Cannonball Read 18

Sticking It to Cancer One Book at a Time
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Join the CBR18 Book Bingo Reading Challenge—Now Underway!   

A lesser-known story by Goodnight Moon author

The Dark Wood of the Golden Birds by Margaret Wise Brown and Ofra Amit

September 2, 2026 by BlackRaven Leave a Comment

In 1948, a year after she rewilded the landscape of literature with Goodnight Moon, Margaret Wise Brown watched the love of her life fade to black. Michael Strange, born Blanche Oelrichs, had cast an instant spell on Margaret–outspoken, sophisticated, and self-possessed . . . Both women were born in the wrong century, bent on bending it to their will; both were accidental radicals, just by living unselfconsciously . . . Margaret loved Michael with unassailable devotion, and Michael was dying. So she did the hardest […]

Filed Under: Children's Books, Fiction, Graphic Novels/Comic Books, Health, Mystery, Poetry Tagged With: animals, Bereavement, birds, classics, Death, folklore, grief, legends, Margaret Wise Brown, Margaret Wise Brown and Ofra Amit, Maria Popova, Mental Health, myths, Ofra Amit, Social Themes

BlackRaven's CBR18 Review No:257 · Genres: Children's Books, Fiction, Graphic Novels/Comic Books, Health, Mystery, Poetry · Tags: animals, Bereavement, birds, classics, Death, folklore, grief, legends, Margaret Wise Brown, Margaret Wise Brown and Ofra Amit, Maria Popova, Mental Health, myths, Ofra Amit, Social Themes ·
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The author looks like someone who would write about a pickle

The Wise Pickle by Sarah Howden

June 19, 2026 by BlackRaven 1 Comment

One will never look at a pickle the same way again.  Or you won’t after reading The Wise Pickle by Sarah Howden and illustrated by Sabina Hahn. Due mid/later June 2026 I read this book via an online copy. First, be prepared to witness weirdness. I mean a talking pickle for starters is really just the start of the weirdness. And second, be prepared to be amazed (by the fact there is a talking pickle who is a wise old soul. Or not). And finally […]

Filed Under: Children's Books, Comedy/Humor, Cooking/Food, Fantasy, Fiction, Health, Poetry Tagged With: Bereavement, Death, grief, Sarah Howden, Social Themes

BlackRaven's CBR18 Review No:170 · Genres: Children's Books, Comedy/Humor, Cooking/Food, Fantasy, Fiction, Health, Poetry · Tags: Bereavement, Death, grief, Sarah Howden, Social Themes ·
Rating:
· 1 Comment

Family, traditions, loss, home

Little Moons by Jen Storm and Ryan Howe

February 18, 2025 by BlackRaven Leave a Comment

I needed more than the sixty-odd pages in the graphic novel, Little Moons by Jen Storm and Ryan Howe. I needed to see more about the family, the relationships, the other women who have gone missing. I needed to see the community. I need to see what is being done to locate our character. And yet, that is the point. We do not always get that neat bow to tie the story up. There is no happy ever after for Chelsea and so many girls […]

Filed Under: Fiction, Graphic Novels/Comic Books, Health, History, Mystery, Religion, Young Adult Tagged With: Alice RI, Beadwork, Bereavement, daughters, Death, family, grief, Indigenous Peoples of Turtle Island, Jen Storm, Jen Storm and Ryan Howe, Manners and customs, missing persons, mothers, Murder victims' families, Nickolej Villiger, Ryan Howe, siblings

BlackRaven's CBR17 Review No:101 · Genres: Fiction, Graphic Novels/Comic Books, Health, History, Mystery, Religion, Young Adult · Tags: Alice RI, Beadwork, Bereavement, daughters, Death, family, grief, Indigenous Peoples of Turtle Island, Jen Storm, Jen Storm and Ryan Howe, Manners and customs, missing persons, mothers, Murder victims' families, Nickolej Villiger, Ryan Howe, siblings ·
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Taste the story

Every Peach Is a Story: A Picture Book by David Mas Masumoto

November 22, 2024 by BlackRaven Leave a Comment

I have been reading picture books coming out in 2025 from online reader copies recently. Every Peach Is a Story: A Picture Book by David Mas Masumoto, Nikiko Masumoto, and Lauren Tamaki (due in March 2025) is one of those. The cover was a bit awkward, being busy and (frankly) a bit messy looking. Yet, I knew that if I didn’t like it, I didn’t have to finish it. And while it is not my favorite read this year, it has a strong place. It […]

Filed Under: Children's Books, Cooking/Food, Fiction, History, Poetry Tagged With: Bereavement, David Mas Masumoto, Death, family, grief, Lauren Tamaki, Multigenerational, Nikiko Masumoto, Social Themes

BlackRaven's CBR16 Review No:573 · Genres: Children's Books, Cooking/Food, Fiction, History, Poetry · Tags: Bereavement, David Mas Masumoto, Death, family, grief, Lauren Tamaki, Multigenerational, Nikiko Masumoto, Social Themes ·
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The Map to the Afterlife

49 Days by Agnes Lee

September 13, 2024 by BlackRaven Leave a Comment

Read the description of 49 Days by Agnes Lee as that tells the story. My review is one that focuses on the fact that this is an emotional, complex and beautifully done book. I am focusing on the pieces that really spoke to me. And how it is relatable in many ways.  I like the realism of the grief processes. It is strong and powerful, and the idea of “yes, I must grieve, but I also must keep on living” is an interesting twist. Usually […]

Filed Under: Fantasy, Fiction, Graphic Novels/Comic Books, Health, Poetry, Religion, Romance, Speculative Fiction, Young Adult Tagged With: Agnes Lee, Bereavement, Buddhist, Death, family, friendship, grief, Korean-Americans, mothers, siblings, Social Themes

BlackRaven's CBR16 Review No:450 · Genres: Fantasy, Fiction, Graphic Novels/Comic Books, Health, Poetry, Religion, Romance, Speculative Fiction, Young Adult · Tags: Agnes Lee, Bereavement, Buddhist, Death, family, friendship, grief, Korean-Americans, mothers, siblings, Social Themes ·
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· 0 Comments

Red Kites and Black Birds

The Pebble: An Allegory of the Holocaust by Marius Marcinkevičius

June 5, 2024 by BlackRaven Leave a Comment

The Pebble: An Allegory of the Holocaust by Marius Marcinkevičius, illustrated by Inga Dagilė and translated by Jura Avizienis is a clever telling of the Holocaust story via one child’s experiences. We follow a child from inside to the ghetto, to the day they leave and do not return. The mystical element might be assumed “real” and therefore, having a younger child missing the metaphor, but older readers/children and adults will appreciate it. The artwork is sparse, but creates a tone that allows the realism […]

Filed Under: Fiction, Graphic Novels/Comic Books, Health, History, Non-Fiction, Religion, Young Adult Tagged With: Bereavement, Death, Emotions & Feelings, friendship, grief, Holocaust, Inga Dagilė, Jura Avizienis, Marius Marcinkevičius, self-esteem & empowerment, Social Themes, Social Topics, Vilnius Lithuania

BlackRaven's CBR16 Review No:265 · Genres: Fiction, Graphic Novels/Comic Books, Health, History, Non-Fiction, Religion, Young Adult · Tags: Bereavement, Death, Emotions & Feelings, friendship, grief, Holocaust, Inga Dagilė, Jura Avizienis, Marius Marcinkevičius, self-esteem & empowerment, Social Themes, Social Topics, Vilnius Lithuania ·
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· 0 Comments
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