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!