Male Monday: CodeTalker

CodeTalker by Joseph Bruchac

Rating: 4.5/5

IQ "You cannot weave a rug before you set up the loom. So I will go back to the beginning, pound the posts in the ground, and build the fame. I will start where my own story of words and warriors begins." Ned pg.3

I officially love Jospeh Bruchac. This is only my 2nd novel of his, but I enjoy his writing and his topics so very much. His books shine a much-needed spotlight on Native Americans and their history.

The author takes us back to World War II and the role that Navajos played in that war. Navajos were used as codetalkers, since their language is so complex and the Japanese had never learned it. The U.S. needed to use the Navajo language because the Japanese had learned all their other codes. As the main character, Ned Begay, points out, I found it rather ironic that a people who had been forced by the U.S. to give up their language for their country, now needed to use this language to save their country. I loved reading about how the Navajos used the code and the excerpts of their codes in the Navajo language added a crucial part (I think) to the story. It was nice being able to actually see the codes and from the codes I saw (and from what was explained), the Navajo language is hard! True any language you've never learned is hard, but it's considered one of the hardest American Indian languages to learn and only Navajos are absolutely fluent, which is why only Navajos were trained to use the code.

Once again, Mr. Bruchac provides a very detailed look at soldier life. It was interesting comparing the life of a soldier in WWII to that of a soldier fighting in the Civil War. The racial issues are essentially the same, all the Native Americans, regardless of tribe and rank are called "Chief" as in March Toward The Thunder. I also liked how the book was about the U.S. efforts in fighting the Japanese. There are so many books about the war in Europe and I thought CodeTalker helped fill in a nice niche not only on Navajo culture and codetalkers, but on the U.S. vs. the Japanese battles. Mr. Bruchac really humanized the Japanese and gave many details on their life and military fighting style that I found very helpful (being a prisoner of war is considered disgraceful and cowardly to the Japanese, it is better to commit suicide or be killed in battle). Personally, I would have liked to read more about WWII experiences that the Navajos had. The books is a bit long, but each chapter is relatively short and I would have liked to read a little more details about the battles. The characters were pretty well-rounded and developed, but I would have liked to see a little more interaction of Ned with the other characters and really see them grow.

It made my blood boil when I learned that the Navajos were not recognized for their sacrifices. They had to keep their work as codetalkers top secret, in case it was needed again so no one (including their families) learned about what they did until the '60s. Also the Navajos (I think this may apply for all Native Americans actually) weren't allowed to use the G.I. Bill to build their homes on the reservations.

I highly recommend this book once again. I think it's essential that not only Navajos and other Native Americans read this book, but all Americans. We need to honor all our veterans and I don't think the Navajo codetalkers have received full recognition yet, their stories aren't being told in all classrooms throughout the U.S. Even if you don't love historical fiction, this book is a good intro into the U.S. struggles against the Japanese.

I leave you with this quote: "It is not just my story, but a story of our people and of the strength that we gain from holding on to our language, from being Dine'. I pray that none of you will ever go into battle as I did. I also pray that you will fight to keep our language, to hold on to it with the same warrior spirit that our Indian people showed in that war. Let our language keep you strong and you will never forget what it is to be Navajo. You will never forget what it means to walk in beauty." Ned pg. 214

ETA: Check out this link with some awesome videos done by the Navajo codetalkers about their role in WWII as well as another good review. Go here for both :) Thanks Jill O. for drawing my attention to this great review!

Sorceress

Sorceress by Celia Rees 2002

Rating: 4/5

IQ "On their own they [wampum beads] fall and scatter. Put them together, though, and you've got something else. Together they make up something big. Together they preserve the words. This is how I figure it: you, me, Mary, the people in her life, the folk Alison has found out about, Alison herself-we're like the beads on this belt. Look at us apart and you can't tell a lot. But put us together and then you can read the whole story." Aunt M pg. 310

Sorceress is the sequel to Witch Child by Celia Rees and I recommend that you read Witch Child first to really understand what's going on, I may review it later on (after I get through my mountainous tbr pile). Agnes Herne, also known as Karonhisake (Searching Sky) attends college in Boston. She reads a book about Mary Newbury (the main character of Witch Child, an orphaned girl who comes to America and lives with the Puritans. She is forced to flee her home when people begin to suspect she's a witch. Mary does not deny it) and believes she may be related to her, since it is thought that Mary lived with a Native American tribe for much of her life. Agnes is of Mohawk descent and her Aunt M has told her stories about an unnamed young woman who sounds a lot like Mary Newbury and Aunt M has a box containing personal artifacts that may have belonged to Mary.

I don't want to spoil the book too much for those who haven't read Witch Child yet. I really enjoyed Sorceress. Agnes is essentially 'possessed' by Mary Newbury. She sees events through Mary's eyes. Mary lives in the time leading up to King Phillip's War and after the war. King Philip was the English name for a powerful Wampanoag chief who was the leader of the Native Americans fighting against the English (read here for more information). Since I love history, I really liked reading a more personal perspective on King Philip's War. It was an appealing read, especially when I learned that not all Native Americans wanted to fight the English, even though the English were stealing their land. I also really enjoyed reading about the powers Mary and Agnes have. I don't know anything about shamans and I thought it added an intriguing element to the story.

I would have liked to see more character development of Agnes. I understand that this was Mary's story, but if that's the case I don't really think Agnes should be mentioned. Her part was interesting, but I didn't get to know her at all. All I know is that she's shy, a Mohawk and has medicine power. Same thing with all the other characters; Sim, Aunt M, Alison. The book is relatively a long read and it's not all that quick, there were some parts that weren't boring, but a bit slow to unravel. So adding more details about the characters would have lengthened the book a bit, but I think it's necessary, since I think the characters all have interesting stories. The ending was satisfying and I liked how it's written in a historical format called Background Notes, that includes interviews and diary accounts.

I didn't find any reviews that named Sorceress as a books that is disrespectful to Mohawk/native American culture. I think it did a pretty good job, especially because Aunt M rallies against white people who put precious Native American artifacts (like wampum belts) in museums and don't take care of them. The book provided good insight into why some Native Americans don't want their history and belongings being displayed in museums. It's clear Celia Rees did her research, even though she lives in England, she mentions in her Acknoweldgements that she visited America a few times and talked to Mohawks and historians of Iroquois tribes (the larger umbrella Mohawk falls under, there are six Iroquois nations). A good historical fiction read with an element of supernatural/fantasy. I especially recommend this book to fans of Witch Child, it's a good sequel. 8th grade and up.

My Challenges! 2010 Debut Author, South Asian Author

I'm currently writing this in an airplane on my way home :)

I've decided to participate in the 2010 Debut Author Challenge hosted by Kirsti at the Story Siren. You can find more information about the challenge here It's from Jan. 1, 2010- Dec. 31, 2010.

My goal is to read all the poc debut books of 2010 and I'm not sure how many that is so this list is a work in progress.

I'm going to read

1. The Red Umbrella by Christina Diaz Gonzlalez

2. Shooting Kabul by N. H. Senzai

3. A Mesquite in the Rose Garden by Guadalupe Garcia McCall

4. Caleb + Kate by Cindy Martinusen-Coloma

5. Sea by Heidi R. Kling (this book may be an off-color review since the main character is white but an important secondary character is Indonesian)

6. Eighth Grade Superzero by Olugbemisola Rhuday-Perkovich (MG)

7. Tortilla Sun by Jen Cervantes (MG)

8. Secret Saturdays by Torrey Maldonado (MG)

South Asian Author Challenge

Date: Jan. 1, 2010-Dec. 31, 2010

This challenge is hosted by S. Krishna and you can find more info here

Since I have a whole year to do this challenge my goal is to read 10 books. I want to read 10 YA with two extra MG books. The book must be by an author of South Asian descent and about South Asian culture (South Asia consists of India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka).

A list is not needed for this challenge, but for me lists keep me focused and on task (this list is in no particular order).

1. Indie Girl by Kavita Daswani

2. Secret Keeper by Mitali Perkins

3. Beneath My Mother's Feet by Amjed Qama

4. Monsoon Summer by Mitali Perkins

5. Ask Me No Questions by Marina Budhos

6. Climbing the Stairs by Padma Venkatraman

7. Neela's Victory Song by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni (MG)

8. Wanting Mor by Rukhsana Khan

9. Child of Dandelions by Sheenaz Nanji

10. Naming Maya by Uma Krishnaswami (MG/YA)

11. Born Confused by Tanuja Desai Hidier

12. A Group of One by Rachna Gilmore

I found a great resource here , it's given me so many awesome titles to check out. I will be reading all these books on the list even after the challenge ends.

I found that site through this list which is another fantastic resource. It lists YA books for teens from all ethnic backgrounds!

24-Hour Read-A-Thon update


I'm going to have to edit the Read-A-Thon a bit due to the fact that I'm participating in a service project on Monday so I'll have to get up early. Therefore, I'll need plenty of rest on Sunday so I'm going to start my Read-A-Thon Friday night and go till Saturday night. I will try and post a review on that Friday and Saturday as well.

I'm so excited for all the challenges and the read-a-thon :D

Liar

Liar by Justine Larbalestier 2009

Rating: 5/5

IQ "Yet that's not the worst danger of being a liar. Oh no. Much worse than discovery, than their sense of betrayal, is when you start to believe your own lies, When it all blurs together. You lose track of what's real and what's not. You start to feel as if you make the world with your words. Your lies get stranger and weirder and denser, get bigger than words, turn into worlds, become real. You feel powerful, invincible." pg. 217

It took me a while to finish this book (I got it on my birthday back in September, but I finished it in October). However, the lateness of this review is not at all related to the quality of this book. Liar was amazing and I'm not lying ;) (cheesy I know). I just wasn't sure if I could do this book justice. I don't think I can, but I will do my best as always to write the best review I can. Don't get me wrong, I'm certainly not implying that I don't write my best reviews always, it's just that this book is written in a very different style of writing with a way different plot. Also, I can't write too lengthy or in-depth of a review without spoiling something.


Micah is a liar. This entire book is a lie. Or is it? You will finish this book and draw your own conclusions. It's written brilliantly. I read at Teenreads that Justine wrote Liar out of order. That makes sense for this type of novel. The novel doesn't have chapters, but it has sections titled Before, After, History of Me and Family History. The Before refers to life before Zach Rubin's (Micah's boyfriend) murder. After refers to life after the murder and Family History explains about Micah's past and family (obviously, very self-explanatory). History of Me is about Micah's past. The book has three parts, each claiming to be the absolute truth. The pages are almost poetic and you will be on the edge of your seat. I cursed school for keeping me from finishing this book. Readers will become completely absorbed in Liar.

Towards the middle, Micah shares some shocking information. You will not see it coming (or maybe I'm just a bit slower at piecing together clues). Micah is a compelling character. I started off liking her, then she started to annoy me with the lies, but in the end I loved her all over again, flaws and all. I loved all the characters because they were so three-dimensional. Tayshawn, Sarah, and Jordan. I really learned about their personalities and their own secrets. Micah can be very perceptive, but at the same time I was never sure if she was perceptive or simply making up events. And Jordan! Grr. I think I've reached my own conclusion about the story (SPOILER highlight to read: I want to believe that she really is a werewolf, and that she didn't kill Zach. I think she and Zach did have sex but I don't think anything happened between Micah, Sarah and Tayshawn. )except I'm still not sure about the Jordan aspect. Also, I'm positive Justine is not a liar, but she does an impeccable job of allowing us inside the head of a constant liar. Micah's own twisted-up logic for lying makes sense, in an odd sort of way. It gives you something different to think about. Finally, I know absolutely nothing about biology (although I start learning next semester), but I think Justine did a great job of writing about biology. It seems very factual and it was really interesting reading about biology (genes, DNA and all this other stuff I knew nothing about).

I adored the ending. I almost wish there was a follow-up to Liar but at the same time I think it's very crafty and smart to leave the book as a stand-alone. You will think about this book for days.
I want to share one last amazing quote (same page as the IQ): "The brain cracks, can't accept the truth, and makes its own. Invents a bigger and better world that explains the bad thing, makes it possible to keep living. When the world you're seeing doesn't line up with the world that is-you can wind up doing things-terrible things-without knowing it. " I highly recommend this book. I don't want to go into much detail on the cover. All I have to say is that it's definitely a good thing that they changed the cover and I love how the girl's mouth is covered. And also I love the back cover which simply states over and over "I will not tell a lie." Liar is one of my favorite books to look at (along with Ash which I haven't even read yet).

Sidenote: I'm going away for Thanksgiving, but I should have computer access. If for some reason I don't, I'm wishing everyone prematurely a Happy Thanksgiving! I'm thankful for my family, friends, health, a home, education, freedom, the sacrifices of soldiers, books and all my followers :D

Disclosure: I received a copy of Liar from the publisher (Bloomsbury USA). Thanks Melanie!

Readergirlz Chat Shout Out and Read in Color!

So tonight I participated in an author chat with Marlene Carvell (I apologize for not posting about it earlier, I forgot myself until about 30 minutes in). Anyway, it was awesome! Marlene Carvell is the author of the readergirlz book of the month Sweetgrass Basket (I'm determined to get it as soon as whoever checked it out of the library brings it back!) and Who Will Tell My Brother? This was my second author chat at readergirlz (I've also participated in one with Cynthia Leitich Smith and Justina Chen Headley). I just wanted to encourage everyone to check out the chat here Full confession, I'm also posting this because I got a shout-out! All these amazing authors were telling me my blog was awesome. I was so floored!!! I mean Melissa Walker, Lorie Ann Grover and Marlene Carvell telling me that I write good reviews and my blog is awesome, too cool! However, my followers are the really awesome ones since they (along with my love of books) are my inspiration to keep blogging and give me the courage to share my thoughts since I know that some people actually care.

Also while at readergirlz, check out all the posts they've been doing on Native American Heritage Month. They've been really great, so go check them out!

Finally, tonight is your last night to sign up for the Read in Color Holiday Book Exchange! Sign up here Deadline is 11:59 CT.

Male Monday: March Toward The Thunder

March Toward The Thunder by Joseph Bruchac 2008

Rating: 5/5

IQ "Of course, I do not need it as a reminder of what war is about. I have seen too often that it is not conquering armies, but boys like yourself toiling in the rain and darkness with no thought of pride or glory or reward, their faces bathed in tears and their hands in blood." Clara Barton, pg. 279

"Get down!" Oh wait, hello 2009. *blinks and looks around*. You mean, it's not 1864 and I'm not fighting on the side of the Union in the Civil War? How odd. That is the effect March Toward The Thunder will have on you. I got so caught up in every single moment, I tore through the book at a rapid pace. I honestly, completely forgot that I don't live in 1864, I'm not a soldier and I'm not Abenaki or Irish. This book is also a good example of a book that is not very quotable but still wonderful.

March Toward The Thunder is the story of Private Louis Nolette. Lous is a fifteen year old Canadian Abenaki Union soldier. He joins the Fighting 69th which was known as the Irish Brigade. The Irish Brigade is legendary for their extraordinary courage. This book does a wonderful job of introducing readers to the Civil War. It's not chock-full of tedious facts, but instead full of riveting events concerning the effects the Civil War had on people, the battles, the daily life of a soldier and stereotypes. You will not get bored in reading this book.

I consider myself a pretty knowledgeable Civil War buff, but I learned so much I didn't know. It just goes to show you can ALWAYS learn more. I was attracted to this book because I realized that I'd never heard or learned anything about the roles Native Americans played in the Civil War (Black Angels was the first time I read anything about the role of Native Americans in the Civil, in which Betty Strong Foot is a double agent who doesn't care as to which side wins the war). I wanted to know whose side where they on? Why did they fight for the side they did? This book obviously can't speak to the reasons as to why every single Native American soldier fought, but I think it did a good job of explaining some of the motives.In the book, Louis joins the 69th Regiment because he believes that slavery is wrong, he wants respect from White Americans and he needs the money. I knew a little bit about the Irish Brigade's reputation, and it was an absolute delight reading about them. The regiment had a feeling of family and I could hear the lilting voice of Irish accents and see all these white boys sitting around a fire making fun of the lone Indian (whom they nicknamed 'Chief'), but all out of good-natured teasing. They all had great nicknames (Songbird, Joker, Bad Luck Bill, etc) and there was a real sense of family. They were also so brave and ferocious. The book offered an excellent portrait of how hard life was not as a soldier (little food, awful uniforms, terrible living conditions, etc). I learned about the types of soldiers everyone hated and envied (cavalrymen) and all the terms that the army uses.

Also, I loved how Louis either met the most famous people from the Civil War or was in the thick of many battles. He meets Abraham Lincoln, Clara Baron, General Ely S. Parker (the first Seneca, [well really the first and only high-ranking Native American], Union general AND chief of his people. Sadly, he's someone that is not taught about in history class). He fights in the battles of Cold Harbor, the Wilderness and is at The Crater.

The book also portrays how tough life was for Native American and African American soldiers. The Native American soldiers were either thought of as African American or made fun of sometimes in a light-hearted manner, sometimes in a mean-spirited manner. The incompetence of generals on both sides as well as their cruelty made me cringe. All the characters were three-dimensional. You could see everyone, hear them and sympathize with their plight. There were surprises that were very well concealed.

When I finished this book, I had a much greater appreciation for the sacrifices of all soldiers, especially those who fought in the Civil War. This Thanksgiving, I am thankful for the brave men and women who have fought and are currently fighting to protect America's wonderful people and freedom. I also had even more respect for Native American soldiers and Irish soldiers. As Louis said, "I may come out of this more Irish than Abenaki." I think I came out of this book, feeling more Irish AND Abenaki. I highly recommend this book, it's not too violent so it's a good start into the Civil War for younger, middle-school readers. However, it's also an excellent read for high school students because you can still learn about events and people you may not learn about in history class and you can use it later on (I certainly will be sharing my new-found knowledge since my U.S. History class is almost at the Civil War). A Must Read, even if you don't like historical fiction. Joseph Bruchac, you have a new fan. I can't wait to start CodeTalker!

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

Black Angels

Black Angels by Linda Beatrice Brown 2009

Rating: 5/5

IQ "But something had happened that made him different. He didn't know what it was, but he couldn't bring himself to tease her that way. A part of him was gone, and some other part was there instead. Part of him wanted to understand why men would fight and die like pigs being slaughtered, and part of him wanted to prove that he wasn't afraid of what he had seen anymore. For the first time he really knew he had blood in his body that could spill out in the dirt, and nobody might not even see it, or even care, not the way he cared when they beat Mam to death. How could people just kill you and leave you in the dirt to rot?" pg. 48-49

After I Am Apache, I needed some sure to be good historical fiction. Black Angels was definitely it. I was feeling pretty confident since it's gotten great reviews from Sharon Flake and Nikki Giovanni! Black Angels is about three children living in the South during the Civil War. Luke is an elven year old runaway slave who wants to be a soldier for the Union. He's heard that a group of Union soldiers are in Virgina so he leaves his home in North Carolina. While traveling to find them he meets Daylily a precocious nine-year-old runaway slave whose lost in the woods. Later on they meet Caswell, a seven year old white Southerner, son of a plantation owner. All the children are orphans and lost. Luke eventually decides to temporarily stop looking for the Union soldiers in order to help Daylily and Caswell reach a safe place.

Conflicts as seen through the eyes of children are rarely portrayed in fiction, it's usually shown through the eyes of teenagers or adults. I really liked reading the book and seeing how the Civil War affected children. I also liked how the book explores the role some Native Americans played in the Civil War. Naturally, Caswell is spoiled and looks down on Luke and Daylily. Daylily is rather like a mother-hen always looking out for Caswell and Luke. Luke was my favorite, I think in part do to his being the oldest and most mature, but at the same time he was very sweet, brave and innocent. All the children were brave and innocent and watching them come of age (as cliche as that sounds) was a very captivating and pleasant experience as you see them not only make progress on their physical journey to Harper's Ferry, but on their mental journey to maturity.

A crucial part of the story is Betty Strong Foot. Betty is an excellent character and really adds an extra element to the story. Betty is half Seminole and half Black and it's very interesting reading about how she feels about the Civil War and whose side she's on. All the secondary characters added something, they were all three-dimensional. also, the children go through various experiences, but it doesn't seem forced or drawn out, it's very natural. Sometimes, I would be nearly breathless with anticipation, I got so caught up.

Luke, Daylily and Caswell have a beautiful friendship. I liked how they don't all bond immediately and at certain points in the story you still aren't so sure about Caswell (will he turn them in, abandon them as soon as they reach freedom or come across Confederate soldiers?). However, they are all brave and they look out for each other. Caswell is probably the most riveting character as he struggles against all that he's been taught.

"'I spect it's colored folks everywhere,' Luke said. Don't you?
'Not in Heaven,' said Caswell.
Luke turned, suddenly and fiercely, and faced Caswell. 'I done already tole you. My mama is there,' he said quietly, 'and don't you never say that again.'
'Luke, it's just cause...cause, well, how come I never seen a picture of a Black angel? They're always White in our Sunday school Bible. Mamadear had White angels on her wall and..."

I loved the ending although there was one tiny question left in my mind. I highly recommend this book to younger readers since I think they will like reading about children their own age going through the Civil War, it will help them connect to a war that happened so long ago. I love good historical fiction! 6th grade and up.

Disclosure: Received from publisher Putnam Penguin's Young Readers. Thanks Stacy!

24 Hour Read-a-Thon

I forgot to add in my Reading in Color news that I'm participating in my first ever 24 Hour Read-A-Thon! I'm so excited :)

I missed out on the October one so I'm participating in the one on December 5th (which is a Saturday). I hope to use it to finish up some books as well as to write some reviews. I'll probably do updates every couple of hours and try to publish one review. I've never even stayed up for 24 Hours (almost on New Year's)! It's going to be a challenge, but it sounds fun too.

For more information (and to sign up!) Check out DreadlockGirl's post And if you do sign-up leave me a comment so I know too.

Waiting on Wednesday, Awards, Reading in Color News

I think this is going to be my one of my last Waiting on Wednesday posts (I have about 2 other books that I've found to wait for) it's really hard to find upcoming YA poc books, especially when I'm too busy with school to scour publishing websites. Instead I'll start participating in Wishlist Wednesday (I'm not sure who came up with the idea of so if anyone knows pleae let me know so I can give due credit), since I have a huge wishlist!

Anyway, this week I'm waiting on (Idea of Jill at Breaking the Spine)

The World is Mine (Come Up) by Lyah B. LeFlore Illustrated by DL Warfield

Release Date: Dec. 1, 2009

Blue Reynolds has it all: money, brains, style, charisma, and the hunger to be more than what his parents have planned for him. He's a dreamer on a mission to become the world's next music business mogul. But for now he'll settle for being the youngest, hottest party promoter around...and the man on the arm of the fly and sassy Jade Taylor.

Collin Andrews is Blue's best friend, and the order to Blue's madness. Blue dreams up the ideas and Collin figures out how to make them happen; together, they make a powerhouse team that's ready to blow the roof off the music game!

Coming up is never easy. These two dreamers will have to put everything on the line and do whatever it takes to succeed. It's the new American dream, and the sky's the limit. All they need is one shot.

-Amazon lists this as 9-12, but I think it may actually be YA, but then again it's illustrated so it's either a graphic novel or for younger readers. It's something different from what I usually read.

The Awards

I apologize for the lateness in my award posting. A hearty THANK YOU to everyone who gave me an award!

From Alexa at Hooked on YA Books, I got the One Lovely Blog Award. Thanks so much Alexa, it's lovely :)

The Rules:

1) Accept the award, post it on your blog together with the name of the person who has granted the award and his or her blog link.

2) Pass the award to 15 other blogs you've recently discovered. Remember to contact the bloggers to let them know they have been chosen for this award.

15?! Ok here goes. I hope everyone checks out these wonderful, lovely blogs (if you haven't already)! In no particular order and I added one more blog because there are so many great blogs out there.

1. Ah Yuan at Gal Novelty

2. Book Weirdo (She's not at all weird!) at YA Book Geek

3. Maria at Fantasy Book Ink

4. Jill (and her husband!) at RhapsodyinBooks

5. Alea at Pop Culture Junkie

6. Lee Wind at I'm Here. I'm Queer. What the Hell do I read?

7. Nickles at Who,What, When, Where, Why

8. Lisette at T.V. And Book Addict

9. Mariah at A Reader's Adventure

10. S.Krishna at S.Krishna's Books

11. Heather at The Maiden's Court

12. Chioma at Black and Blue Ink

13. Catt at the Dreamer Reader

14. Austenfan at Reality Bites..Fiction Does It Better

15. Lindsay at Just Another Book Addict

16. Allison at Read Into This!

This award is from Ebony at Sizzling Publications. Thanks Ebony :D

The Rules

1) Post the award

2) List 7 facts about you

3) Keep the award going. Pass it on to 7 others

4) Inform the people you give the award to

5) BE COOL!

So here we go

1. Alexa at Hooked on YA Books

2. Elnice at Ellz Readz

3. Everyone (Aline, Marjorie, Corinne, Sally, Janet and Charlotte) at PaperTigers

4. Jess at Lost in a Book

5. Liz B. at A Chair, A Fireplace, and a Tea Cozy

6. Paradox at Parodoxical

7. Em at Em's Bookshelf

~ETA: I forgot my 7 facts! Here we go (they are very random)

1. I love big cities, even if I've never been (New York, Atlanta, Chicago, Philadelphia).

2. I'm almost done with Physics in my science class! I just have to build a bridge (any tips? I need help!) =/

3. I love historical fiction

4. I'm amazed that I found 22 bloggers to give awards to and contacted them all =)

5. I love accents (Australian, Southern, Spanish)

6. I wish I had the Wednesday before Thanksgiving off

7. I don't have enough time in the day to do all I want :(

Reading in Color News

*Sign up for the first ever Read in Color Holiday Book Exchange! Sign up by Nov. 24. For more info go here

*Vote in my poll! I have a towering tbr pile and while I intend on reading all the books sent to me to review, I also want to devote December to a certain genre. The poll features a selection of books I have the most of that need to be read/reviewed, although I recently realized I have only one controversial issue book! So anyway help me out by voting =)

*Also I despertely need a 3-column template. Unfortunately I won't have the time to find a really good one until after December 10 (I have a really hard science project to finish. Building a bridge! I'm awful at this sort of thing =/) So please excuse my cluttered sidebar, I'm going to clean it up soon! In effort to start, I may not post all my Blog Awards in the sidebar anymore, but I will do a post thanking everyone.

The Exorsistah

The Exorsistah by Claudia Mair Burney

Rating: 1.5/5

IQ "Somebody will always try to exploit you if they think they can get away with it. Unfortunately, most haters think they can."

I'm rather disappointed that I didn't enjoy this novel. The plot sounded good, an African American female demon huntress, YES! It turned out to be a book not really worth cheering about. There were clues from the synopsis that it would be Christian Lit (the back cover mentions God having a plan for the main character Emme, to 'whip some serious demon butt'), but I didn't think it would be so intense in Christian thought. I didn't know whether to laugh or frown in annoyance at certain aspects of the book. It's not very quotable either, unless you're looking for Scripture passages.

Emme Vaughn is homeless. She just left the home of the friend when the friend's husband tried to molest her (unbeknownst to her friend). Emme has been living in various homes since her mom went crazy, crazy from being able to see demons (a gift they share). She is forced to fight a demon in a Walgreens at 3 A.M. and a really cute guy (Francis) witnesses this. He wants her to join a group of demon-fighters led by his father (a Catholic priest) who is a master exorcist.

A central part of The Exorsistah is the budding romance between Emme and Francis. Except I don't think it ever bloomed or was even budding. At first, I thought OK the romance will start off slow but grow to something really passionate or just really sweet. The romance did nothing for me at the end. It was an annoyance and it didn't add much to the story. For most of the book, Emme moans and groans about the temptation of Francis and how she's trying to avoid him/it. I'm not even sure why, he's not a 'bad' kid, he hunts demons for God! He's a perfect gentlemen and I don't think God would have minded if they flirted or kissed. But there isn't really any chemistry between the two and I didn't care that it was hard for Emme to concentrate when Francis was near her, because (and this sounds a bit awful but I'll just go ahead and say it) it wasn't a believable romance, there were very few awkwardly sweet or cute encounters. There were attepmts at witty banter, but they sounded out of place. If there's going to be a romance it needs to be either cute/sweet or passionate and intense.

The religious aspect of the novel was a bit tiresome. Passages like this "I looked into his face and saw compassion in him like I saw demons in the possessed man. I wondered if that's what it looked like to be possessed by God. By love Himself. Cutie's grace touched me." Not really necessary, it doesn't do anything for me. Throughout the entire book, I felt like the author was trying to convert her readers (Disclosure: I am a Christian). The constant "b-word", cuss words, heckuva, etc. expressions were also a bit tedious. I've always felt that if people don't use the words they should just eliminate them from their vocabulary all together, there are better ways to express yourself, don't just abbreviate them. The vernacular used in the novel wasn't true to how teens today speak. "'cause Emme Vaughn imbibed not the fruits of the vine. It's not good for a sistah to have her perception altered." Yes, we use "brotha" and "sistah" sometimes, but not all the time unlike in this book, when it seemed like, whenever a teen spoke they used the words! "Imbibed the fruits of the vine."? I know what it means, but I don't think I would ever say it like that. Some of the expressions used seem old-school (which is OK I suppose, but some teens like me, may not get them) or made-up. And the Spanglish! I love hearing Spanglish, (I use it myself), but what the author uses is not Spanglish, it's a random sprinkling of Spanish words, 'morena', 'chica', 'hombre'. I've never met anyone who speaks an entire sentence in English except for one little word like 'chica'.

I thought the whole 3 AM being known as the witching hour because it's the reverse of the holy hour, 3 PM (when Jesus died on the cross) was a cool concept. There were some funny parts like "Jesus, have mercy!" 'I yelled. They probably thought I was praying for Jamilla, but I was asking for some slack on my boots! I'd prayed for weeks for Jamilla. I was the one who needed some help now!" None of the humor was laugh out loud funny, but I did smile and shake my head at a few parts.

The Exorsistah is geared toward a certain audience. A more serious, Christian, younger audience. It's Young Adult, but I think older teens and even adults may grow impatient at parts. Definitely don't read it if you're not a Christian, you'll simply grow frustrated. It was fun at times and slightly though-provoking, but nothing truly deep or inspirational. However, the cover of the book is beautiful! It's one of my favorites :) 6th grade and up.

Disclosure: Bought

Male Monday: Who Will Tell My Brother?

Who Will Tell My Brother? by Marlene Carvell 2002

Rating: 5/5 :)

IQ "I look into the mirror and into my soul and I know that my strength comes not from how I look, but how I feel, and how I feel determines who I am." Evan pg. 24

Another very quotable book, every line is poetic. Who Will Tell My Brother? is written in free-verse and I think it's the best way to tell the story. Evan Hill decides to carry on the fight that his older brother, Jacob, started. Jacob is two years older than Evan and when he attended Evan's high school, he fought to have the offensive Indian chief mascot changed. However, he didn't succeed. Now Evan picks up the fight.

Free-verse is the best way to tell the story because it clearly articulates why Evan is doing what he is doing, it showcases his emotions and presents a compelling read. The free-verse narrative showcases the intense feelings and effects of alienation, determination, humiliation and ignorance. You also learn a lot more about Evan as a person from the poetic lines. Poetry and free-verse are very deep and can help paint a picture as to what a person is like. We learn that Evan is an artist "as my artist brain takes over and my hand begins to move, seemingly uncontrolled, sketching methodically, but urgently, as though the image might melt away at any moment", half-Mohawk (on his father's side, I'm unsure as to the heritage of his mother), intelligent, articulate, brave, persevering and honest. Evan is a great character. He's human with acknowledged flaws, I grew increasingly angry at the compliance of the high school students to do nothing as well as at the people who mocked Evan, calling him "timber n-", "Injun" and other awful names. The story of Butch was quite upsetting too.

The intolerance, prejudices and stereotypes made me cringe. Yet I wasn't too surprised because something similar was occurring in Illinois (read more about it here) a few years ago. The book made me think and question myself: Do I simply accept Native American images no matter how offensive? Or do I question them? I do a little of both, I wanted the Illini mascot to change, but I've never really thought of asking the Atlanta Braves to change their name. However, I do think that we also need to ask ourselves: If someone was else was fighting this battle, would I be willing to help them and take a stand? Or would I work against them, or even worse, remain passive? I would help.

This story remains as a valuable lesson to today's society. It's not outdated in the slightest, there are so many schools and sports teams that still have offensive mascots (Washington Redskins, Atlanta Braves, etc). I walked away from this book with the knowledge that one teenager can make a difference. Even if the change doesn't result in an actual, 'physical' change, if you change even a few attitudes for the better, than you've succeeded. Who Will Tell My Brother? is fictional but based on the real experiences of Ms. Carvell's two sons while in high school. I strongly this book be read. High school and up.

Side Note: I've been having great luck lately with Male Monday books! Mostly 5/5 or 4/5 rating, I think I may end up liking books with guy protagonists a whole lot more than books with girl protagonists!

Read in Color Holiday Book Exchange!

The Holidays are fast approaching. Sort of. Thanksgiving is two weeks away, but already stores have commercials advertising Holiday sales! And displays of holiday lights, wreaths, Santa Clauses, etc. I've decided to start getting into the spirit of things here at Reading in Color.

Introducing.....

the Read in Color Holiday Book Exchange!
How is this different from any of the other book holiday gift exchanges? It's not really. The only difference is that you can only receive a book about a poc. Therefore, no one will have an excuse about the lack of books out there featuring poc and them being hard to find, because you have the opportunity to give and get one! I'm doing this to get more books about poc into the hands of more readers. I would love if publishers saw a sizable boost in sales of books about poc during the holidays!

Open: Internationally

Sign up by Nov. 24. To sign up follow this link (I'm not sure how to embed the form in this post).

I personally celebrate Christmas, so in order to make things easier, I want to have all the books mailed out before Christmas, so that they can arrive by then. Therefore, all books MUST be mailed by Dec. 11th. The person will list 1-5 books that he/she would like. You must send at least one. If you absolutely can not find any of the books the person is asking for, email me and I will try and help (you may have to send a giftcard instead, but this shouldn't happen). Hopefully, everyone will have enough notice to start looking for the books on the list.

Any questions? Feel free to email me or leave a comment. Also, many details are explained on the form. I will email everyone on Nov. 25 with the name, address and wishlist of the person I will randomly pick. To make it fun, I would like it to be anonymous, Secret Santa-like. So don't ask me who is sending you your gift! And feel free to send a holiday card as well. Leave a comment (not necessary you could just fill out the form but it's helpful) letting me know if you're interested as well.

I highly encourage people to also participate in the Color Online Holiday Greeting Card Exchange.

Let's make the holidays colorful!

New Crayons

Yes I went to the library today! These books all look very promising. Unfortunately my library doesn't have Rain is Not My Indian Name by Cynthia Leitich Smith and Sweetgrass Basket was checked out.

Sacajawea by Joseph Bruchac

Young Sacajawea has been asked to join Lewis and Clark in their exploration of the American West. As a translator, peacemaker, caretaker, and guide, Sacajawea made the historic journey of Lewis and Clark possible. This captivating novel which alternates between the points of view of Sacajawea and William Clark provides an intimate glimpse into what it would have been like to witness firsthand this fascinating time in our history.

-I want to learn more about Sacajawea. It's classified on Amazon as 9-12 but it was in the YA section of my library, so I'm going to presume younger kids could read this. Joseph Bruchac is a very well-known writer of Abneki and Slovak heritage. Read an interview by Cynthia Leitich Smith here

Sorceress by Celia Rees

It came to Agnes unbidden: a vision of Mary Newbury, a young woman driven from her Puritan settlement, accused of being a witch. It is an image of a life about to change radically, as Mary defies all accepted norms — embracing independence, love, and loyalty to a Native American community that accepts her as one of their own. The two women’s lives are separated by almost four hundred years, but they are linked by more than blood. For, like Mary, Agnes has special powers — powers that Mary seeks to ensure that the rest of her story is told.

-This is the sequel to Witch Child, which I read and liked. I like Celia Rees and currently Pirates (one of my favorite and most loved books of all time) is my favorite book of hers (it's going to be reviewed here probably in the summer since I'd be re-reading it and it's older). I loved it. I've already started Sorceress and it's really good so far.

Code Talker: a Novel about the Navajo Marines of World War Two by Joseph Bruchac

The United States is at war, and sixteen-year-old Ned Begay wants to join the cause—especially when he hears that Navajos are being specifically recruited by the Marine Corps. So he claims he’s old enough to enlist, breezes his way through boot camp, and suddenly finds himself involved in a top-secret task, one that’s exclusively performed by Navajos. He has become a code talker. Now Ned must brave some of the heaviest fighting of the war, and with his native Navajo language as code, send crucial messages back and forth to aid in the conflict against Japan. His experiences in the Pacific—from Guadalcanal to Iwo Jima and beyond—will leave him forever changed.

-A male classmate of mine read this book and loved it. I kept meaning to read it but never got around to it. It's just what I need to read after I Am Apache, some good ol' historical fiction.

Who Will Tell my Brother? by Marlene Carvell

Evan is a typical high-school student who suffers the same worries and anxieties as his peers . . . and then some. Determined to sway high-school officials to remove disparaging Indian mascots, he assumes a struggle that spirals him onto a soul-searching journey and exposes him to a barrage of bullying, taunts, and escalating violence. Marlene Carvell’s striking first novel is a timely look at a true story of a mixed-race teen caught up in an exploration of his past, his culture, and his identity.

-Recommended read on readergirlz and I trust their judgement, so I'm eager to read this (and it reminded of me of the battle to have the Illini mascot removed, an Indian chief).

March Toward Thunder by Joseph Bruchac

Louis Nolette is a fifteen-year-old Abenaki Indian from Canada who is recruited to fight in the northern Irish Brigade in the war between the states. Even though he is too young, and not American or Irish, he finds the promise of good wages and the Union's fight to end slavery persuasive reasons to join up. But war is never what you expect, and as Louis fights his way through battle after battle, he encounters prejudice and acceptance, courage and cowardice, and strong and weak leadership in the most unexpected places.

-I'm super excited to read this since the Civil War is one of my favorite eras of history to read about and I know nothing about the history of Native Americans fighting in the Civil War (also we're starting the Civil War soon in history class so I need to be prepared!). I'm pretty sure I'm going to really like the work of Joseph Bruchac, I've read only good things about his books and they've been recommended to me many times (he has over 140 books published!).

I Am Apache

I Am Apache by Tanya Landman 2009

Rating: 1.5/5

IQ "It was as though I plunged into a mountain pool. I stopped resisting. With a deep, calming breath, I dived into the pain. I found its heart and I saw through it. And came to a place far beyond, where my body ceased to matter." pg. 79

I really like the metaphor used in the above quote to describe tolerating pain being like swimming. That's the only quote that jumped out at me. And unfortunately that's probably one of the few things I liked about the novel.

I didn't like I Am Apache very much. What I love about historical fiction is how it's entertaining while still educating you about a different time period. I'm convinced part of the reason I know so much history is from all the historical fiction reading I did as a child. I didn't get that in this book. I Am Apache is missing that crucial combination of entertainment and education. In fact it's missing both.

The author states in the historical note that "I've made no attempt to produce an accurate historical novel..I've tried to be authentic as far as period details goes, but at times I have had to stretch things in order to make the story work." While I appreciate the author's honesty, that's a problem. I was looking forward to learning about the Apache tribe, but Siki's (the main character) tribe is fictional (the Black Mountain Apache) as are all the names of places and characters. The character of Siki is very loosely based off of the woman who rode with Geronimo (I did reach this conclusion while reading). Also, to give the author credit, she used primary sources for period details and talked to Apache tribal historians (she even dedicated her book to the Apache people), but I don't want complete fiction in historical fiction, I also want some truth, some history (hence the name!). And honestly, some of the parts of the book just seemed like stereotypes. *SPOILER* (highlight the white space to read it) And I was highly annoyed that Siki turned out to not be Apache, but Mexican.
I wasn't a fan of any of the characters, but I was curious as to finding out the truth about Siki's family, that element kept me turning the pages (I also hoped the novel would get better). I didn't see Siki grow or any of the other characters (except a minor one at the very end). I'm also sure that the author's representation of the white Americans and Mexicans treatment of the Apaches is very true or closely represents the truth, it's disturbing and made me angry (actually, what the Americans and Mexicans did was probably a lot worse than what was detailed in the book). I think that the Native American tribes' culture is so beautiful and diverse, I was sorely disappointed that it was all fictional concerning the Apache.

For an excellent review of why I Am Apache should not be read go here (from Oyate, a Native American site that reviews books about Native Americans). The writers express the negative aspects of this novel much more eloquently than I can. This book left me wondering: Should I applaud the author for trying to write about a underrepresented culture? Or is it worse to write about a culture you know little about and get it wrong?

PS For some good recommendations of Native American literature check out my Native American Lit widget in my sidebar and check out Oyate and American Indians in Children's Literature for books to read and avoid. Also check out the comments on my Native American Heritage post.

Fun Book Meme

Due to the fact that I recently finished up some amazing books, I need to really make sure I write awesome reviews. This is not possible during the school week, but I did want to post something today so I went for a fun bookish meme :)

Now for the meme which I read on That Teen Can Blog!
Use the titles of books you've read this year to answer questions about yourself (I included books that I've read recently and will be reviewed soon and almost all of these books are books that I thought were excellent).

Describe Yourself: Silver Phoenix

How Do You Feel: Flygirl

Describe Where You Currently Live: Marcelo in the Real World

If You Could Go Anywhere Where Would You Go: Eternal

Your favorite form of Transportation: Catwalk

Your Best Friend is: Riding the Universe

You and Your Friends Are: It Chicks, Black Angels (2 separate books and we really aren't either one!)

What's the Weather Like: Down to the Bone

Favorite Time of Day: A Wish After Midnight

What is Life to You: Tears of a Tiger

Your Fear: Lockdown

What is the Best Advice You Have to Give Me: Whale Talk

Thought for the Day: Ten Cents a Dance

How I would Like to Die: Asleep

My Soul's Present Condition: Shine, Coconut Moon

Love Is: Played

*I added the last one

Have a great week!

PS Today is the release date of author Debby Dahl Edwardson new YA novel Blessing's Bead (I'm so eager to read it). Read the cover story, an interesting article by her about Native Americans in Literature here and my WoW post. Congrats Debby!

Off Color Review: Another Faust

Another Faust by Dina & Daniel Nayeri 2009

Rating: 3.5/5

IQ "Teaching her was like excavating the library of Alexandria-you didn't have anything to add, only hoped to discover what was already there, hidden under a sea." pg. 195

Another Faust wasn't as great as I expected it to be. The premise sounded really good, but something just fell flat for me. The characters were generally well-developed and you learned a lot about their personalities. But at the same time, something felt a bit off. I didn't love any of them, I disliked who I was supposed to dislike, but I wasn't rooting for everything to turn out ok.

The redoing of the Faust baragain was interesting (I never knew what that was until this book came out). It did make me wonder what I would give my soul up for? Nothing that I can think of at the moment (perhaps more time to do what I love or beauty). Tthe childen give theirs up for beauty, brains, athletics and writing. It was sad though how their gifts affected the children and they didn't even realize how it made them awful people and they hurt those they loved (although some did learn this at the end). The writing was excellent for the most part, a few bits and pieces could have been better explained (especially the ending scene). I liked reading about the side effects of all the children's gifts and trying to guess what would happen next, although I felt a bit detached from it all. I didn't always understand the beginning parts of each chapter that started with excerpts and conversations, I'm presuming they were examples of the Faustian baragin throughout history. I wish the authors had explained where the quotes came from.

I'm eager to read the next book in the series, Another Pan because I love the concept of the series and I think the authors' writing style is really good. I also love this cover. It's what first drew my eye to the book. High school and up.The authors were born in Iran and I really wanted to read this book so I made it an off-color review (these will be rare).

*Note: No new books this week and generally, when I'm away from the blog for long periods of time assume it's school related.

Follow the Links!

So I have homework to do and I'm watching the World Series (Yay Yankees!), so this is going to be a short post. It's featuring some really cool links that I've found today.

1. Seg-Book-Gation. This post is spot-on. Please support the author, Bernice McFadden. African Americans are just as capable of writing books that appeal to all audiences as white authors who write books that appeal to all audiences. Also, we African Americans read (and want) more than just books about the street lifestyle (although I'm sure there are some good books out there about this theme).

2. Mean Girls in YA Lit. A What a Girl Wants. This series is amazing, if you haven't read it start!

3. The Gay Fantasy Bookshelf. I love this blog and I want to read many books on this list.

4. For all those participating in NaNoWriMo. Some helpful tips to keep in mind.

5. The Best Teen Books of 2009. There is some color on this list. Marcelo in the Real World was amazing (definitely one of my top ten favorite books and life-changing!) and I really liked Claudette Colvin's story. I need to read all these books featured.

Follow these links and tell me what you think. Oh and Yankees or Phillies ;)

Middle Grade Book of the Month: Journey of Dreams

Journey of Dreams by Marge Pellegrino

Rating: 4/5

IQ "Each footstep is like a string wrapped by a thread, marking another piece of our journey. Only God knows how large the fabric will grow or how long our lives will be. If my prayers are heard, we will be with Mama and Carlos before it is finished. I wish I knew what kind of images we will weave between now and then." Tomasa

I very much enjoyed Journey of Dreams. It was an enlightening book about a time period and a culture that I knew nothing about. The book is set during the 1980s when the Guatemalan army was engaged in their 'scorched earth' campaign. The Guatemalan government wanted to either relocate or eliminate the Quiche (or Ki'che) Mayans who live in the Guatemalan highlands, this would result in genocide. There are still many missing people to this day. In Journey of Dreams, Tomasa and her family of Quiche Indians must flee their home in Guatemala, mainly because their mother has spoken out against all the killings and pollution resulting from the planes spraying chemicals over the fields ("that plane spits poison"). Also, her older brother is of eligible age to be forced to fight in the Guatemalan army, so the mom and brother leave first, since they are endangering their family (the brother, Carlos, refuses to fight). Soon after, Tomasa, her father, brother Manuelito and her baby sister Maria leave their village to be reunited with their family.

I thought this book was middle grade, but Amazon classifies it as YA. Due to the age of the protagonist (13), I'm going to call it middle grade. She's young and the mature topics in the book are very well handled for younger readers. This was my first middle grade book to be reviewed and my fear was that the main character would either act more mature than a normal 13 year old, or seem so immature that I couldn't relate to her. To my immense relief, Marge Pellegrino does a wonderful job of maintaining a reasonable balance. Tomasa is mature, but only because she has had to grow up fast. We see death, armies and poverty through her eyes and it provides a fresh perspective. She doesn't understand all that's going on, but she grasps the main points. Her naivete is a nice change from the usual hardened teenager (very much 'why can't we all just get along').

I loved reading the stories that Papa shares with Tomasa and her siblings on the journey to quiet and calm them, it always connected back to their experience. Also, Tomasa is a dreamer, she has lots of dreams (both at night and during the day), her dreams were her interpretations of Papa's stories. Another one of my favorite aspects of the novel is how the author introduces secondary characters to emphasis all sides of this terrible time of genocide in Guatemala. You see the issues from various perspectives along with Tomasa's viewpoint.

You can read another review of Journey of Dreams here. All in all, I would recommend Journey of Dreams to middle grade readers (6th-8th) as well as young adults. Teenagers won't feel talked down to and middle schoolers won't feel overwhelmed by complex themes and words. The story is sweet, simplistic and a powerful one. It describes in flourishing detail, the refugee experience.

My original goal was to review a Middle Grade book each month. I may do it more often than that since I want to stay current and there a lot more MG titles I want to read and that I've already read. So let me know what you think. I want to know; was the review too long/confusing for middle graders and should I continue to review MG books?


Disclosure: Received from Lyn Miller-Lachman. Thank you!

Native American Heritage Month

This post is my 102 post! :D Unfortunately, I don't have the money to have another giveaway, but I will have one asap in honor of this exciting achievement (in my opinion since I wasn't sure I would even make it to this many posts).

Onto the business at hand

November is Native American Heritage Month or American Indian Heritage Month. Now of course, the goal of Reading in Color is to review books with Native Americans for YA all year round, but so far that hasn't been going too well. The only Native American book I've reviewed is The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie. I must do better and I will! November is the perfect time to help get me started.

Some good resources can be found at author Cynthia Leitich Smith's blog, Cynsations (I adore this blog. It always contains a plethora of information about the publishing world, authors, upcoming books, reviews and giveaways) and a post on her website. Another good sight is Professor Debbie Reese's blog and Oyate. Finally this is a great resource for Native American Heritage Month.

However, my library has very few books about Native Americans for young adults, so I'm definitely going to need to swap some books.

This is my current line up. A * means I don't own it and neither does my library so if you have a copy of the book you would be willing to share, please email me.

1. Rain is Not My Indian Name by Cynthia Leitich Smith (I love this title, the author and all her books so I need to read this!)*

2. Code Talker: A novel about the Navajo Marines of World War II by Joseph Bruchac

3. Bone Dance by Martha Brooks*

4. I Am Apache by Tanya Landman (although it sounds like Native Americans want this book to be avoided so I'm going to review it and explain why it should be avoided).

5. The Lesser Blessed by Richard Van Camp*

6. Walk Two Moons by Sharon Creech-not recommended (Oyate)

7. The Talking Earth by Jean Craighead George-not recommended

8. Sweetgrass Basket by Marlene Carvell

9. Who Will Tell My Brother? by Marlene Carvell

10. Sorceress by Celia Rees

11. Spirit Line by David & Aimee Thurlo*

12. Walker of Time by Helen Hughes Vick*

All these books sound so great and I really want to be able to read them all!

Also, if you're Native American please email me or leave me a comment telling me if you prefer to be refereed to as Indians, Native Americans or American Indians (and if you could explain why that would be so helpful). Thanks.

Happy Reading and I hope to see more books with Native Americans being reviewed this month as well as all the other months!

Halloween Giveaway Winner & Wrap-Up, Blogging Help

I hope everyone had a great, fun and spooktacular Halloween!

The winner of my Treat Giveaway, as chosen by random.org, is....

Robin.Titan!

Congrats Robin! Please email me your mailing address (I'll be contacting you shortly). You're going to enjoy Eternal and Asleep :) Thanks everyone for entering.

I'm going to share some of the fun Halloween responses left for the giveaway (if you don't want yours shown, you can email or leave me a comment asking me to take your comment down).

Halloween Jokes

From Shadowofwonder
Q: What happened to the guy who didn't pay his exorcist?
A: He was repossesed!

From elnice
Knock, knock. (Whose there?) Ben (Ben who?)
Ben waiting for Halloween all year!

From Llehn
Q: What's a mummy's favorite type of music?
A: A Wrap

From Erica
Q: Why did Dracula take cough medicine?
A: To stop his COFFIN!

From babygirlG
Q: What do you get when you cross a vampire and a snowman?
A: Frostbite!

And some fun Halloween links and book suggestions ;)
How to be a werewolf

Why Zombies are Cool

I have received recommendations to read

1.Shiver (although I don't think it has poc in it so I may not read that one)

2.Sixteen Going on Undead by Yvette Ford (I hadn't heard of that one Elle so thank you, it sounds good!)

3. the L.A. Banks Huntress series (not YA but this has been recommended to me a couple of times so I'm going to try them anyway)

4. Fledgling by Octavia Butler (I haven't met a single person who doesn't love Octavia Butler, I'm determined to read her books over thanksgiving & Christmas break!)

5. Never Slow Dance with A Zombie by E. Van Lowe (I know the author is a poc, not sure about the main characters)

6. the Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman (everyone just raves about him so I must check out his books).

I failed majorly at posting more Halloween reviews so those will just have to come throughout November (Soul Enchilada, Liar, Another Faust, the Exorsistah). And I will be doing a post later today about November being Native American Heritage Month.

Blogging Help Question: How do I display all my labels? I want to make it easier for people to find things on my blog, but I'm not sure how to show all my labels. Leave me a comment (or send me an email if it's a lengthy explanation). Thanks!

Finally, I had no idea people checked back on the comments on blogs so often! I feel bad because I thought people didn't check back to see if people responded to their comments (to be perfectly honest, I rarely check back on other blogs to see if people responded to my comments), so I stopped responding (although I ALWAYS read the comments). Now I know that you guys do and I will be doing a better job of responding to all comments left on my posts.