New Crayons

New Crayons is a meme hosted by susan at Color Online. New Crayons is a metaphor for multicultural literature and in this meme I discuss what new books I got this week. This week was all about quality not quantity (meaning books that I REALLY REALLY wanted), books that I've had on my wishlist and/or WoWd.

By the way, for those of you wondering, the publishing project will be resumed in June. I had to pause the project while I was in school, but school is over in two weeks and then I fully intend on researching the company that publishes the most diverse books.

From Book Fairy #1


Tell Us We're Home by Marina Budhos

Jaya, Maria, and Lola are just like the other eighth-grade girls in the wealthy suburb of Meadowbrook, New Jersey. They want to go to the spring dance, they love spending time with their best friends after school, sharing frapp - s and complaining about the other kids. But there's one big difference: all three are daughters of maids and nannies. And they go to school with the very same kids whose families their mothers work for.

That difference grows even bigger—and more painful—when Jaya's mother is accused of theft and Jaya's small, fragile world collapses.

When tensions about immigrants start to erupt, fracturing this perfect, serene suburb, all three girls are tested, as outsiders—and as friends. Each of them must learn to find a place for themselves in a town that barely notices they exist.

-I believe Jaya is Polish, Lola is Trinidadian and Maria is Mexican. Jaya is Trinidadian, Lola is Slovakian and Maria is Mexican (thanks Lyn for clearing that up since I was way off!)This novel sounds like it will be a good combination of friendship, heartache and (in)justice. I haven't seen many reviews of it but I WoWd it a little while ago after hearing about it from Kris at Voracious YAppetite. Thank you Lyn!

Out of My Mind by Sharon Draper

Eleven-year-old Melody has a photographic memory. Her head is like a video camera that is always recording. Always. And there's no delete button. She's the smartest kid in her whole school—but no one knows it. Most people—her teachers and doctors included—don't think she's capable of learning, and up until recently her school days consisted of listening to the same preschool-level alphabet lessons again and again and again. If only she could speak up, if only she could tell people what she thinks and knows . . . but she can't, because Melody can't talk. She can't walk. She can't write. Being stuck inside her head is making Melody go out of her mind—that is, until she discovers something that will allow her to speak for the first time ever. At last Melody has a voice . . . but not everyone around her is ready to hear it.

-Oh boy, sounds like a tearjerker for sure. Sharon Draper is one of my favorite authors so I'm really anxious to read this one. I haven't seen it reviewed much either except at Eating Y.A. Books. Thanks so much Lyn :)

From Book Fairy #3

Sellout by Ebony Joy Wilkins

Release Date: July 1, 2010

NaTasha has a wonderful life in affluent Park Adams. She fits in, she has friends, and she's a member of the all-white ballet troupe. Being nearly the only African American in her school doesn't bother NaTasha. But it bothers Tilly, NaTasha's spitfire grandmother from Harlem, who decides NaTasha needs to get back to her roots or her granddaughter is in danger of losing herself completely. Tilly whisks NaTasha away to a world where all of a sudden nothing in NaTasha's life makes any sense: Harlem and Comfort Zone in the Bronx, a crisis center where Tilly volunteers her time to help troubled girls get on the right track. Girls who are completely unlike anyone NaTasha has ever encountered. These girls are rough, beautiful, streetwise, sure of themselves, and wield their secrets like knives--and they dislike NaTasha and her world of privilege with a passion.

If there is ever a time when NaTasha feels like running away from something, now is it. But she doesn't. She stands her ground. And what she discovers surprises everyone, especially NaTasha.

-Dancer? check. "Oreo"? check. Volunteering? check. The makings of some really god realistic fiction? You bet. I WoWd this one about a month ago and I was bemoaning the fact that I had to wait till July to read it. Now I have it and I'm ridculosuly excited. Thank you so much Colleen! I'll probably save my review of this book for closer to the release date but I'll be reading it very soon :D

All summaries from Amazon.com

So what POC books did you get this week? Have a great weekend (it's finally warm here in the city)!