Taiwan – Cannonball Read 17

The Avoidable War. AKA The Review I Have Been Avoiding.

The Avoidable War: The Dangers of a Catastrophic War between the US and China by Kevin Rudd

September 21, 2025 by LittlePlat Leave a Comment

Never have I given myself so much anxiety reading a book. I first stated reading The Avoidable War late last year. The book is an examination of Sino-American relations, and what the future might hold. Kevin Rudd is Australia’s former Prime Minister, a previous Minister for Foreign Affairs, and is currently the ambassador of Australia to the United States. Prior to this though, he majored in Chinese language and history and worked for Department of Foreign Affairs (DFAT). This gives him a pretty solid background […]

From Child to Political Prisoner

The Boy from Clearwater Book One by Yu Pei-Yun

November 14, 2024 by BlackRaven Leave a Comment

The Boy from Clearwater Book One by Yu Pei-Yun, illustrated by Zhou Jian-Xin and translated by Lin King is a memoir that leans towards the poetic. The showing of things could have been more graphic (as there were beatings, execution, etc), but is not necessarily lacking as you understand what is happening. The two parts (the early years before 1950 and then the ten years after 1950) are nicely split up, allowing for the colors pink, blue along with black and white, to play their […]

Painting makes her fly

Woodpecker Girl by I-Tsun Chiang and Chingyen Liu

October 3, 2023 by BlackRaven Leave a Comment

A while back I found a book from Reycraft Books that (at the time) was a future publication. And since I enjoyed it and the person I was dealing with was so delightful to work with (I had asked for a reader copy and we conversed via email for a bit), I have found myself wanting to read more Reycraft Books. I found the title Woodpecker Girl in my research. Locating an online sample of the book, I realized that was not enough. I said, Pretty Please Library Loan Please, to […]

Maybe not so beautiful afterall

In the Beautiful Country by Jane Kuo

July 21, 2022 by BlackRaven Leave a Comment

cbr14bingo Dough Level 2 In the Beautiful Country is a cute story told in verse that shows the ugly of the world, but also the hope that can come from it. The year between 1980 and 1981 of Anna’s life is relatable, powerful and a look into “The Beautiful Country” and the American Dream it promotes but does not always make it easy to obtain. When Anna’s parents announce on Lunar New Year they are moving to The Beautiful Country (America), their family thinks them […]

Don’t even need to have pants to read this

Amah Faraway by Margaret Chiu Greanias

September 24, 2021 by BlackRaven Leave a Comment

Are you close to your grandparents? Physically or spiritually? I was physically close to both sets of grandparents (one lived in the upper part of the house, the other about 20-30 minutes’ drive). Therefore, when kids would say, “I’m going to New Jersey for Christmas.” I was, “Huh? You mean you don’t put on a pair of pants and slippers and go upstairs?” After all, it was a big deal if we went to the other grandparent’s house (the drive) I mean we had to […]

She works hard for her money and channels Julia Child in the process

Measuring Up by Lily LaMotte

July 13, 2020 by BlackRaven Leave a Comment

Measuring Up could cover several categories in cbr12bingo, but I am going to use it for Money. Even though the money aspect is a small part of the story, it is also not as small as it might seem at first. Lily LaMotte’s story of Cici, a young girl from Taiwan, moves to Seattle, with her mother and father and leaving behind her beloved paternal grandmother. Her A-ma was more than a grandmother, she was a best friend, teacher and the one person who “got […]

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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