Girl Meets Boy

Girl Meets Boy: Because There Are Two Sides to Every Story; edited by Kelly Milner Halls, featuring stories by Chris Crutcher, Kelly Milner Halls, Jospeh Bruchac, Cynthia Leitich Smith, James Howe, Ellen Wittlinger, Rita Williams-Garcoa. Terry Trueman, Terry Davis, Rebecca Fjelland Davis, Sara Ryan & Randy Powell (ARC version) 2012
Chronicle Books

Rating: 2.5/5

IQ "I know this shouldn't be anything, shouldn't matter, but for some reason it does matter to me; Raffina is black, and I'm white. Of course, she's not really black any more than I'm really white. She's kind of dark brown, no, kind of medium brownish. I'm definitely sort of beige or something, light beige, tinted pink or red depending on how much time I spend in the sun (I don't tan, I just burn). Maybe a better way to put this is that Raffina's ancestors came from Africa, and my ancestors came from....I don't know....not Africa. Someplace like England or Germany or Canada or something." Sean + Raffina, Sean pg. 117 (Trueman)

Twelve authors, 6 stories, straight and gay relationships. One author tells the story from the guy's point of view, the other tells the story from the girl's point of view. I picked the quote I did because it made me laugh in its simplicity and truth.

 The back of the book describes this as a "collection of he said/she said stories" but I was disappointed in that regard. Instead these are stories about the differences between guys and girls ways of thinking but I was expecting each story to be about one situation/conflict told from the perspective of the guy and girl. Those sort of stories would have been more appealing in my opinion. The stories also did not seem to mesh well with the other half of the story, let alone the stories included in the overall collection and since they ended up not all being about romantic relationships I found it a bit confusing. I know short stories have to be short but these seemed to be too quick, the main character was developed but the other characters introduced sort of floundered. Furthermore found most of the characters to be rather forgettable and I was not particularly invested in the outcome of the so-called relationship. I also never thought I would say this but..the stories needed more romance. They just seemed bland.

 I did really enjoy the story 'Love or Something Like It' (its Chris Crutcher, who I love) and its complementary story, 'Some Things Never Change' (Halls) because they really took stereotypes and turned them on its head with the jock and the 'slut'. I felt Cynthia Leitich Smith and Joseph Bruchac did a good job of actually linking up their stories in  'Falling Down to see the Moon' (Bruchac) and 'Mooning Over Broken Stars' (Smith). And 'Launchpad to Neptune' (Sara Ryan & Randy Powell) is absolutely fascinating, it actually had a plot twist that I did not see coming and had well developed characters besides the main ones. There are points in each story that are relatable and while each story has one major issue and its all rather straightforward, they are stories that need to be told especially for those who need to get over their own prejudices. Books like these might help gently prod them to rethink their antipathy to dating someone outside their race, or to disapprove of those who are gay or lesbian or to judge people based on the number of people they may or may not have slept with.

Girl Meets Boy contains a collection of short and sweet stories from some of the best talents in the YA world and while I think these stories might have been more memorable if they were longer/a book of their own, better to have a little of the story than none at all. The stories can be heavy-handed at times and the supporting characters fell flat (and the cover's weird) but they are interesting. I also loved the last bit at the end where each of the authors (except Rita Williams Garcia, who I really wanted to hear from) shared their inspiration for their respective story. This book is a quick read that will pass the time but it most likely won't stay with you, read it at the beach or in a park.

Disclosure: This is embarrassing but I don't remember.....I think I got it from the publisher. Whoever it was, thank you!

Male Monday: Every Time A Rainbow Dies

Every Time A Rainbow Dies by Rita Williams Garcia 2001
HarperCollins

Rating: 4.5/5

IQ "There was never any peace around her. Instead he felt sick and brave at the same time, ready to jump into the unknown only to be hit." Thulani pg. 62 (An unusual feeling about love to have, right? Or is it? ;))


Every Time A Rainbow Dies starts off with sixteen year old Thulani saving Ysa after she had been raped. Since his mother died, all Thulani does is go to school (literally, he just goes to school. He doesn't actually try to achieve good grades) and care for his doves. He lives with his brother and his sister-in-law and it's not a happy situation. But there's something about Ysa that makes him want to do more than that. He doesn't even know her name but he sets out to find her. However, Ysa is hard to find and when he does find her, she doesn't want him in her life at all.

I loved the atmosphere of this book. It's set in Brooklyn but it explores a group of people that is not often shown in YA novels, that is those from the Caribbean. Thulani is Jamaican and Ysa is Haitian. Based on the dialogue I could hear the accents and the patois drifting from the page. Everyone and everything is described so well. I could clearly picture Ysa and her colorful clothes, Thulani and his birds, his 'crazy' sister-in-law and Tant Rose. All the characters have a presence, the best example is Thulani's sister-in-law, Shakira. I dismissed her because Thulani didn't like her but she surprised him and me with some of her actions. Also, this novel briefly deals with girls liking sex, it's a refreshing difference from the whole 'good girl=not liking sex or wanting to have it before marriage.' Ysa was an awesome character. She had goals and nothing was going to get in her way of achieving them, even being raped (if you've read the book, the Best Scene is hands down the one where Ysa is in the marketplace and goes off).

I realize life is full of grey areas and many situations are ever fully resolved but I wanted that to not be the case in this book. Instead, it ends on a high note of anticipation. But there's no sequel! How can this be?! I don't think this book should have cleared up everything but a sequel is definitely needed because an important scene is left to the reader's imagination, off the page. Grr. Something that did bother me is that I never understood why Thulani was so bothered by Shakira. She treated him better than his own brother, Truman did. I did think Thulani's actions were stalkerish and that was creepy. Ysa handles the situation better than I would have, and I understand how him stalking her is a sign of love (yes that is a creepy statement but I don't know how to word it better. It's nonviolent stalking!).

Every Time A Rainbow Dies has a wonderful title and explores some different types of love in Caribbean accents. This novel doesn't shy away from issues of sexuality, attitudes of Caribbeans concerning African American and family. The characters are strong and refuse to be regulated to the background. The story has a unique setting and Thulani and Ysa are unforgettable (which is why the lack of a sequel will be so distressing). High school and up.

The current situation in Haiti as faced by women and girls, courtesy of Heidi R. Kling's post (her husband is a doctor and he just got back from Haiti. He sounds like a great guy)

To Help: Donate to Doctors Without Borders or volunteer to help them. They are a fantastic organization that provides meals, vaccines and as much medical help as they can provide. We need more doctors to help out!

This is the first review of Haiti review week (reviews centered around Haitians and Haitian Americans. Included in all posts will be ways to help and links to articles about Hati's past, present and future).

Blue Tights

Blue Tights by Rita Williams Garcia 1988
Penguin Books

Rating: 3.5/5

IQ "She pulled shape out of her very being as though she could extend both inside and outside and beyond her physical limitations. She carved her contractions out of love not being made all the way, babies not being born, and Mama's testimony of girlhood gone by. She delivered each phrase with clarity and continuity, transforming the twists and inclinations into the dance she knew." Joyce pg. 138

In Blue Tights, all Joyce Collins wants to be able to do is dance. She's not a big fan of ballet especially because the teacher is always picking on her. Well, she also wants to be cool. Being cool means that Joyce can hang out with Cindy and Jay-Jay, the two most popular girls in the school and it means that maybe, just maybe, Andre "the lady-killer" Miller will be interested in her. Joyce's ballet teacher essentially tells her that Joyce's butt is too big for her to be a ballet dancer. Joyce is crushed and goes looking for other ways to be dancer. She discovers not only an African dance troupe, but her African heritage. Finally, she has found a style of dance where she is accepted and excels.

I liked the idea behind this book, but I just couldn't get into it because of the main character. Joyce got on my nerves. She had flaws, but they were ones that were never noticed therefore they weren't resolved. Of course, flaws can't be fixed easily and what some people see as flaws, other people see as good things, so I guess that could go either way with Joyce. Joyce is considered uncool, mainly because she has a big butt which makes guys think she's easy so they spread rumors about her and then the girls don't want to associate with a "slut". This makes Joyce a sympathetic character, because (as is often the case) she's more innocent then people expect. However, Joyce was too desperate for me. She was always throwing herself at all the wrong people; the stuck up popular girls at school and guys that were clearly only after one thing. At first I was able to understand why Joyce wanted to fit in, most of us do want to fit in. But after awhile, it just got tired. It becomes evident to the reader that these people are jerks and I grew increasingly frustrated that Joyce was too myopic to see it. Also, she's amazingly self-absorbed. She has a high opinion of herself and she's so off base sometimes. It's all about her and I didn't enjoy reading about someone with that attitude. Finally, the narration was a bit confusing. The author would essentially switch up the point of view and get into other people's heads to show the characters' thoughts, and it was not a smooth transition. I was never completely sure if the observation was Joyce's or another character's.

Joyce did have redeeming moments, sometimes she would wake up and do what needed to be done. She has an attitude and she's funny and I can appreciate her vulnerable moments. I sympathized with her over being confused about her very mature body (as her mother observes "her daughter who was capable at age ten of cooking, cleaning, getting a man to look twice and making babies." pg. 114). Granted, I've never had to deal with that but I can imagine the pressure she must have been under and the stress her body would have caused. The dancing scenes were right on; especially when the dance teacher is constantly urging Joyce to "tuck that butt under", it took me back to my dance days when that's all the teacher would tell me. This book articulates how difficult it can be for a girl whose thick and who wants to be a ballet dancer to gain respect in the ballet world. I enjoyed the descriptions of African dance as well, I was able to imagine it and I was proud of my heritage just reading about it. The best is when Joyce is describing how dancing makes her feel. Any true lover of dance will be able to relate. Besides the dancing scenes, I also thought the not-romance was excellent. I wasn't expecting the end result and it's very different from other books I've read. It's sweet, but at the same time, a bit uncomfortable. You'll have to read to find out what I mean :)

Blue Tights helped pave the way in the YA genre for books about African American dancers (this is a guess, it's the oldest book I've found that deals with AA dancers but there could be another). The characters can't be placed in a box and while Joyce will drive you crazy, her story is heartwarming and she does mature mentally. While this book was written in the '80s, the issues addressed here are still (sadly) prevalent today, especially in the African American community. The dance scenes are well done and any dancer will will appreciate them. It's a nice coming of age story with a few unexpected twists.

Disclosure: From the library

PS I really like this cover. Not just because there's an African American girl on there but because it's so colorful. Joyce wears an orange leotard and blue tights and that's accurately depicted on the cover. Also it looks like she's standing on a drum (very important) and there's a ballerina in the background. All these aspects of the cover are actually mentioned in the story (which is not always the case).

Jumped

Jumped by Rita Williams-Garcia

Rating: 4.5 / 5

IQ "Sometimes what you don't say means more than what you do." Back cover

Not a particularly quotable book but it packs a punch without needing deep quotes, the actions speak volumes and teach valuable lessons.

Leticia overhears Dominique threatening to beat up Trina and Trina doesn't seem to have heard the threat. Leticia doesn't want any part of it, she failed geometry first semester and has to take early morning math classes during the second semester so she doesn 't have any time to be worried about other people's problems. Also, Trina is self-absorbed and thinks she's "so cute" so Leticia thinks Trina was bound to get beat up soon anyway.

Jumped is told in alternating points of view between Leticia, Trina and Dominique. Throughout the whole book, Leticia struggles over whether she should or should not warn Trina. Her best friend Bea thinks she should warn Trina, but Leticia isn't so sure. Leticia was a frustrating character. Sure you want to see obnoxious people get what it's due to them, the whole karma thing. But does anyone deserve to get beat up by someone they don't even stand a chance against? In Trina's case, big and tall Dominique will pound petite, slim Trina to a crisp. Leticia acts selfish throughout the novel, but quite frankly none of these characters were endearing. Trina is cheerful but obnoxious. She does indeed think she's all that and she is but her behavior is irritating . She's also a great artist. Dominique is angry. Shes angry at the world, but especially angry at one of her teachers who failed her and now she can't play basketball because her GPA is below the required level set by her coach. Trina just happens to be in the wrong place at the wrong time, an easy target for Dominique's anger.

This novel is amazing. Rita Williams-Garcia doesn't sugar coat anything, but the novel isn't graphic either. Nor is it preachy or judgemental. The girls and the lack of involved adults (both in school and out of school) are all realistic. Their actions have consequences. The novel is short and slowly develops, but it's suspenseful. The ending was a bit frustrating, simply because of the thought-process of the characters. Kudos to Ms. Williams Garcia for writing about a topic that gets ignored so often, girl on girl violence. I think this issue is on the rise and it offers a glimpse into the thoughts of mean girls from a lower class perspective whereas books like Gossip Girl, the Clique and movies like Mean Girls are about upper class girls picking on girls of a lower class. In Jumped everyone is on equal economic footing. High school life is accurately portrayed between the cliques, the teachers who don't care about their students and the lives of the students.

I highly recommend this book to all teens, but especially those who don't see much girl on girl violence or fully realize the devastating consequences it can have. There are few light-hearted moments so you definitely need to be in a certain mood to read this. 7th grade and up.

One Crazy Summer

One Crazy Summer by Rita Williams-Garcia ARC

Release Date: Jan. 26, 2010

Rating: 4.5/5

IQ "We all have our la-la-la song. The thing we do when the world isn't singing a nice tune to us. We sing our own nice tune to drown out the ugly." pg. 90

One Crazy Summer is about three sisters; Delphine, Vonetta and Fern. The sisters are sent by their father to Oakland, CA to visit their mother (Cecile) during the summer. Their mother left them years ago (after the birth of Fern, the youngest) and doesn't seem too happy to see them. Their mother is not what they expected a mother to be like; she doesn't cook or supervise them all that much, she's a poet and sometimes works with the Black Panthers. She sends Delphine, Voneeta, and Fern to the Black Panthers People's Center where they can get free breakfast and learn about the work of the Black Panthers amongst other things.

There's a real lack of historical fiction about poc (I'm going to write a post about this over the holidays), so I was quite pleased to receive this book as it's one of the few historical fiction books about the Black Panthers and it's for younger readers. I don't think younger children learn about the Black Panthers till 7th or 8th grade and I like how One Crazy Summer is a book for younger kids about a part of African American (and ultimately, American) history that is not always talked about.

The characters are well written with interesting characteristics. Anyone who is the oldest of siblings will identify with Delphine. Delphine was my favorite (in large part due to her being the oldest as I am so I could identify with her), although at times I felt that she acted a bit too grown-up for her age (she's entering the sixth grade), but then again that is common with the oldest. Delphine is very candid and she was definitely the best choice to narrate the story. Vonetta is the second youngest and she's struggling between having loyalty to her sisters and being accepted by the children of Oakland who also attend the Black Panthers People's Center. The children especially like to make fun of Fern because she carries a white doll around with her all the time and they think she's ashamed to be black. This embarrasses Vonetta. Fern is a cute, precocious child (I think between the age of 5-7) who has one of the best scenes in the whole book at the end. "Crazy Kelvin" ( a young, zealous, Black Panther) was an odd twist that I didn't see coming. Cecile is a great poet and I agree with Doret, her poems, especially "I Birthed a Nation" are reminiscent of Nikki Giovanni's poems (specifically "ego trippin'").

Learning about the Black Panthers through the girls' eyes is one of the best parts of the book. They see this strange African American men who wear all black, black berets and have Afros. They refer to each other as "brother" and "sister". Oftentimes we only see negative images of the Black Panthers and although they were violent, they also had a number of good programs. They offered free breakfast to kids, educated the and taught them to be Black and proud. I also loved reading about famous African Americans of the time, including Cassius Clay (aka Muhammad Ali, I never knew his non-Muslim name was Cassius Clay!).

The ending is satisfying and I would be interested in seeing a sequel when the girls are older. One Crazy Summer has a little bit of everything; history, action, romance and humor. I would definitely recommend pre-ordering the book and giving it as a belated Christmas present to a younger reader in your life. 5th grade and up.

Disclosure: received from Jana at HarperCollins. Thanks Jana!