The Good Girl's Guide to Getting Kidnapped

The Good Girl's Guide to Getting Kidnapped by Yxta Maya Murray 2010

Razorbill/Penguin

Rating: 2.5/5

IQ "What I know is that wrong's a big word. with a lot of meanings." Silver pg. 68

Michelle is a track star and stellar athlete. She has a best friend, Kiki who is a budding filmmaker and loves to film Michelle. What Kiki doesn't know is that Michelle was born Princess P, future queen and heiress to one of the most notorious gangs in California, the Snakes. Unfortunately for Kiki, she uncovers Michelle's past when they are both captured by members of the Snakes to be held as ransom. Michelle wants a normal life, but it's hard to resist the lure of the Snakes and the good memories she has with them. To make matters worse, Michelle was kidnapped by her best friend/ex boyfriend, Silver.

I'm torn over how I feel about the language in this book. On the one hand I appreciated all the slang because the entire book isn't in slang, it's understandable and lends an air of authenticity to the book. On the other hand, some of it is so laughably out-there. No offense to anyone who speaks that way but some of the phrases just seemed to be ridiculous (I wish I had examples but I already returned the book). I wish I knew if the language was authentic. I know Chicago slang can be a whole lot different than L.A. slang (or any other slang from Cali) so don't take my word for it. There was also some really random Latin and it just didn't fit with the story. I think the author was trying to show that even though Michelle/Princess P spoke 'ghetto' she was still educated. But I don't think readers would doubt that in the first place, you can be smart and still speak with slang. I also hated how melodramatic the book was. EVERYONE is ALWAYS crying. Ohmygosh. It was sooo frustrating. One minute the author was describing these 'hard gangstas' and the next these 'hard gangstas' are crying about something or other. I seriously couldn't believe that these 'thugs' who have no problem selling drugs and kidnapping would cry so much (especially Silver. Over and over we are told that all of his goodness is dead and yet he cries A LOT). But maybe that's just the cynic in me. To top it all off, the ending is a non-ending. I finished the book wondering what the whole point was since the ending was so open. I'm not sure if there's going to be a sequel, but there needs to be (although I'm not so sure I'd read it...).

I did like Michelle, she's the right mix of toughness and vulnerability. Plus I think her story is one that many can relate to, trying to stay true to your roots while still forming your own path. The story is quite original, I loved the twist on princesses, Michelle would be awesome as any type of royalty (not just as future Queen of the Snakes). I don't usually comment on this but I really liked that Kiki wasn't the 'sassy Black friend.' I know I've read other books where the Black main character isn't sassy but I can't recall many I've read in which the best friend is Black and NOT sassy, so I wanted to point that out here. Kiki is eccentric and realistic. While she seems wimpy to Michelle (not that Michelle ever comes out and says it), she handles the situation of being kidnapped in a reasonable manner. She freaks out at first but she calms down when she recognizes that her situation could be much worst (after all she's with her best friend who is royalty, very quick-witted and friendly with most of the members of the Snakes). Michelle's brother, King Samson (HA! I just got that reference. Wait, I think his name was Samson? Shoot) was annoying though (see spoiler for more details on why). *SPOILER* Highlight to read. His supposed character transformation was ridiculous. I can't believe Michelle actually bought it. I found it especially hard to believe that he could parade around so openly after ESCAPING FROM JAIL. *End Spoiler*

The Good Girl's Guide to Getting Kidnapped is an unconventional and suspenseful read. It's a page-turner, although I had to stop every so often to roll my eyes and wish all the Snakes would stop crying. It will be an eye-opening read for everyone if you're from south L.A. and know the lingo, there's probably still something about this book that will surprise you. The ending is certainly a surprise, mainly because it's so anti climatic. I really want to know how the vernacular checks out because it's easy to understand but can seem rather ridiculous. I also think the author was trying to hit us over the head with how amazing Michelle was. Beautiful, best runner in the state, a genius and oh yea, gangsta royalty who now has a loving foster parent. Even with all that Michelle is far from perfect and even though I had issues with the plot and dialogue, I wanted to follow Michelle for a little longer and that's why I finished the book.

Disclosure: from the library (finally returned my books, yay! But clearly I should have kept this one for references).

PS Have a STUPENDOUS 2011 everyone!

Throwback Thursday: Born Confused

Born Confused by Tanuja Desai Hidier 2002
PUSH/Scholastic

Rating: 4.5/5

IQ "She'd told him I was the Indian girl. The Indian girl. Somehow neither description rang completely true to me in terms of how I felt inside, but the thing was I'd never really consciously thought of myself as American, either. Of course I did the Pledge, too, along with everybody else for years of mornings, but like everyone else I wasn't really thinking about the words. I mean, I definitely wanted liberty like Gwyn had with the car keys and no curfew and justice for all would be great, especially in high school where people were definitely not created equal (proof: cheerleaders). But I didn't know if that had so much to do with the stars and stripes; it seemed to be more about the jeans and teams." Dimple pg. 13

Dimple Rohitbhai Lala is confused. She doesn't feel American or Indian. Being Indian is now cool, even her best friend is wrapped up in the 'romance' of India, wearing saris and a bindi dot. Dimple's still trying to forget about her ex boyfriend who broke up with her a year ago and her best friend, Gwyn, is spending less and less time with her. Her parents have decided it's time for her to meet a 'suitable boy' so they set her up on a blind date. Dimple dismisses him as a mama's boy and ignores him. Until she's at a club and discovers that he's one of the best DJs in NYC. Dimple now wants the 'suitable boy' because he seems so unsuitable. Of course, Dimple essentially relinquished claim on him when she declared him a mama's boy and too soft....

The only problem with this book is that it moves veeerrryyy slowly and it times it reads like a 'everything you need to know about South Asian culture' guide. I loved learning about South Asian culture' the terms, the food, the clothes, but at the same time, some of this information is passed down through lectures or infodumps done by characters. Other than that, I absolutely loved this book. You don't have to be South Asian to identify with this book (although I have no doubt you would love this book even more if you were), anyone who is second or third generation can relate to not feeling quite American but not feeling as though you are a part of your culture either. We seem to be stuck between two worlds and are constantly trying to reconcile them. Every page in this book contains at least one memorable line, there are a lot of deep thoughts being shared between characters and these conversations are golden. They are the type of conversations that many dream of having with your friends, when you can tell them anything at all, be completely vulnerable and they'll still love you. It wasn't until the end that I understood why Gwyn and Dimple were friends. Gwyn treated Dimple poorly for most of the book (especially her claim that she knew about Indian culture because she had a Indian friend. Oh jeez), but at the end, she more than makes up for it.

Dimple is one of the most fantastic main characters I've ever read. She's awkward, confused and funny. I love that Dimple really comes alive when she takes pictures (her camera is named Chica Tikka which means third eye. Great name!) and when she's talking about her pictures. I could perfectly envision her snapping away at everything she saw and being able to see the beauty in every image. I could also really relate to Dimple's 'perfect life.' Gwyn tells Dimple that she would never understand what it means to come from a 'broken' family because her home life is perfect, her parents are in love. Gwyn and Karsh (the suitable/unsuitable boy) are discussing their single parent homes and while Karsh is more sympathetic to Dimple's point, Gwyn is not.

"'What do you mean? They don't hold hands, I've never seen them kiss. In fact, I'm not even sure how I got here, to tell the truth.' [Dimple]
-What's kissing and holding hands? said Gwyn almost snobbishly. That's a dime dozen. They wake up together every morning, they sleep together every night; they managed to cross an ocean together and not fall apart. And they adore you. That's pretty perfect and you're complaining? What's wrong with you? You could use all that love to go out and conquer the world!
I wasn't complaining. I was just trying to find my place in this conversation, but it was looking more and more like a sold-out show." (pg. 247) I get that. It seems weird to want to fit in by complaining about how much your life stinks, but I've felt that way before too. It's an uncomfortable feeling when everyone thinks your life is perfect and refuses to see that you might still be unhappy. Karsh is probably one of the best YA crushes ever. He's not perfect though since he sends so many mixed signals (half the time it was obvious that he had feelings for Dimple but then the other half of the time he was really into Gwyn). One of my favorite scenes is at the end when *SPOILER* (highlight to read) Karsh is saying that he can't believe Dimple didn't know he was into her and she defends herself by telling him about all his mixed signals;
"Like that time you came over and out of all the pictures I'd taken chose the one of her [Gwyn]for the one you wanted, the one you wanted to keep.
-Dimple, he said, and he looked at me first surprised then very soberly.-Of course I picked that one.
-Of course?
-That was the only one with you in it, he said." pg. 484 Not gonna lie, my heart melted at that line. I'm growing sappy!*End of Spoiler*

Born Confused is a priceless tale of friendship, tradition, culture, love and being seventeen. The story is a riot to read because Dimple can be very melodramatic and her parents can mix up some American phrases with quite amusing results. While the story can move very slowly and seem to be drifitng aimlessly, there are frequent witty observations and bursts of laughter. I would love to meet Dimple and Karsh (I could leave Gwyn) and just explore the Desai neighborhoods of NYC with them. I love that there are so many complex characters and storylines (like the one with Kavita, Dimple's cousin). I wish all the information about Indian culture and South Asian culture in general had been presented in a more easygoing/natural manner, but nevertheless I appreciated the information. You will not forget Dimple and her mixed-up and messy life. Highly, highly recommended.

Disclosure: Bought. One of my best purchases for sure!

Waiting on Wednesday: Daughter of Xanadu + Must-Read Links

This wonderful meme is hosted by Breaking the Spine

This week I'm waiting on...

Daughter of Xanadu by Dori Jones Yang

Release Date: January 11, 2011

Athletic and strong willed, Princess Emmajin's determined to do what no woman has done before: become a warrior in the army of her grandfather, the Great Khan Khubilai. In the Mongol world the only way to achieve respect is to show bravery and win glory on the battlefield. The last thing she wants is the distraction of the foreigner Marco Polo, who challenges her beliefs in the gardens of Xanadu. Marco has no skills in the "manly arts" of the Mongols: horse racing, archery, and wrestling. Still, he charms the Khan with his wit and story-telling. Emmajin sees a different Marco as they travel across 13th-century China, hunting 'dragons' and fighting elephant-back warriors. Now she faces a different battle as she struggles with her attraction towards Marco and her incredible goal of winning fame as a soldier.

-Does anyone know if this is a YA/MG debut? I think the author has previously written a MG book but I'm not sure. I'm looking forward to reading about Khan Kubilai because he's someone that's always fascinated me. I'm even more eager though to read about a female warrior, lots of fun to read about and so inspiring! Also, I don't know much about Marco Polo's personal life so this should be interesting.

Must-Read Links

A list of all 2011 YA/MG books about poc. Please help me add on to this list!

More whitewashing? this is a post about the whitewashing of Across the Universe by Beth Revis. I'm going to talk about this more in-depth later on. I'll be following the discussion in the comments over there for sure and if you write a post about, let me know so I can read it too.

The Magic Pencil

The Magic Pencil by Karen Dabney 2009
Dabs & Company

Rating: 2/5

IQ "I call myself speakin two languages: standard English and what some people call Ebonics. I don't like that name cuz it sounds like a joke. My mother says 'Black Relaxed Language' cuz every culture has its own style. (Sometimes I tease her and call it 'slanguage!') For us it's the way most African Americans can speak or usely understand when they hear it. " Malcolm pg. 22

This is the story of Malcolm Bakersfield and the new girl, Nia. Nia's pencils appear to have magical powers and Malcolm is determined to confront her about it. Along the way, he's going to learn things about what it means to be young and Black.

This book is trying way too hard. It's a jumble of messages about being proud to be Black, the importance of doing well in school, not watching much television, etc. It's way too preachy, there is no subtlety here. I constantly felt as though I was being hit over the head with messages about getting rid of the assumption that people who Black English aren't educated, that we should be proud of our Black history, etc. The author even tells us that Malcom was named after Malcom X and his older brother, Martin, was named after Martin Luther King Jr. I honestly couldn't help roll my eyes and say 'of course.' Every single part of this book makes a point and while I appreciated the point about Black English, I wasn't a fan of the book being entirely in Black English. It's not like His Own Where, in which the English adds to the story and the setting. In this case, the language detracted from the story (just my opinion). Constantly seeing "havetuh" and "an" (instead of an) drove me crazy. I understood exactly what was going on but I winced every time I read it the grammar. I realize there are people who talk like that, (I use a lot of slang myself) but for that language to run throughout the entire book was just frustrating, I wanted to correct it. I do feel bad for saying that though because who decides what's proper English? Regardless, I've fallen into that way of thinking, that lots of slang and incorrect spelling isn't proper. Especially as a Black person, I don't think we should speak that way around white people, we still need to put our best foot forward. To top it all off, Malcolm is perfect. There's nothing more frustrating than a perfect character. He's smart, good at soccer and basketball, handsome and caring. He's good to his mother (which presented some annoying scenes as well. Malcolm's mother teaches him how to cook and step-by-step is explained, this dragged the book down). I needed some flaws because real perfect people like Malcolm don't exist.

Malcolm is one of the most knowledgeable sixth graders I've read about (I think Malcolm was in sixth grade), sadly this book shows that through info dumps. In one scene, Malcolm is playing soccer and trying to be like Freddy Adu. I liked that reference. Then the scene was botched (in my mind) when Malcolm's father goes on to talk about Pele, George Weah, Steven Appiah and Michael Essien. I appreciated learning those names (I'd only known of Pele) but from there the father goes on to talk about how George Weah is from Liberia and then he talks about the history of Liberia and it was just too much. I liked learning about everything that was mentioned, virtually every aspect of the Black experience is portrayed through Martin's family and friends. This opens readers eyes up to the various Black perspectives, we aren't just one group with all the same opinions and circumstances. I liked that but I didn't like that everything was so obviously striving to make a point.

The Magic Pencil would be a good reader for younger children. Teachers could discuss many of the things and people brought up in the book, I'm not so sure younger kids would mind all the information being thrown at them. I had a problem with it because it read like a lecture or history boo, I would have preferred all this information being presented to me in a more creative way. The mysterious pencil was a cute idea but I was too bothered by everything else to fully appreciate it. This is not the right book for me, but it might appeal to other readers. Yes Malcolm and Nia are fantastic role models but they are perfect. How can anyone relate to kids so perfect? They talk about how they don't like the images of Black people on TV, the dangers of the Internet, the n-word, slavery, reggae, etc. My eyes were opened to many new things but I was overwhelmed by all that was discussed and how the subject matters were handled.

Disclosure: Received from author. Thank you!

PS I did like another quote from the book "He an Mom been together for almost a year. I think they might get married; then I'll be a stepson. I wonder how many steps I'll havetuh climb before I really feel close to Mr. Jamal Musa Hayes." Malcolm pg. 56

Male Monday: The End of the World Club (Jaguar Stones #2)

The End of the World Club (Jaguar Stones #2) by J&P Voelkel (ARC)
Egmont USA


Release Date: December 28, 2010


Rating: 3.5/5


IQ "'That's weird,' whispered Max. 'Should I go in?'
'Thou hast traveled halfway around the world and summoned me through time and space to be here. The gods themselves are watching thee, and the fate of humankind depends on what happens here today. Yes, young lord, I think thou shouldst go in." Lord 6-Dog pg. 139

NO SPOILERS in this review

As it grows closer and closer to 2012, people are beginning to talk more and more about the world ending. Max Murphy has other things to worry about. Like the fact that he owes the Lords of Death and if he doesn't do them their favor, he's going to die. Max has ten days to bring them the Yellow Jaguar. The Yellow Jaguar is in a small town in Spain, a town in which you can not tell a lie. It's not going to be easy but with the help of Lola and two howler monkeys (containing the spirit of an ancient Maya king and the king's mother), he just might be successful. If only he spoke Spanish....My review of the first book in the series (I think it's a trilogy), Middleworld.

I didn't like how Max's parents were so oblivious. Yes they ignored him as a child, but after he saved their lives, I thought they would respect him a little more. His mother is trying to spend more time with him, but both she and Max's father are pretending that everything is normal. They are ignoring the events of the Middleworld and the fact that their house is turning into a rainforest (a trick being played on them from the Lords of Death). I didn't think it was realistic in the slightest for parents who had witnessed all that they had witnessed and been through to ignore and dispute the signs of impending danger. It just irked me. I also thought the reason given as to why Max didn't need to contact his parents was really convenient. He's roaming around Polvoredo unchaperoned (granted Lola and the two howler monkeys would be better help than his parents if he got in any supernatural danger). I just wish the parents hadn't so easily been pushed to the side. I also thought part of the plot was a bit sketchy (Ziva's whole storyline), but my opinion could change once the truth is revealed. At times some of the plot did seem obvious.

I still love Lola's independent and resourceful nature. Max would be nowhere if it weren't for her. She has so many tricks up her sleeve, I love it. However I like that they are such a loyal team and as such they bicker and get jealous and stick together through it all. Their relationship isn't perfect and I like that. I also like that they are still just-friends because they are both too shy and unsure to make the first move. There is always, always, an interesting twist thrown in out of nowhere and it will keep readers on their toes. Max hasn't made a dramatic over-night change from brat to saint, he's still working on it and he goes through some relapses. He also manages to redeem himself. Lord 6-Dog and Lady Coco (the howler monkeys) are entertaining as usual.

The End of the World Club is a boisterous read filled with fun characters and not-so fun situations that are made fun by the characters. The illustrations add to both the humor and appeal of the story. While I wish the plot had been a bit more complex and the parents hadn't been so easily dismissed, I'm excited to read the next book. This book doesn't read like a sequel. It could be read as a stand-alone, although you might want to read the third book in the series because while the ending is fairly tidy, there's still a big showdown waiting to happen. Max notes that his story is like a video game, there's always a next level. It reads like a video game too. There are secrets to unlock, new characters to meet, fights and yes, there is always a next level.

Disclosure: Received for review. Thank you Egmont!

New Crayons, Nominations & My Guest Post

Whew it's been a busy week! I still have a party to plan for one of my friends and to finish buying all my friends gifts (I know, I know, I'm awful for doing this after Christmas). I have been reading A TON. I have about 10 books waiting to be reviewed so hopefully I'll be able to get those reviews written and scheduled to run this upcoming week and the week leading up to finals.

New Crayons is when we share what books we got with a multicultural theme. Hosted by Color Online

This week I got exactly what I needed which is 'lighter' reads. I've been reading some intense books lately and I really need some good books with less complexity.


Jazz in Love by Neesha Meminger

Release Date: January 10, 2011 (but it's already available to buy)

Jasbir, a.k.a. Jazz, has always been a stellar student and an obedient, albeit wise-cracking, daughter. Everything has gone along just fine--she has good friends in the "genius" program she's been in since kindergarten, her teachers and principal adore her, and her parents dote on her. But now, in her junior year of high school, her mother hears that Jazz was seen hugging a boy on the street and goes ballistic. Mom immediately implements the Guided Dating Plan, which includes setting up blind dates with "suitable," pre-screened Indian candidates. The boy her mother sets her up with, however, is not at all what anyone expects; and the new boy at school, the very UNsuitable hottie, is the one who sets Jazz's blood boiling. When Jazz makes a few out-of-the-ordinary decisions, everything explodes, and she realizes she'll need a lot more than her genius education to get out of the huge mess she's in. Can Jazz find a way to follow her own heart, and still stay in the good graces of her parents?

-Gobbled this one up already and it's wonderful :) We need more books about teenagers of color with us doing everyday things. And interracial romance! And same culture romance! This book has us well on our way. Funny and heartwarming. Review to come in the new year. Thank you Neesha!!


How Lamar's Bad Prank Won a Bubba-Sized Trophy by Crystal Allen

Release Date: February 22, 2011

Thirteen-year-old Lamar Washington is the maddest, baddest, most spectacular bowler ever at Striker's Bowling Paradise. But while Lamar's a whiz at rolling strikes, he always strikes out with girls. And Lamar's brother, Xavier the Basketball Savior, is no help. Xavier earns trophy after trophy on the basketball court and soaks up all of Dad's attention, leaving no room in the house for Lamar's problems.

So Lamar starts hustling at the local alley with bad boy Billy Jenks. When one of their schemes goes awry, Lamar ends up ruining his brother's shot at college and wreaking havoc on every relationship in his life. Can Lamar figure out how to mend his broken ties, no matter what the cost?

-I've been wanting this for forever! Well it feels like forever. And now I'm waiting to read it till Jan 1, 2011 so that it will count for the debut YA/MG author challenge. I could really use a hilarious and uplifting read so close to finals. Thank you Zetta!

Reading in Color News

I got a Sony touch Ereader for Christmas! Pretty crazy. I didn't ask for it or even hint at it. But I know that I'm going to be using it to download classics for sure. Is there anything I need to know about the Sony Touch Ereader? I haven't charged it yet or read the instructions but I will try and figure it out soon. I welcome all and any tips =) I also got Decoded by Jay-Z. I'm SO PSYCHED to read this. Not sure if I'll review it but it's got a positively luminous cover and ahhh it's written by Jay-Z!! Love him (well his music anyway). I got other gifts to but those are the book-related ones.

I did a guest post for Steph Su about my top ten 2010 favorite female protagonists. Stop by and tell me your favorites, do you agree or disagree with my choices?

Finally I've been nominated for best blog of 2010 (reader's choice)! Say whaaa?? The competition is beyond ferocious but (not to sound like a total cliche) I'm just thrilled to even be nominated. Voting ends on Dec. 31 so if you think I deserve to win, please vote for me. Or just vote in general because there are a lot of really really great blogs nominated.

If you celebrate Christmas, did you get any bookish-related goodies? Do tell! If you don't celebrate Christmas, please share what new books you got for the week.

Ipods in Accra

Ipods in Accra by Sophia Acheampong 2009
Piccadilly Press

Rating: 3/5

IQ "I felt that every time I did something connected to my Ghanaian heritage, I fitted an extra piece of a jigsaw puzzle. After talking to Mum and Dad, I realised that I'd been really confused about not being Ghanaian enough in Kumasi or English enough in London. They'd made me realise that it didn't matter if I never discovered all the pieces to my Ghanaian heritage, because the English pieces could fit just as well. Until then, it had never crossed my mind that I could be both Ghanaian and British and have two ways of seeing and being seen by the world." Makeeda pg. 153

*SPOILER IN SUMMARY*

Makeeda and her boyfriend have broken up and Makeeda should feel upset about it (or so she thinks) but all she feels is relief. But then later on, she feels jealous when she spots him with a new girl. What gives? In addition, her mother announces that they are going on a girls-trip to Ghana. Makeeda, her mother, her sister Delphy and her cousin, Tanisha. Makeeda is worried that once again Tanish will try and cozy up to her mother, resulting in her mother forgetting all about her. In Ghana, Makeeda learns a few things about herself, both good and bad. She's struggling to combine both of her cultures, but can she combine them? Most importantly, why is Nick acting so strangely around her now, is it love?

*End of Spoilers*

I didn't like the sequel as much as I liked the first book, Growing Yams in London. The plot seemed more vague and Makeeda was starting to irritate me. She goes on and on about how she's nothing special and yet she has a group of guys falling at her feet. Then she plagued by indecisiveness and can't see what's right in front of her. Perhaps I'm running out of patience with these types of characters, but I honestly don't get why she was so down on herself when clearly other guys found her attractive. Furthermore, it was SO OBVIOUS that Nick was into her. It was obvious in the first book too. Makeeda is an awkward character and this is both a cause for concern and a cause of laughter. Makeeda really gets into it when she basically tells someone they "aren't Ghanaian enough" and then she has the nerve to be upset when that person is upset with her. I was truly baffled as to why she couldn't see how this was hurtful since she got upset when people said it to her! Then to make matters worse, Makeeda decides to participate in a Ghanaian puberty ceremony. I can't even tell you what really happened during that ceremony because the details were so vague. I went and looked it up and that cleared things up a bit, but I wish the author had gone into more detail on it because it could have been very interesting. At the same time, Makeeda seems very immature for a sixteen year old and the issues discussed during a puberty ceremony were probably alien to her since she never mentions them (which I found odd because let's face it, teenagers have to talk about their sexuality at some point). Makeeda freaks out before the puberty ceremony because she doesn't know what she got herself into and at that point I just wanted to shake her and say JUST ASK SOMEONE WHAT YOU HAVE TO DO! I understood why she couldn't back down but she could have rid herself of anxiety if she had just asked her parents about what she would be going through.

I was happy to re-enter Makeeda's delightful world. While I do complain about Makeeda not seeming like any sixteen-year old I know maturity wise, I also enjoy her innocence. Less innuendo and other dramatic issues. She's just living a relatively happy, high on not-so-serious drama. Plus Makeeda ALWAYS cracks me up at some point in the back. Like when she's talking about her phone time restrictions and how she can only call at certain times and for homework purposes "It wasn't like we could say everything we needed to say in a conversation at school. I mean, why send us to school if we're not meant to concentrate on our lessons? Parents wanted us to learn and still cram in vital conversations too?" (pg. 5) The thing about Makeeda is she has a great voice. I can sense her sitting next to me and chatting away nonstop about her life with DJ Nelson, Nick and her best friend, Bharti. I also loved seeing Bharti's confidence grow. I know we girls are told that having a guy interested in us shouldn't affect our confidence, but it so does. A guy is interested in Bharti and that puts some pep in her step. It's not just that though, she's also taking dance classes which keeps her active, lets her have fun and she's losing a bit of weight. It's healthy and she's happy. Win-win :)

Ipods in Accra is a merry read. Makeeda and her friends' antics will keep readers smiling, although at times it will be smiles of pain at how mental they can act. These books are very laid-back and it was nice to read something that's not intense. Yes the storyline of Makeeda feeling pulled by both sides of her culture, Ghana and Britain was predictable and has been told countless times, but I'd never read it from a Ghanaian perspective so I enjoyed that. I just wish these books had some more details and the characters acted a bit more mature (although that sounds awfully contradictory doesn't it? I love the chill factor of the books and the immaturity of the characters and yet I want them to grow-up!). I also wish more had been done with the Delphy storyline. I love the relationship between Makeeda and her little sister Delphy and yet I wanted to know more about Delphy's business ventures (she's well on her way to being a top businesswoman at such a young age!). I couldn't understand why her parents were so against her being involved in business. It wasn't an issue of sexism or anything like that. There are once again a few plot line with serious potential but the author doesn't go as far with them as she could. Regardless, they fill a niche in British multicultural YA fiction and that's a must. I recommend picking this book up when you want something light and delectable.

Disclosure: From Kaz. Thank you, thank you!

Happy Holidays!

Wanting Mor

Wanting Mor by Rukhsana Khan 2009
Groundwood Books/House of Anansi Press

Rating: 3/5

IQ "Sometimes I wish I could just lie down and not wake up. Die while I'm still good, before I have a chance to go bad. Because if I go bad, everything I don't even let myself think now would come pouring out of me." Jameela pg. 71

Jameela is used to war, it's something she faces daily in her poor Afghanistan village. Jameela is happy, but she wishes she could learn to read and write. She also secretly wishes that she didn't have a cleft lip. She mourns the death of her father's relatives, a bomb went off and killed them all along with her father's kindness, now he is angry and withdrawn. Through it all, Mor (Pushto word for mother) has been by Jameela's side, guiding and loving her. Then Mor dies and Jameela's father decides to move to the big city of Kabul. Kabul is so different from the life Jameela knew in her village and she' not sure she'll ever be able to adjust. All she wants is to have Mor back.

This story is all about Jameela and that's good and bad. I didn't like that because I felt that the rest of the characters were ignored. I really wanted to learn more about the stories of the other girls at the orphanage where Jameela ends up. Well, not all the girls, but the ones who she mentions the most. That's all she does, briefly mention them but she never delves deeper into their stories (Zeba, Soraya, Arwa), yet they know her entire story. This didn't seem particularly fair to me. I also had an issue with the passing of time. I wasn't aware of how old Jameela was, or how much time had passed. Everything seemed to happen rather suddenly, the book seemed to be on fast-forward.

I was torn over how I felt about Jameela. At first I was annoyed by how religious and judgmental she seemed. But then I stepped back and tried to see life through her infamous-porani (a type of shawl that covers the head, Jameela chews on her porani when she gets nervous and she uses it to hide her cleft lip). If I had grown up in a small village and all I'd ever known was a more conservative (but not EXTREME. That distinction is important) version of Islam, I would have been just as shocked by Kabul as Jameela was. Once in Kabul, Jameela's father seems to change, doing things that are frowned upon in Islam. He gets drunk, ignores her completely and finally abandons her at a busy marketplace. From there with the help of kind strangers, Jameela goes to the orphanage and things seem to be looking up from her. Not many of the girls at the orphanage wear a porani but Jameela continues to wear it, not only because how she was raised, but because she wants to hide her cleft lip. Just when I grew tired of Jameela being SO Good (just because I understood it didn't mean I liked reading about it), she shows that she's not an angel, but a saint/human. She looks down on this little girl, Arwa because she is so dirty and clingy. It's sad to see sweet Jameela act so cruelly towards tiny Arwa, but as it becomes clear why Jameela acts this way, my heart went out to both Arwa AND Jameela.

Wanting Mor just is. As in, there's nothing I hated about this book, but there wasn't anything I loved about it either. My heart went out to Jameela, especially when her father begins acting so cruelly towards her and not following the ways of Islam (one of the worst experience in the world can be discovering that your parents make mistakes and this indeed turns out to be rather traumatic for Jameela). She faces one hardship after another and yet she always manages to keep her chin up, to forgive and be good. I wish the story had slowed down a bit more, infused with more details so that it didn't seem to go by so fast, leaving me feeling as though I'd missed something. At times, Jameela can be hard to relate to because she is so good, but she does have a few moments in which she falters and those help remind the reader that she's human. I just wish those moments had occurred more often because I closed this book feeling a sense of awe for Jameela combined with coldness, because she seemed so distant.

Disclosure: Overdue from the library ;)

PS If you celebrate Christmas, Happy Christmas! If you don't, have a spectacular holiday season/break!

Throwback Thursday: The Stone Goddess

The Stone Goddess by Minfong Ho 2003 (First Person Fiction series)
Orchard Books Scholastic

Rating: 3.5/5

IQ "As flowers sacred to Buddhism we had always been taught that because the lotus had its roots in the mud, grew trough the murky water, and blossomed in the open air, each lotus was like the human spirit." Nakri pg. 4

Nakri Sokha and her family live peaceful lives in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. Nakri's mother teaches Nakri and her older sister, Teeda the beautiful classical dances of Cambodia and Teeda aspires to one day dance the highest role, the role of an aspara (celestial dancer). All that changes when the Khmer Rouge takes over Phonm Penh. Nakri and her family are forced to evacuate the city and eventually Nakri, her brother Boran and Teeda are taken away to a labor camp. Nakri despairs of ever seeing her family again, but Teeda keeps her hopes up. Once they are finally reunited with their family, they head to Thailand, and from there, America. But nothing is the same after the cruel Communist rule of the Khmer Rouge and Nakri can't forget about all that she saw and endured.

This might not be as big a deal to anyone else, but I wanted more dance details :) I wanted to learn more about celestial dancers, the steps. the costumes, the music, the stories. I also would have preferred to read the story from an older teen's view. Nakri (who is twelve) doesn't know about much that is going on and since I didn't either, I wanted more details about how the Khmer Rouge came to power. I knew they were cruel obviously and I remember the name of the leader (Pol Pot) but I wanted to understand why they were allowed to run rampant for so many years, was there opposition to their rule? Finally, I had a problem with the narrative of the story. It starts off rather quickly which is fine. Then, Nakri heads off to the labor camp and apparently three years went by. There was no indication that time was passing at all, and I suppose that's ok because being in a labor camp is probably the same thing everyday: backbreaking work and cruel supervisors, but I didn't think I got a chance to really see how Nakri and Teeda coped with their situation. Then time flies by in the Thailand at a refugee camp and ends in America. The America scenes are towards the end and the book ended rather too abruptly for my taste.

My favorite thing about this book were the strong and vivid family relationships. Nakri and her sister, Teeda have such a close bond and it's a great thing to read about. It's almost unreal because none of the siblings argue with each other. I didn't know that was possible! Teeda tells Nakri stories and watches over her as does her older brother, Boran. Their youngest brother, Yan, doesn't make many appearances in the story but he gets along well with everyone else. Nakri's parents are genuine, they aren't overly mean or cold and they aren't soft and forgiving either. They are a mixture of both, like most parents. As much as I complained about the narrative from a child's perspective, it did (over)simplify things and I still got the basic idea of what was going on. There was plenty of details about everyday life in Cambodia, the people, the buildings, the food. I felt immersed in the culture.

The Stone Goddess is a horrifying read in that the cruelty of the Khmer Rouge is aggravating and yet sadly, believable. The writing and characters are rather simple and the situation seems to be too simple but it's still informative. How many students today know anything about Cambodia (I'm not even sure I could point it out on a map. I vaguely know the area)? I do wish that the story hadn't been so simple and that the family wasn't so nice. At the same time, the cozy family relationship was refreshing and there was enough drama and hardship to keep me turning the pages. The final scene, while abrupt is absolutely beautiful.

Disclosure: From the library

Throwback Thursday is hosted by Take Me Away

Waiting on Wednesday: The Trouble With Half a Moon

Hosted by Breaking the Spine. I've hopefully timed these posts to coincide with any interview posts that I do...

This week I'm waiting on....

The Trouble With Half a Moon by Danette Vigilante

Release Date: January 6, 2011

Thirteen year old Dellie lives with the guilt that her little brother's death was her fault. Her mother cries all the time and because she wants Dellie to stay safe, she keeps her inside as much as she can. It doesn't matter that Dellie longs to go outside to be like other girls or that there's a boy she likes and he likes her too. All that matters to her mother is that she's safe at home. So, Dellie has no choice but to watch the world of her housing project through her second story window.

Things start to change soon after new neighbors move in on the first floor. Trouble like this has never happened in Dellie's building before. Now there are men fighting on the stoop, gunshots echoing through the night and Corey, a hungry and abused five year old boy knocking on her door looking for something to eat. Corey reminds Dellie of her brother and even though their friendship is dangerous, she wonders if this time, she'll be able to do what needs to be done. Will she be able to save Corey?

-My interview/spotlight with the author. I was sent a copy of this book to read but I'm waiting to read it till early 2011. As I've stated before the blurb by Olugbemisola Rhuday Perkovich and the reviews by my blogging friends have made me even more eager to read this book.

And you? What are you waiting on this week?

Finding My Place

Finding My Place by Traci L. Jones 2010
Farrar Straus Giroux

Rating: 3/5

IQ "Trust me. Your name is spelled wrong. And hell, yeah, you're the talk of the school. The girls-well, about half of them-like the way you dress. But they think they have nothing in common with you because you're Black, so trying to make friends with you would be a waste of time. Then about a fourth of them despise the fact that you're here, since they think your presence soils their pristine way of life. They hope you'll fail each class miserably so they can feel superior to you like their parents tell them they are. And the final fourth are so screwed up with their own personal issues that they don't have any spare time to think about you one way or another. And as for the boys, well, one or two of them would love to ask you out, but will never do so because the other ninety-nine percent wouldn't let them live it down." Jackie Sue pg. 29-30

Finding My Place is about fourteen-year-old Tiphanie Baker who in 1975 is uprooted from her comfortable life in Denver to the fancy, mostly white suburb of Brent Hills (still in Colorado). Tiphanie goes from being popular to being completely ignored at school. She misses being in the majority of school, she misses her best friend, Renee and her crush, Morris. One day, Jackie Sue walks up to he and bluntly states what I mentioned in the Incredible Quote. The straightforward Jackie Sue quickly becomes a friend of Tiphanie's. Well sort-of a friend. Jackie Sue won't invite Tiphanie over and she doesn't stand up for her to heir racist classmates. Tiphanie is involved in the age-old of struggle of trying to fit in while not selling out and figuring out who her real friends are.

Tiphanie can see the future. Well not really but sometimes she talks in a reflective manner, like when she says "[m]y parents were generally conservative and old-fashioned, but they were on the cutting edge of at least one Black cultural idiosyncrasy-they were the first in the growing wave of Black mothers and fathers to be overly creative in the choosing and spelling of their children's names." (pg. 7) How would she have known that her parents were on "the cutting edge" already? Except for Tiphanie and Jackie Sue, the supporting cast remains just that, supportive, never becoming strong enough to stand on their own. The writing isn't great but it'll do. The message is glaringly apparent and the book has a preachy tone to it. Don't judge people based on race or money, you can fit in without selling out, etc. I don't have much experience with Black middle-class parents of the '70s but I found Tiphanie's parents to be the same-old and their speeches were cliche. Did people really reference W.E.B. DuBous' "Talented Tenth" to their children? I was skeptical.

I did like that Tiphanie's parents were shown to have prejudices since we all have them. More often than not, middle/upper class Blacks look down on poor white people just as rich white people look down on both groups. It's also sadly ironic that people who are considered "white trash" still think they are superior to rich Black people. In another cruel twist of irony (does that expression even work?) the people who should be hyper-sensitive to prejudice, actively engage in it. Even though the message was fairly standard, it's still one worth reiterating because not all people have taken it to heart. Tiphanie was a decent narrator, I liked her sense of humor and observations. Since no one will talk to her, Tiphanie spends the first few days of school overhearing the gossip spread by her classmates, so when people finally stop talking to her, she knows all ;) I also admire the fact that she doesn't put up with mess from anyone (although I probably would have gone off on Jackie Sue for trying to tell me my name was spelled wrong). She tells her history teacher about Crispus Attucks (not that he cares) and while she can't tell people off when her parents are around, her snarky commentary entertains the reader. Such as "I didn't want my teachers and my classmates to call me 'Tip Hand Nie.' Just the thought of that happening annoyed me. As did the assumption that Bradley would be my 'ready-made friend.' I didn't like all the Blacks in my last school, so what made her think I'd like Bradley? Did she like all the white people she knew?" (pg. 8) Touche!

*While the premise of Finding My Place is not too original, the setting is. The 70s reference are somewhat more familiar to me and help make this book a bit more unique. I wish the writing had been a bit..more. More descriptive or lyrical. It would have helped this book stand out more. Instead I fear it will get lost in the fray. I don't regret reading this book, it was a "filler" read I suppose. The confident and loyal character of Tiphanie keeps the book entertaining, it's nice to see that while Jackie Sue and Tiphanie may struggle to ALWAYS remain loyal, they do forgive and make up quite often. Ultimately I wanted this book to go further than it did and that has more to do with my own expectations. If you're looking for a book that explores issues of class and race (although sadly not always together. There is a small glimpse of POTENTIAL Black-on-Black class prejudice when Tiphanie is invited to join a Jack-and-Jill like organization. But nothing really comes out of those parts), this is a good book for you. If you like books with regular, strong female main characters this is a book you will most likely enjoy. And if you love the '70s, you will really get a kick out of this story :)

I realize this whole paragraph is rather vague but this is a book I'm quite indifferent on.

Disclosure: From the library

Milagros: Girl From Away

Milagros: Girl from Away by Meg Medina 2009

Christy Ottaviano Books/ Henry Holt and Company

Rating: 4/5

IQ "The sun was about to dip into the sea, its reflection igniting the skies in purples and oranges. It was the time of day Miguel most loved, when the sky seemed to throw out its last, futile war whoop before plunging into the ink of night." pg. 96

Milagros de le Torre's parents are unusual. Her father left her and her mother to be a pirate. Milagros' mother rarely disciplines her and seems to forget about her. Sure she remembers to feed her and make sure she gets to school, but she never asks any questions about Milagros' life. The kids at school tease Milagros because her father became a pirate and her mother is so odd (she gardens and is a skilled healer of sorts) but Milagros still loves her home, the island of Las Brisas where she can roam freely. When a band of marauders destroys Milagros' beloved island, her mother sends her away to keep her safe. Guided by the mysterious manta rays, Milagros ends up in America, a foreign world to her. Alone and lonely, all Milagros wants is to be reunited with her mother.

I wasn't fond of the ending of this novel. There weren't many loose ends, but I felt there was a hole in the story with Old Woman Perez (especially concerning her daughter). Add to that my general confusion over what happened with Milagros' mother and I wasn't a fan of the plot. The story seemed to largely drift at parts, searching aimlessly for a course of direction. Maybe I just don't really understand magical realism but I didn't understand how the story went from made-up Las Brisas (aka Away) to Maine. Also the villaness was unrealistically evil. Yes she was jealous but after awhile her actions bordered on extreme and I just didn't think it was plausible. I also found it odd that Milagros goes to school but it's never mentioned. She only has one friend, Old Woman Perez and I wished she had more interactions with people her own age.

Even with all my issues with the plot, it's the writing that truly carries this story and makes it beautiful. The writing is alluring and definitive. I was easily able to picture the lovely (yet fictional) Las Brisas (which is in the Caribbean) and the very different world of Holly Pointe, Maine. The author easily captured how shocking it would be to go from the warmth of the people and setting of Las Brisas to the colder and grayer Maine. The feelings of alienation Milagros feels is one that many can relate to and I liked her small acts of rebellion. Milagros is feisty and seeks revenge on all those who tease her and treat others unjustly (I liked that she sought revenge not only for herself but for others as well). I was also fond of the frayed mother-daughter bond. Milagros' mother, Rosa, does not pay fit into the conventional mother mold that Milagros has. She envies the other girls whose mothers scold them about their bad behavior and ask about their report cards. Rosa doesn't appear to care, but she does care about Milagros. As is often the case, too late, Milagros realizes that her mother does indeed love her and she wants nothing more than to leave Maine and find her mother (who put Milagros in a dinghy to escape and Milagros hasn't heard from her since).

Milagros: Girl From Away is an enamoring read. The creative aspects of magical realism were somewhat lost on me since they resulted in confusion (on my part) but the writing and descriptions are so delightful I didn't really mind. I also loved the incorporation of manta rays into the story. Such an usual element. I don't think I knew anything about manta rays (I didn't even know they were referred to as manta rays which is the overall name. Sting rays are a certain type) and while this book doesn't provide much information about manta rays, it does explain that they really aren't that dangerous and are pretty creatures to observe. I wish the plot had been stronger with more details but the slower pace suited me because it allows time to revel in the writing. I also really liked that Las Brisas incorporated only the good of all the (Latin) Caribbean islands, it was sunny with nice beaches and a relaxed atmosphere. A perfect place.

Disclosure: Received from the author. Thank you Meg!

New Crayons, Secret Santas!

New Crayons is hosted by Color Online (of which I am now a staff member)

In this meme we talk about what fabulous-sounding new books we got. The one thing the books have in common is that they are multicultural (I'm torn over how I feel on that word).

This week really felt like Christmas because my two Secret Santa presents arrived! Behold

A Broke and Bookish Secret Santa (Aurora).

Book of a Thousand Days by Shannon Hale

When Dashti, a maid, and Lady Saren, her mistress, are shut in a tower for seven years for Saren’s refusal to marry a man she despises, the two prepare for a very long and dark imprisonment.

As food runs low and the days go from broiling hot to freezing cold, it is all Dashti can do to keep them fed and comfortable. But the arrival outside the tower of Saren’s two suitors—one welcome, and the other decidedly less so—brings both hope and great danger, and Dashti must make the desperate choices of a girl whose life is worth more than she knows.

With Shannon Hale’s lyrical language, this forgotten but classic fairy tale from the Brothers Grimm is reimagined and reset on the central Asian steppes; it is a completely unique retelling filled with adventure and romance, drama and disguise

-At first I thought this was a retelling of Rapunzel but now I no longer think that. What I do know is that I've heard nothing but praise for this book and that it was the one Bloomsbury book everyone pointed out when they talked about Bloomsbury's past covers with poc on the front. I think I might be growing to really like fairy tales especially since I loved Ash (which I really want to re-read because it's a perfect holiday read) and Toads & Diamonds.

Look at the adorable package the gifts came in! I didn't even know you could mail things with such fun paper. And who doesn't love Charlie Brown? :)

I LOVE chocolate. It's probably the main reason as to why I'm going to be large when I get older. I generally crave a piece of chocolate a day. It's a minor miracle that I haven't eaten the Ghiradelli Milk & Caramel chocolate yet. Also the Life's Little Book Treasure Book of Christmas Traditions is so cute and informative (I definitely want to incorporate some of the traditions mentioned into the traditions of my family). It was a perfect touch and the card was very sweet.

Aurora, I can't thank you enough! I only wish I knew where you blogged at so I could properly thank you =/

The Neverending Bookshelf Secret Santa

My Secret Santa is from Canada (and I guess we were supposed to get each other?) so my chocolates have French names! I know it sounds silly but that was really cool (no pun intended) to me. It's part of the reason as to why I haven't eaten them yet (since I doubt I'll be going to any French-speaking country anytime soon).

The gingerbread cookie looks divine and I'm probably going to eat it tomorrow. I held out till I posted this (one week basically) and that's enough willpower usage. haha. The card was a nice touch and I so appreciate it =)

Deadline by Chris Crutcher

Ben Wolf has big things planned for his senior year. Had big things planned. Now what he has is some very bad news and only one year left to make his mark on the world.

How can a pint-sized, smart-ass seventeen-year-old do anything significant in the nowheresville of Trout, Idaho?

First, Ben makes sure that no one else knows what is going on—not his superstar quarterback brother, Cody, not his parents, not his coach, no one. Next, he decides to become the best 127-pound football player Trout High has ever seen; to give his close-minded civics teacher a daily migraine; and to help the local drunk clean up his act.

And then there's Dallas Suzuki. Amazingly perfect, fascinating Dallas Suzuki, who may or may not give Ben the time of day. Really, she's first on the list.

Living with a secret isn't easy, though, and Ben's resolve begins to crumble . . . especially when he realizes that he isn't the only person in Trout with secrets

-I have no idea if this book is about a poc. I'm presuming Dallas Suzuki is a poc (sounds Japanese) but I apologize if I'm wrong. Regardless, I love Chris Crutcher. I've only read one of his other books Whale Talk (which is one of my favorite books in the history of ever) but I fell head-over-heels in love with Chris Crutcher's witty characters. He makes you laugh while he turns his character's lives upside down.

Thank you, thank you, thank you Katie!

For Review-Requested from Egmont USA

Bitter Melon by Cara Chow

Release Date: December 28, 2o10

Frances, a Chinese-American student at an academically competitive school in San Francisco, has always had it drilled into her to be obedient to her mother and to be a straight-A student so that she can go to Med school. But is being a doctor what she wants? It has never even occurred to Frances to question her own feelings and desires until she accidentally winds up in speech class and finds herself with a hidden talent. Does she dare to challenge the mother who has sacrificed everything for her? Set in the 1980s .

-I like that this story is set in the 1980s and that it's about taking a speech class (I've always been curious about how you become good at speech). I'm cautiously hopefully that this novel will not be the same old story of an unrelentingly strict and stubborn parent who has a quiet and obedient child.

The End of the World Club (The Jaguar Stones: Book 2) by J&P Voelkel

With the end of the Mayan calendar fast approaching, fourteen-year-old Max Murphy and his new friend Lola, the modern Maya girl who saved his life in the perilous jungle, are racing against time to outwit the twelve Lords of Death. Following the trail of the conquistadors, their quest takes them back to the wild heart of Spain - a forgotten land steeped in legend, superstition and ever more bizarre tourist festivals. With a pack of hellhounds on their heels and the cape-twirling Count Antonio de Landa in hot pursuit, the teens must face madness and betrayal, bluff and double-bluff, to uncover the terrible secrets of the long-lost Yellow Jaguar. But no matter where they run, all roads lead to Xibalba. There, in the cold and watery Maya underworld, we finally discover why only Max Murphy can save the world from the villainous Lords of Death.

-
Ahh it's the end of the world!! Well not yet. I very much enjoyed the first book in this series and I look forward to learning more about Mayan mythology and finally figuring out why only Max Murphy can save the world.


I hope everyone's mailbox/presents under the Christmas contain books or giftcards this holiday season! Tell me what you received this past week.

Elated Over Eleven: Danette Vigilante

This is my 3rd Elated over Eleven interview, in which I interview 2011 debut YA/MG authors of color. It is my pleasure to welcome Danette Vigilante to Reading in Color. Her MG debut, The Trouble With Half a Moon releases on January 6, 2011. It's already received some good reviews and scored a blurb from Olugbemisola Rhuday Perkovich (one of my favorite people ever)! What a great way to prepare for your book's release. Read on to learn more about Danette's debut and how she compares writing to escaping out of jail ;)

What is The Trouble With Half A Moon about?

The Trouble with Half a Moon is about thirteen year old Dellie who lives with the guilt that her little brother's death was her fault. Her mother cries all the time and because she wants Dellie to stay safe, she keeps her inside as much as she can. It doesn't matter that Dellie longs to go outside to be like other girls or that there's a boy she likes and he likes her too. All that matters to her mother is that she's safe at home. So, Dellie has no choice but to watch the world of her housing project through her second story window.

Things start to change soon after new neighbors move in on the first floor. Trouble like this has never happened in Dellie's building before. Now there are men fighting on the stoop, gunshots echoing through the night and Corey, a hungry and abused five year old boy knocking on her door looking for something to eat. Corey reminds Dellie of her brother and even though their friendship is dangerous, she wonders if this time, she'll be able to do what needs to be done. Will she be able to save Corey?

How did you break into publishing?

I broke into publishing after years of slowly scratching away at it the same way someone might try to escape from jail! Seriously, I learned what I could about the business and I was persistent. Also important was taking what I could from rejections and using it. I’m the type of person who could spend the day cleaning then when company comes, I see everything through their eyes—ugh, I missed a spot! And, why didn’t I straighten out this or that! So when it came to rejections I was able to see my story through a different set of eyes which was very helpful.

What was the inspiration for The Trouble With Half a Moon?

Trouble has lived inside me since I was a young teenager. Corey, the little boy in the story, reminds me of a little boy I knew growing up. When I sat down to write this story, I wasn’t sure where it was going. All I knew was that I wanted to give that little boy a chance.

That's so cool that you've known the story you wanted to tell since you were a teenager. I'm so glad you finally get a chance to share it with everyone. I hope that little (well not so little anymore) boy reads it!

What book would your book date?

(Interesting question! Could my book date a few? There are so many to love!) Okay, okay. I’d have to go with Paris from The Road to Paris by Nikki Grimes.

I'm glad your book is mongamous, we've had a few playas in the past :p

In a previous interview, you mention that you wanted to be an archeologist. Do you foresee archeology being in any of your future books? What drew you to (and eventually away) from archeology?

I would love for Archeology to play a role in a future book! For the life of me, I don’t remember what drew me to Archeology. I just know that I have this thing for imagining the people who were here before me and how they might’ve lived. As for being drawn away, it just happened. It’s like walking on a certain path while admiring something off in the distance without stepping off to explore it.

I've had an interest in archeology since watching the TV show Bones (since that's what temperance Brennan originally was before she turned to forensic anthroplogy I think). I agree, there is a strong appeal in learning about the people of the past, especially as it gets harder to imagine the further away from the time period we get.

What are some of your current favorite YA reads? What fellow '11 debuts are you looking forward to?

Right now I’m enjoying Lena by Jacqueline Woodson and just before that, Handbook for Boys by Walter Dean Myers. For 2011 I see that I’ll be a very busy reader. I think I’ll start off with How Lamar's Bad Prank Won a Bubba-Sized (Love that title!) by Crystal Allen and Across the Universe by Beth Revis.

6. What two PoC characters would you love to hang out with?

Lahni from When the Black Girl Sings and Rhonda from My Life as a Rhombus.

I always felt so bad that Lahni was so loney (at first anyway), I would totally hang out with her too. Rhonda is awesome (I'd like to hang out with any main character from one of Varian Johnson's books!) and I have lots of questions for her....

7. What is one issue you have with YA/MG? What is something you love about YA/MG?

I don’t think I have any issues. I absolutely adore everything about YA/MG and probably always will.

Where can readers find out more about you and your books?

You can come and visit me at these places: Danettevigilante.com or, danettevigilante.blogspot.com or, facebook.com/danette.vigilante

Thank you for stopping by Danette and hooray for your upcoming debut!

RiC Holiday Gifts Received Post Here!

If I'm lucky, Mr. Linky will work. Since I tend to be unlucky though, if it doesn't work for you, just put the links in the comments.

You don't have to dedicate a whole blog post to your gift but at least talk about in your weekly wrap-up post (In My Mailbox, New Crayons, Sunday Salon, etc.)

Thank you everyone for participating!

Waiting on Wednesday: The Great Wall of Lucy Wu

Hosted by Breaking the Spine

This week I'm waiting on....


The Great Wall of Lucy Wu by Wendy Wan-Long Shang

Release Date: January 1, 2011

Lucy Wu, aspiring basketball star and interior designer, is on the verge of having the best year of her life. She's ready to rule the school as a sixth grader and take over the bedroom she has always shared with her sister. In an instant, though, her plans are shattered when she finds out that Yi Po, her beloved grandmother's sister, is coming to visit for several months -- and is staying in Lucy's room. Lucy's vision of a perfect year begins to crumble, and in its place come an unwelcome roommate, foiled birthday plans, and Chinese school with the awful Talent Chang.

Her plans are ruined -- or are they? Like the Chinese saying goes: Events that appear to be good or bad luck often turn out to be quite the opposite, and Lucy finds that while she may not get the "perfect" year she had in mind, she can create something even better.

-You know how happy I get when I find books that tear down stereotypes. I love that this is a MG book about an Asian girl playing basketball because honestly, that's not the first image of a basketball player that comes to people's minds. Plus I can totally sympathize with wanting a certain school year to be the best/most perfect year and of course that never works out as planned :)

What are you dying for this week?

Tutored

Tutored by Allison Whittenberg ARC
Delacorte Press/Random House

Release Date: Today (Dec. 14, 2010)

Rating: 2/5

IQ "Color was the easy part. Black was also a culture. Wendy doubted that these [white girls comparing tans] girls ever had black-eyed peas to welcome in the New Year or danced the pop and lock at a family picnic. And beyond cultural expressions, she wondered if these girls had any concept of consciousness. Did they know anything about Angela Davis or Sally Hemmings? Or were they stuck in a one-dimensional experience of race? A pigeonholing, based on sight only." pg. 78

Wendy Anderson and Hakiam Powell "are at opposite ends of the spectrum-the social spectrum, the financial spectrum, the opportunity spectrum, you name it." Wendy lives in an all-white suburb of Philadelphia and she wants to learn more about her Black culture so she volunteers to be a tutor at an inner-city community center. Her father was born and raised in the ghetto, but once he got out, he never looked back and now he looks down on "those people." Wendy dreams of going to a HBU, but that's not going to happen under her father's roof. Hakiam is one of "those people" her father can't stand. He moved from home to home in foster care and now he's in Philly to start over while staying with his cousin (and he's often stuck babysitting his cousin's daughter). Wendy and Hakiam meet at the community center and they don't get along. But slowly, they begin to learn to tolerate each other. Which grows into something more... (quotes from back of ARC)

This novel reads like a work in progress. I honestly couldn't believe the book ended where it did, I flipped back and forth a few times. The ending isn't suspenseful, it's a solid and cute ending but it seemed so abrupt. The transitions from chapter to chapter were awkward and not a single character is well developed. The story is told in third person but I still expected to learn more about Wendy. Off the top of my head all I can tell you is that she's the only black girl at her school, doesn't really get along with her father, is a tutor and wants to attend a HBCU (I had to go back and look up what HBCU because I couldn't remember if it was Howard or Spelman). Hakiam came a little closer to being two dimensional, but the book ended before he could fully manifest. I wanted to know more about Wendy's likes, Hakiam's likes (we learned a good deal about their dislikes), more details about growing up in Philly, etc. Why did Leesa (Hakiam's cousin) have such an attitude? Why is Wendy's dad so against poor Black people? Furthermore, there is no romantic chemistry. I'm not an expert, but there was absolutely no indication that they would like each other except for the obvious 'opposites attract'. It's only after they've started to hook up that I could sort of understand why they liked each other, but again, I needed MORE.

Mostly I can only commend the author on what she tried to do. Although I loved the scene when Wendy and Hakiam go on their first date and Wendy has an entire conversation with herself. I also enjoyed some of the banter between Wendy and Hakiam. At times it was sharp, both of them being quick on their feet. At other times, it fell flat. I'm glad the author tried to write a YA romance about Black people that wasn't street lit (not knocking street lit but I like having options). I like that the author wrote about Black prejudice towards other Blacks. I like that the author tried to address the positives and the negatives of going to a HBCU.

Tutored has potential. I firmly believe that if it was longer (the ARC is 179 pages) and the romance slowed down, there would be more obvious chemistry between Wendy and Hakiam and the characters would be more fleshed out. It's not just the characters that need fleshing out though, it's also the issues the author tries to address. I appreciate her discussing Black prejudice, use of the 'n' word and HBCUs but she only touches on these for the briefest of moments. There's no gradual change in attitudes, instead it's a rather dramatic shift. I was hoping Wendy and Hakiam would talk more because when they did, they had interesting discussions. Hakiam opened Wendy's eyes to a new world and she did the same for him, they are good for each other but as a reader, the palpable connection just wasn't there. Ultimately I not only WANTED more, I NEEDED more from the book in order for it to be a success.

Disclosure: Requested for review. I'm not going to do that anymore I don't think because I feel even more terrible if i write a critical review. Anyway, thanks Random House!

Male Monday: The First Part Last

The First Part Last by Angela Johnson 2003 (Book 2 in Heaven trilogy)
Simon Pulse/Simon and Schuster


Rating: 5/5


IQ "This little thing with the perfect face and hands doing nothing but counting on me. And me wanting nothing else but to run crying into my own mom's room and have her do the whole thing. It's not going to happen, and my heart aches as I straighten out her hands and trace the delicate lines. Then kiss them. Her hands are translucent and warm. Baby hands. Warm, sweet-smelling baby hands. And all I can do is kiss them and pull her close so she won't see my face and how scared I an. When there's nothing you can do, do nothing. But then I realize. I've done it. I know something. I know something about this little thing that is my baby. I know that she needs me. I know what she does when she just needs me. No big screaming thing. Just a whimper, then she only wants me." Bobby pg.15-16

Bobby learned on his sixteenth birthday that he is about to be a father. His girlfriend Nia isn't sure if she's going to keep the baby or not and Bobby doesn't interfere with her decision. The months leading up to the birth are tumultuous, there's lots of tears, reflection, some laughter and love.

Short summary I know but it's a short book (132 pages, short sentences). I was not aware that this is the second book in the Heaven trilogy, but I would have rather started with this book anyway. Based on my understanding, each book in the trilogy can be read as a stand-alone, this one certainly can. I suspected that I would tear up while I read this book, but I didn't. However, this book did move me. How can you not sympathize and admire a young father who decides to take care of his baby daughter, Feather? The most tender moments are the ones in which Bobby is home alone, taking care of his daughter. He talks to her and he talks about her. He's afraid of messing up, but he can't imagine giving Feather up to any one. In addition to loving Bobby's interactions with his daughter, I was cheered by how he reacted to Nia's announcement. Bobby is shocked and upset and obviously, he does not want to be a father. But he never tries to influence Nia's decision about the baby and I really admired that. If she wants an abortion, he'll go with her, if she wants to give the baby up, he'll do what needs to be done and if she decides to raise the baby, he will help her out. I also loved that Bobby still loved Nia. Their relationship was not only physical and while the pregnancy does put a strain on their relationship, they work through it. Bobby is patient with Nia's mood swings and he feels bad about the situation he put them in.

I was skeptical as to how much character development would occur, especially amongst the secondary characters. But surprisingly, I closed the book feeling as though I had personally gotten to know Bobby's two best friends, his girlfriend and his parents. The only two characters who seemed to disappear were Nia's parents. They had a big influence in her life and I was puzzled as to why Bobby rarely mentioned them. The author does not try and keep the story suspenseful and I appreciated that. It's fairly easy to pick up that something tragic has happened, the question is, what exactly? There is one random chapter told from Nia's point of view that I didn't fully appreciate, but I dealt with it because I was so wrapped up in the story. I think I walked away from this story with immense respect for all parents, single or not, young or old. They are truly amazing (well most of them).

The First Part Last is probably the first book I've read about teenage pregnancy that does not discuss abstinence or protection. We are never told if Bobby and Nia didn't use protection or if the condom broke. This didn't bother me in the slightest because what does it matter how the pregnancy happened? They are going to have a baby and I was far more interested in how they would adapt and raise their child and the author seemed to recognize that. I liked that Bobby was a middle class teen who had a sort of support system. His mother isn't going to help, but his father makes more of an effort. Both approaches are good and Bobby is trying to find a balance between the two. He knows Feather is his responsibility, but every now and then he wants a break, some sleep, to hang with his buddies. Bobby must some foolish mistakes, but so do we all. He bounces back, sometimes it takes him a little while to realize he made a mistake, but once he does, he tries to make it up. The responsibility he feels for his daughter will leave a mark on any reader and reminds us not to expect every young father to be a deadbeat. The writing is poetic and flows along, alternating between "then" (while Nia is pregnant) and the "now" (raising Feather). The author keeps it moving and is never heavy handed, she simply shows that a father's role is very important and that being a parent is hard, hard work. I can't recommend this book enough. Thank you to everyone who told me to read it! Obviously, a favorite of 2010.

Disclosure: The Library really came through for me on this one :)