Cannonball Read 18

Sticking It to Cancer One Book at a Time

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Culture has many forms

The Runaway Pancake by Tiny Fisscher

Sleep Here, Wake There by Caio Zero

July 15, 2025 by BlackRaven Leave a Comment

cbr17bingo Culture (Runaway Pancake) and Work (Sleep Here, Wake There) When you are a reader of the children’s genre you find all types of books. One of my favorites are picture books as they are fun, unique and quick reads. Still, they can have deep messages and/or be quirky and fun.  The Runaway Pancake by Tiny Fisscher and illustrated by Sophie Pluim (currently available but read via an online reader copy) (CULTURE) is a fun and quirky one with a  fun take on the Gingerbread […]

Filed Under: Children's Books, Comedy/Humor, Cooking/Food, Fantasy, Fiction, Mystery, Poetry Tagged With: animals, bedtime, Caio Zero, Caribbean & Latin America alternative family, cbr17bingo, community, culture, Fairy Tales, family, fathers, folklore, friendship, mothers, siblings, Sophie Pluim, Tiny Fisscher, work

BlackRaven's CBR17 Review No:328 · Genres: Children's Books, Comedy/Humor, Cooking/Food, Fantasy, Fiction, Mystery, Poetry · Tags: animals, bedtime, Caio Zero, Caribbean & Latin America alternative family, cbr17bingo, community, culture, Fairy Tales, family, fathers, folklore, friendship, mothers, siblings, Sophie Pluim, Tiny Fisscher, work ·
Rating:
· 0 Comments

To tell the truth, the whole truth

Muhammad Najem, War Reporter: How One Boy Put the Spotlight on Syria by Muhammad Najem

July 14, 2025 by BlackRaven Leave a Comment

cbr17bingo Diaspora (this could be culture, but he upheaval of the Syrian people unfortunately fits.) Sadly, this book, Muhammad Najem, War Reporter: How One Boy Put the Spotlight on Syria, is nonfiction. I say sadly as nobody, let alone children and teenagers should have to go through what he did. Muhammad Najem, Nora Neus and Julie Robine gathered their talents and told the story of Muhammad as he risked not only his life, but the lives of his family, friends and neighbors. He wanted to be […]

Filed Under: Biography/Memoir, Graphic Novels/Comic Books, Health, History, Non-Fiction, Young Adult Tagged With: cbr17bingo, civil war, culture, diaspora, ears, family, friendship, Julie Robine, medical content, Middle East, military, Muhammad Najem, Nora Neus, parents, reporters, Reporting, siblings, Social Themes, Syria, war, War correspondents

BlackRaven's CBR17 Review No:326 · Genres: Biography/Memoir, Graphic Novels/Comic Books, Health, History, Non-Fiction, Young Adult · Tags: cbr17bingo, civil war, culture, diaspora, ears, family, friendship, Julie Robine, medical content, Middle East, military, Muhammad Najem, Nora Neus, parents, reporters, Reporting, siblings, Social Themes, Syria, war, War correspondents ·
Rating:
· 0 Comments

Adopt from the Shelter for Slightly Magical Pets. It’s magically mischievous

Hocus and Pocus and the Spell for Home by A.R. Capetta

July 14, 2025 by BlackRaven Leave a Comment

cbr17bingo  Purple (cover) Recently I said in another review you can judge a book by its cover. Sometimes there is something about it that lets you know it is going to go in X direction (or XXX as a recent coloring book with an Alice from Wonderland in a dress so short you can tell if she was a natural blond or not). Thankfully the cover of Hocus and Pocus and the Spell for Home by A.R. Capetta and illustrator Charlene Chua tells a radically […]

Filed Under: Children's Books, Comedy/Humor, Fantasy, Fiction, Graphic Novels/Comic Books Tagged With: A.R. Capetta, Alternative Family, Animal shelters, cbr17bingo, Charlene Chua, dogs, family, found family, magic, puppies, siblings, witches

BlackRaven's CBR17 Review No:324 · Genres: Children's Books, Comedy/Humor, Fantasy, Fiction, Graphic Novels/Comic Books · Tags: A.R. Capetta, Alternative Family, Animal shelters, cbr17bingo, Charlene Chua, dogs, family, found family, magic, puppies, siblings, witches ·
Rating:
· 0 Comments

And you thought your Nanny was a strict monster!

The Sleepover: A Graphic Novel by Michael Regina

July 10, 2025 by BlackRaven Leave a Comment

cbr17bingo Black (the cover is mostly black and dark colors) The graphic novel, The Sleepover: A Graphic Novel by Michael Regina, reminds me of the RL Stine Goosebumps series or the Are You Afraid of the Dark? Series (or something similar as I know there are several thriller/horror reads out there).  Things are spooky, but not necessarily over the top, but also things are not for the sensitive reader. It deals with grief (death of a caregiver who was like a grandmother to the family), […]

Filed Under: Children's Books, Comedy/Humor, Cooking/Food, Fantasy, Fiction, Graphic Novels/Comic Books, Health, Horror, Mystery, Science Fiction, Speculative Fiction, Young Adult Tagged With: adopted family, cbr17bingo, Death, family, found family, friendship, grief, Michael Regina, monsters, Nannies, paranormal, siblings, sleepovers, Social Themes

BlackRaven's CBR17 Review No:320 · Genres: Children's Books, Comedy/Humor, Cooking/Food, Fantasy, Fiction, Graphic Novels/Comic Books, Health, Horror, Mystery, Science Fiction, Speculative Fiction, Young Adult · Tags: adopted family, cbr17bingo, Death, family, found family, friendship, grief, Michael Regina, monsters, Nannies, paranormal, siblings, sleepovers, Social Themes ·
Rating:
· 0 Comments

There’s a lot to unpack and my suitcase isn’t big enough

My Father, the Panda Killer by Jamie Jo Hoang

June 13, 2025 by BlackRaven Leave a Comment

After finishing My Father, the Panda Killer by Jamie Jo Hoang, I texted a friend to tell her I had finally finished the difficult book I was reading. It was difficult as the pacing felt slow to me and the subject is far from easy. The main character is the first generation to be born in the states after her parents fled war-torn Vietnam during/after the war. We, like the narrator Jane, learn about things in snippets with her having to fill in the blanks. […]

Filed Under: Cooking/Food, Fiction, Health, History, Young Adult Tagged With: daughters, family, fathers, generational trauma, Jamie Jo Hoang, Multigenerational, Multiple person narrative, parents, refugees, siblings, Social Themes, Vietnam, Vietnamese & Vietnamese Americans, War & Military

BlackRaven's CBR17 Review No:311 · Genres: Cooking/Food, Fiction, Health, History, Young Adult · Tags: daughters, family, fathers, generational trauma, Jamie Jo Hoang, Multigenerational, Multiple person narrative, parents, refugees, siblings, Social Themes, Vietnam, Vietnamese & Vietnamese Americans, War & Military ·
Rating:
· 0 Comments

Axolotls are all the rage

Max, a Little Axolotl #1 (An Original Graphic Novel) by Joey Spiotto

Axolotl and Axolittle by Jess Hitchman and Sarah Rebar

June 12, 2025 by BlackRaven Leave a Comment

I cannot say that Max, a Little Axolotl #1 (An Original Graphic Novel) is the best book I have ever read. I cannot even say it was a great book. Joey Spiotto made a cute story about coming out of your comfort zone, friendship and even a little bit about axolotls.  The thing is, as an adult, I can like and appreciate the book, but it was slightly too simple for my personal tastes. Therefore, at least five and up would be a good read-to […]

Filed Under: Children's Books, Comedy/Humor, Fantasy, Fiction, Graphic Novels/Comic Books, Health, Mystery Tagged With: animals, Axolotls, family, Jess Hitchman, Jess Hitchman and Sarah Rebar, Joey Spiotto, Reptiles & Amphibians, Sarah Rebar, siblings

BlackRaven's CBR17 Review No:300 · Genres: Children's Books, Comedy/Humor, Fantasy, Fiction, Graphic Novels/Comic Books, Health, Mystery · Tags: animals, Axolotls, family, Jess Hitchman, Jess Hitchman and Sarah Rebar, Joey Spiotto, Reptiles & Amphibians, Sarah Rebar, siblings ·
Rating:
· 0 Comments
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Recent Comments

  • Tracy
    on Early Fantasy: Long Stories in Which Not Much Happens
    That almost sounds "so bad it's good," and I might need to check it out.
  • louise
    on High expectations led to disappointment
    I totally agree with what you wrote. I already read this book and found it extremely complicated to understand the...
  • Ashlea
    on This standalone fantasy goes incredibly hard.
    Just finished this amazing story. Eyes are still damp. I had it queued on my Libby app for several weeks...
  • finnyfinfinn
    on Les Amis Des Chats
    It did seem to come a little bit out of nowhere fast but I enjoyed everything else so much I...
  • finnyfinfinn
    on Les Amis Des Chats
    It's very sweet!
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