Social Themes – Page 187 – Cannonball Read 17

When life gives you hurdles, lead with your knee

Lu Track #4 by Jason Reynolds

April 11, 2019 by BlackRaven Leave a Comment

I have now come to the final book of Jason Reynolds’ Track series. Lu Track #4 covers the last leg of Ghost, Patina, Sunny and Lu during their time as newbies on a middle-school track and field team. It is bittersweet as I would like to know more, but also it is time to come to the finish line. We follow Lu as his changes include not being a full-time runner but is also doing the hurdles (which, of course, is a metaphor for his […]

When you’re awkward, even for a naked mole rat

Sweety by Andrea Zuill

April 8, 2019 by BlackRaven Leave a Comment

While the theme of Sweety (being yourself no matter how “odd” or “weird” you might seem to others) has been done before, this has a slightly different feeling to it. Andrea Zuill has made it slightly more modern in some ways, but also has kept a classic feeling as well. The classic aspect of the story is Sweety has a large, traditional family and how she and her family interact. The fact that Sweety asks if “being herself” while looking for friends could be seen […]

Paging Dr. Spencer Reed….. Your book isn’t so hot…but guess what?

Rumple Buttercup: A Story of Bananas, Belong, and Being Yourself by Matthew Gray Gubler

April 2, 2019 by BlackRaven 2 Comments

While Rumple Buttercup: A Story of Bananas, Belong, and Being Yourself is about a subject that is usually aimed at kids (be yourself and you will find your friends because your weirdness is okay! And that is because we are all weird in our own special way), seems to be more adult based. The story feels more mature than what this subject tends to be aimed out. And due to the fact, the size is not the traditional picture book size, but one of those […]

This review does not do this book justice. I should have written OMG THIS IS AMAZING a thousand and two times

Speak: The Graphic Novel by Laurie Halse Anderson

March 29, 2019 by BlackRaven 2 Comments

Twenty years ago, a book called Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson came out. A book about a subject we still do not really talk about today. Speak told the story of Melinda, a freshman in high school, the night she was raped and the fall-out from that. Speak: The Graphic Novel keeps to the feel and message of the novel. I was surprised at what I remembered but things I had forgotten came back and rediscovered other things. I think it has been rearranged a […]

“I have to pee, let me be!”

Jacob’s Room to Choose by Sarah Hoffman

March 28, 2019 by BlackRaven Leave a Comment

Jacob’s Room to Choose is by the team of Jacob’s New Dress and is a needed book for the issue of non-conforming children and the public rest room. Sarah Hoffman, Ian Hoffman and Chris Case (illustrator) in Jacob’s New Dress tell the story of a young boy, Jacob, who is based on the Hoffman’s son. Jacob likes to dress in dresses and wants to go to school this way one day. With this new book, we are dealing with the issue that people might be […]

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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