by Kamome Shirahama

August 18, 2022 by Dome'Loki Leave a Comment

CBR14 Bingo: “Rec’d” – This book was recommended by Darcy, one of my favorite booksellers at Mysterious Galaxy bookstore. My favorite independent bookstore is also doing book bingo this summer.  With Witch Hat Atelier I was able to cross off a bingo square about recommendations on both my Cannonball Bingo (Rec’d) and Mysterious Galaxy’s (Staff pick) bingo cards.  Happily that was the last square I needed to complete a Mysterious Galaxy bingo and now I get a 20% discount on a book at the store! […]

Filed Under: Fantasy, Fiction, Graphic Novels/Comic Books Tagged With: cbr14, cbr14bingo, Dome'Loki, Kamome Shirahama, magic, manga, middle grade, witch

Dome'Loki's CBR14 Review No:35 · Genres: Fantasy, Fiction, Graphic Novels/Comic Books · Tags: cbr14, cbr14bingo, Dome'Loki, Kamome Shirahama, magic, manga, middle grade, witch ·
· 0 Comments
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