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!   

I read some books and I want you to know about them

The Pack by Amanda Cley

A Perfect Spot by Isabelle Simler

March 11, 2022 by BlackRaven Leave a Comment

A surprise in the mail other day found its way to my desk. Two hardcover picture books from a publisher I do not remember asking for (but I am on publishers’ lists so it could be they cold-sent!) called The Pack by Amanda Cley and Cecilia Ferri and A Perfect Spot by Isabelle Simler. The Pack is spooky. Not in the usual sense of “creepy ghosts or goblins” but the tone is somber, and the sepia colors (with the hints of rare other colors just […]

Filed Under: Children's Books, Fiction, Health, Non-Fiction Tagged With: Amanda Cley, animals, Cecilia Ferri, Isabelle Simler, nature, people, science, self-esteem, Social Theme

BlackRaven's CBR14 Review No:98 · Genres: Children's Books, Fiction, Health, Non-Fiction · Tags: Amanda Cley, animals, Cecilia Ferri, Isabelle Simler, nature, people, science, self-esteem, Social Theme ·
Rating:
· 0 Comments

A new alphabet

Letters to Live By: An Alphabet Book with Intention by Lisa Frenkel Riddiough

March 11, 2022 by BlackRaven Leave a Comment

I was not sure how Letters to Live By: An Alphabet Book with Intention would present itself. What is an “intention” alphabet book? It seemed a little old fashioned. Maybe it would more spiritual?  Maybe it would a bit more conservative? It was not conservative, but it was with a classic tone and some “old fashioned” but needed ideas. What Lisa Frenkel Riddiough did was take the alphabet and paired same lettered words to teach such concepts as generosity, excellence, joy, and compassion. I was […]

Filed Under: Children's Books, Health, Non-Fiction, Poetry Tagged With: Alphabet, Asa Gilland, Concepts, intentions, Lisa Frenkel Riddiough, Social Theme

BlackRaven's CBR14 Review No:96 · Genres: Children's Books, Health, Non-Fiction, Poetry · Tags: Alphabet, Asa Gilland, Concepts, intentions, Lisa Frenkel Riddiough, Social Theme ·
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Turning in my Feminist Card

Our Stories, Our Voices: 21 YA Authors Get Real about Injustice, Empowerment, and Growing Up Female in America by Amy Reed

March 8, 2022 by BlackRaven 4 Comments

I am turning in my Feminist Card now I have written this review that will most likely be controversial. While I agree with much of what was said in Our Stories, Our Voices: 21 YA Authors Get Real about Injustice, Empowerment, and Growing Up Female in America edited and introduction by Amy Reed, I had a hard time empathizing with most of the essays presented and therefore, had a hard time reading these essays by twenty-one authors. But then again, that was the point of […]

Filed Under: Biography/Memoir, Health, History, Non-Fiction, Religion, Romance, Young Adult Tagged With: 2016 Election, Aisha (Author), Alexandra (Author), Amber (Author), amy reed, Anna-Marie (Author), Brandy (Author), Brockenbrough, Brown, Charaipotra, Christine (Author), Colbert, Daud, Day, Deonn, Duncan, Ellen (Author), Goo, Gregorio (Author), Hannah (Author), Hopkins, Jaye Robin (Author), Jenny Torres (Author), Julie (Author), Kuehnert, Lacour, Martha (Author), Maurene (Author), McLemore, Menon, Moskowitz, Murphy, Nina (Author), Saeed, Sanchez, Sandhya (Author), Smith, Social Theme, Somaiya (Author), Sona (Author), Stephanie (Author), Tracy (Author), women

BlackRaven's CBR14 Review No:89 · Genres: Biography/Memoir, Health, History, Non-Fiction, Religion, Romance, Young Adult · Tags: 2016 Election, Aisha (Author), Alexandra (Author), Amber (Author), amy reed, Anna-Marie (Author), Brandy (Author), Brockenbrough, Brown, Charaipotra, Christine (Author), Colbert, Daud, Day, Deonn, Duncan, Ellen (Author), Goo, Gregorio (Author), Hannah (Author), Hopkins, Jaye Robin (Author), Jenny Torres (Author), Julie (Author), Kuehnert, Lacour, Martha (Author), Maurene (Author), McLemore, Menon, Moskowitz, Murphy, Nina (Author), Saeed, Sanchez, Sandhya (Author), Smith, Social Theme, Somaiya (Author), Sona (Author), Stephanie (Author), Tracy (Author), women ·
Rating:
· 4 Comments

I have an unusual name, too. However,…

Thao: A Picture Book by Thao Lam

February 21, 2022 by BlackRaven Leave a Comment

My given name is an unusual one. However, it is not as unusual as Thao Lam’s. Still, it was/could be hurtful to be called almost anything but my name. A name that I have grown to appreciate over the years. Also, I do not like my name being misspelled (I had an art teacher from kindergarten to almost junior high that always added two “n’s” to a one “n” name). Thankfully, nobody really picked on me about my name (and it wasn’t until high school […]

Filed Under: Children's Books, Non-Fiction Tagged With: Social Theme, Thao Lam, United States - Asian American & Pacific Islander

BlackRaven's CBR14 Review No:71 · Genres: Children's Books, Non-Fiction · Tags: Social Theme, Thao Lam, United States - Asian American & Pacific Islander ·
Rating:
· 0 Comments

25 Symbols of the Alphabet

My Pet Feet by Josh Funk

January 14, 2022 by BlackRaven Leave a Comment

While I am not saying My Pet Feet is an OMG THIS IS THE BEST BOOK EVER! I am saying it was the little something I was looking for when I read it. It is a book you need to sit and enjoy. Do not rush or you will miss some of the kooky humor Josh Funk has written. I do enjoy the concept and presentation. My “not a five” is because the fact certain words do not flow easy when the letter R is […]

Filed Under: Children's Books, Comedy/Humor, Fiction, Non-Fiction Tagged With: Alphabet, Billy Yong, friendship, Josh Funk, Letter R, Social Theme

BlackRaven's CBR14 Review No:13 · Genres: Children's Books, Comedy/Humor, Fiction, Non-Fiction · Tags: Alphabet, Billy Yong, friendship, Josh Funk, Letter R, Social Theme ·
Rating:
· 0 Comments

Break a leg

Roxy the Unisaurus Rex Presents: Oh NO! The Talent Show by Eva Chen

June 10, 2021 by BlackRaven Leave a Comment

In the mix of my 130 emails (I know, so few for most, but for me, that is an unbelievable amount!) I have an email from a rep of the bookstore. They send out a list of new books coming from a website we use to order and/or look at titles on. And occasionally there is a snippet or two/a page or three, that gives you a hint of what is to happen. However, they also sometimes have links to download or in the case […]

Filed Under: Fiction Tagged With: dinosaurs, Dragons & Unicorns & Mythical, Eva Chen, friendship, glbtq, Matthew Rivera, Self-Esteem & Self-Reliance, Social Theme

BlackRaven's CBR13 Review No:168 · Genres: Fiction · Tags: dinosaurs, Dragons & Unicorns & Mythical, Eva Chen, friendship, glbtq, Matthew Rivera, Self-Esteem & Self-Reliance, Social Theme ·
Rating:
· 0 Comments
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