Cannonball Read 18

Sticking It to Cancer One Book at a Time

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About BlackRaven

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I am a Professional Book Pusher. Reading is a passion, as is writing, bragging about nephews, and alligator wrestling. My first year participating was 2018. (Learn more about this Cannonballer: BlackRaven's Quick Questions interview.)

BlackRaven's Reviews:

Don’t bug out!

Insectopolis: A Natural History by Peter Kuper

March 27, 2026 by BlackRaven Leave a Comment

Insectopolis: A Natural History by Peter Kuper is a crazy, wild, odd, neat, and informative read. I have read books on insects (mostly picture books and graphic novels for children to teens), but I think this might be my favorite read yet. Kuper mixes fiction, fantasy, speculative and non-fiction as the impact of these creatures unfolds.  We start with a brother and sister off in New York City, going to an exhibit at “some library.” The sister is a scientist, her brother a “dude” but […]

Filed Under: Fantasy, Fiction, Graphic Novels/Comic Books, Health, History, Non-Fiction, Young Adult Tagged With: animals, behavior, entomolgy, entomologists, insects, life science, Peter Kuper, science, Science & Nature, spiders, zoology

BlackRaven's CBR18 Review No:88 · Genres: Fantasy, Fiction, Graphic Novels/Comic Books, Health, History, Non-Fiction, Young Adult · Tags: animals, behavior, entomolgy, entomologists, insects, life science, Peter Kuper, science, Science & Nature, spiders, zoology ·
Rating:
· 0 Comments

The journey continues

The October Girl Volume Two by Matthew Dow Smith

March 13, 2026 by BlackRaven Leave a Comment

The email came into the inbox. I saw that it was Maverick. I opened it, scrolled through, and there she was. The floating girl in a sea of blue. Was it? Could I hope? YES! It was book two of The October Girl by Matthew Dow Smith. Oh! Sweet heaven! My ship had come in! I could read the online copy, not having to wait until the end of May 2026 to have a physical copy in my hand. I was going to be one […]

Filed Under: Fantasy, Fiction, Graphic Novels/Comic Books, Health, History, Mystery, Suspense, Young Adult Tagged With: family, fathers, matthew dow smith, paranormal, Social Themes

BlackRaven's CBR18 Review No:87 · Genres: Fantasy, Fiction, Graphic Novels/Comic Books, Health, History, Mystery, Suspense, Young Adult · Tags: family, fathers, matthew dow smith, paranormal, Social Themes ·
Rating:
· 0 Comments

Amelia Dark Magician and Pesky Ghosts

Amelia Shadows V01 Amelia Shadows and the New Head Ghost by Matthew Dow Smith

March 13, 2026 by BlackRaven Leave a Comment

While I enjoyed the build up, the ending was too quick in the graphic novel, Amelia Shadows and the New Head Ghost by Matthew Dow Smith. We have the slow climb of Amelia and her tutor trying to beat the “New Head Ghost” her father has hired to manage their home, then BOOM Ameila figures out “the secret” to her father’s choice, why there is a new ghost in the house (and why he is so bossy), and then has more questions. It is interesting, […]

Filed Under: Children's Books, Comedy/Humor, Fantasy, Fiction, Graphic Novels/Comic Books, Mystery, Suspense Tagged With: family, fathers, friendship, magic, matthew dow smith, paranormal

BlackRaven's CBR18 Review No:86 · Genres: Children's Books, Comedy/Humor, Fantasy, Fiction, Graphic Novels/Comic Books, Mystery, Suspense · Tags: family, fathers, friendship, magic, matthew dow smith, paranormal ·
Rating:
· 0 Comments

Shaping our shape of self

Unretouchable by Sofia Szamosi

March 11, 2026 by BlackRaven Leave a Comment

While looking at online reader copies that were new to the site I use, I found Bad Kid (a Graphic Memoir): My Life as a Troubled Teen by Sofia Szamosi. It said it was a companion to Unretouchable. Which, of course, meant that if I wanted to read Bad Kid, my brain said, you need Unretouchable. Therefore, off to the library I went to pick up a copy via interlibrary loan. Szamosi discusses the beauty industry and how she is both part of and wants […]

Filed Under: Featured, Fiction, Graphic Novels/Comic Books, Non-Fiction, Young Adult Tagged With: body image, Careers, coming-of-age, digital manipulation, fashion, fashion design, internships, Self-acceptance, Social Themes, Sofia Szamosi

BlackRaven's CBR18 Review No:73 · Genres: Featured, Fiction, Graphic Novels/Comic Books, Non-Fiction, Young Adult · Tags: body image, Careers, coming-of-age, digital manipulation, fashion, fashion design, internships, Self-acceptance, Social Themes, Sofia Szamosi ·
Rating:
· 0 Comments

Prince? Assassin? Both?

The Boy Wonder by Juni Ba, Chris O'Halloran, Aditya Bidikar

March 11, 2026 by BlackRaven Leave a Comment

When I learned that Dick Grayson was only one of several Robins I was probably in my thirties. How could this be? I mean Bruce Wayne stayed the same, why didn’t Robin? Did he really need to be Nightwing? Red Hood? Red Robin? What does this prove?  Honestly, I don’t know if it has to prove anything, but in Juni Ba, Chris O’Halloran, Aditya Bidikar (and others) The Boy Wonder they collected some of the stories that focus on the newest addition the SuperHero of […]

Filed Under: Fantasy, Fiction, Graphic Novels/Comic Books, Health, History, Mystery, Romance, Science Fiction, Sports, Suspense, Young Adult Tagged With: action, Aditya Bidikar, adventure, Batman, Chris O'Halloran, Damian Wayne, Juni Ba, Juni Ba, Chris O'Halloran, Aditya Bidikar, Robin, superheroes

BlackRaven's CBR18 Review No:85 · Genres: Fantasy, Fiction, Graphic Novels/Comic Books, Health, History, Mystery, Romance, Science Fiction, Sports, Suspense, Young Adult · Tags: action, Aditya Bidikar, adventure, Batman, Chris O'Halloran, Damian Wayne, Juni Ba, Juni Ba, Chris O'Halloran, Aditya Bidikar, Robin, superheroes ·
Rating:
· 0 Comments

Riff in the Reef

Search for the Silver Shell: A Branches Book (Coral Keepers #1) by Robin Yardi and Paul Kellam

March 11, 2026 by BlackRaven Leave a Comment

The young chapter book, Search for the Silver Shell: A Branches Book (Coral Keepers #1) by Robin Yardi and Paul Kellam (illustrator) fell a little short for me as an adult reader. But the aged 6 to 9 reader will find the fantasy and friendship elements exciting and fun.  It is a part fantasy, part mystery, and (mostly) adventure. This is a new series that feels both “old school” and modern with the diverse characters, the type of freedom the children have and keeps the […]

Filed Under: Children's Books, Comedy/Humor, Fantasy, Fiction, Mystery Tagged With: action, adventure, Chapter Books, family, friendship, magic, mermaids and men, ocean life, Paul Kellam, Robin Yardi, Robin Yardi and Paul Kellam, sharks, Social Themes

BlackRaven's CBR18 Review No:84 · Genres: Children's Books, Comedy/Humor, Fantasy, Fiction, Mystery · Tags: action, adventure, Chapter Books, family, friendship, magic, mermaids and men, ocean life, Paul Kellam, Robin Yardi, Robin Yardi and Paul Kellam, sharks, Social Themes ·
Rating:
· 0 Comments
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Recent Comments

  • Erica Garcia
    on Do Cryptozoologists make house calls?
    I tried to read this book and I just didnt like it at all. I mean, okay, I DID like...
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    on A graphic novel about a graphic interest
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  • ElCicco
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    on The Outsiders
    Such a detailed review! I read this one a few years ago and was similarly captivated. I keep meaning to...
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