traditions – Cannonball Read 17

“Love is sharing your popcorn.” —Charles Schultz

A Salwar Kameez for Ambika by Arti Pandey

Samina Goes to a Wedding: Celebrations from a Bangladeshi Marriage by Farida Zaman

November 20, 2025 by BlackRaven Leave a Comment

Somedays I think I must be one of the top 100 romantic skeptics. I mean, I love a good happily ever after, but I’m also the person who, when I see a public proposal, I’m the one saying, “Just say no! But if you do, get a good prenup!” So when I recently found two picture books about weddings as online reader copies, I almost passed them by. I mean, I’m all for a wedding (I mean let me eat cake) but reading about them? […]

Dance like your ancestors are watching

I Am a Bon Dancer by Brandi-Ann Uyemura

October 6, 2025 by BlackRaven 1 Comment

Recently I noticed that I have been reading a lot of titles that are similar to each other, be it the theme or the way it is presented. Therefore, I was hoping to find a few new themes or at least new ways of presenting them. In I Am a Bon Dancer, by Brandi-Ann Uyemura and Amy Matsushita-Beal (the lovely illustrations creator) the dance itself is a new way of presenting an old theme, but the idea of family and trying your best has been […]

Misfortunes is an understatement

The Many Misfortunes of Eugenia Wang by Stan Yan

August 20, 2025 by BlackRaven Leave a Comment

TITLE: The Many Misfortunes of Eugenia Wang AUTHOR / ILLUSTROR Stan Yan Read via an advanced reader copy DUE September/late October 2025 Review: This is an interesting coming of age story with a potential supernatural element. I mean potential because is a ghost really talking to Eugenia, or is it just a normal fear manifesting itself? There are modern pieces that are mixed with the tradition of a Chinese family. And as Eugenia starts to become a teenager, she questions some of her mothers […]

Ching Ming Festival, or Tomb-Sweeping Day

Clear and Bright: A Ching Ming Festival Story by Teresa Robeson and William Low

April 11, 2025 by BlackRaven Leave a Comment

Clear and Bright: A Ching Ming Festival Story by Teresa Robeson and illustrated by William Low is currently available, but I read via an online reader copy. This book is a nice book on diversity. It is a fun read, not a WOOW BEST BOOK EVER (or WBBE) but it has a lot of great points. We learn about the Ching Ming Festival, or Tomb-Sweeping Day. We see how a family passes down their traditions to the next generation. As the publisher’s description says, our […]

“nisãohkisinãan (We are strong)”

The Heartbeat Drum: The Story of Carol Powder, Cree Drummer and Activist (A Picture Book) by Deidre Havrelock

August 2, 2024 by BlackRaven Leave a Comment

The highlights of Carol Powder’s life were fun to read about, however, the artwork was a bit “cartoonish” for my personal tastes. I do like the colors and the details are well done; giving you the story and complimenting the text, however, they just didn’t “do it” for me personally. I can see how they would be the favorite part of everything for other readers. Despite any issues I have, I recommend The Heartbeat Drum: The Story of Carol Powder, Cree Drummer and Activist (A […]

The Boy on the moon

Lunar Boy by Jes and Cin Wibowo

April 1, 2024 by BlackRaven 1 Comment

I am starting my review of Lunar Boy with: I have questions. None are about the story itself, which is, a child from the Moon is adopted by a woman from New Earth. They live on a space station until the mother, in the process of helping her New Earth friend deal with the death of his wife, falls in love, marries, and moves to New Earth. Then, Indu (the child) must deal with not just the stress of a move to a new home, […]

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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