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!   

Middle-grade picture book

Finding My Spark by Isabelle Jameson, Ann Marie Boulanger and Sylvain Cabot

May 15, 2026 by BlackRaven Leave a Comment

A recent online read (due mid August 2026) was Finding My Spark by Isabelle Jameson, Ann Marie Boulanger (translator), and Sylvain Cabot (illustrator). It is an upbeat and positive coming out story for a trans boy. The publisher description says it is a middle grade read but the picture book format might be a turnoff for that age. Yet, it  could work as a read-aloud in the classroom or siblings dealing with a sibling or classmate’s transition. Due to the translation there were some bumps […]

Filed Under: Children's Books, Fiction, Health, Non-Fiction, Poetry Tagged With: Ann Marie Boulanger, coming-of-age, Isabelle Jameson, Isabelle Jameson, Ann Marie Boulanger and Sylvain Cabot, LGBTQ, middle-grade picture book, Social Themes, Sylvain Cabot, transgender

BlackRaven's CBR18 Review No:141 · Genres: Children's Books, Fiction, Health, Non-Fiction, Poetry · Tags: Ann Marie Boulanger, coming-of-age, Isabelle Jameson, Isabelle Jameson, Ann Marie Boulanger and Sylvain Cabot, LGBTQ, middle-grade picture book, Social Themes, Sylvain Cabot, transgender ·
Rating:
· 0 Comments

I’ve been reading, been writing reviews, just not posting so ….. this has been sitting in my drafts waiting…

Raised By Ghosts by Briana Loewinsohn

April 17, 2026 by BlackRaven Leave a Comment

The below review is for Raised By Ghosts by Briana Loewinsohn. It is my gut reaction to having finished the book the night before I wrote it. I still am not sure if I really liked this book or not. I know I did not hate it, but I wasn’t thinking “best book ever.” Which, actually, makes me think I do like it.  Most of my rating comes from the interesting setup of illustrations and the format of the panels. The traditional and artistic imagery […]

Filed Under: Fiction, Graphic Novels/Comic Books, Health, Young Adult Tagged With: Briana Loewinsohn, coming-of-age, family, Social Themes

BlackRaven's CBR18 Review No:113 · Genres: Fiction, Graphic Novels/Comic Books, Health, Young Adult · Tags: Briana Loewinsohn, coming-of-age, family, Social Themes ·
Rating:
· 0 Comments

Be careful what you wish for

Ghoul by Kasey Iris

March 31, 2026 by BlackRaven Leave a Comment

After finishing my online reader copy of Ghoul by Kasey Iris (sent to me via an email from the publisher; due May 2026) I was not sure if I liked it or not. I know I didn’t dislike it, but I’m not sure how much I liked it. And, in this case, that is not a bad thing. This is a thoughtful and interesting story on grief, family and pain. Each character is dealing with secrets, heartache, and lack of understanding. The characters are seemingly […]

Filed Under: Children's Books, Fantasy, Fiction, Graphic Novels/Comic Books, Health, Mystery, Romance, Speculative Fiction, Young Adult Tagged With: coming-of-age, community, family, friendship, Kasey Iris, magic, paranormal, secrets, Social Themes

BlackRaven's CBR18 Review No:94 · Genres: Children's Books, Fantasy, Fiction, Graphic Novels/Comic Books, Health, Mystery, Romance, Speculative Fiction, Young Adult · Tags: coming-of-age, community, family, friendship, Kasey Iris, magic, paranormal, secrets, Social Themes ·
Rating:
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Anna fiddles as the town burns

Burn It Down: Rigsby WI Volume 2 by S. E. Case

March 27, 2026 by BlackRaven Leave a Comment

A year ago (March 2025) Rigsby WI by S. E. Case came out and March 2026 Burn It Down: Rigsby WI Volume 2 came out.  Flux: Rigsby WI Volume 3 will be out in 2027 and I’m hoping that means volume four is in 2028. Of course, I want all the stories for each character now, as I’m not happy that I have to wait a year for book three, let alone until 2028! You see, I became invested in the four main teens/friends of […]

Filed Under: Fiction, Graphic Novels/Comic Books, Health, History, Romance, Young Adult Tagged With: coming-of-age, family, friendship, mothers, S.E. Case, school life, Social Themes

BlackRaven's CBR18 Review No:89 · Genres: Fiction, Graphic Novels/Comic Books, Health, History, Romance, Young Adult · Tags: coming-of-age, family, friendship, mothers, S.E. Case, school life, Social Themes ·
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

My friend wrote a book (two, actually) and you won’t be able to read it if you can’t read Danish

Kraft & Mod (Courage) by Trine J. Cederlof

March 10, 2026 by Malin Leave a Comment

4.5 stars Nowhere Book Bingo 26: A Middle Grade Book Defeat the Goblin TBR: The Shiny book (added in December 2024) Disclaimer! The author is a friend of mine, but my opinions are my own, and I bought the book with my own money (because friends make sure friends get royalties). As part of the peace agreement between the Green Shores and the Blue Mountains, Prince Mirounga (called Miro), nephew and heir to the king of the Green Shores, is sent into fosterage to the Blue Mountains. […]

Filed Under: Children's Books, Fantasy, Featured, Fiction, Mystery Tagged With: #fantasy, Aurora, cbr18, coming-of-age, Courage, Danish, friendship, Kraft & Mod, Malin, middle grade, royalty, Trine J. Cederløf

Malin's CBR18 Review No:5 · Genres: Children's Books, Fantasy, Featured, Fiction, Mystery · Tags: #fantasy, Aurora, cbr18, coming-of-age, Courage, Danish, friendship, Kraft & Mod, Malin, middle grade, royalty, Trine J. Cederløf ·
Rating:
· 0 Comments
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Recent Comments

  • elderberrywine
    on Mom? Have You Written Your Book Yet?
    Thank you! Of the two, I would recommend reading the much longer Island Beneath the Sea first. It's written by...
  • G.D. Giant
    on Mom? Have You Written Your Book Yet?
    Thank you for this review. I'm adding both The Long Song and Island Beneath the Sea to my TBR pile!...
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    on CBR Diversion – Bingo – “One”
    Oh, cosign on both The City of Brass and Strange the Dreamer. Two of my favorites!
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    These are so much fun. Here are some of my favorites: Joust by Mercedes LackeyPrince and Assassin by Tavia LarkSorcery...
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