responsibility – Cannonball Read 17

The stories of two young men

Hands by Torrey Maldonado

Garvey in the Dark by Nikki Grimes

March 21, 2024 by BlackRaven Leave a Comment

I needed a short read or two. I found two, while terribly short looking, books that also felt like they would have some “meat” to them. And those books were Hands by Torrey Maldonado and Garvey in the Dark by Nikki Grimes. I was familiar with Grimes, as they are the author of Garvey’s Choice and others I enjoyed reading. But Maldonado was new. Hands looked like it would be a boxing book. And it is, somewhat. But really what the book is about are […]

A cup of potato

Luli and the Language of Tea by Marie Aang

The Pet Potato by Josh Lacey

May 10, 2023 by BlackRaven Leave a Comment

In a recent picture book reading marathon I came out with four books under my belt. Since there was a lot to say about each one, I split the reviews into two. This is officially the second, but you can read them either way. Now, I was trying to come up with a theme for the two books I am currently writing about, Luli and the Language of Tea by Marie Aang and illustrated by Hyewon Yum, and The Pet Potato by Josh Lacey and […]

The mantle of Moth Keeper

The Moth Keeper by K O' Neill

March 7, 2023 by BlackRaven Leave a Comment

CBR15Passport Other Country K O’Neill’s graphic novel The Moth Keeper first and foremost has gorgeous illustrations as you usually find in their works. And it has a terribly sweet story. However, due to lack of text, sometimes things are not as “fleshed out” as they could be, making much open to interpretation for the reader. Yet, if you pay attention to things that do not seem important at first, and take your time reading (not to mention be comfortable and do not have many distractions) […]

Dot isn’t dotty but the situation just might be!

Dot: For Pet’s Sake by Randi Zuckerberg

August 24, 2021 by BlackRaven Leave a Comment

The Dot character was originally created Randi Zuckerberg and now has a book based on the television series. It is called Dot: For Pet’s Sake. Candlewick Press and The Jim Henson Company put their marks on this chapter book as well. I am not familiar with the show, but figure this book is close to the things that happen there. This is a story about taking on too much and then asking for help. It is basic, been done before, but still is a good […]

terrific writing about terrible things

My Dark Vanessa by Kate Elizabeth Russell

May 31, 2020 by andtheIToldYouSos Leave a Comment

Trigger Warning: please read the tags before deciding to read this review and/or book. If you feel that you can read this book, then you must. If you feel that you cannot, I will pass no judgement. Perhaps you have heard of the drama surrounding this release. American Dirt was climbing the charts and dominating the controversy conversation when My Dark Vanessa tip-toed in and threw a hat into the ring. There was an implication of plagiarism from a woman who wrote a memoir about being groomed and […]

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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