Social Themes – Page 184 – Cannonball Read 17

I’m a travelin’ man and I’ve made a lot of stops All over the world

This Was Our Pact by Ryan Andrews

July 16, 2019 by BlackRaven Leave a Comment

#cbr11bingo #Travel The 10-to-14-year-old reader will see the literal journey Ben and his friends take, and the adult will see the metaphysical one in graphic novel This Was Our Pact. Regardless which journey you see, Ryan Andrews created something darn magical. While some of Andrews illustrations were slightly awkward for me (there is the one panel where the bear is laughing and frankly, movie Alien comparisons might not be out of place), but they always fit the mood and tone of the story. Color, or […]

Talk about your Odd Couple

Owly: The Way Home by Andy Runton

July 15, 2019 by BlackRaven Leave a Comment

#cbr11bingo #ReadingtheTBR I was putting away some of the reader copies recently and noticed, Owly: The Way Home. Andy Runton must have a magic wand that enchanted the book as I was not in a cute, big-eyed-owl mood, but I had to have this book. And had to read it, despite the tower of books taller than me I already have on the TBR list. This graphic novel is good for young readers. It is a basic story with simple text but both story and […]

Two Words, whole lot of meaning

Hands Up! by Breanna J. McDaniel

July 3, 2019 by BlackRaven Leave a Comment

Hands Up! is one of those books I wish I did not have to rate. It is every rating and it is no rating. There are parts to love, dislike, learn from and wonder at. The phrase “your mileage may vary” or course, comes to mind. Breanna J. McDaniel and Shane Evans created a book that everyone will relate to this book on their own level. Their own likes, dislikes, experiences and preconceived notions will come into play and that will decide your level of […]

Here there be Dragons and friendship

Dragon Night by J.R. Krause

June 28, 2019 by BlackRaven Leave a Comment

Dragon Night is one of those books after reading (and even while reading) I was thinking, “Do I/did I like this?” The answer is, “YesBut.” A “YesBut” is: Yes, I liked 99.9% of this But there is something I do not. And the thing is, I am not sure what it is about J.R. Krause’s story about being afraid of the dark and overcoming it, about the meaning of words night and knight and about friends and special friendships that is just a smidgen off. […]

The Witch is OK

The Okay Witch by Emma Steinkellner

June 27, 2019 by BlackRaven Leave a Comment

The cover of the advanced reader copy of The Okay Witch by Emma Steinkellner recalled some classic “witch books” and stories such as Sabrina the Teenage Witch, Kiki, and a few that I know I know but cannot come to the front of my brain. The only real difference is that our main characters are of color. And while that is mentioned in an almost casual manner in the book (not only are our heroes persecuted for being witches, there are “other reasons” people do […]

Life might not be basketball, but basketball can be Life

The Crossover by Kwame Alexander

June 24, 2019 by BlackRaven 3 Comments

My goal this year was to read books I tend not to read. I was doing well but quickly fell back into my comfort zones. One being YA graphic novels. As far as I know, I have not read any Kwame Alexander novels. I might have read a short story or two, but that is it. Therefore, I have wanted to add him to my To Be Read List and figured a graphic novel was a good way. What it turned out to be was […]

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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