Self-realization – Cannonball Read 17

She’s bad, bad Big Barda! Baddest gal in the whole of Apokolips

Barda by Ngozi Ukazu

January 17, 2025 by BlackRaven Leave a Comment

I do not know enough about Barda to understand all the ins and outs of her story. However, you can pick up some of it (the idea she is not the villain Granny Goodness wants, who Granny is, the Furies, etc.), in Ngozi Ukazu’s graphic novel of the same name. Some of the world was lost on me (why is the prisoner Scott Free the way he is? How did he get his name? What about the background he has with another person of Barda’s […]

Tossed a curveball

Curveball by Pablo Cartaya

September 13, 2024 by BlackRaven Leave a Comment

We know the story of Curveball it is a “It is more fun to play the game than to be played by the game.” But Pablo Cartaya has a few curveballs tossed in as well. We follow a young girl who loves competition and sports, especially baseball. Or does she? Or is her mother trying to live vicariously through her, pushing her to be the best as she couldn’t be? And to keep the family tradition alive so that she can have the opportunities her mother […]

That’ll teach her to steal the moon

Fae and the Moon by Franco Aureliani, Catherine Satrun and Sarah Starun

March 6, 2024 by BlackRaven Leave a Comment

What is the point of reading? For fun? To learn? Or to pass the time? Maybe all those layers and more. And Fae and the Moon has a few layers too. Granted, it might not be a seven-layer cake, but it has two or three. Franco Aureliani, Catherine Satrun and Sarah Starun came together to make a cute story about the idea of female empowerment, friendship, family and self understanding. The illustrations are simple, but cute and even the scary parts are lovely in the […]

How does your garden grow?

Poison Ivy: Thorns by Kody Keplinger

October 4, 2022 by BlackRaven Leave a Comment

A few spoilers below: Poison Ivy: Thorns by Kody Keplinger is a solid story about a young girl coming of age and learning about pushing back. Pamela (Ivy to be) is abused in many ways: a classmate, her father, and even herself. The elements that make Pamela into Poison Ivy are actually logical and heartbreaking. After all, you be “mind raped” by your classmate (having lies told about you, being harassed in the hallways), your principal saying to you, “now now little girl, don’t dress […]

From two masters of the graphic novel

The Eternal Smile: Three Stories by Gene Luen Yang

January 20, 2020 by BlackRaven Leave a Comment

My weekend reading included three graphic novels, and while two were “intense” they were not deeply intense like The Eternal Smile: Three Stories was. This book takes three similar themed, but very different stories and punches you in the face. At first you are seeing the reality of the story. Things seem straight forward at first: A young man battles the “big bads” of the world, wins maiden fair and should live happily ever after. A greedy, cigar chomping frog tries to find that one […]

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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