Social Themes – Page 172 – Cannonball Read 17

A controversial question with the answer of a good book

Jo Jo Makoons: The Use-to-Be Best Friend by Dawn Quigley

May 26, 2021 by BlackRaven Leave a Comment

One of the most controversial questions you can ask about characters of a book is, “Why is your character X?” (Fill in the blank: gay, black, Muslim, etc.). But it is an important question. Why does you character have to be X? OR: Why do they have brown hair or green eyes? Why are they tall or short? Why are they male, female, or non-binary? Why are they an alien, a dog, a robot or a farting penguin? What does that piece of information do […]

Maud: Meet Cannonball Read. Cannonball Read: Meet Maud.

Meet Maud the Koala by Jennifer E. Morris

April 12, 2021 by BlackRaven Leave a Comment

The other day, several books dropped on my foot. After a few frails and dressings were uttered, it became clear that one of those little darlings turned out to be a skinny (though pointy cornered) beginning graphic novel called Meet Maud the Koala by Jennifer E. Morris. Looking at it I asked myself, “Self. Why did you buy this book?” I answered myself, “Maybe because it has a Koala Bear? You like Koalas.” Regardless of the why, I figured that this was a sign to […]

As Chang says: Don’t Yuck another’s Yum

Geraldine Pu and Her Lunch Box, Too! by Maggie P. Chang

March 30, 2021 by BlackRaven Leave a Comment

Geraldine Pu and Her Lunch Box, Too! was not something that looked like a must read. Afterall, it seemed obvious: it was going to be about a girl who carries a lunch box and there will be some issue with it: classmates think she is a “baby” for having a lunch box. Or someone was going to bully her, and the lunchbox was going to take the brunt of the abuse. However, as the adage goes: Don’t judge a book by its cover. Geraldine is […]

The language we say and don’t say

The Shape of Thunder by Jasmine Warga

March 15, 2021 by BlackRaven Leave a Comment

The Shape of Thunder is a 3.5 rating instead of a three or four (I am not sure what I will put as my rating officially as I’m writing out a draft before posting). This is because I was looking for “something” that never came about in this Jasmine Warga middle grade reader (around ages 10 to 14, but younger (and older) could read). The story alternates chapters with the two main characters, Cora and Quinn. They were best friends until “the event” and Cora […]

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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