Cannonball Read 18

Sticking It to Cancer One Book at a Time

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Bishop might take Knight, but the Queen wins

Elsa's Chessboard by Jenny Andrus

May 17, 2025 by BlackRaven Leave a Comment

For the grandmother that wanted to play chess with her granddaughter, author Jenny Andrus wrote Elsa’s Chessboard. She was a child who did not have interest in an “old dusty game,” but now she is giving us a peek at the woman who would change chess in ways unexpected. Based on the life of Elsa Konstandt Weisz, we go from Vienna to San Francisco as a young Jewish woman flees WWII and makes a new home in the United States, all the while keeping her […]

Filed Under: Biography/Memoir, Children's Books, Fiction, Health, History, Non-Fiction, Religion, Sports Tagged With: chess, Elsa Konstandt Weisz, europe, family, grandmothers, Immigration, Jenny Andrus, San Francisco, United States, World War II

BlackRaven's CBR17 Review No:280 · Genres: Biography/Memoir, Children's Books, Fiction, Health, History, Non-Fiction, Religion, Sports · Tags: chess, Elsa Konstandt Weisz, europe, family, grandmothers, Immigration, Jenny Andrus, San Francisco, United States, World War II ·
Rating:
· 0 Comments

From Yehiel to Henri

The Sky Was My Blanket: A Young Man's Journey Across Wartime Europe by Uri Shulevitz

May 16, 2025 by BlackRaven Leave a Comment

Uri Shulevitz can spin a yarn.  And when it is based in/about real events they hit even harder. One of the last writings of Shulevitz, The Sky Was My Blanket: A Young Man’s Journey Across Wartime Europe (due in August 2025, read via an online reader copy), takes another true World War II story and brings it to life in emotional text.  This time, instead of following Uri’s story during the war, we follow one of his fathers younger brothers, Yehiel’s parallel journey during the […]

Filed Under: Biography/Memoir, Graphic Novels/Comic Books, History, Non-Fiction, Religion, Young Adult Tagged With: europe, family, French Resistance, Holocaust, Poland, spanish civil war, Underground, Uri Shulevitz, World War II, Yehiel Shulevitz

BlackRaven's CBR17 Review No:269 · Genres: Biography/Memoir, Graphic Novels/Comic Books, History, Non-Fiction, Religion, Young Adult · Tags: europe, family, French Resistance, Holocaust, Poland, spanish civil war, Underground, Uri Shulevitz, World War II, Yehiel Shulevitz ·
Rating:
· 0 Comments

Describe in two words: FREAKING WOW

Chance: Escape from the Holocaust by Uri Shulevitz

April 29, 2025 by BlackRaven Leave a Comment

The book: Chance: Escape from the Holocaust by Uri Shulevitz One word: WOW. Okay two words. FREAKING WOW I cannot tell you how fantastic this book is. Just read. It is not easy, it is sad, heartbreaking, scary, beautiful, hopeful and more. It covers all the emotions. It shows you a piece of World War II that we don’t know about. Again, WOW and go read. For mature readers at least 12-13 and up, but I would recommend older. But if you read with them, […]

Filed Under: Biography/Memoir, Graphic Novels/Comic Books, Health, History, Non-Fiction, Religion, Young Adult Tagged With: art, artists, childhood, Holocaust, Jewish children, Poland, Social Theme, Soviet Union, Uri Shulevitz, World War II

BlackRaven's CBR17 Review No:225 · Genres: Biography/Memoir, Graphic Novels/Comic Books, Health, History, Non-Fiction, Religion, Young Adult · Tags: art, artists, childhood, Holocaust, Jewish children, Poland, Social Theme, Soviet Union, Uri Shulevitz, World War II ·
Rating:
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Strength and kindness of the dragon

Powerful Like a Dragon by Christopher Cheng

April 28, 2025 by BlackRaven Leave a Comment

When it comes to history, picture books are a great way to introduce the subject. You are able to present the situation and/or issue and yet, keep it so that it gives the point of view without being “too much” and it allows all ages to be exposed to concepts, ideas and events. With Powerful Like a Dragon by Christopher Cheng and illustrator Jacqueline Tam we turn to 1941 Hong Kong during World War II and the Japanese invasion of the city. The story is […]

Filed Under: Children's Books, Cooking/Food, Fiction, Health, History, Non-Fiction Tagged With: 1941 Hong Kong, Asia, Christopher Cheng, Hong Kong, Jacqueline Tam, refugees, World War II

BlackRaven's CBR17 Review No:217 · Genres: Children's Books, Cooking/Food, Fiction, Health, History, Non-Fiction · Tags: 1941 Hong Kong, Asia, Christopher Cheng, Hong Kong, Jacqueline Tam, refugees, World War II ·
Rating:
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Her heart was American

Tokyo Rose - Zero Hour: A Japanese American Woman's Persecution and Ultimate Redemption After World War II by Andre R. Frattino

April 25, 2025 by BlackRaven Leave a Comment

The only reason that the graphic novel, Tokyo Rose – Zero Hour: A Japanese American Woman’s Persecution and Ultimate Redemption After World War II by Andre R. Frattino, is not a five rating is because of the illustrations. While it is understandable why they are in black and white, they were not my favorite things for multiple reasons. I know that illustrator Kate Kasenow did a lot of work on them. I appreciate the hard work, the time and even the final result to make […]

Filed Under: Biography/Memoir, Graphic Novels/Comic Books, Health, History, Non-Fiction, Young Adult Tagged With: 1940s, Andre R. Frattino, Asian, Asian-American, Ethnic studies, Iva Toguri, Iva Toguri D'Aquino, Janice Chiang, Japan, Kate Kasenow, radio program, Tokyo Rose, United States, Wars & Conflict, women, World War II

BlackRaven's CBR17 Review No:215 · Genres: Biography/Memoir, Graphic Novels/Comic Books, Health, History, Non-Fiction, Young Adult · Tags: 1940s, Andre R. Frattino, Asian, Asian-American, Ethnic studies, Iva Toguri, Iva Toguri D'Aquino, Janice Chiang, Japan, Kate Kasenow, radio program, Tokyo Rose, United States, Wars & Conflict, women, World War II ·
Rating:
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War and a family

Shell Song: Based on a True Family Story by Sharon Fujimoto-Johnson

April 25, 2025 by BlackRaven Leave a Comment

Shell Song: Based on a True Family Story by Sharon Fujimoto-Johnson and also illustrated by Fujimoto-Johnson is currently available, but I read via an online reader copy. The start of the story is set right before the bombing of Pearl Harbor. Afterwards, the narrator’s grandfather is sent to an internment camp with other men. In age appropriate language (at least five and up) the experiences of the grandfather and family back home unfold. As set in Hawaii, seashells will play a role in keeping the […]

Filed Under: Biography/Memoir, Children's Books, Fiction, Health, History, Non-Fiction Tagged With: 20th Century, Asian-American, family, Japanese Americans, Pearl Harbor, prejudice, Racism, Sharon Fujimoto-Johnson, Social Themes, World War II

BlackRaven's CBR17 Review No:214 · Genres: Biography/Memoir, Children's Books, Fiction, Health, History, Non-Fiction · Tags: 20th Century, Asian-American, family, Japanese Americans, Pearl Harbor, prejudice, Racism, Sharon Fujimoto-Johnson, Social Themes, World War II ·
Rating:
· 0 Comments
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