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 colorful story from a colorful author

Midnight Manor: A Backwards Bedtime Book by Sid Sharp

September 2, 2026 by BlackRaven Leave a Comment

Have you ever read a book and thought, “Now what?” I did with Midnight Manor: A Backwards Bedtime Book by Sid Sharp (late September 2026; read via an online reader copy). There was a beginning, middle and end to the story, but I am not sure what to do with that. Sharp’s book is one of the most abstract solid books I have recently read. Sharp is the author of the quirky books, Bog Myrtle, and the The Wolf Suit to give you an idea […]

Filed Under: Children's Books, Comedy/Humor, Fantasy, Fiction, Horror, Mystery, Poetry, Speculative Fiction Tagged With: bedtime, family, halloween, monsters, Occult & Supernatural, paranormal, Sid Sharp, Social Themes

BlackRaven's CBR18 Review No:263 · Genres: Children's Books, Comedy/Humor, Fantasy, Fiction, Horror, Mystery, Poetry, Speculative Fiction · Tags: bedtime, family, halloween, monsters, Occult & Supernatural, paranormal, Sid Sharp, Social Themes ·
Rating:
· 0 Comments

This wasn’t for me, but I am curious about the author

Bright Red Fruit by Safia Elhillo

September 2, 2026 by BlackRaven Leave a Comment

Bright Red Fruit by Safia Elhillo was a slow read for this reader. Also, it was nothing I had not read in other young adult novels, but for the modern reader starting out it is good. The prose poetry element reads as a novel and moves at its familiar novel pacing. I would have liked to have seen more of the narrator’s cultural background, but what is there is decent. You see, Bright Red Fruit is new if you are new to young adult literature, […]

Filed Under: Fiction, Health, Poetry, Religion, Romance, Young Adult Tagged With: coming-of-age, family, Safia Elhillo, slam poetry, Social Themes

BlackRaven's CBR18 Review No:258 · Genres: Fiction, Health, Poetry, Religion, Romance, Young Adult · Tags: coming-of-age, family, Safia Elhillo, slam poetry, Social Themes ·
Rating:
· 0 Comments

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 ·
Rating:
· 0 Comments

Though I’m not the audience for this, I think y’all need to read

Balloon by Bruce Handy and Julie Kwon

September 2, 2026 by BlackRaven Leave a Comment

Sorry Bruce Handy, but I am not digging the mostly wordless text to the story called Balloon. It is Julie Kwon’s illustrations that captured my attention and kept me moving along. However, I love the story that inspired your book. I really love that your son named his cat Balloon in honor of the lost balloon. And yes, the cat of your daughter has an equally cool name. I love unusual names for pets and I can only think of a few other names that […]

Filed Under: Children's Books, Fiction, Mystery Tagged With: balloons, Bruce Handy, Bruce Handy and Julie Kwon, colors, Concepts, disappointment, emotions, Feelings, imagination, Julie Kwon, pet adoption, Play, Social Themes

BlackRaven's CBR18 Review No:256 · Genres: Children's Books, Fiction, Mystery · Tags: balloons, Bruce Handy, Bruce Handy and Julie Kwon, colors, Concepts, disappointment, emotions, Feelings, imagination, Julie Kwon, pet adoption, Play, Social Themes ·
Rating:
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3 books for the price of one review

Kiki and Me by Leo Timmers

Mariposa's Journey by Belen Medina and Juana Martinez-Neal

Dr. Seuss's How the Grinch Stole Christmas...According to Max! by Alastair Heim and Aristides Ruiz

September 2, 2026 by BlackRaven Leave a Comment

As you know, picture books are one of my favorite reads. I read and finish a book while I have a few free minutes, but do not have a lot of time to be “deep diving” into the reading world. And I get to have some fun images to help me imagine what the characters are up to. I get a picture of what the author wants. But I can’t always write a lot about each one, so here we are with a roundup of […]

Filed Under: Children's Books, Comedy/Humor, Fantasy, Fiction, Poetry Tagged With: Alastair Heim, Alastair Heim and Aristides Ruiz, alternative versions, animals, Belen Medina, Belen Medina and Juana Martinez-Neal, Butterflies & Moths & Caterpillars, celebrations, christmas, dogs, friendship, Grinch, horses, Immigration & Refugees, Juana Martinez-Neal, Leo Timmers, Self-Esteem & Self-Reliance, Social Themes

BlackRaven's CBR18 Review No:254 · Genres: Children's Books, Comedy/Humor, Fantasy, Fiction, Poetry · Tags: Alastair Heim, Alastair Heim and Aristides Ruiz, alternative versions, animals, Belen Medina, Belen Medina and Juana Martinez-Neal, Butterflies & Moths & Caterpillars, celebrations, christmas, dogs, friendship, Grinch, horses, Immigration & Refugees, Juana Martinez-Neal, Leo Timmers, Self-Esteem & Self-Reliance, Social Themes ·
Rating:
· 0 Comments

Don’t debate, celebrate reading!

The Secret Society of the Willbrook Witches by Camille Perron-Cormier

Chickenpox by Remy Lai

August 21, 2026 by BlackRaven Leave a Comment

Lately, I’ve been debating a lot about whether I should write a review about some books I read. I like writing reviews for books. I love sharing my finds with others. Especially my children, middle readers and young adult reading, as it has been my experience that sometimes they are “shoved to the side” as afterthoughts, or dismissed as “just kids books,” or “not as good as adult reads.” I could go on. But back to debating on if I should review The Secret Society […]

Filed Under: Children's Books, Comedy/Humor, Fantasy, Fiction, Graphic Novels/Comic Books, Health, Mystery, Young Adult Tagged With: Camille Perron-Cormier, chickenpox, coming-of-age, Education, family, friendship, Remy Lai, siblings, Social Themes, university/college, witches & wizards, women

BlackRaven's CBR18 Review No:246 · Genres: Children's Books, Comedy/Humor, Fantasy, Fiction, Graphic Novels/Comic Books, Health, Mystery, Young Adult · Tags: Camille Perron-Cormier, chickenpox, coming-of-age, Education, family, friendship, Remy Lai, siblings, Social Themes, university/college, witches & wizards, women ·
Rating:
· 0 Comments
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Recent Comments

  • Dome'Loki
    on Y’all… a delightful break from the stress of life
    This sounds like a lot of fun! Thanks for the review.
  • Dome'Loki
    on Life, love, and sex are better when you reject the idea of cringe and embrace wonder
    I like this concept! Thanks for the review.
  • Tracy
    on Y’all… a delightful break from the stress of life
    I'm not generally into shifter romances, but the title really is awesome.
  • Tracy
    on I don’t know if finding the perfect man is worth all of this
    That is definitely NOT what I am looking for in a romance.
  • Classic
    on The Witch by Fredia McFadden
    Definitely skipping that one. Never read it.
See More Recent Comments »

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