Susan Hood – Cannonball Read 17

Bear arms

Brothers In Arms: A True World War II Story of Wojtek the Bear and the Soldiers Who Loved Him by Susan Hood

August 23, 2023 by BlackRaven Leave a Comment

We all know about Winnie the Pooh and what they did for the Canadian army and British literature. But did you know the Polish army had Wojtek the Bear (or Private Wojtek Mis aka: Private Wojtek Teddy Bear)? A young bear cub was purchased by a soldier so a woman named Irena (Inka) Bokiewicz could care for it. However, she quickly learned it would become 500 pounds and even at the small size he was when found, he was already causing too much trouble. He […]

18 days, 13 trapped and 1 amazing rescue

Titan and the Wild Boars: The True Cave Rescue of the Thai Soccer Team by Susan Hood

June 7, 2019 by BlackRaven Leave a Comment

I gave a five to Titan and the Wild Boars: The True Cave Rescue of the Thai Soccer Team more for the illustrations by Dow Phumiruk and the several afterwards than the story itself. Not to say that it is a bad story, but the length of the text made it not an easy read and while I enjoyed it, it is not one of my absolute favorite stories that Susan Hood has created. Also, unlike her Ada’s Violin, I was familiar with the story whereas […]

Accessible, exciting historical fiction for the tween set

Lifeboat 12 by Susan Hood

January 24, 2019 by cosbrarian Leave a Comment

Almost accidentally, author Susan Hood stumbled upon a historical event that has gone mostly overlooked and it is the basis of her exciting middle grade novel Lifeboat 12. The book is told in verse format by narrator and actual survivor Ken Sparks, who is thirteen years of age right before London is destroyed in the Blitz. His life in London is troubled by things large in scope (like running to bomb shelters nightly when the alarms go off and living off rations and hand-me-downs) and […]

Shaking Things Up

May 8, 2018 by BlackRaven Leave a Comment

Poems about 14 different women who “shook things up” and changed the world are seen on the pages of Shaking Things Up: 14 Young Women Who Changed the World by Susan Hood. Various female illustrators illustrate each person’s story in their signature style. From Ruby Bridges (not a woman, but a 6-year-old girl) to the first woman NYC fire fighter (and slave to a local firefighter) to a pair of sisters who were spies (and very important to the war effort. And one was even […]

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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