New Crayons

Meme credit goes to Susan at Color Online.

I received enough books this week to insure I have new books for my Male Monday posts to last until the new year!

All are from Candlewick Press.

The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation
Volume I: The Pox Party by M.T. Anderson

It sounds like a fairy tale. He is a boy dressed in silks and white wigs and given the finest of classical educations. Raised by a group of rational philosophers known only by numbers, the boy and his mother — a princess in exile from a faraway land — are the only persons in their household assigned names. As the boy's regal mother, Cassiopeia, entertains the house scholars with her beauty and wit, young Octavian begins to question the purpose behind his guardians' fanatical studies. Only after he dares to open a forbidden door does he learn the hideous nature of their experiments — and his own chilling role in them. Set against the disquiet of Revolutionary Boston, M. T. Anderson's extraordinary novel takes place at a time when American Patriots rioted and battled to win liberty while African slaves were entreated to risk their lives for a freedom they would never claim. The first of two parts, this deeply provocative novel reimagines the past as an eerie place that has startling resonance for readers today.

The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation

Volume 2: The Kingdom on the Waves by M.T. Anderson

Fearing a death sentence, Octavian and his tutor, Dr. Trefusis, escape through rising tides and pouring rain to find shelter in British-occupied Boston. Sundered from all he knows — the College of Lucidity, the rebel cause — Octavian hopes to find safe harbor. Instead, he is soon to learn of Lord Dunmore's proclamation offering freedom to slaves who join the counterrevolutionary forces.

In Volume II of his unparalleled masterwork, M. T. Anderson recounts Octavian's experiences as the Revolutionary War explodes around him, thrusting him into intense battles and tantalizing him with elusive visions of liberty.

Chameleon by Charles R. Smith Jr.

Shooting the breeze with his boys. Tightening his D on the court. Doing a color check — making sure nobody's wearing blue or red, which some Crip or Piru carrying a cut-down golf club would see as disrespect. Then back to Auntie's, hoping she isn't passed out from whiskey at the end of the day. Now that Shawn is headed for high school, he wonders if he'd be better off at the school in Mama's neighborhood, where he'd be free of Compton's hassles. But then he wouldn't be with his fellas — cracking jokes, covering each other's backs — or the fine Marisol, who's been making star appearances in his dreams. Dad says he needs to make his own decision, but what does Shawn want, freedom or friendship?

-I'm eager to read all these! As always, all synopsises are taken from Amazon.com

This Week in Reviews

Male Monday Nov. 16 Who Will Tell My Brother-Stunning. 5/5

Tuesday Nov. 17 The Exorsistah- Good idea gone bad. 1.5/5

Wednesday-No reviews. Just Reading in Color News including awards, Read in Color Holiday Book Exchange (sign up!), poll (go vote in my sidebar!), and layout info (I will be changing to a 3-column template asap).

Thursday-No review. I'm participating in the 24-Read-A-Thon

Friday-Nothing.

Saturday-Black Angels. Historical Fiction is my love, this book reaffirmed it. 5/5