Sunday, December 27, 2009

New Crayons, This Week in Reviews, Awards and More Challenges (Historical Fiction, Global Reading)


New Crayons is brought to you by Color Online.

I'm pretty much the only book blogger who got no books for Christmas. Haha. But it's ok because I got some money that I can use for books.

From the Library


Child of Dandelions by Sheenaz Nanji

In Uganda in 1972, President Idi Amin, also known as the Last King of Scotland, announces that foreign Indians must be “weeded" out of Uganda in ninety days. Fifteen-year-old Sabine’s life is changed forever. The president’s message, broadcast on the radio every day, becomes Sabine’s “countdown monster," and it follows her through days of terror. Sabine’s father is convinced that, as Ugandan citizens, their family will be unaffected, but her mother insists it’s too dangerous to stay. When her beloved uncle disappears and her best friend abandons her, Sabine begins to understand her mother’s fears. She becomes desperate to leave, but Bapa, her grandfather, refuses to accompany her. How can she leave him, and where will her family go to begin a new life?
-I'm super excited to read this book since I love historical fiction and it's about a poc! It's part of the South Asian Author Challenge along with the Royal Reviews: Historical Fiction Reading Challenge. The challenge starts Jan. 1, 2010 and I'm reading it on that very day :)
Reading in Color Reviews Week of 12/20-12/27 (Remember you may get 2 additional entries in my giveaway if you comment on reviews)
Male Monday: So Punk Rock by Micol Ostow (Off-Color)
Tuesday: Jumped by Rita Williams-Garcia
Wednesday: The Ring by Bobbie Pyron (Off-Color)
Thrusday: I Wanna Be Your Shoebox by Cristina Garcia (MG)
Friday: Ash by Malinda Lo
Saturday:
Perfect Shot by Debbie Rigaud
Sunday: Skunk Girl by Sheba Karim (Coming soon).

It's been a whirlwind of a week, but I want to review a book everyday until December 31st. I'm trying to get all the books that have been recommended to me reviewed before 2010!

More Challenges (I swear I'm done after this!)

Royal Reviews: Historical Fiction Reading Challenge -Why am I doing this challenge? Because I LOVE historical fiction and I want to spread awareness of historical fiction about poc. I know it exists and I'm eager to find all I can. I always have to shoot for the highest level in a challenge so I'm going for obsessed which means I read 20 books. Starts Jan. 1, 2010-Dec. 31, 2010
Here's my list-All YA and all about people of color. In no particular order.

1. Child of Dandelions by Sheenaz Nanji
2. Copper Sun by Sharon Draper
3. The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation Vol. 1: Pox Party by M.T. Anderson
4. The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation Vol. 2: Kingdom on the Waves by M.T. Anderson
5. Harlem Summer by Walter Dean Myers
6. This Strange New Feeling: Three Love Stories from Black History by Julius Lester
7. Climbing the Stairs by Padma Venkatraman
8. Anahita's Woven Riddle by Meghan Nuttal Sayres
9. Secret Keeper by Mitali Perkins
10. Samurai Shortstop by Alan Gratz
11. Thin Wood Walls by David Patneaude
12. An Ocean Apart, a World Away by Lensey Namioka
13. Ties That Bind, Ties that Break by Lensey Namioka
14. The Stone Goddess by Minfong Ho
15. Zazoo by Richard Mosher
16. In the Time of the Butterflies by Julia Alvarez
17. Sammy and Julianna in Hollywood by Benjamin Alire Saenz
18. Secrets in the House of Delgado by Gloria Miklowitz
19. All the Broken Pieces by Ann E. Burg
20. The Rock and The River by Kekla Magoon

I'm also participating in the Challenge That Dare Not Speak It's Name: GLBT Challenge 2010. I'm going for Rainbow Level which means read 12 books. See my sidebar for my list of titles and other details.

My last challenge is the 2010 Global Challenge
This one is probably my hardest challenge so I'm going to start with easy and hopefully I'll be able to upgrade! The Easy challenge involves reading a book from Africa, Asia, Australiasia, Europe, North America, and South America. From your own continent find a country, state or author that is new to you. I'll have to do some more research for titles, preferably YA.
I got a blog award! Like a really long time ago and I'm awful for delaying so long in putting up this post. Thanks so much Ah Yuan at Gal Novelty!
Here are the rules for this award:
1.) Thank and post URL to the blog that gave the award.
2.) Pass the award along to 6 brilliantly over the top blogs (blogs you love!) Alert them so they know to receive the award.
3.) Copy and paste this quiz... Change the answers, ONE word only. (2 are acceptable.
I'm giving this award to...
1. Helen at Helen's Book Blog
5. Zetta at Fledgling
6. Jodie at BookGazing
The Q&A
1. Where is your cell phone? bed
2. Your hair?
Straight
3. Your mother? Working out
4. Your father? Basketball
5. Your favorite food? Pizza
6. Your dream last night?
None
7. Your favorite drink? Water
8. Your dream/goal? Wealthy, Happy
9. What room are you in? Bedroom
10. Your hobby? reading
11. Your fear? death
2. Where do you want to be in 6 years?
College
13. Where were you last night? babysitting
14. Something that you aren't? math skills
15. Muffins? Yes!
16. Wish list item? Books!
17. Where did you grow up? Chicago
18. Last thing you did? Sleep
19. What are you wearing? Jeans
20. Your TV? Awesome
21. Your pets?
None
22. Friends? Amazing
23. Your life? Decent
24. Your mood? Pensive
25. Missing someone? Nah
26. Vehicle? public transportation
27. Something you're not wearing? hat
28. Your favorite store? bookstore
29. Your favorite color? purple
30. When was the last time you laughed? today
31. Last time you cried? Don't know
32. Your best friend? hilarious
33. One place that I go to over and over? school :(
34. One person who emails me regularly? mom

35. Favorite place to eat? Benihana's

Whew sorry for such a long post, but I had a lot of catching up to do! Happy Holidays :)

10 comments:

  1. 9. Secret Keeper by Mitali Perkins
    16. In the Time of the Butterflies by Julia Alvarez
    20. The Rock and The River by Kekla Magoo

    Loved all of these. And a few more on your list are on mine for the Young Adult Challenge.

    I wish I had your energy. Glad you do what you do.

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  2. I'm writing up The Rock and the River for my Time-Union book blog tonight and sending you the book tomorrow--the next day if it snows. I look forward to your review.

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  3. I didn't get any books for Christmas - but I did get a giftcard for Borders. I gave books to my nieces. Since I was so broke I went through my bookshelf and found four books that actually fit their personalities (one is really a nephew) and for a joke bought them matching tank tops from Old Navy. They actually seemed to like the tank tops. The nephew got a t-shirt, since I didn't think he'd appreciate a girls tank top. lol

    Child of Dandelions sounds like a great book. I do have one question - after your list of books, on a couple of them you have in parenthesis "off-color". What does this mean?

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  4. I want to read (and hopefully review) a book everyday until I have to go back to work and school ;) I just will not have time to read when I go back :(

    BTW I also didn't get any books for the holidays. My family is not big on holidays and my friends gave me other stuff (cool stuff though hehe)

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  5. @susan-I loved In The Time of the Butterflies and I'm eager to re-read it and review it :)

    @Lyn-Thanks! I'll email you.

    @mardel-I got some money, no giftcards for any bookstores. That's a good idea finding books that match your nieces and nephew's personalities! with matching tank topps, cute =)
    Off color means the books is not about a person of color. see my rating system in my sidebar.

    @robin-Exactly! I have finals once I get back so that will leave me crazy busy. I'm glad you got some cool stuff, I did too so I'm happy :D

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  6. You are on a TEAR, Miss A! I can't believe how quickly yet thoroughly you read and review these great books. Today I pick up ASH from the library and I'm going to look for Child of Dandelions--sounds great. Thanks also for the award! Will get to that today.

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  7. @Zetta-I completely forgot to contact the people who won the award! Thanks for stopping by so often you noticed :) I CAN NOT wait to hear what you think of Ash. <3. I'm really eager to start Child of Dandelions, it's killing me having to wait for the challenge to start :)
    I'm amazed too at all the books I'm getting rea dan dreviewed. I'm glad my reviews are coherent, sometimes it's my jumbled thoughts because I loved the book so much I can't even think :D

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  8. OMG! My first blog award! Thank you so much! And, Child of Dandelions looks SO good I've added it to my reading list for the upcoming year (and the South Asian Author challenge).

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  9. I cannot figure out how I missed this! My very first blog award!!!! :D I'm so honored. I'm totally melting.

    Okay, I have an exam this morning, but will take care of business as soon as the campus obligations are over. I will answer all 35 questions and post them on Friday Fun this week, on MR! Mood: ridiculously excited. This will be fun!

    Thanks, Ari!

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  10. @hc-So glad to hear that you're going to read Child of Dandelions, I enjoyed it. You're welcome, I love that I gave you your first one, so when you get lots of them, I can proudly state 'I got the ball rolling' lol!

    @Nathalie-I'm so sorry! I forgot to contact a few of the bloggers on the list (fatigue and forgetfullness settled in). Your blog and you deserve it! Best of luck on your exams :D

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I love to hear from you!! Thank you for sharing :) And don't be Anon, I try to always reply back and I like to know who I'm replying to ;)