social issues – Page 7 – Cannonball Read 17

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 […]

Great stories, quirky art not for everyone

My Dad Used to be So Cool by Keith Negley

Tough Guys Have Feelings Too by Keith Negley

May 31, 2019 by BlackRaven Leave a Comment

Keith Negley seems to have an odd, fun and quirky sense of humor that is not for everyone. Because of his non-traditional approach, his books tend to be more for the Dads and guys who are more Ozzy O. than Ozzie N. Especially with My Dad Used to be So Cool. Our young narrator tells us the story of their dad. Who used to be cool. As of course he was in a band (there is proof) and had fun on his motorcycle or just […]

“But Ma used to say, not everyone circles the same sun. I never knew what she meant by that until Monday went missing.”

Monday's Not Coming by Tiffany D. Jackson

March 17, 2019 by cosbrarian 2 Comments

Someone here already reviewed this and I’m kind of sad to submit another repeat review. BUT I read it and I gotta count it! “This is the story of how my best friend disappeared. How nobody noticed she was gone except me. And how nobody cared until they found her . . . one year later.” That’s actually a pretty good summary of this book, supplied by the main character, 14-year-old Claudia. She and Monday have been thick as thieves most of their lives, other than summers that […]

Nature of happiness

The Fox on the Swing by Evelina Daciute

February 1, 2019 by BlackRaven Leave a Comment

The Fox on the Swing was created by Evelina Daciute and Ausra Kiudulaite. This creation of theirs has made the award scene say it has something about it that earned it the 2019 Batchelder Award. This winner, originally published in Lithuanian as “Laime Yra Lape,” is obviously not a book that was written in English first. You can feel the non-Western flow to the writing style. There is an obvious feeling of a translation, but everything does work as the translation was not choppy as […]

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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