Throwback Thrusday-The Kayla Chronicles

Thanks to Tashi for the Throwback Thursday idea! Throwback Thursday is when you review a book you read a while ago. I'll usually review books that were published before 2007.

The Kayla Chronicles by Sherri Winston

Rating: 4/5

I.Q. "A woman must look inside to find herself. When she spends too much time outside, hanging onto the words of others, she does not become authentic, she becomes deluded." Kayla

Kayla Dean, junior feminist and future journalist, is about the break the story of a lifetime. She is auditioning for the Lady Lions dance team to prove they discriminate against the not-so-well endowed. But when she makes the team, her best friend and fellow feminist, Rosalie, is not happy.Now a Lady Lion, Kayla is transformed from bushy-haired fashion victim to glammed-up dance diva. But does looking good and having fun mean turning her back on the cause? Can you be a strong woman and still wear really cute shoes? Soon Kayla is forced to challenge her views, coming to terms with who she is and what girl power really means.

I loved this book! I learned lots of new quotes from strong women because Kayla and Rosalie email and speak quotes to one another, back and forth (which I imagine would be a little strange to hear). I especially loved all the Kayla-isms, words that Kayla made up. My favorite was stankalicious!

Stankalicious- 1) Derived from stank, slang for stinker. the art of being stanky; 2)One who behaves in a manner so overboard, so bigger-than-life outrageous, so self-deluded, that it would only be considered stankalicious.

The whole story was hilarious. Kayla is really funny in her own way, but she put herself into some of the most awkward but funny situations. There were times in the book where I just smacked my head and groaned in frustration "How could you say THAT?" This is one of those books where you may not want to read in a place where you need to be quiet, because there are plenty of laugh out loud moments!

This book was also really sweet. Kayla lived with her ultra-feminist grandmother JoJo for most of the years of Kayla's life while Kayla's mom, dad and sister traveled throughout Africa (it's never really explained in the book why). When JoJo dies, Kayla's parents come home and Kayla begins living with them again in America. Kayla has to learn to adjust to her (basically new) family. She's not used to having a man around at all , especially not a former Marine like her father. Also, her sister and mother are not the strong feminists that JoJo was. There are some really touching moments and you feel bad for the mother, because while she's trying to reconnect with Kayla, Kayla's trying to push her away.

Rosalie is perfectly annoying, Sherri Winston did an excellent job in writing her character. I really didn't like her, but she had some redeeming qualities. Roger Lee Brown. Just read the book to find out why I feel so bad for the poor kid. I really liked almost the whole Lady Lions squad. One of my favorite scenes involves some Lady Lions and a band major sub. One of the funniest scenes and it's described so well, so vividly. Another great scene is when Rosalie starts to quote Nikki Giovanni's "Ego Trippin" to the Lady Lions and they shut her up really quick, by quoting it right back!

This is one of the funniest, most real books ever. These characters are real (although sometimes I wonder if a person can really be as awkward as Kayla), they are easily people I could see attending my school. My sister who is in junior high read this book really fast, and laughed through the whole thing so I would recommend this book to 6th graders and up. I'm not sure if a guy would like this book as much as a girl, but I'm certainly not going to advise against them reading it.

Check out Susan from Black-Eyed Susan's review here for a slightly different perspective

Waiting on Wednesday

I'm not sure who to credit this meme to so thank you to whoever came up with this idea! These are just books in my tbr pile or books that I want to buy.

1. The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie

In his first book for young adults, bestselling author Sherman Alexie tells the story of Junior, a budding cartoonist who leaves his school on the Spokane Indian Reservation to attend an all-white high school. This heartbreaking, funny, and beautifully written tale, coupled with poignant drawings that reflect the character’s art, is based on the author’s own experiences and chronicles the contemporary adolescence of one Native American boy as he attempts to break away from the life he seems destined to live.
-I've heard so many good things about this book!

2. Sag Harbor by Colson Whitehead

Benji and Reggie, brothers so closely knit that many mistake them for twins, have been coming out to Sag Harbor for as long as they can remember. For Benji, each three-month stay at Sag is a chance to catch up with friends he doesn't see the rest of the year, and to escape the social awkwardness that comes with a bad afro, reading Fangoria, and being the rare African-American student at an exclusive Manhattan prep school. As he and Reggie develop separate identities and confront new factors like girls, part-time jobs and car-ownership, Benji struggles to adapt to circumstances that could see him joining the ranks of Those Who Don't Come Out Anymore.

-Not really YA but I've been wanting to read Sag Harbor for so long!

3. Silver Phoenix:Beyond the Kingdom of Xia by Cindy Pon

On the day of her first betrothal meeting--and rejection--Ai ling discovers a power welling deep within her. she can reach into other people’s spirits, hear their thoughts, see their dreams…and that’s just the beginning.
Ai ling has been marked by the immortals; her destiny lies in the emperor’s palace, where a terrible evil has lived, stealing souls, for centuries. she must conquer this enemy and rescue her captive father, while mythical demons track her every step. and then she meets chen yong, a young man with a quest of his own, whose fate is intertwined with hers. here is a heart-stopping, breathtaking tale for fans of action, fantasy, and romance--of anything with the making of legend

-Love this cover! So beautiful :) Heard that it's amazing!!

4. Shine, Coconut Moon by Neesha Meminger

Samar (aka Sam) considers herself just a regular teenage girl, even though she is Indian American. Her mother has kept her away from her old-fashioned, very strict family, and she never has identified with her Indian heritage. None of this has ever bothered her, aside from the fact that she longs for a large family like her best friend’s instead of just herself and her mom. One day, shortly after 9/11, a man wearing a turban shows up on her doorstep. He is her estranged uncle, and through him, Sam begins to realize how important being Indian American is to her identity.
-Yet another book that I'm so eager to read! Heard such great things about it :D

5. Perfect Chemistry by Simone Elkles

A modern tale of star-crossed lovers with a fresh urban twist. At Fairfield High School, on the outskirts of Chicago , everyone knows that south-siders mixing with north-siders can be explosive. So when Brittany Ellis and Alejandro “Alex” Fuentes are forced to be lab partners in chemistry class, this human experiment leads to unexpected revelations – that Brittany ’s flawless reputation is a cover for her troubled home life, that Alex’s bad-boy persona hides his desire to break free from gang ties, and that when they’re together, life somehow makes more sense. Breaking through the stereotypes and expectations that threaten to keep Brittany and Alex apart, Perfect Chemistry takes readers to both sides of the tracks in a passionate love story about looking beneath the surface
-I like this cover and it's been recommended to me a couple of times.

There's so many, many others, but that's all for now!

Teaser Tuesday and Guest Blogging

Thanks to Should be Reading for this idea! Grab the book you are currently reading and open to a random page. Type two sentences that are on the page.

"Mattie squirms on the bed and rolls her lips together, trying to keep her questions inside. I can tell she has waited a long time for this moment."
-A Wish After Midnight by Zetta Elliott pg. 93
It's really good so far! :D

Also I guest blogged for Justine Larbalestier! So cool, and generous of her to allow me to do that while she traveled :) You can read my posts here and here I got such a wonderful and positive response! A great feeling of hope swelled within me, due to all the warm comments about white people trying to diversify their reading. And I have enough books in my tbr pile to last me the whole first semseter of school so thanks for that everyone! I met some great people while I guest blogged and learned about some new fabulous websites and blogs that will be added to my blogroll asap.

Male Monday: Tyrell

Tyrell by Coe Booth

Rating: 3/5

You can read a summary of the book here

I.Q. "I can tell he scared, but he need to get over that. He don't say nothin'. He just grab his sneaker off the floor and go back to the bathroom. A couple seconds later I hear him banging his sneaker 'round like he trying to kill Godzilla or somethin. Boy can get the job done when he wanna." -Tyrell

This book really didn't do much for me. That quote isn't even incredible. Tyrell didn't make me laugh or cry. It didn't inspire me. A huge part of the problem was all the sexual references. As soon as you get to the 3rd page, the author starts talking about Tyrell's girlfriend giving him a blow job. And it doesn't stop there. In every chapter there's some kind of sexual reference. There's also a lot of profanity, which I don't mind as much, but if you don't like reading profanity or reading about sex, I recommend that you don't read this book.

However, Tyrell is a very believable character. He seems real. But this book's setting and characters were depressing. The mother was awful, she was lazy and in no hurry to get a job, even though they are leaving in a cockroach infested motel while they wait to be put in an apartment given to them by an emergency assistance program for homeless people. The father seemed semi-decent, except of course when he was smacking his wife and going to jail. The father did get his family out of the projects, but at what means? He's been in jail three times, when the book starts, it's the father's third stint in jail. I suppose it's good writing on the author's part, to make you really despise these characters and sympathize with Tyrell because of what he has to deal with on the part of his parents. Also when Tyrell talks about how the family's public defender didn't seem to care about his father's plight, I felt bad and knew that to be true. Public defenders are so overworked, but they should still devote as much of their time as they can to their client.

I wish that Tyrell hadn't complained so much about having to take care of his little brother. I would hate to have to watch and feed my little siblings all the time, but I would do it. Because blood is thicker than water and you must take care of your own. Troy (Tyrell's little brother) sounds adorably cute. Also, I don't see why Tyrell had to drop out of school and why he never got a job. Too many black people (males especially) drop out of school, this needs to stop. I would have liked to see Tyrell stay in school.

I've never lived in a homeless shelter or the projects, so I certainly am not going to criticize the author for not being authentic. I can't judge on that, because I don't know what it's like or what the people are like. I'm sure there are parents like Tyrell's out there, as well as people like his friend Cal, his girlfriend, Novisha and Jasmine, as well as all the other characters. I just wish that the book had been a bit more positive, with less sex (and profanity). My favorite characters were Patrick (he was a good friend to Tyrell, always there) and Regg (who is a friend of Tyrell's father and looks out for both of them). A sequel is due out sometime in the future and hopefully that book will be better.

You can also read Zetta Elliot's review of the book here

I wouldn't really recommend this book, but if you like urban or street lit, try it and see. Let me know what you think.

New Crayons

New Crayons is hosted by Susan it's when you discuss what new books you got this week. I have so many to add to my tbr pile!

1. The Making of Dr. Truelove by Derrick Barnes
Diego is a sixteen-year-old boy with a problem. He loves his girlfriend, Roxy. And when they suddenly break up due to Diego's own insecurity issues, the boy is crushed. How ever will he win Shorty back?
On the trusty advice of his (crazy) best friend, Diego invents an alter ego known as Dr. Truelove. A sex and relationship e-columnist, Truelove is smooth where Diego is gawky, skilled where Diego is clueless. Truelove is, quite clearly, the way back into Roxy's heart. Or so it seems. . . .

2. Lucy by Jamaica Kincaid

Lucy, a teenage girl from the West Indies, comes to North America to work as an au pair for Lewis and Mariah and their four children. Lewis and Mariah are a thrice-blessed couple--handsome, rich, and seemingly happy. Yet, alomst at once, Lucy begins to notice cracks in their beautiful facade. With mingled anger and compassion, Lucy scrutinizes the assumptions and verities of her employers' world and compares them with the vivid realities of her native place. Lucy has no illusions about her own past, but neither is she prepared to be deceived about where she presently is. At the same time that Lucy is coming to terms with Lewis's and Mariah's lives, she is also unravelling the mysteries of her own sexuality. Gradually a new person unfolds: passionate, forthright, and disarmingly honest.

3. Rattlebone by Maxine Clair
Clair's debut, a collection of 11 short stories, centers around the coming-of-age of a young African American girl growing up on the outskirs of 1950s Kansas City

I bought these as a big 'take that!' to all the publishers out there. I went to Borders (they were having a buy 4 get 5th book free sale. It ends July 27, this Monday) and bought books with poc on the covers.

4. Hip Hop High School by Alan Lawrence Sitomer

Theresa Anderson is smarter than anyone knows. But with the example of her superachiever older brother, Andre, towering above her and temptations of the hip-hop kulture floating everywhere, navigating her way through the dangerous maze of high school becomes a precarious, roller-coaster adventure. With her parents and her teachers always on her case, and her best friend living the “wild style” life, Theresa turns to hip-hop for comfort and inspiration. Her favorite artists seem to understand her when no one else does.
Everything changes when a new man comes into Theresa’s life. Devon might have a tough guy reputation, but behind it lays a blazing ambition for academic success. Together, Devon and Theresa set off on a quest to beat the SAT, prove they are not merely another “urban statistic” and earn their way into top colleges. However, when gang life intrudes and tragedy strikes Devon, Theresa faces a pile of unfinished college applications and a heart full of unrealized dreams – and time is running out…
In this gripping and inspirational sequel to The Hoopster, Andre Anderson’s sister Theresa tells, in her own hip-hop flava’d voice, how she reaches down deep, rises up strong and takes on one of the baddest monsters in high school – the SAT.

-I loved the Hoopster!

5. Rogelia's House of Magic by Jamie Martinez Wood
Three different 15-year-old girls find friendship and special powers as they are trained in the ways of the curandera by a wise old woman.When Rogelia becomes a maid at Marina Peralta’s home, it’s obvious to Marina and her friend Fern that they have a real mystic on their hands. Soon Rogelia agrees to teach the girls the magic of their ancestors, much as she taught her granddaughters, Xochitl and Gracielia. Even though Marina and Fern are thrilled to have this chance to understand and use their powers, Xochitl isn’t happy about sharing such a sacred thing with anyone but her sister, who perished in a car accident. Besides, magic has let Xochitl down before. Why wouldn’t it now? But, as the girls will eventually discover, at Rogelia’s House of Magic anything is possible.

6. Catwalk by Deborah Gregory
In Catwalk (Delacorte Press), the newest novel from bestselling "Cheetah Girls" author, Deborah Gregory, Pashmina Purrstein and her posse--Angora, Felinez and Aphro--are poised-ready students at Manny Hanny's famed fashion central--Fashion International High School. These four friends blessed with feline fatale attributes vie for entry into the Catwalk competition where the winners really will take all. We're talking college scholarships, modeling contracts with Snooty Inc., and a trip abroad with all the trimmings of la dolce vita (that's the sweet life to all you non fashionistas) . But first, Pashmina and her friends have to assemble the ultimate fashion street team--while four other "houses" are struggling to do the same thing. Will the House of Pashmina earn their purr points? Wake up and smell the catnip--they're gonna rip the runway...

7. Who You Wit'? by Paula Chase (finally got it!)

Mina Mooney has a new worst enemy—her best friend... Summer is just around the corner, but things are already too hot to handle in Del Rio Bay. For the first time ever, Mina doesn't have a master plan to keep her popularity roller-coaster on track. She's so sprung over Brian that she's having a hard time just thinking straight. So, she's not at all ready when her best friend Lizzie makes their clique swear to a year-long virginity pact... Now Mina and her crew are feeling way too much heat. Kelly is glad to take things slow with cute jock Greg—but ex-hustler Angel isn't about to let her go drama-free. For Jacinta, a missed period and Raheem planning "their" future together is promising nothing but trouble. And when Lizzie finds out Mina has "betrayed" the pact, it's a head-to-head, no-holds-barred showdown that could say hasta la vista to the clique for good. Fresh, funny, and always on-point, Who You Wit'? is all about trying to keep it popular when things get all too real.

I'm really excited to read all these! Hope everyone had a safe and fun weekend!

*BTW in the All Time Favorite Michael Jackson poll we had a two way tie. Don't Stop Till You Get enough and P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing). Not gonna lie, P.Y.T. is my favorite :) Vote in the new poll!

Blog Name Change, Voting and a Question

Hey everyone!
So I'm changing my blog name to.............. *drumroll*
Reading in Color
It changes tomorrow. So edit your blogrolls please! Url will be the same.
I hope you like the name, I really do! But if you don't, I hope you continue to visit my blog anyway :D

Also that little Black Blog web awards image I have next to this post, in the right corner? Click on it and vote for me! Thanks!! I am annoyed with the awards though, because they don't have a Book Blog category. There may not be a lot of book blogs for AAs in YA, but there are a pretty good amount of blogs that review books with AAs for adults. So they need a category!

Now for my question: do people prefer Black or African American? I use the two interchangeably, but I know some people find black offensive, or vice versa. Thoughts?

When the Black Girl Sings Review/Liar/Black Man on the Titanic!

I'm still trying to calm down and just breathe about the whole Liar issue. I encourage everyone to email Bloomsbury's PR person Deb.Shapiro@bloomsburyusa.com Although I agree with Colleen at Chasing Ray, I too want to email Cecka and give her a piece of my mind. Please everyone email! This is so not unacceptable.

I almost feel naive, because before when I was younger, there was always (at least for me) lots of children's books with poc main characters. My father bought us books in Spanish (*BTW I'm half black, half Latina) and my mother bought my siblings and I books with AA main characters, especially the fairy tales. But honestly, when I was younger I didn't always want to read books with AA characters, it didn't bother me seeing books with people on the cover who didn't look like me. I wanted to be white when I was kid *hangs head in shame*. But, as I got older, I grew out of that (with the help of "Black is Beautiful" talks by my parents) and wanted to read more books with people who looked like me. Then I began to notice the lack of diversity on covers, but I never thought it was because the publishing companies didn't think they would sell. I just thought it meant the black authors just weren't being published because their books weren't good enough or they were trying hard enough. Or that there wasn't that many authors writing books about toc. I'm ashamed/happy to admit I was wrong. Ashamed that I could ever think that black authors weren't good enough, happy to know that people are writing YA books about poc, they just aren't being published or reviewed, or prominently displayed.

Also, apparently you can find some YA books with poc (specifically AAs) main characters in the African American or Urban Fiction sections in bookstores. Honestly, I always thought the AA section and Urban Fiction sections were just for adults (often it's Zane and other romantic novels being displayed with poc on the covers in the section). There's nothing wrong with that,we deserve romantic fiction as well with people who like us. However, if there books about teenagers in those sections it should say so or be prominently displayed! Just my opinion.

Totally random but so cool: There was a black man on the Titanic! He was Haitian. That is so cool!! well I don't know if cool is the right word because he died, but his family made it out safely. What I want to is: why isn't this more common knowledge? Read about it here please. I agree with the author of this article, I would have at least wanted to see a black man on the Titanic in the movie Titanic. I only just heard about this today because my mom emailed me about it, because she didn't know about it and wanted to know if I did. She heard about it from her fellow Jack & Jill members (you know they know this stuff!)

When the Black Girl Sings by Bill Wright

There are two covers
I have the 2nd one (with just the butterflies). Which one do you like better? Personally I like the 1st one better, I hope everyone buys the book, but especially if it has the first cover on it. As a big "Take that!" to Bloomsbury publishing, to show that books with black girls on them sell just as well (if not better if given the chance) than books with white girls on the cover.

Rating: 4/5

Lahni Schuler is the only black student at her private school (and only one of the few girls of color there, there is also an Asian girl). Not only that, but she's adopted. By white parents. Who are getting a divorce. That's tough. All Lahni really has is her best friend Katie (who is white) and her lovely singing voice. Her best friend nominates her to be in a singing competition (and is seconded by Lahni's music teacher) in front of the whole school. Lahni is not expected to win, neither is the Asian girl in the competition. Everyone is betting on the white girl to win it.

I.Q. "And if Jesus, or even God, was always watching me, then they had to know nothing was going particularly well. So what good was their watching doing if all they were seeing was disaster?" -Lahni. I've thought the same thing so many times!

First of all, I can't imagine going to a school and being the only black person in the whole school (I don't even know if I could handle it if I was the only black person in my grade) and I think Lahni generally handled it the way I would have. I saw myself in her. Although, quite honestly, I couldn't believe some of the racist comments people made, mainly because the book is set in the present and I couldn't fathom how people could still say/believe these things. I would have either said something really biting and sarcastic or maybe even gotten in a fight. Which is where Lahni and I differ and it frustrated me. She just kind of took it, she was too shy to really say anything a lot of the time.


I also really liked the gospel choir aspect of the book. The imagery described. I could see (and honestly I felt like I could hear) the gospel choir, see the church, Lahni, her parents. Nicely detailed. Onyx 1 was scarily creepy (gotta read to find out who that is!) and sometimes I wanted to smack Donna or just laugh at her.

This novel was sweet and just plain wonderful. I don't have any complaints except about a character and that's so minor. My sister (who got the singing gift, it skipped me) is three years younger and she read it. She loved it (she is one of two black girls in her grade so I think she related even more. except my sister has a ton of white friends, but like me she gets tired of the 'why don't you wash your hair everyday?', 'can you tan?' questions. Even if they are innocent and being asked by friends. It's annoying and hard to be patient when you get asked the same thing so many times.) I'm really surprised that there aren't more reviews of this book, the one other review I found said that the book was 'too negative'. Could that analysis have to do with the book being reviewed by a white person?. I dont mean to be rude, but a lot of 'negative' things in that book are reality for poc, and I don't think that reviewer was able to fully understand and appreciate the book. I especially recommend the book to middle schoolers (Lahni is 14), but also high school students, adults, and singers of all ages (well older than 11)! Check out the author's website here I want to read Sunday You Learn How to Box by him as well.

Have a great weekend!

The Lie was the Cover

I'm so upset about the whole Liar controversy. The book Liar by Justine Larbalestier is about a multiracial teen so then tell me why the cover has a white girl is on the cover? This is in no way the author's fault. I've read/heard repeatedly that authors have little say in the final cover choice. See the author's response to all the controversy here. I'm not upset in any way with the author. I love her post. What upsets me is the publisher's response “The entire premise of this book is about a compulsive liar,” said Melanie Cecka, publishing director of Bloomsbury Children’s Books USA and Walker Books for Young Readers, who worked on Liar. “Of all the things you’re going to choose to believe of her, you’re going to choose to believe she was telling the truth about race?”

My response: Weak! I'm sorry, wait no I'm not. That excuse was lame. Why wouldn't you put an image similar to the way the main character describes herself on the cover of the book? I realize covers are important, I sometimes judge books by their covers, but most important is the actual summary of the book. I'm insulted that the publishing company (Bloomsbury) thought that a book with a black girl on it wouldn't sell as well as one with a white girl on it. Later on, Cecka talks about how "clearly, our striving for ambiguity with this cover, and for it to be interpreted as a ‘lie’ itself didn’t work for everyone. But again, if this jacket proves a catalyst for a bigger discussion about how the industry is dealing with its books on race, that’s a very large good to come of this current whirlwind.” I agree with the latter part of this. I hope all the discussion and outrage about this cover, result in a larger conversation about race and lack of books/reviews about YA people of color. I really hope my fellow teen book bloggers express their opinions about this issue, because I want to know what they think.

Other articles: Taste Life Twice wants to specifically know white reader's thoughts See the original post here
Color Online
Chasing Ray
I've never read any of Ms. Larbalestier's books, but all the discussion has made me curious and eager to read her books. So some good will come of this hopefully; a discussion about the lack of poc in YA books, and more people will read Ms. Larbalestier's books.
What do you think?

Waitng on Wednesday/It Chicks Review

My Waiting on Wednesday posts are going to be books that are already out (and I'm saving up to buy) as well as books that aren't out yet.

1. Saving Maddie by Varian Johnson
Release date: March 9, 2010
Joshua Wynn is a preacher’s son and a “good boy” who always does the right thing. Until Maddie comes back to town. Maddie is the daughter of the former associate pastor of Joshua’s church, and his childhood crush. Now Maddie is all grown up, gorgeous—and troubled. She wears provocative clothes to church, cusses, drinks, and fools around with older men. Joshua’s ears burn just listening to the things she did to get kicked out of boarding school, and her own home.As time goes on, Josh goes against his parents and his own better instincts to keep Maddie from completely capsizing. Along the way, he begins to question his own rigid understanding of God and whether, as his mother says, a girl like Maddie is beyond redemption. Maddie leads Josh further astray than any girl ever has . . . but is there a way to reconcile his love for her and his love for his life in the church? -from http://www.amazon.com/
I read My Life as a Rhombus by this author and I really enjoyed it!, so I'm excited for his next book! Also, I adore this cover, it's awesome :)

2. Red Polka Dot in World Full of Plaid by Varian Johnson
Maxine is as sarcastic and cynical as they come. She's an expert at using her quick wit and sharp tongue to mask her true feelings. However, her emotions get the best of her when she learns the father she thought dead is alive, and that her mother has been lying about his death for Maxine's entire life. On impulse, Maxine sets out cross-country for the small town where her father lives. But instead of finding the father of her dreams, Maxine meets a man that is nothing like she expected. Can Maxine learn to accept her father, even with his faults? And in the process, can she learn to accept herself?
Mr. Johnson's first book!

3. Who You Wit & Flipping the Script by Paula Chase (books in the Del Rio Bay Clique series)

I'm not gonna post the summaries of the book because I don't want to post any spoilers if you haven't read the first three books in the series!

4. Dance Jam Productions by Celise Downs
GET YOUR GROOVE ON! LOCAL TEEN SHOW HOSTING DANCE CONTEST!
The local popular teen dance show, Dance Jam Productions, is looking for regulars. Mataya Black Hawk and Jarek Thanos meet by chance one day and end up as dance partners at the contest the next. When they become one of twelve finalists, they have to work together to create a dance routine. As the final Dance-Off draws near, Jarek shows his interest, yet Mattie keeps him at a distance for fear he will discover her secret. A secret hidden for so long that even her closest friends don’t know. But that’s the least of their problems.
Local teens are becoming pawns in a twisted scheme and all clues point to Dance Jam Productions. Is it coincidence that the victims were dancers on the show? Will Mattie come to terms her past to find love with Jarek? Is there a price to pay for being a regular on Dance Jam Productions? Mattie and Jarek intend to find out before they become the next targets. -from celisedowns.com
I love reading any books about dancers, and if they're poc? Added bonus!

5. Draven Atreides, Teenage Informant Series by Celise Downs
Book One: A Royale Pain
A day at the spa can be a “royale” pain.
Sixteen-year-old Draven Atreides has just started a new gig as an FBI informant. Her To Do list includes: adjust to new life, make new friends, and try not to tell said new friends about her secret job.

A French chemist is peddling his “specially formulated” products to high class spas and his latest target is celeb favorite, The Royale Treatment Day Spa. Unfortunately, his products cause some nasty side effects and the results are so not pretty. Just when Draven’s first assignment seems to be heading south, she receives unwanted assistance in the form of Rader Deschanel. What does he want with Draven? Will she be able to solve her first official case without blowing her cover? Release date: TBA

Review:

It Chicks by Tia Williams

Rating: 3.5/5

What they want is fame. All they have is drama. Welcome to Louis B. Armstrong, New York City's most prestigious performing arts school, where the gifted, wanna-be starlets, and It Chicks are all on the rise. But when rehearsals give way to hot and heavy after-school sessions away from the barre and without the mic, the real drama begins. Meet the hottest cast in town: Tangie, the Dreamer. Skye the Drama Queen. Eden the Bombshell. Trey the Bad Boy. CJ the Thug with the Heart of Gold. Izzy the Wild Child. Regina the Silent Threat. And the Entourage: Marisol, Kamillah, Blackadocious, Vineet, and Lyle. They're all playing the fame game and will do whatever it takes to nail it.

I.Q. (Incredible Quote) "Well, my mom went into labor with me while she was lying in bed watching MTV, and the second she went into labor, the "Baby Got Back" video came on. She used to tell me she knew I'd be a dancer, because I came out of the womb doing the running man, like the girls in the video. But I think it's the reason I came out so bootylicious." -Tangie pg. 185 Love this quote!

This book was hot, hot, hot! I read this book two years ago and I'd never seen Fame (heard awesome things about it!) and Taking the Stage wasn't out yet, and I totally connected to this book and remember thinking "How cool if they made this book a movie!" This year I saw Fame (loved it!) and MTV produced reality-TV show Taking the Stage (it's really good! The only MTV show I watch anymore, although season 1 ended). I'm still hoping that movie producers/directors discover this book and someone decides to make it a movie! Also, at my middle school all the girls read and shared books. The 'in books' of my 7th & 8th grade years were cliqueish, rich girl books (i.e. The Clique series, Pretty Little Devils, Gossip Girl, etc.) No books with poc main characters. Then I found this book. Rich, talented, poc (AA & Asians mostly). It was awesome.

I read and passed it on to the 6 black girls in my grade (out of 50 kids, I figured the white girls would have no interest and I was right). Now my copy is worn, torn and dog-eared. All my friends loved it. The plot is great,and the characters relatable (even if you're not amazingly talented or rich). Now I'm slightly biased, because I read any and all books about dancers, as a former dancer myself, and I always get excited when I find books about poc dancers (so be prepared for more reviews about dancers of different ethnicities!). My favorite character was Izzy. She was so cool, sweet,experienced and down to earth. After my friends and I read this we all tried to come up with names for ourselves in the same fashion as her rapper name (Izzy Duz It). Although, none of us were aspiring rappers! No luck on my part (my name just doesn't work!), but a couple of my friends came up with some.

What I did dislike: A lot of typos that made confusing conversations. For example in one scene a mother is talking to her oldest daughter, Eden. the conversation goes on and then the name Skye, randomly pops up, "Skye replied." Skye is the younger sister. This results in confusion. Whose speaking? Did the character just enter the conversation or have they been there the whole time? This happened often throughout the book, so the writing could have been a little better. Also, (this is minor) the main character personally bothered me at times. Sometimes Tangie (the main character) was so naive toward guys and it was frustrating. Same with Skye. Most of the characters naivete towards guys was frustrating, but that doesn't make the book bad, just teaches you what to watch out for in guys.

Read if you're into chick lit, Fame like books, reading multicultural fiction. I highly recommend this book. Cop this for your daughter, niece, granddaughter, and that aspiring dancer/singer/actress/filmmaker/artist who lives down the street!

Also you can check out the It Chicks website for more info on the characters (although I don't imagine any of the characters looking like how they do on the page, but that's just me) here
Check out Tia's beauty blog, Shake Your Beauty. It's awesome. Great tips, advice and product recommendations. Also it's how I find out the day the 2nd It Chicks book was coming out!

Teaser Tuesday & Blogging Help

Thanks to Should Be Reading for thinking of and sharing this idea.
Teaser Tuesday is when you pick a book you are currently reading to a random page and share 2 teaser sentences from that page.

Teaser: "Maybe Unlce Sam doesn't care about Thomas. Maybe a colored soldier doesn't have a chance in the world. But I do, mama. So what if they think I'm white? Let them see what they want to see, I'm still me." pg.55
-Flygirl by Sherri L. Smith
This isn't really a spoiler since part of this teaser is explained in the summary of the book. It's really good so far!

Also I need some blogging help. my sidebar is MIA. Well I know where it is, but it isn't at the side where I need it to be. I went to the Blogger help forum, but the answer they gave confused me a bit. Anyone know how I can change my floating sidebar, to put it right next to my posts? I'm one teenager who is technologically challenged. ;)

Another thing, the It Chicks review may be posted later today or pushed back till next week. I had a rough day today, so I'm not really up for writing a review.

One more thing. My Whale Talk review is my favorite review thus far. Please read and comment/email me your thoughts. Is my writing style too choppy? I was told that I write like I'm in a conversation, which I know I do. But I kinda like it that way, I see my reviews almost as a conversation. However, I also understand that writing that way can be confusing and I don't want my readers to be confused. What's your opinion on that? To write write or converse write? :P

Male Monday: Whale Talk

Whale Talk by Chris Crutcher

Rating: 5/5

There's bad news and good news about the Cutter High School swim team. The bad news is that they don't have a pool. The good news is that only one of them can swim anyway.
A group of misfits brought together by T. J. Jones (the J is redundant) to find their places in a school that has no place for them, the Cutter All Night Mermen struggle to carve out their own turf. T. J. is convinced that a varsity letter jacket--unattainable for most, exclusive, revered, the symbol (as far as T. J. is concerned) of all that is screwed up at Cutter High--will be an effective carving tool. He's right. He's also wrong.
Still, it's always the quest that counts. And the bus on which the Mermen travel to swim meets--piloted by Icko, the permanent resident of All, Night Fitness--soon becomes the cocoon inside which they gradually allow themselves to talk, to fit, to bloom.
Chris Crutcher is in top form with a cast of characters--adults, children, and teenagers--fighting for dignity in a world where tragedy and comedy dance side by side, where a moment's inattention can bring lifelong heartache, and where true acceptance is the only prescription for what ails us.
taken from the author's website

The I.Q. (Incredible Quote): for this book way too many, but this is one of my all time favorites,

"When your name is The Tao Jones, you think twice before passing judgement on a peer's name, but I am quick with silent gratitude that my last name can't be translated into any target so basic to adolescent males [Dan Hole]." T.J.

First, some people have crushes on Harry Potter, Edward Cullen or Mr. Darcy. Well I have a crush on The Tao Jones. Should I ever meet a guy like him (I'm hopeful he exists!) I would be so excited to just know a guy like him exists :) He's funny, sarcastic and has a heart of gold. His flaw (s),depending on how you look at it, only serve to make him more endearing.
All the good characters and misfits were amazing. You truly hated the bad guys and loved the underdogs.

Ok I'm going to throw in another i.q. here, but only because it helps illustrate a point.
TJ:"You told them I was an Olympic hopeful?"
Simet: "There must have been a time or two when you hoped you'd go to the Olympics someday."

This quote shows why Simet (Mr. Simet, T.J.'s English and journalism teacher) rocks. I wish a teacher like him existed at my school (although I have had two teachers who've come pretty close, but they were in grade school and middle school. You really need a teacher like him in high school.) He cares about his students, he's funny and he remembers what it was like to be a teenager, while still acting responsibly and maturely. So besides T.J. and Simet, my other favorite character was Mott. I'm not going to go into any details on why, because that would spoil the book. But I really I loved all the good guys, the parents of T.J. and the underdogs.

The evil characters and prejudice in this novel will make you cringe and very angry. What can be even more astonishing is that the book is set in the modern world and offers proof that racism still exists today. The ending will make you cry. This is the first book to ever make me cry.

Also, the dialogue here was real. I would have reacted (or said, for better or worse) in the same way as T.J. did in the book. Where I live is pretty diverse, not evenly, but it's definitely better than the racial make-up of where T.J. lives. My school is a little worse, but still not as bad s T.J.'s. I can't imagine going to a school and being the only black kid This book tackles racism, self-esteem,and almost every kind of abuse.It teaches you lessons, I know that's a bit cliche, but this book teaches you lessons in a way that you don't even realize you're being taught.

I won't tell you why it's called Whale Talk. My hope is that you will be inspired enough by my review (or better yet, just the summary of the book) to buy this book. Read it whether you be male or female. But especially get it for your son, nephew, god-son, cousin, even husband if he wants to go back to his teenage years. This is one of my favorite books to re-read, even though the ending still makes me extremely upset. When (not if!) you read this book leave a comment telling me what you thought of the book. I promise I won't bite your head off even if you tell me it wasn't amazing.But I'd be lying if I didn't say if you comment that you didn't like it AT ALL, I would be upset.

New Crayons & Next Week Update

New Crayons is when I share what new books I got this week. Thanks to Susan at Color Online for this idea. So on Saturday I had an adventure in going to Barnes & Noble. I haven't been in a B&N in years. I honestly couldn't remember why, since when I first walked in, I thought it was a beautiful store. Cozy and elegant. Then, as I started searching for the books on Susan's Unofficial List of Great YA Fiction about or by women of color, I remembered why. They didn't have many. Halfway, through the list I gave up. I just wandered the YA section, looking for books with African American people on it. lol. I found two books that had been brought to my attention from Our Teen Voices blog. They were:

The Ultimate Test (The Lipgloss Chronicles) by Sheila M. Goss

The Diva’s Creed: All for one, one for all; never let the other fall.
Ever since they met in their elite private school, Britney, Jasmine, and Sierra have lived by these words, but now that they’re entering their freshman year in a public high school, their bond is about to be put to the ultimate test.
The daughters of wealthy Texas socialites, these girls are used to getting whatever they want, so it’s no surprise to them when the gorgeous DJ takes them under his wing. Drama soon comes their way in the form of Tanisha, a jealous older student who thinks DJ’s attention should be focused solely on her.
Even Tanisha’s threats can’t intimidate these girls as they form a united front against her. They’re tighter than ever—until a sticky situation complicates everything. Jasmine and Sierra both fall head over heels in love with DJ. Could this really mean the end of their friendship? from thelipglosschronicles.com

This sounds very chick lit, but I'm going to give it a chance, because I've liked some chick lit in the past. Especially becasue I believe toc should have as many genres and options as white readers. So if someone wants to read chick lit about teens of color, they should have a wealth of options.

Denim Diaries: 16 Going on 21 by Darrien Lee

This story explores the lives of sixteen-year-olds Denim Mitchell and Andre Patterson, who have shared an intense bond ever since they were kids. Denim yearns to date Andre, known by his friends as Dre. However, Denim's parents are doing everything in their power to keep the heat of the passion between the two teens under wraps. Dre, a rising basketball star and budding artist, has a glorious future ahead of him. Unfortunaately, rumor has it that he's involved in activities that could ruin his chances of ever hooking up with Denim or achieving his dreams of going to college and the NBA. Denim realizes her relationship with Dre could be shattered if her parents find out that she violated their trust. One lie, one party, and one bullet chance the course of both of their lives forever.

I'm really usnure about this one. It's urban lit, which I'm not a big fan of and I'm annoyed that I had to type up the whole summary, since I couldn't find a description anywhere. Not a good sign. Don't judge, don't judge, I keep telling myself!

Tears of A Tiger by Sharon Draper

Tigers don't cry, or do they? After the death of his longtime friend and fellow Hazelwood Tiger, Andy, the driver of the car, blames himself and cannot get past his guilt and pain. While his other friends have managed to work through their grief and move on, Andy allows death to become the focus of his life. In the months that follow the accident, the lives of Andy and his friends are traced through a series of letters, articles, homework assignments, and dialogues, and it becomes clear that Tigers do indeed need to cry. from sharondraper.com

I've read previous books of Sharon Draper's (Copper Sun & Fire From the Rock), both of which I liked, so I'm eager to read this one.

So I'm disappointed with the lack of AA teen choices that B&N offered, but now I know. I just need to stick to amazon.com and Borders.

Upcoming This Week: a review everyday

Male Monday: I debut a new post of mine where I review books with a male toc main character. Hopefully this will debut Monday, (if I can get to the library for the book I want to review for tomorrow) when I review Whale Talk by Chris Crutcher or the Hoopster by Alan Sitomer. If i don't have the book or I'm too busy (my drivers test is tomorrow), the review will go up next Monday.

Teaser Tuesday/Review: Idk what the teaser will be from, probably Flygirl. Review of It Chicks by Tia Williams

Waiting on Wednesday/Review: Books I'm waiting for to come out or books that are already out and I'm just saving up for them. Review of When the Black Girl Sings by Bill Wright

Throwback Thrusday: When I review a book that's pre 2007. Trouble Follows by Monica McKayhan.

Friday:TBA. Either Belle by Beverly Jenkins (teenage Kimani Tru version) or The Fight by L.Divine

Saturday:Whichever book I didn't review Friday

Sunday: New Crayons post. DIVAS:Diamond by Victoria Christopher Murray

It's gonna be an exciting week! :)

Your Thoughts, My Thoughts, Great YA POC Fiction

From Susan at Color Online
Put an ‘X’ by what you’ve read, “#” by what books are on your tbr and “!” by books you loved. This list in very short and focused on women writers of color. Feel free to add titles in your comments. The list sorely needs works by Native Americans and Latinas for example.Susan’s Unofficial List of Great YA by or About Women of Color:
#1. When Kambia Elaine Flew In From Neptune by Lori A. Williams
#2. Every Time A Rainbow Dies by Rita Williams-Garcia
#3. No Laughter Here by Rita Williams-Garcia
#4. Jumped by Rita Williams-Garcia
#5. If You Come Softly by Jacqueline Woodson
#6. The House You Pass On The Way by Jacqueline Woodson
#7. Flygirl by Sherri L. Smith
#8. From The Notebooks of Melanin Sun by Jacqueline Woodson
#9. Sold by Patricia McCormick
#10. Heaven by An Na11.
#The Parable of The Sower by Octavia E. Butler
#12. Purple Hibiscus by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
#13. Persepolis by Majane Satrapi
#14. The Rock and The River by Kekla Magoon
#15. Secret Keeper by Mitali Perkins
X!16. Mare’s War by Tanita S. Davis
#17. A Wish After Midnight by Zetta Elliott
#18. Down To The Bone by Mayra Lazara Dole
X!19. Don’t Get It Twisted by Paula Chase
X20. Jason & Kyra by Dana Davidson
#21. Forged by Fire by Sharon Draper
#22. Kendra by Coe Booth
#23. Shine, Coconut Moon by Neesha Meminger
#24. Does My Head Look Big In This? By Randa Abdel-Fattah
#25. Born Confused by Tanuja Desai Hidier
#26. Skunk Girl by Sheba Karim
#27. The Meaning of Conseulo by Judith Ortiz Cofer
X!28. In The Time of the Butterflies by Julia Alvarez
#29. Kindred by Octavia E. Butler
#30. First Part Last by Angela Johnson
#31. Pemba’s Song by Marilyn Nelson
#32. Wanting Mor by Rukhsana Khan
#33. M + O 4EVR by Tonya Hegamin
#34. Lucy The Giant by Sherri L. Smith
x!35. The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros
#36. Throwaway Piece by Jo Ann Hernandez
#37. White Bread Competition by Jo Ann Hernandez
#38. Across A Hundred Mountains by Reyna Grande
#39. Silver Phoenix by Cindy Pon
#40. Ash by Malinda Lo
x41. The Skin I’m In by Sharon G. Flake

My list additions
42. When the Black Girl Sings by Bill Wright
43. Maizon at Blue Hill by Jacqueline Woodson
44. That's What's Up by Paula Chase
45. It Chicks by Tia Williams
46. Hotlanta by Denene Millner and Mitzi Miller
47. The No.1 Ladies Detective Agency series by Alexander McCall Smith (great show even better books!)
48)Indigo Sound by Regina Baiocchi
49) Meant To Be by Rita Whack
50) Only Twice I've Wished for Heaven by Dawn Turner Trice
I'm like Tashi I now have a whole lot of books to add to my 'to be read (tbr)' pile! That's most definitely a good thing :)

Ok now for the clarifications, randomness and 'more about the blog':
1) This blog isn't only for poc, it's for ANYONE who WANTS TO READ ABOUT POC characters in fiction. So if you're white, Asian, Latino/a, Native American feel free to follow the blog and email me and be like 'you need to read/review more books for Native Americans' (an example). However, the main focus will be on AA books, but I'll try and read/review lots of books with poc.
2) I really want to have a contest. But I don't think I'm going to have one until I have a certain number of followers/viewers of my blog. *I have to figure out where to get a site visitor widget thing.* So follow and comment so I know your out there!
3) I feel like my reviews may be too long. Thoughts?
4) some of the books I added to the list aren't really deep. More like throughly entertaining. I wanted to add some light hearted book titles to the list. I think it's good to read seriosu, deep books with more wit and biting humor. But I also think sometimes you need to read simple books that make you laugh or just take you away from the world you live in, but don't require you to think that hard or cause you pain.
5) Huge thanks to Susan at Color Online, Doreet at HappyNappyBookseller, Tashi & Kiki at Taste Life Twice and Zetta Elliott at Fledgling for the shout-outs on their blogs and/or adding me to their blogroll.
6) I think the red and purple on this blog don't go well together. I added the red (and black font) for the African flag (I think. correct me if I'm wrong) which is red, green and black. I don't like the color green and I love purple so I subsituted purple for green. But now I think the red doesn't work with the purple? Agree/Disagree?
7) I'm going to be participating in the NewCrayons/Waiting on Wednesday (thanks Susan for the New Crayons idea!), and Throwback Thrusday (thanks Tashi for that great idea!) blog posts. Maybe Sunday Salon as well. Teaser or Taste Tuesday

And vote in the MJ poll! P.Y.T. is winning so far. Is no one voting in protest because Smooth Criminal isn't in there? ;)

All the Best,
MissA

I Should Call My Grandmother. You Should Too: Mare's War

Mare's War by Tanita S. Davis

Rating: 4/5

Meet Mare, a grandmother with flair and a fascinating past." Octavia and Tali are dreading the road trip their parents are forcing them to take with their grandmother over the summer. After all, Mare isn't your typical grandmother. She drives a red sports car, wears stiletto shoes, flippy wigs, and push-up bras, and insists that she's too young to be called Grandma. But somewhere on the road, Octavia and Tali discover there's more to Mare than what you see. She was once a willful teenager who escaped her less-than-perfect life in the deep South and lied about her age to join the African American battalion of the Women's Army Corps during World War II. Told in alternating chapters, half of which follow Mare through her experiences as a WAC member and half of which follow Mare and her granddaughters on the road in the present day.

I really enjoyed this book! The character were totally relatable and Mare is the coolest grandmother ever (don't call her that though!) The title of this blog post/review is kinda random, but reading this book made me think of my grandmother and how I haven't talked to her in forever. So I'm going to call her today! The title is a reminder that grandparents need love so call 'em up or hang out with them! They may actually have some cool/funny/interesting stories to share. That's one thing I learned from this book. You presume your grandparents haven't really lived life, they're just old. But they have stories too and while they may not be as interesting as Mare's (or may be even more interesting!), you never know unless you ask. So call/them or hang out and ask away!

First, Mare. I wish my grandmother was like her. It would be so cool to have a grandmother who wears stilettos, drives fast, has an interesting past, is sassy and stubborn. She sounds like quite a character and a lot of fun to be around. She's very laid-back, go with the flow which I think is nice. Although I wouldn't be thrilled if my grandmothers wore push-up bras and smoked. She was my favorite character in the whole book (although I wished she would have danced and hung out with more guys!). She was so brave and hardworking! Which leads me to the next thing...

The historical aspect of the book was really enlightening. Before reading this book, I knew absolutely nothing about the role of African American men and women in WWII (except from what I'd seen in Miracle of St. Anna which was more fiction than fact). The information was really interesting and I admired the black men and women who fought for the U.S. even though, the U.S. wasn't very appreciative. It would have been really hard for me to go to Paris, help fight to protect the U.S., see how kind and non-discriminatory the French people were and then go home. I probably would have stayed in Paris. The work of the WAC (Women's Army Corps) is something I intend on reading more about. Also, I'm going to find some WWII movies about black soldiers (I think Denzel was in one :D).

I also liked both sisters; Tali and Octavia. They were both a little annoying sometimes. Octavia because she was so timid, Tali because she was so rude and whiny. But I sympathized with Octavia's struggle with driving (I'm learning to drive too. And it's scary fun!). And I would be mad like Tali if I couldn't listen to my music. I also like how Tali was stubborn and didn't take no mess from anybody, like Mare.

The book was well written and held your attention. I couldn't put it down. I especially like how it alternated from WWII to the present day. Although sometimes I was so absorbed in the WWII stories, that I wanted to just skip the now chapters (but don't cuz those are good chapters too!)

If you like historical or realistic fiction, this is a must read! Actually I think everyone should read this, because we African American teens need to know all aspects of our history. I would say high schoolers and middle schoolers could and should read this book.

Contests Alert! Hurry and enter

This is just a quick post to say that WORD for Teens is having a contest. It ends July 31 and is only vaild for U.S. residents.I'm not sure if you win one or all the books but I read Blue Bloods recently (and though not about any black people) it was really good!!! I can't wait to read the next books in the series. Also Stop Me If You've Heard This One Before looks entertaining. And The Secret Story of Sonia Rodriguez I'm eager to read because I've read other books by the author Alan Lawrence Sitomer (the Hoopster, Hip-Hop High School). I'm going to review both, but I'll tell you right now I loved, loved, loved Hoopster! follow the link below for more details about the contest.http://wordforteens.blogspot.com/2009/07/julys-contest-bookapalooza.html So none of the books feature black people, but some are about people of color so I encourage you to check it out!

Another contest! I've been surfing the net, desperately seeking blogs that talk about YA African American lit. And I've found some. Happy Nappy Bookseller, Color Online Blog, Brown Bookshelf. I'll link to them in the sidebar. Anyway here's the link to the contest on color online
http://coloronline.blogspot.com/2009/07/one-of-best-things-about-summer-is_12.html
The books all look amazing! I hope I win one so I can review it here :) Contest ends July 30th. Good luck everyone!!

Ahh so many contests! Here's another one, hosted by the author Celise Downs. I haven't read any of her books, but I'm eager to read Dance Jam Productions. As well as the Draven Atreides series when it comes out. Contest open to teens age 13-18. check it: http://celisedowns.com/fun/ enter!

Summer, Summertime: Indigo Summer

So I figured out how to post images. Yay me! Now I need to figure out if I'm going to have widgets stating what I'm currently reading/what I want to read or if I'll just make lists. Thoughts? Holla at me in the comments sections.

Kimani Tru is a division of Kimani Press. Kimani Tru are books written by African American authors for African American teenagers. I've read almost all the books in the series (and all will be reviewed here) and I have one complaint. I feel that many of the books are too simplistic as well as short, contain spelling/punctuation/grammar mistakes and very predictable. There are of course exceptions to this rule. So the first Kimani Tru book I'm going to review is Indigo Summer by Monica McKayhan.



Indigo Summer by Monica McKayhan 2007

Rating: 2/5

Fifteen-year-old Indigo Summer's world finally seems to be going in the right direction: She hooks up with the star linebacker on the high-school football team, gets a date for homecoming and makes the high-school dance squad all in the same week. But sometimes things are just too good to be true. After football star Quincy Rawlins abruptly dumps her for a girl who is willing to put out, Indigo's popularity and self-esteem take a nosedive. When her perfect world falls apart, Indigo turns to the one person who seems to have his head on straight—her next-door neighbor, sixteen-year-old Marcus Carter. The problem is, now that Indigo realizes what a great guy Marcus really is, so does someone else.


Rating: 2/5

I enjoyed reading this book, but I felt that it was too cliche and predictable. The Quincy/Marcus drama I totally saw coming, but that might just be me. I think the whole 'he dumped me because I wouldn't have sex with him' is played out, but it is an important story in that girls (and guys) should know that it's ok to not have sex right away and you shouldn't feel pressured by your gf/bf to have it. However, this old storyline needs a new twist. In this book, it just seemed tired. What I did like about the book was it was easy to read, quick, and entertaining at parts. I didn't think it was laugh out loud funny, but it had some entertaining parts. I loved Justin, he sounded so adorable. The Justin twist was unexpected and I liked that. I would love to have Indigo as a friend. She seems real cool and down to earth. Also it sounds like she's a really good dancer, which I envy so she could teach me some moves :)

There are five books in this INDIGO Novel series, which I will review in succession. I may review one Indigo novel and then review a totally different book that's unrelated to the Indigo series. This is the first book. Agree/Disagree with my review? I wanna know your opinion.

Also I thought the title was pretty clever (haha not really). It alludes to the character Indigo Summer and the song Summertime by DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince (Will Smith). Summertime is one of my fav summer songs. It just brings to mind lazy days at the pool, or just lounging around outside. What's your fav summer song?

First blog post! My Life As A Rhombus And Why I Started This Blog

Happy birthday America! :) And today is the birth of my blog!! Double hooray!!

So as referred to in the title of this post, this is the first blog post of young, black, a reader. Ok so the title isn't too original (thank you Lorraine Hansberry!). Anyway first I'm going to explain the idea behind the blog and how it's gonna work, then on to my first review!

I created this blog, because I felt there was a huge void of blogs written by African Americans about books, specifically for teens (if you know of any leave their titles in the comment section). In this blog, I intend on reviewing books about African American teens; current ones (2008-2009),older ones (2000s) and the classics (some may not really be written for teens but I'm going to read them anyway). Here's how the reviewing will work: I will copy and paste a description of the book (probably from amazon.com), along with my review. I will do rating out of five stars. In the future I may add more to my rating system but for now I'm keepin it simple. Authors if you want me to read/review your books email me at willbprez@aol.com Also I'm technologically challenged, so it may take me a while to really make this a snazzy (yup I typed it), cool blog. Currently I'm trying to figure out how to show the book covers on my blog. Now on to the review....

My Life As a Rhombus by Varian Johnson

Rating: 5/5

Boys + Love = Trouble Right?
Staying on track at school means a boy-free equation for Rhonda Lee, who spends most evenings doing homework and eating Chinese takeout with her dad. While Rhonda needs a scholarship for college, some kids at her private high school, like beautiful Sarah Gamble, seem to coast along on popularity and their parents' money.
When forced to tutor Sarah in trigonometry, Rhonda recognizes all too well the symptoms-queasiness, puking, exhaustion-that Sarah is trying to mask. On a sudden impulse, Rhonda shares her past with Sarah. Exchanging their secrets adds up to more truths than either girl would have dreamed.

I loved this book! At first, I thought I wouldn't like it that much, mainly because the main character, Rhonda, is a math whiz and I felt I wouldn't be able to relate to her because I despise math. No big deal. Rhonda is a relatable character, although I've never had to go through what she has gone through. This may be seen as a spoiler but it's not really; in the book Rhonda has to come to terms with the fact that she got an abortion. She still feels guilty about it. I'd never read a book about a girl who had undergone abortion told in the first-person and I felt that it really brought a new perspective to the pro-life vs. pro-choice debate. It made me think more about it. I personally think that everyone is pro-life, because no one wants anyone to have to get an abortion (i.e. no one is 'pro-abortion. ew I despise that term). That's just my opinion. Regardless, the most important thing I learned from this book is that; often the people who are all into this pro choice vs. pro life debate , don't even have to end up making this decision so it's all good and well for them to express their views. I don't know what I would do if I was pregnant while in high school, I don't think anyone can really say unless they have been in the situation. My favorite character was probably David because he was so in love with Rhonda and just really sweet and protective. My least favorite character was either Gail (Rhonda's best friend) or Christopher (Rhonda's ex). But Varian Johnson makes even the most annoying characters likable, or at least relatable. You find out some secrets about Christopher and even though Gail is very self-righteous and preachy, she will do anything for her friends. If you're a math whiz or math lover, you will enjoy the formulas and equations sprinkled through out the book. They were entertaining, even though I didn't understand all of them. I really liked the quote in the last chapter: "Life is too short for long division." I would also add, life is too short for trigonometry, and calculus. Read this book!

Forgiveness+friendship+love=My Life as a Rhombus

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PS I'm still in mourning for Michael Jackson :( Comment w/ your fav video or song by the King of Pop

PPSS or whatever it is. Check out the Taste Lifte Twice review: This is an awesome blog! Kiki and Tashi seem really cool.