Male Monday: The Door of No Return

The Door of No Return by Sarah Mussi 2008
Margaret K. McEldery Books/Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing

Rating: 2/5

IQ "I'd remembered one of Pop's sayings: 'Where there's a will there's a way, and when there's no way there's always excuses.' I'd add 'and lazy old buggers.' We'd laugh." Zac pg. 64 (that quote made me smile)

Zac Baxter's grandfather drills into his head that he is the descendant of Ghanaian kings, whose treasure was stolen when Zac's ancestors were sold into slavery by the British. Zac doesn't believe his grandfather, after all he's elderly and living in the past but then his grandfather is murdered and their apartment is ransacked. Suddenly it's not just a tall tale anymore, the treasure becomes very real and very important. Zac is determined to get to Ghana to find not just the treasure but his roots. His grandfather's dying words had to do with Zac having the treasure map but Zac has no clue what that means, he hasn't seen one. He discovers clue after clue but the people who murdered his grandfather always seem to be a step ahead and quite influential with the government. Who can Zac trust?

I didn't realize this book was going to end up being about reparations for slavery. I think the reparations debate is completely silly (especially given the state of the economy these days, where is the government going to find the money to pay all the Black descendants of slaves in their country? AND how do you know if some of your ancestors were slaves, not everyone can afford to have their family history traced....) so that put a slight damper on my enjoyment of the book because I kept rolling my eyes. Aside from that I didn't like how this book was ALL ABOUT Zac. It was all in his head for the most part and the few dialogues in the book turned into monologues between characters. At times the dialogue/slang sounded stiff, thrown in just to sound 'cool' or something because otherwise it didn't make much sense (granted there was a lot of British slang I presume). The secondary characters provided background noise and help when needed (or violence) but little else, including the few people Zac decided to trust. And *spoiler: highlight to read* why did Zac take his friends on a shopping spree? They were BARELY mentioned! *End spoiler* Speaking of whom to trust, Zac goes on and on about how growing up in the streets he knows not to trust many people, especially after what happens to his grandfather and his home but then he trusts someone that it seemed (to me anyway) quite clear he shouldn't. He was extra careful about everyone except the one person he needed to be which made it seem too obvious as to who was going to betray Zac. I was even more disappointed in the long history of Ghana (provided in a monologue by a chauffeur) it should have been presented in a more interesting, varied way. Furthermore, Ghana wasn't described in great detail. In the end Zac talks about how Ghana is the best country in the world, I wanted to love it too but I didn't get a real sense of Ghana from this book. I hated how Zac kept saying "I regretted this" or "I shouldn't have done" that, to me that takes away an element of surprise.

Some elements of the story were well done. The history of Portuguese explorers, the British & Ghanaians was fascinating to read about, even if it was described in a long conversation. A small part of the story that I loved was the location of the treasure map. It was unrealistic definitely but a cool concept. While I did not get a strong feel for Ghana, I did get a through description of Gloucester, England, that city was one I could imagine as well as the hamlet of Syde (which might be fictional?). Since the story was all about Zac and his thoughts, the emotional intensity of the story was there. I was terrified for Zac, it would be very scary not being able to trust anyone because your life depends on it. He goes through a lot for a sixteen year old (seeing his grandfather murdered before his eyes, community home, court apperances) and I could literally taste the fear sometimes especially when he was in Ghana. I don't want to give too much away but Zac goes to Ghana on the ruse of doing community service and the place he ends up at would scare me to death. I was amazed that he kept it together. There was another quote that really resonated with me, "He [Pops] had a way of telling things; his voice pulled you into that mysterious place where the past burnt brighter than any pale present, and you hungered to be there, where 'brave deeds and terrible sacrifices' made life worth living" (pg. 60).I can totally relate to that, wanting to be swept up in a cause that's bigger than yourself, that you believe in so passionately (ending slavery, women's suffrage, civil rights). I think my (American) generation is looking for our 'big' cause but maybe that's a lot of 'little' causes (although I think it might be immigration).

The Door of No Return is not a peachy keen read which I appreciated, there are some really dark moments. I did not appreciate Zac's sloppy narration because while I liked how random it could be (after all I think most teenagers' thoughts are pretty random), the slang and his dramatics annoyed me. I really didn't like how Zac didn't interact much with other characters, basically the author used them for what they could give Zac (or hurt him for) and then disregarded them, bringing them up again when convenient. Certain parts of the story were well done such as the descriptions of Gloucester (not that I've been there), Black life in Gloucester, and the treasure map along with the story behind the treasure. At the same time, the pacing is incredibly uneven (fast moving-sloooowwwwwww-fastfast) and I wasn't completely satisfied with how convenient the mystery was solved. Ultimately it worked out that I ended up waiting two years to read this book, I didn't miss out on much.

Disclosure: Got it from the library

Male Monday: Coram Boy

Coram Boy by Jamila Gavin 2000
Egmont UK Unlimited

Rating: 3.5/5

IQ "Sometimes it was if Mercy had eyes everywhere that could see except the two in her head." pg. 231

Two cities, four main characters. The story takes place in both Gloucester and London, detailing the lives of Alexander, Toby, Aaron and Thomas. Toby was saved from an African slave ship, but his salvation comes at a price. Aaron is the illegitimate son of the heir to a wealthy estate. Both boys were saved by Otis, a man who accepts money for children and sells them into slavery (girls are usually sent to the harems of Turkey and North Africa), apprentices them to people around London, or sends them to America to become servants. Otis 'kindly' takes unwanted children off the hands of their parents, especially wealthy young mothers who have had illegitimate children. He tells these young mothers that he will take their children to the Coram Hospital. The Coram Hospital was started by Captain Thomas Coram, a place for unwanted children to be fed and educated and to be in a loving environment. Every mother who couldn't care for her own child wanted their child to end up there, Otis promised they would but his word was not always bond. Alexander is the heir of Ashbrook a wealthy estate, disinherited because he wants to pursue a career in music which his father doesn't understand and will not support. Thomas is Alexander's devoted friend since their childhood days in the cathedral choir.

Ok long summary I know but I wish I had had more information going into reading this book. The summary was too vague for my taste. But that's not really all that important, something that did really bother me about the book was how slow the plot dragged and how simplistic the plot was. It does not end 100% happily which was realistic but most characters were seen clearly in black or white. The few who had some 'gray' areas remained an unsatisfactory mystery, the reason as to why characters acted the way they did sometimes out of the blue, was never explained through dialogue or observation. *Spoiler: highlight to read* For example: why did Otis never get rid of Meshak? Was Otis a false 'Coram man' while his wife was still alive? If so, did she approve? If not, why did he start doing that? *End Spoiler* I think there needs to be a whole 'nother book on Otis, although that would be hard to stomach. There's SO MUCH going on this novel and unfortunately I didn't think the author was able to juggle everything. In the end while it may not have been happy, it was still very neat and convenient. Speaking of convenient, the magical/religious/fairy tale/what-have-you aspect of it made certain events more convenient but added nothing to the story. In fact I was confused more than anything. Oh and the AGES of the CHILDREN. I may be showing some ignorance/naivete but I had a really hard time believing two fourteen year olds as innocent as Melissa and Alexander could have sex. I would have believed it if they showed maturity. And I had a hard time picturing such daring eight year olds as Toby and Aaron....

I lapped up so much knowledge from this book about London in the 1750s, specifically concerning children's welfare. They were treated TERRIBLY especially the poor orphans. Even the wealthier children were still beaten or punished in some way into submission and they had little say in their future. Instead of parents being motivated by their terrible childhoods to change the way they raised their children, they continued the same awful traditions, sending them to the horrible Eton College or other harsh boarding schools (for boys). Girls were doomed to a life of monotony, if they were fortunate enough to be born welathy they could attend parties and art events, working class girls' lives were filled with work, work and more work. I couldn't believe it took so long for a Captain Coram to come along and try and start to change the way children were treated. He wanted to nurture them and make them self-sufficient. Furthermore, the way young Black children were treated! Toby is 'given' as a servant for life to the man who sponsored his stay at the Coram Hospital. This man, Mr. Gaddarn, dresses Toby up "like a miniature prince, in silk trousers and embroidered jacket with curling slippers and a bejewelled turban on his head. He would be given a silver platter laden with sweetmeats which he had to hand round to all the guests. The ladies adored him, and loved to bounce him on their knees, feed him sweets, and push their fingers under his turban to feel his extraordinarily crinkly hair" (pgs. 213-214). While I knew Black people were treated like animals back then, I had no idea that young boys (no mention was made of how young Black girls were treated but I can imagine *shudder*) were treated as 'pets' or 'playthings.' It was appalling to say the least.

Coram Boy received a high rating for me because I love history so I found all the historical details enthralling to read about. The author covers a diverse aspect of perspectives in 18th century London, from the mentally ill Meshak to the former-slave Toby, each portrayal is respectful and eye-opening. At times the tales are gruesome, after all, Otis and Meshak bury BABIES ALIVE and the author describes their pitiful cries in great detail. It's tough to read about but it is rewarding to truly see how far we've come concerning children's welfare and yet, how far we still have to go. The plot and characters could have been more complex, the various story lines more deftly handled with a messier, authentic ending. The children acted more mature than their actual age in some regards but in others they were so naive (14 year olds having sex, the 14 year old girl freaking out about 'getting fat'). A most excellent read for delving into (and comparing) life in London and an English hamlet and how people dressed, spoke, acted and were treated. An interesting tidbit: the book was adapted into a play.


*I am currently in D.C. on a one week women in high school political leadership conference! I will be back July 24

Disclosure: Received with many thanks from Tricia!

Mini Reviews: In Full Bloom, The Ice Cream Girls, and The World in Half

The Ice Cream Girls by Dorothy Koomson 2010
Sphere/Hachette Book Group

IQ "Silence is the best way forward, I've found. I do not have to say anything, at least I didn't the last few times I was arrested, and I'm going to exercise that right. Even if it makes me look as guilty as sin, I'd rather not say anything that can't be taken back. Silence can always be explained away, erased almost with a single world; the wrong words in the wrong combination at the wrong time can damn you to hell. Or, at least, to prison." Serena pg. 48

When Poppy Carlisle and Serena Gorringe were teenagers they were the sole witnesses to a tragic event that ended in death. The death of a male, relatively young, teacher who told both girls he was in love with them. The teacher (Marcus) quickly became abusive both physically and emotionally. After his death the girls were discovered to have been the last ones to see him alive and they are nicknamed "The Ice Cream Girls" after a racy photo of them licking ice cream is discovered by the press. Poppy is found guilty and spends years in jail, Serena is the happily married mother of two. Poppy is determined to make Serena confess because she's convinced Serena killed Marcus. Serena does not want her family to know about her past, she changed her name to avoid that very thing but she knows she didn't do it and she wants Poppy to leave her alone. Ultimately both of them just want to forget their past and move on.

I really did not like reading this book. As an American I found it hard to believe because the press, in fact the whole case was ridiculous. I'm no expert on the American justice system but USUALLY what happens over here is in a case where an adult is sleeping with a teenager (minor), it's considered rape. People do not immediately jump to the conclusion that the teenager SEDUCED the GROWN MAN/WOMAN. And yet that is exactly what happens in The Ice Cream Girls. The press is slimy and the courts are insanely harsh, judges and jury members being rude and just plain unprofessional. I was so angry at how unfairly the girls were treated that I really couldn't see much past that. I did however take note of how engaging the plot was and that it was so difficult to choose who killed Marcus, Serena or Poppy. Likewise my sympathies lay with different characters at different times, I was equally angry with them both but I closed the book admiring both girls for finally saying NO to Marcus in the past and in their present (he haunts both of them). The girls recall the events from 1987-1989 during which they met Marcus, 'fell in love' with him and were severely hurt by him, he kept them terrified of telling their family, friends, etc about him. These recollections back to the past however were choppy, it was never clear when the narration of past events ended and the present day started (their was a date that showed what year it was for the past but not the present).

The Ice Cream Girls is a chilling tale because it's so real, because there are so many women in situations where they are victims of domestic abuse because there are so many women who don't see a way out. THERE IS A WAY OUT and while this book takes a bit of an extreme approach, the lessons are extremely relevant and I really hope this book left an impact on the right people. Both girls were fifteen when Marcus took advantage of them, at first he didn't force himself on them but he paid attention to them. A handsome older man being nice to two young girls who were vulnerable. Of course they would think they were in love with them and then be too afraid to leave. This situation is sadly real, my only hope is that if anyone ends up in the same spot and takes the same way out, the press and the courts are much more sympathetic. The parents too, that was probably the second most painful thing to read about, the parents believing their daughters were killers and being unable to forgive them. I understand too that the author was just presenting the facts about the UK newspapers, tabloids and legal system but these facts ruined my enjoyment of the story. But the author tells a good story, one that is sad and yet hopeful, a fast-paced tale that will haunt you. I hope the next book I read by the author is much lighter but just as intriguing.

Disclosure: From Tricia, thank you =)

PS I really liked this quote from Poppy as well the imagery is well portrayed "Bella slips her hand in mine and Logan wraps his arms around my shoulders and we head back into the house, so close that every step we take is a step in time, a step that sews up the years we were apart, pulling the seams together until they can barely be seen, and we can pretend that they never really existed." (Poppy, pg. 455). Oh and Serena is Black, Poppy white, just a FYI.


The World in Half by Cristina Henriquez 2009
Riverhead Books/Penguin


IQ "It's more Spanish than I've ever spoken with anyone. But with limitations comes freedom. I don't have the luxury of relying on the automatic expressions I have at my disposal when I'm speaking in English. There's no default mode of communication, few standby phrases and ready-made sayings. I have to think about how to express myself. I have to be creative and take roundabout routes to get across what I want to convey. Which means that I say things I never would in English. Ideas occur to me in ways they never have before." Miraflores pg. 153

Miraflores doesn't know her Panamanian father, her mother raised her in their suburban Chicago home and never mentioned him. Mira always assumed her father didn't want to know her after all she was the product of an affair her mother had while married and stationed to her then husband in Panama. Her perspective changes however when she returns from college to take care of her mother who has succumbed to Alzheimer's disease. Upon her return home she discovers letters from her father to her mother, showing the great devotion her father had to her mother and his NEED to know his baby girl. Miraflores decides to travel to Panama to find her father who she hopes will want to meet her and can even fill in some of the missing pieces of herself. She tells her mother she is going to Washington to study volcanoes, and heads off to find herself and in the process learns not just about herself, but also about her parents, Danilo and her country.

I am completely biased in my love for this book. I am unapologetic about the fact that this is one of my favorite books of the year. First I'm biased because Miraflores is half Panamanian as am I. Then her mother is diagnosed with Alzheimer's, a disease my grandfather had. Coincidence? I don't believe in them but it was very cool to read about. Plus the feelings Mira describes upon visiting Panama and wanting to belong to that country as well as the culture shock are feelings I could relate to as someone who is half-non American (haha I don't know the proper term for it, I would have said half Panamanian but I think anyone who is half something not American can relate especially well to Mira's thoughts) as well as because I had just returned from Guatemala, which reminded me a bit of Panama. "The first thing I notice when I get off the plane is what relief it is to hear English again, to understand immediately everything someone says, to eavesdrop without concentrating, to decipher signs at a glance. I'm struck, too, by how contained everything is: lanes of traffic are perfectly orderly, grass grows in even plots, trees thrive in mounds of mulch, building faces are austere. The air smells cleaner." (pg. 260). How did she (she meaning the author) know? Haha this is precisely what I was thinking when I returned from Guatemala except I didn't notice the change in how the air smelled, although now that I think about it, I don't smell water like I did in Guatemala (the town we lived in was next to a lake). It was a shock to land in the Atlanta airport and not immediately try to start grasping for words in Spanish (I was once again accustomed to all things American by the time we arrived in Chicago). That's why I chose that Incredible Quote because I could identify so deeply with it. Trying to express yourself in another language can be excruciating because if you have to choose your words with great care and I found that it wasn't always easy to get my point across but everyone I met in Guatemala was so patient with my broken Spanish. Furthermore, anyone who has ever visited or wants to visit the country where their heritage lies or just wants to be acknowledged as having a claim on their heritage must be able to relate to the following "I'm not sure why, but I want them to know that. I want them to know that I'm not just any tourist visiting their country, that I have a claim to this place and a reason for being here, that I belong to them, at least a little bit. I wonder whether, or how, they treat me differently if they knew" (pg. 34).

The World in Half got me out of my reading rut. I was bored with what I'd been reading at worst unimpressed at best. The World in Half made me remember why I love books so much, because of the personal connections, because of their ability to transport a reader around the world. The writing flows, the characters are solid and the setting is as real and memorable as the Earth itself(heehee cheesy geological references). I cried while reading this book which is rare for me. Not just because of the Alzheimer's but also because I really understood romantic love, reading Gatun's letters to Catarina's mom....I'm speechless. They were the most heartbreaking, passionate, sweetest love letters I've ever read (not that I've read any in real life just in books but whatever). Miraflores is the name of the locks of the Panama canal, Gatun is another name for the locks and also the name of her father. I thought that was really sweet and a bit clever of Mira's mother, it was one of the few things that made me like her because for the most part I was resentful towards Mira's mother (I was making up for Mira's refusal to get truly upset at her mother which was both loving and frustrating). While Mira's mother irked me she also brought me to tears. Or at least the author did. Having seen fairly firsthand the effects Alzheimer's has on people (I believe my grandfather died from its effects, I'm not 100% sure because I don't want to ask, too painful) I could painfully relate to everything Mira described about the memory loss, and the fear she felt as she watched her mother forget basic, small things. While the parts featuring Mira's mother were sad, I enjoyed every minute Miraa (and I, the reader) spent with Danilo, a guy her age who sold flowers outside her hotel and was the nephew of the doorkeeper, Hernan. Danilo only spoke Spanish but Mira's Spanish is excellent so they didn't have a problem communicating (I'm jealous), he helps her search for her father. I'll let Mira explain the effect of Danilo on her "he teases me, fishing me out of myself, casting and recasting his line, tugging gently, holding on tight, reeling until he dredges up something real. I love his inclination for rebellion and how flippantly he uses language, as if words are something to be tossed around like confetti rather than laid out like a stone path" (pg. 154). Speaking of words, this author has quite an exceptional way with them as I think is exemplified in that quote. I also loved her connections to geology, which is what Mira is studying in college. Sometimes Mira states the 'obvious' connection between her life's events and geological terms/events, other times the author leaves it up to the reader to draw the connection. It's always fun to read about a country you have ties to, especially a country that is rarely written about. Every time Danilo or another character said something about Panama, I would ask my dad if he thought that was true or knew what they were talking about. Sometimes he agreed (Panama La Vieja is what tourists call Panama Viejo), other times he didn't (he'd never heard of Que xopa instead of Que pasa, a phrase I'm curious about. Anyone use it?). I love love love this book, my only regret is that I didn't buy it (which will have to be remedied because it's going to be my unofficial Panama guidebook). I've left so much out of this review but it is adult fiction and my rule on that is only a mini-review so I'm going to try and stop gushing (I already did on Twitter :D)

Disclosure: From the library. For me it's a must-buy.


In Full Bloom by Caroline Hwang 2003
Dutton/Penguin Group

IQ "I wasn't vehement American Ginger and I wasn't traditional Korean Lee. I was the collision of the names-the accidental adverb resulting from the clash of two worlds, gingerly, how I was meant to go through life. I was the space in between the names. I occupied the shirt pause between them, the breach between the two states, like a ghost who was neither alive nor sufficiently dead." Ginger pg. 99


Ginger Lee has moved to New York in order to further her career, to be someone. Not to be with someone, a Korean someone, which is what her mother wants. Her mother wants Ginger to put marriage before her career and she moves in with Ginger for three weeks to find her a suitable husband. Ginger goes along with it, vowing to sabotage her mother's dates and work harder to win a promotion at A la Mode fashion magazine. At 27 years old, Ginger is considered too old to be merely a fashion assistant and her mother is constantly telling her that her bloom is fading. To Ginger's bemusement, the Korean men her mother sets her up with reject Ginger before she can reject them and her mother's career advice may actually be worth listening to...


Ginger claims she wants complete independence from her mother, but it's easy to see that she's very dependent on her. She admires her mother and is more forgiving of her mother's actions than others might be, but it also sounds like Ginger's mom is not the traditional strict Korean mother. Ginger's mother disowned Ginger's brother, George after he married a white American woman and so Ginger is all she has left. She is determined to see Ginger marry a Korean man and is convinced Ginger needs her help to 'get a man.' (unbeknownst to her Ginger dated throughout college and grad school, just not Korean men). In describing her mother Ginger says"It was really something how in less than a week she'd leapt from coercing me to look for her future son-in-law to saying she wanted a namesake. Such great strides in so little time. It was a shame she wasn't involved in a greater, less hopeless cause than her daughter, like world hunger or female illiteracy." (pg. 69). I liked Ginger's narration, she was determined to be a feminist, but sometimes it backfired on her. She narrates her life story with a good sense of humor and it's touching how she's so willing to go along with whatever her mom wants while still engaging in small acts of rebellion.


In Full Bloom is a surprising, much-needed (says the non-chick lit expert) addition to the chick lit canon. I was really happy with the ending because I thought it was most unusual. I was also pleasantly surprised by the fact that homophobia was brought up and when Ginger tells off a certain someone for assuming she and all her Asians are 'the help' it's a fabulous moment. I especially appreciated that Ginger's mother does not fall prey to the immigrant mother stereotype. Perhaps the best part is when Ginger realizes that she's prejudiced against Koreans, I think many people of color and immigrants are reluctant to acknowledge that they look down on their culture at times or are too eager to forget where they came from. A charming, merry tale with an unconventional ending and a diverse cast.


Disclosure: Library

*I do mini-reviews of all adult fiction books I read and want to review.

Off Color: The Iron Witch

The Iron Witch by Karen Mahoney 2011
Corgi Books/Random House Children's Books

Rating: 4.5/5

IQ "Sometimes the longer you left something without telling people, the harder it got to open your mouth and start filing them in on what they'd missed." Donna pg. 181

Donna Underwood is the daughter of two very powerful alchemists. She is also a freak, because she wears gloves all the time but has super strength, displayed in a moment at school that she regrets. She has iron tattoos that cover her hands and arms, they are beautifully bizarre so she covers them with gloves. Donna hides everything about her life with the alchemists, not even her best friend Navin Sharma knows about her tattoos (not to mention how she got them). But Donna isn't going to be able to hide all her secrets much longer, not when the mysterious (and handsome) Alexander (Xan) Grayson keeps popping into her life and he seems to understand her, even though she barely knows him. She can't keep hiding secrets from Navin either especially when the dark exiles of Faerie are beginning to appear and they want something that Donna isn't even sure exists and they won't hesitate to hurt her loved ones to get what they want.

I think what was lacking for me the most in this book was character development in the secondary characters. Navin has personality, funny, caring, loyal, vulnerable. He knows Donna has secrets but he doesn't push. Navin is a character that everyone will root for and I really liked his relationship with Donna. It's nice to have a guy who is the best friend, like a brother, not a romantic interest. Donna and Alexander Grayson on the other hand, didn't really leap off the page. The only thing Xan has going for him is that he's mysterious and nice, willing to help Donna even though he barely knows her. I'm looking forward to learning more about him and I like that he encourages Donna to be more positive and confident in herself, but I have ambivalent feelings about him. I like Donna, at times she is a typical teen, feeling down, prone to self pity, scared of the elves. She's someone I could relate to because of the feelings and at the same time I admired her loyalty to Navin and her bravery. She's usually scared but she thinks quick on her feet and she does what she has to do to protect her loved ones. I wanted her to succeed but that was about it. The secondary characters were rather bland, Aunt Paige, Maker, Quentin and Simon never really materialized as characters, I only grasped bits of their personality through Donna and Navin talking about them, I would have liked to have learned more about the secondary characters through their actions and interactions with Donna.

Before I get to the more obvious favorite parts of the book (the alchemy!), I loved the very subtle bits in the book that showed diversity and the fact that yes this book is set in the 21st century. Donna's best friend Navin is a major character who happens to be Indian American, he's a universal character, his heritage does not define him. Quentin is head of the Order of the Dragon of which Donna's parents are members. He also happens to be gay. The author never explicitly states that but Donna mentions Quentin's partner Simon, who lives with Quentin. Of course the alchemy knowledge is fantastic. It's never dumped all over the reader, instead pieces of alchemy history and terms appear through dialogue, Donna knows very little about the Order, the adults keep everything a secret. Thus the reader is able to learn with Donna without it growing tiresome or becoming an infodump session. The book has clearly been well researched and it is also clear that the author tried to find creative ways of sharing the information and creating her own twists on the subject. In addition there are fun bits about Faerie and I found it very interesting to read about dark elves. I don't read much paranormal so my only contact with elves are the Santa Claus kind. So I had a great deal of fun reading about dark wood elves.

The Iron Witch is a fast-moving story with a genuine teenage main character, not unrealistically heroic, but not utterly selfish. Donna is independent and I love that she and Xan equally save each other. I love that she has a mostly normal relationship with her best friend Navin and that she worries constantly about telling him her secrets versus not telling him. The author didn't have to make this story diverse. She could have easily made all the couples straight, not mentioned Donna's fashion (it may seem random to mention but I liked that Donna wasn't outlandishly quirky or a dull conservative dresser. Her gloves are described in detail and I found it intriguing/sad that she took such care in choosing pretty gloves to cover scars she considers ugly) and made all the characters white (or not mentioned the race) but the fact that a conscious effort was made to reflect the real world is something I highly applaud. The premise of the book is highly unique, faeries (ok I admit I don't know the difference between fairies, faeries and fey but I'll learn) combined with alchemists (c'mon how much fun is it to read about the elixir of life?) set in the 21st century. Authentic main characters, quick and intriguing plot, all that's needed is more development with Xan and the secondary characters. I am eager to see where this story goes next and while this could be a stand-alone novel, there's plenty of extra material available to use and I feel as though it's cliffhanger-ish.

Disclosure: Received for review from the author, thank you :D And yes we are friends

PS And ok the UK version of this book is MARVELOUS. Gold trim on the pages, gold curlicues on the cover, a delicate vial (I was pleasantly surprised that its description in the book matches what's on the cover) and the lovely iron tattoos. I'm not sure how the cover of the sequel will be able to match this one, but I look forward to seeing it revealed :)

Boy vs. Girl

Boy vs. Girl by Na'ima B. Robert 2010
Frances Lincoln Children's Books

Rating: 3/5

IQ "Why should I care what the girls at school think? she thought. Or my teachers? After school, they go back to their lives, to their kids. They're not living their lives thinking about me." Farhana pg. 30

Farhana and Faraz are twins with very different problems. Farhana wants to wear the hijab but she's afraid of what the other girls at her school will think. And even though she goes to an all girls school she worries about what other guys might think of her wearing the hijab. Especially one guy in particular, Malik, who broke her heart. Faraz has managed to get in trouble with some of the lads (due to being more of a peaceful guy who would rather draw than fight) and to protect himself he becomes friends with Skrooz. Skrooz is bad news, vengeful, involved with dealing drugs and an overall terrifying presence in the neighborhood. Skrooz protects Faraz from the bullies at school but his protection comes at a price.

Unfortunately this book has a very heavy message behind it. The author makes no effort to spread her message through a story, instead it reads as a 'Merits of Ramadan' book. I liked learning about the meaning behind Ramadan and the positive impact it has on those who participate in it. But at the same time, I quickly grew weary of the 'miraculous' transformation Faraz and Farhana underwent. Both of them became calmer and felt at peace. Perhaps it's the skeptic in me but I found that hard to believe. Do people change so quickly all of sudden because of religion? This is just one of many characteristics of the twins that contribute to their perfection. Both of them are gorgeous, obedient to their parents and talented. Faraz might not be an A student but he's a fantastic artist. Farhana is a genius. It was hard for me to see these main characters as flawed simply because Farhana asserts herself and wants to be allowed to attend nightly prayer (which only women are allowed to do) or because she had a crush on someone. The book also starts off very slowly and the dilemmas of Faraz and Farhana are merely hinted at for a large part of the book. I was expecting a bit of an introduction but then we would dive right into the story. That is not the case. The book is very short (256 pages, large print, short chapters) and it can't afford to get off to such a slow start. Plus the writing isn't anything special, it keeps the story moving but the descriptions and characterization are just....ordinary.

At the same time, I did like that this book offered a view of a religion (Islam) that I'm not very familiar with from a teen perspective. Gradually, Farhana and Faraz come off their religious high and start to battle with it. This made them both seem more authentic. Instead of blindly going along with their faith, they struggle with certain components of it. It's interesting because this book does an excellent job of pushing past Western stereotypes about Muslims. Farhana's mum DOES NOT want her to wear the hijab. Her mother believes it's too extreme and that it will give people the wrong idea, that Muslims are oppressive. And if we're honest with ourselves, many of us do think that way. I used to until I read Does My Head Look Big in This? Books like Boy vs. Girl go a long way towards helping people to be more understanding of Muslim culture. Then you have Farhana's young, 'hip' auntie Najma who wears a jilbab (long cloak) and a niqab (face veil) but she also has her nose pierced and wears jeans under her kurta tunics. While Farhana was too perfect, Faraz was easier to relate to. He ends up associating with people he probably shouldn't and hides the troubles he's going through from his family. Any teenager can understand that.

Boy vs. Girl is an engaging drama because there is a sense of foreboding. The book starts off at a snail's pace but I knew that there would have to be some kind of dramatic showdown and it didn't disappoint. The plot often gets buried under all the religion. Traditions and prayers are explained in a great deal of depth which is good for those like me who are still trying to learn about Islamic beliefs. Not so good if you (like me) were hoping the religion would only be a backdrop and make up one part of the story. I would have liked to hear less about Farhana and Faraz's new-found devotion and more about the difficulties of being a teenager in London who happens to be South Asian. There was one little plot line that disappeared completely (concerning Faraz and painting a mural). This book could use a bit more polishing but it works well as an introduction to what it's like being a Muslim teenager in the UK. There's some frustrating racism and some unexpected surprises (like see-through shalwar kameez that are supposed to cover all of you. There's some rebellion). There are many different perspectives on how to handle being Muslim in the 2st century and these perspectives will keep readers learning and the dramatic tension will have readers racing to finish the book.

Disclosure: Received from Tricia, thank you!!

Mini Reviews: Logic of Demons (off color), Better Than I Know Myself & The Buddha of Suburbia

Logic of Demons: The Quest for Nadine's Soul by H. A. Goodman 2010

IQ "It's not what you've been doing that's important now', said Natalia grabbing his hand once again. 'It's what you will be doing.'" pg. 129

Devin's wife and unborn child have been killed by a 'deranged' man (who also raped Devin's wife). Devin is determined to exact revenge and successful kills the man who murdered his family. Devin is then killed accidentally by the police and has to deal with the consequences of his life in the afterlife.

This book has a message to tell and it must be told. That's not a good thing because this book is so concerned with making sure it gets it's various messages across, the plot disappears. Revenge is bad, be careful what you wish for, don't make fun of other people, every action has a consequence, etc, etc. Interesting messages to be sure but they are so straight forward that the author would have been better off leaving out Devin, Nadine and Natalia and just writing a non-fiction about religion and life in general. The author does a whole lot of telling, and much of it is unnecessary. Allowing the reader to draw their own conclusions is a marvelous thing and the author does not utilize this skill. Furthermore the author seems like he's trying to hard to make sure people know his novel is diverse. At one point we read "the stockier football player dwarfed the 140-pound Jewish kid."(pg. 105). That sentence had no relevance to the story (in fact I didn't understand the point of seeing Devin as a teenager which occurs in this scene), especially because later on the kid talks about his yarmulke. From that sentence alone, a reader could figure out the kid is Jewish. But it doesn't seem as though the author trusted the reader to draw their own conclusions, thus the overcompensation.

It's obvious that the author feels very passionately about what he's writing about and I liked the diversity of the characters but there are too many inconsistencies, stilted dialogue and slow action. The chapters are long and end dramatically such as "[t]he answer to this question would lead to a multitude of unintended consequences." (pg. 32). That's overly dramatic and I don't like ominous foreshadowing. At one point in the novel, Natalia (an angel) is said to have "the charming English accent of a Kenyan." (pg. 95) but then on page 107, the author tells us she's from Rwanda. She never leaves Rwanda so how does she have a Kenyan accent? Or was the author trying to show that Devin just assumed things? It was too unclear. The ideas the author has surrounding the afterlife are intriguing (God is absent until the end of the world, angels vs. demons vs. Paladin), but unfortunately there were too many flaws for me to simply overlook.

Disclosure: Received for review from author. Thank you!

PS Off color because the main character is white but Nadine is Latina and Natalia is from Rwanda, two important secondary characters.

Better Than I Know Myself by Virginia Deberry & Donna Grant 2004
St. Martin's Press

IQ "at this point in their friendship, the method of communication wasn't relevant, they were connected whether it was across a table, via email or by string and a Dixie cup." pg. 359

Carmen grew up in the projects, raised by her abusive brother after her father died and her mother left. Jewell is a former Hollywood-child starlet. Even today her face is still recognized across America. Regina is a BAP (Black American Princess) raised comfortably by her upper middle class father and mother. They meet at Barnard (Columbia's university for women, I didn't know as recently as the '80s Columbia hadn't gone co-ed!) and while Jewell and Regina hit it off right away, Carmen remains closed off and icy. Carmen wants to ace all her classes, keep her head down, become a doctor and never look back at her crappy childhood. Jewell doesn't know what she wants to do and Regina loves throwing parties. Life is going to be full of bumps, bruises and joyrides but through it all, they've got each other.

This book starts off with a good prologue, one that will keep you reading even when the book inches by. In the prologue, one of the three friends has died. For the first time in what feels like forever, I actually predicted right (although I didn't see the Marcus plotline!). And there are absolutely no clues because all three girls constantly face life or death situations and get themselves into some serious scrapes. I do wish the Deberry & Grant books were less dramatic. Yes life is hard but would one person really go through as much as the characters do? It's more than a little over the top and after awhile I was sick and tired of the tragedy, I was emotionally drained and not in a good way. And this is a more personal thing but I picked up this book hoping it would discuss more about being and in college. Didn't happen but that was just as a result of different expectations, not a big deal.

However, once again there is a really strong friendship between this three women and that makes me happy. It takes a little while for them all to become friends (yes sometimes future-friends don't hit it off right away!) but that makes the end product that much better. There are also discussions of class that aren't so obvious. All three girls come from different socioeconomic backgrounds and that does affect their outlook on life but so do their parent situations and other things they went through going up. Just like being Black doesn't define them, neither does being rich/poor/middle class. I wish there were lighter moments and some chapters could have been greatly whittled down but all in all this was a nice read about the strongest of friendships and living life to the fullest because "it's not like we don't have to think about tomorrow but a life is something you build-and the tomorrows won't add up to much if we haven't been countin the todays." (Ty, pg. 367)

Disclosure: Bought :)

The Buddha of Suburbia by Hanif Kureishi 1990

Faber & Faber LTD

IQ "I believe happiness is only possible if you follow your own feeling, your intuition, your real desires. Only unhappiness is gained by acting in accordance with duty, or obligation, or guilt, or the desire to please others. You must accept happiness when you can, not selfishly, but remembering you are a part of the world, of others, not separate from them. Should people pursue their own happiness at the expense of others? Or should they be unhappy so others can be happy? There's no one who hasn't had to confront this problem." The Buddha of Suburbia (aka Karim's dad aka God) pg. 76

Karim is a bicultural (half Indian on his father's side, half English on his mother's) teenager growing up in the suburbs of south London during the '70s. He's desperate to escape to London and find himself, while figuring out why his father left his mother, and why he is attracted to girls and guys. furthermore how did his father became the 'buddha of suburbia' a
wise 'Indian' mystic to bored subrbanites looking for something 'exoctic.'? And what is Karim going to do after high school (or secondary school as I believe it's called in the UK?)

Karim is a strange kid but amusing. He doesn't intend to be funny but his reasoning behind his actions and speculation as to why people act the way they do are sometimes way off (or so it seems. I suspect since this is a literary book everything probably could have some kind of deep meaning) but sometimes they are dead-on. The book starts off rather slowly but if you stick with it, you may very well end up enjoying it. I liked it a lot more than I thought I would, mainly because as an American I know very little about life in the UK but I just finished studing the UK for my Comparative Government class so I had some background/cultural context. This book makes it clear that in London at least (and I suspect the entire UK), class comes first, followed by race as divisions in society. While I can't test to the authenticity of the novel's London setting (although it won the WhiteBread Award, ha ironic name), it felt very real to me and I was impressed with how the author described the UK (specifically England) through his characters in both subtle and non subtle ways. "England's decrepit. No one believes in anything. Here, it's money and success. But people are motivated. They do things. England's a nice place if you're rich, but otherwise it's a f***ing swamp pf prejudice, class confusion, the whole thing. nothing works over there. And no one works-" (Charlie, pg. 256). The novel takes place when unemployment is on the rise and there are widespread strikes. Margaret Thatcher will soon come to power, after the Winter of Discontent.

Class differences are also shown through the adults in Karim's life. Karim's dad, Haroon is a civil servant and he hates his job, he comes from a wealthy family in India and doesn't know how to take care of himself. Yet in England, he is seen as a second-class citizen because he is a lowly servant AND Indian. The woman Haroon leaves his wife (and Karim's mum) for, Eva, is a social climber. I have no idea where she gets her money from but she is able to spend it on idle pursuits, like parading around the buddha of suburbia and trying to find her place in London society. Karim's mother is devastated after his father leaves and she doesn't handle it well. She doesn't want to leave the house and when she finally does, she has no desire to work. When she finally starts dating again, more than one person notes that she's dating an Englishman and Karim 'feels somewhat betrayed' that she's not dating another Indian. I was puzzled as to why Karim had a brother, Allie. I forgot all about him because he appears so infrequently, he should have been written off. I admit, I would put this book down and then find it hard to get back into the story. Gradually, it picks up and just like Karim never stops talking, this book has something to say about everything; from class differences, divorce, and racism to life in the suburbs and being bi-sexual. Karim is a class-A jerk and his decisions will leave you in disbelief, but that makes the book entertaining and riveting. Be warned: if you don't like graphic sex, you won't like this book but if you can overlook that (and I recommend that you do), you will find yourself in for a treat.

Disclosure: From Trish, <3


PS Another favorite quote "[...]and asked Jammie if I could tell Helen what was happening. [Karim]

'Yes, if you want to expose our culture as being ridiculous and our people as old-fashioned, extreme and narrow-minded'." Jamila pg. 71

That quote is telling because I think it speaks to the fear people from different cultures/ethnic backgrounds can have of opening up to Westerners/white people, for fear of confirming stereotypes and not 'uplifting the race.' But that's just my very brief interpretation since this review is long as is :)

Where I Belong

Where I Belong by Gillian Cross 2010
Oxford University Press

Rating: 3/5

IQ "She lifted her head and stood there, defiant and immovable, invisible except for her eyes. I found myself thinking, if only Dad could see her face, he'd be able to persuade her-as though the veil was a barrier between their minds as well. And I could feel how it was frustrating to him." Freya, pg. 156

Bandits but not the fun kind. Supermodels but not the haughty kind (well OK one of them isn't haughty). Abdi is from Somalia, but he's never been. He was born in the Netherlands and now lives in London (specifically Battle Hill). He dreams of going to Somalia and he also wants his father to be able to move to London with them (his father remained in Somalia because his parents were sick and needed to be taken care of). Abdi's father used to visit, until Abdi turned ten and moved to London, then the visits stopped. Khadija has loved in Somalia all her life and she can't understand why her father wants her to move to London to get an education. Somalia is where her family is and that's where she wants to be. But she has no choice in the matter. Freya is the daughter of world-renowned fashion designer, Sandy Dexter. And Sandy is going to be the scarf (oh yes there will be lots of fashion metaphors in this review) that pulls Abdi, Khadija and Freya together.

FREEZE. Let's take a moment to gaze at this sensational cover.


*looooonnnngggg pause*


We're back. Looking at the cast of characters, you probably think there's a love triangle. WRONG. Abdi, Khadija and Freya are just friends and that is marvelous. There is no romance in this book. It's purely a story of friendship, adventure and fashion. I suppose that could count as a spoiler but whatever. if you only read a book that's about romance, I warned you. Instead this is a good book about friendship. Sort-of. we don't learn much about Abdi's friends and Khadija doesn't have many friends. We meet some of Freya's friends as well, but it seemed out of place. We are told by Freya that she does indeed have friends and as if to prove that, the author throws in some random friends with random problems. I would have rather Freya not have had friends at all or get more backstory on her friend's problems. In addition to the supporting characters not being fully fleshed out, the story can drag at times. The story sounds like it might be action-packed, but it's really not. Which is ok, but even though I didn't mind the lack of pirate/bandit action, I did mind how time seemed to fly for the main characters but nothing seemed to really happen. It's an odd thing to try and express and I hope I'm making sense. Furthermore, I wish I had gotten to know all the main characters better. The story is told in alternating points of view between Abdi, Khadija and Freya but the characters remain on a superficial level. Not till the end do we see Abdi's more intimate side and while we witness Khadija's more emotional side, we are only told about Freya's emotions.

I did like the fact that Somalia is the common thread (!). You have to suspend a bit of your disbelief (after we are all dealing with famous fashion designers and Somalian bandits, a most unlikely combination), but that allows you to fully savor the story and not scrutinize it as much. There are several different attitudes expressed in this story, an attitude that Africa is a dangerous place and that is all it has to offer. Another attitude held by a character is that Africa is an 'exotic' place, in a way the character is only trying to use Africa (there's a ring of colonialism or imperialism in that respect). And Khadija wants people to see all that Africa, specifically Somalia, has to offer. The good and the bad. She wants to become a model for noble reasons and she's an admirable character. One of my favorite parts of the story is when the author describes Sandy and Freya trying on the veil. "So how did it feel? If you're not veiled yourself, that's what you want to know, isn't it? [....] The first answer is-terrifying." (pg. 59-60). Freya then goes on to describe how she feels invisible in the veil, because most people go out of their way to avoid her. Eventually Freya says that the veil gives her a sense of power, because she can keep people guessing and hide herself from the world (in a sense) if she wants.

Where I Belong could be read by middle grade students or young adults. One of the most fascinating parts of the story comes from its fashion background and revolves around the character of Sandy, the iconic fashion designer. Sandy is not only the scarf (!) that holds everyone together, she is also the glue (although it could be argued that Khadija is the glue as well). The fashion commentary and the peeks at Somalia will help this story to stand out and trying to get to the climax of the story will keep readers turning the pages (and it is worth it although it wasn't elaborated on which was frustrating). There's nothing really wrong with this book, I just didn't love it or even really really like it. I liked it and I'd recommend it to certain people, but I'm not sure if it's for everyone. I always think it's weird when I don't have a favorite character and that is the case here (I did like Khadija more than the others though, from the little I learned about her). Ultimately my problem with the story is that several promising storylines are introduced but they are too easily wrapped up or pushed aside and the characters remain stock characters.

Disclosure: From the darling Kaz. Hugs!

Throwback Thursday: Dead Gorgeous

Dead Gorgeous by Malorie Blackman 2002
Corgi Books/Random House Children's

Rating: 2/5

IQ "Why did she want to be like Raye when her sister was so mean? Not to mention shallow. If Raye were a swimming pool, Nova would be able to walk from one side of her to the other without getting her toenails wet." Nova pg. 150 (heehee this made me smile)

Nova's family owns a hotel and that's all her parents seem to care about. Her father is obsessing with raising the hotel's profile and her mother is concerned with keeping the guests happy. Neither of her parents notice that Nova is unhappy or that their oldest, Rainbow is equally unhappy. The twins Jude and Jake are the only ones in the family who are happy. When Liam appears, he changes their family. Liam is handsome and blunt, and a ghost. He sees what's wrong with Nova's family and Nova herself. Nova doesn't want to hear about her problems, she just wants Liam to leave. Problem is, Liam can't figure out how to move on, he seems to be chained to the hotel where he died. They are both going to need to help each other, if they could stop arguing.

I've decided that Malorie Blackman's writing style is not for me. It's straightforward, but I find it to be over dramatic for a majority of the time. With this book there was no real element of suspense and little connection to the characters. I couldn't understand why Liam really wanted to help Nova. I can't even say that it was out of the goodness of his heart because he had an attitude and helping Nova didn't really help him. Furthermore, the story had an extremely preachy way about it. The messages are spelled out and re-iterated. It doesn't try to disguise that there are indeed several messages at play here. In part due to the writing and the age and actions of Nova, I wasn't captivated by the story. I had the slightest bit of curiosity as to how Liam was going to be freed from roaming the hotel, and I wanted everything to turn out OK for Nova, but other than that, I had little investment in the characters. I didn't understand the point of having the story being told in two-four page chapters from the point of view of Nova, her father, Rainbow, Andrew (a boy Rainbow has a crush on), Mr. Jackman (a mysterious boarder), etc. Especially since in the chapters, we hear the thoughts of other characters, so it doesn't make a difference whose point of view it's told from.

I did like that Dead Gorgeous is not a romance. I expected that it would be, but it's not and that makes for happier reading (Nova is only twelve and can be a tad immature so I'm not sure I would have wanted to read about her pining after a ghost). The best part was probably the end, it had the potential to be truly nail-biting but the delivery failed. However I liked the idea of it and for a second or two I was worried about what Liam would decide. The dialogue was entertaining, what with Nova complaining and constantly making fun of her parents or getting upset at Liam. I also liked the issue brought up with Nova. Honestly, I don't tend to think of this particular issue has being something that thirteen year olds go through, but I'm sure they do and I was glad to see the issue addressed. It makes me sad that such young girls go through things like that and I hope this book will give girls pause before they engage in this particular act.

Dead Gorgeous is a dicey story that will most likely entertain younger readers. I would say that children who are in the middle will be able to easily relate to Nova's feelings of being ignored by her parents and are older sister and younger brothers. The writing style is not for me, but it may very well suit others. It's a quick read with an interesting premise, that failed to deliver for me. There are several important messages echoed throughout the book, but I wish that they had been more subtle. The crazy antics of Nova's family will have readers smiling and her struggles will make them sympathetic. I was quite pleased at how race does not play a role in this story but we know that Liam and Nova are Black (Nova from the cover, Liam from the description) along with some other people they meet, a diverse cast makes me very happy.

Disclosure: Received from Book Fairy #3. Thank you :)

Throwback Thursday is run by Take Me Away

The Dark Goddess

The Dark Goddess by Sarwat Chadda 2010
Penguin UK

U.S. Release Date: January 25, 2011 (Don't wait, order from the UK NOW)

Rating: 5/5

IQ "Billi shrugged. She could pray in Latin, Greek, English and Arabic. She knew the direction of Mecca and the psalms. Did God really care?" pg. 56


(So as not to spoil the first book for anyone, I will merely refer to certain events that happened in Devil's Kiss as 'the Incident')

Billi Sangreal is dealing with the Incident the only way she knows how, by devoting herself to the Knigths Templar. The Knights Templar are tracking down werewolves who are growing bolder and attacking more and more humans. There is a reason the werewolves feel emboldened, they are on a mission entrusted to them by the Dark Goddess. They need to find Vasilia, a young girl who is a powerful Oracle (not that she knows that) that can control the weather based on her emotions. Once they find her, they will sacrifice her and use her powers to end the world (naturally the Dark Goddess will save the werewolves). Billi must save Vasilia from the Dark Goddess, but she must also keep Vasilia from destroying the world.

I've now come to expect Sarwat Chadda's books to have intense openings. This one opens up with a dramatic scene and we are off running, following Billi as she chases after werewolves. Part of why I love these books is because the threat of danger these monsters present is real. They will hurt you if they want to. The author puts so much time and research into these books. We travel to Russia and learn not only about Russian culture but about werewolves and their feminst undertones. The werewolves are called the Polensity and they are amazing. Agile, fearless and clearly in charge. I don't know anything about werewolves really, but I do know that it was quite refreshing to read about fierce female werewolves (even if they were a tad touched in the head). Plus there's so much action occurring! The Templars are always on the run, running to save someone, running to kill a monster, etc.

Billi has changed significantly since Devil's Kiss. She's barely holding on. Oh sure she's keeping up appearances, working harder than ever, but she's emotionally dead. Billi refuses to get close to Vasilia, even though the little girl is scared out of her mind and just wants to go home to Russia. It's so sad to see Billi acting so unkindly toward this little girl and yet it's understandable. Speaking of understanding, that's also why I love this series. The author creates these villains who are clearly out of control and yet he makes the reader UNDERSTAND why they think the way they do. Baba Yaga (the Dark Goddess) wants to end the world and start all over again because Earth is sick. There is so much war, poverty, environmental disasters, etc, she wants to make everything better. And there is so much wrong with the world. But obviously ending it is not the answer. In addition to leaning about Russian culture, religion/mythology, we also get to meet some new characters (Lance!). It becomes clear as to who one of the villains will turn out to be, but half the fun is waiting for Billi to figure it out and take him/her down. Thank goodness Ivan is around because he keeps Billi from sinking further into depression, he tries to get her to lighten up. And he gives her a gun. And she saves him. And that is awesome.

Dark Goddess is a strong sequel. There were real world consequences to actions undertaken by these characters and there were no mysterious explanations that left me unsatisfied. I think that I got to know Billi even more than in the first book because we see her at some of her lowest points. I hope that there is a third book because I desperately want to know more about Billi's Muslim heritage (and I love armchair traveling!). Also, we are losing quite a few characters and I'm ready to meet some new ones. The fabulousness of these books lie in assertive heroine (who is more vulnerable this go round), the chilling (pun intended?) setting of Russia, the female dominated society of werewolves and the villains that you can kinda-sorta-agree with. Oh and there is the huge moral dilemma in which Billi is always between a rock and a hard place. Billi's father reminds her that 'the world's not black and white. The bad guys come bright and beautiful and the good guys might look like monsters.' (pg. 109). This is true but Billi doesn't need to be reminded of it, she knows and understands this. However she wants to save everyone or die trying. Is that not a heroine worth reading about? I wish more people would read the Billi Sangreal series, I can't recommend them enough!

Disclosure: Received from Book Fairy #3. It's autographed! From the UK! Thank you!

Help Needed Re: Poetry

We were given an awful assignment the other day in my British Literature class. Immediately I knew that at least I wouldn't be at a complete loss since I have at least 300 people who love to read and at least a few of them must be familiar with the topic introduced ;)

The assignment is to memorize 100 lines of poetry by a British poet. The poet can also be from a former colony of Britain (India, Jamaica, Nigeria, etc.) and I can memorize the works of more than one poet (i.e. ten lines from one, forty from another, etc.). Besides the obvious problem of memorizing 100 lines (of which I have no doubt I will fail miserably at), I'm also at a loss for finding British poets. Oh sure, I could Google them. And I intend to. But I would love to receive recommendations from people who love poetry and have favorite poets. I would prefer humorous poems since I have a hard time delivering emotional poems, but I would be up for the challenge of attempting an intense poem. I would prefer British poets of color, but honestly, I'm willing to settle for a female, humorous poet. Above all, I would love some funny poets.

In sum: BRITISH POET RECOMMENDATIONS NEEDED

You can leave them in the comments or email me. It would be especially awesome if you included the name of the poet and your favorite poem by them. I look forward to reading some great poetry (and shudder at the idea of memorizing it) :)

Male Monday: Hello Mum

Hello Mum by Bernardine Evaristo

Rating: 3/5

IQ "To be honest, it was safer to leave London than move across it." Jerome pg. 13

In a story that is only 83 pages, a story unfolds about a tragic event that occur ed on a hot summer day in London. Teenage boys were in a chip shop and things got rough, resulting a teenage boy being stabbed. His mother doesn't understand how this could have happened. As an explanation is shared, she realizes it may not be something she wants to hear.

The Incredible Quote I shared may seem rather simple but it left an impact on me. Not because I don't understand it, but because I never imagined someone saying something like that about LONDON. I knew about soccer gangs from How Soccer Explains The World, but I never stopped to consider that Europe has gangs that aren't just related to soccer. Just goes to show how blissfully unaware I can be. The IQ could so easily be talking about any other city, and that's heart wrenching. The most compelling element of this story for me was the description of life in the rougher neighborhoods of London. I had a romanticized view of London and that has been changed. I'm not sure what these rough-neighborhoods are called in London (in America, rightly or wrongly they are often called ghettos. A phrase I'm not fond of) so for now I'll simply refer to it as a neighborhood. This book also illustrates that people's needs are the same. Jerome and his 'thug' friends want hot girls, clothes, shoes and cars. They also want respect. It's the same regardless of what continent you are on, their desires are no different than what any other teen would want. They just go about gaining all these cool things in a different (and oftentimes illegal) way than most people. Not only did I learn more about gang life in London, but I learned about the slang used. A question. Does geriatrics mean elderly people? (I don't mean to say geriatrics is slang, I just want to know what it means).


I was skeptical at how much could come across in such a short book. I shouldn't have worried, there was plenty of explanation of events and people to satisfy me. And yet I don't give the book the highest of ratings. This is because I felt no connection to the narrator. The story wasn't terribly gripping because I had already predicted what happened. The narrator was genuine. He was mostly sarcastic and rude, which hid how scared and frustrated he was with his situation. I felt sympathy for him, but that was it. He didn't make me laugh or cry, and he's not someone I would want to get to know in real life. I realize that sounds rather shallow but that's how I felt, no emotional connection. I didn't like the format of the story either. I explain more in the SPOILER(Highlight to Read): How on Earth could he have written a letter to his mother while he lays dying on the street? Um no. It was just too unrealistic and it annoyed me (probably more than it should have). Instead I think someone else should have told the story or the mom should have find some of his writings (since he wrote poetry and rap) that explained what life was like for him.*End of Spoiler

Hello Mum is a quick but far from light read. The conclusion is expected, but the strength of the story lies in the journey to the end, learning about why and how this stabbing occurred. Personally, I felt no emotional connection to any of the characters, but that could easily be different for other readers. I think this read might be most beneficial to American readers who have no idea what everyday life is like for people who live in the rougher neighborhoods of London. This is an eye opening read, not just in talking about the antics of gangs, but in the slang and descriptions of life in London. What may come as a surprise is in how similar gangs seem to view the world and their position in it, regardless of where they live.

Disclosure: Received from Book Fairy #3. *Hugs* Thank you!

Male Monday: The Young Chieftain

The Young Chieftain by Ken Howard 2010
Tamarind Books/Random House UK

Release Date: September 2, 2010

Rating: 3.5/5

IQ "Life either went too fast when you were having a good time, he reflected, or slowed to a crawl when you weren't." Jamie pg. 119

The day Jamie MacDoran's father dies, he must travel with his mother from their home in Los Angeles, to his father's homeland of Scotland. The island seems to be in the middle of nowhere, and Jamie's father did not tell his mother (Jamie's grandmother) that he married a Black woman and has a biracial son. This causes some issues. On top of it all, Jamie's father was Scottish chieftain of the island. Now the clan needs a new head and they can't agree on who it should be. Technically it should be Jamie, but he doesn't want it and the islanders don't trust him. There's a mysterious stone that leads true chieftains to an 'all seeing eye' and Jamie wants to find it. All Jamie wants is to be accepted by his Scottish family and maybe stumble upon this 'all seeing eye.' Is that too much to ask?

Ken Howard is a screenwriter and it shows in this novel. The action moves quickly, never allowing for a dull moment. The story ends with a dramatic flourish that is expected and yet the exact way it works out is unexpected. The author is determined to make sure the reader gets a feel for Scotland, emphasising how old the island of Doran is, and yet it's very beautiful with its lochs, boats and Scottish Games. He doesn't tell the reader, he shows the reader. The boys act like your average teenagers, the clowns who sit behind you in class. Their dialogue made me smile, especially concerning Scotland. Jamie and his friends Lester, Chico, and Jeroo don't know much about Scotland and they don't have much respect for the country either (which is sad). The boys really came off the page, never regulated to merely being a background character. The same with the Scottish people Jamie met, they all had somewhat murky pasts, that they gradually shared.

Something that really struck out at me (not in a good way) was how Jamie and his friends from L.A. talked. They used "reckon" and "cos." I don't know many American born teens (especially not born in American Black teens) who speak like that. It's understandable for Jamie since his father is from Scotland, but it was unrealistic for his friends. Also this is a more minor point, but the boys have basketball practice at the end of the year. Basketball season starts in late fall and really picks up in the winter. It ends in the spring. Unless they play a summer league (which is plausible). The crush bit was predictable but it's nice all the same.

The Young Chieftain starts off as realistic fiction and ends up reaffirming the wonder and magic of Scotland. The characters are strong and the villains are not uncharacteristically evil, just as the good characters struggle. The issue of Jamie's race is not ignored, he's the only Black person on the island of Doran (besides his mother) and this causes quite a stir. Not to mention the fact that he's observant and not at all shy. I'm not sure how accurate the depictions of Scotland and issues that clans have are, but they seemed authentic. Some want the island to modernize, others want it to maintain its traditional appeal. All want a clan leader to step forward and tell them what to do. This story does not grow tedious and if you are able to suspend your disbelief at the language used by Jamie and his friends, it flies by, so sit back and enjoy your trip to the island of Doran, in Scotland.


Disclosure: Received from Tamarind Books. A division of Random House UK that specializes in multicultural literature, yay! Thank you so very much :)

Devil's Kiss

Devil's Kiss by Sarwat Chadda 2009

Penguin

Rating: 4.5/5

IQ "What else can we do but fight?" [Arthur]

"Even when it's hopeless?" [Billi]

"Especially when it's hopeless." Arthur pg. 249

Bilquis SanGreal is fifteen and facing a life of violence and protecting the weak. Her father is Master of the Knights Templar and it's Billi turn to join them, she's the first girl to become a member. She is the youngest member and she often feels alone in a world of older men especially since her own father could care less about her. When Billi's childhood friend, Kay, returns from Jerusalem she thinks things will get better. But Kay has changed. He looks better than ever but he is even more committed to the Knights Templar. Billi is thinking of leaving the Knights, so she can't understand why Kay wants to stick with the Knights. Then Billi meets Michael, he's gorgeous and understands her better than anyone else. However, there's no room for boys in Bili's life, especially if they don't know about the Order. On top of all the confusing boy drama, one of the fallen angels is determined to bring all the lost souls back to God, no matter how deadly the cost.

I'm really tempted to write a long and gushy review for this book. There are a few flaws but this book almost gave me a heart attack and I loved it every minute of it. I was disappointed at the Michael storyline, I thought it ran predictable but it doesn't really matter because once the truth about Michael is revealed, the plot quickly becomes unpredictable. The real world seemed to take a backseat to all the monsters and the work of the Templars. Billi comes to school with bruises from all her fights and her teachers wonder about the bruises, but they never press the issue. Also her father was so cruel and I thought the explanation was too convenient (I happily accepted it though in order to move on to more mystery supernatural stuff). The pacing could be a bit off as well, sudden bursts of violence and terror, than a lull of calm intermixed with a dash of real life. I wanted it to flow a little smoother.

This book has one of the best beginnings. It sucks you right in because it starts with Billi being assigned to murder a child. That's all I'll say about that. My favorite part of the book was probably the violent paranormal aspect of it. The author isn't trying to make nice, "sparkly" vampires or friendly monsters. Oh no, his monsters are more true to their original self; completely and utterly terrifying. There are vampires (called ghuls), werewolves, fallen angels, etc. and all of them are downright nasty. The author doesn't tell us about the wicked battles occurring, he shows us and it's INTENSE. Another part of the book that is extremely well done is how religion is handled. Billi is half Pakistani and her mother was Muslim, but when her mother died, her white Christan father raised her. The Knights Templar are Christians but the book draws upon myths and other religions. It makes several mentions of events that occurred in the Bible and the author uses his imagination to fill in conversations mentioned in the Bible (for example what Moses and the angel talked about after the unleashing of the ten plagues). It's an interesting take and provides quite a lot of food for thought.

And the ending :0 I sort of called it but I wanted so desperately to be wrong. You can't fully predict the whole ending, only bits and pieces. My heart was in my mouth and I was on the edge of my seat towards the end. Finally, you have Billi. All the characters were great (tie for second favorite character goes to Elaine or Percival), but Billi is amazing. She is spirited, the weight of the world is on her shoulders and she acts her age. Sometimes she whines a bit and makes some stupid decisions and then has to clean up the aftermath. But she's a fighter, honest and stubborn. One of my new favorite heroines. Elaine is a straightforward, loving Jewish woman who works with the Templars. She has some amusing lines and cool powers. I'm eager to learn more about her interesting backstory. Percival (Percy) replaced Billi's father, as someone for Billi to look up to. He was in charge of teaching her how to use weapons, but he was one of the few Templars (there are only nine) who remembers that Billi is HUMAN, not just a killing machine. He looks after her (sidenote: he's from Senegal) and we love him for it.

Devil's Kiss is a mesmerizing tale with a valiant and realistic main character at its heart. The monsters are scary, the battle scenes intense, the mythology and religious aspect will make you think and the romantic tension between characters is believable. Each character jumps off the page, a force to be reckoned with, unwilling to remain a background character. This is one of those special books where each time you re-read it, you will find something new to think about. Upon finishing this book, I sent out several Tweets, some to Twitter in general raving about this book and a few to the author. I then immediately looked up when the sequel was coming out. Dear readers it's coming out in 2011!!! *faints* BUT it's already out in the UK! The sequel is the Dark Goddess and I suggest that you order both books together because I'm having a hard time waiting to read the sequel. My hope is that this review does not sound completely garbled and that I have persuaded you to at least look up a summary and other reviews of Devil's Kiss.

Disclosure: Received from the wonderful Book Fairy #3. And it's autographed. Thank you so very much!

PS I own the UK cover which is cool but I love the U.S. cover. Billi looks so fierce with the sword and I love the guy in the background (is it a knight? Kaye? Michael?). Which cover do you like better, the U.S. or UK?

*I will be out of town (on a service trip!) from July 24-August 1. I have no Internet access but I look forward to reading your comments and emails when I get back.

Throwback Thursday: Growing Yams in London

Growing Yams in London by Sophia Acheampong 2006

Picadilly Press


Rating: 3.5/5


IQ "Makdiva: Not LOL! Totally embarrassing-my lips were left in the air before I realized we had company.
PartyBharti: Ha! Haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!
Makdiva: Bharti?
PartyBharti: Sorry, I fell off my chair and my finger got stuck on the 'a' key.
Makdiva: Liar! There's an exclamation mark
PartyBharti: Ok, but I did fall off my chair. " pg. 59 An IM conversation

Makeeda is enjoying her life in London. She has friends and even a potential boyfriend. Besides juggling strict parents, trying to figure out if DJ Nelson likes her and maintaining her friendships Makeeda also struggles with her Ghanaian culture. She doesn't know much about it and this never really bothered her. But things are starting to change, and life is getting more complicated.

As usual I was charmed and fascinated by everyday life in London, especially since this one was less serious drama and more of the drama that results from misunderstanding and lack of communication (still not sure about her relationship with Nelson, it was a bit weird). This was a relatively easy read, the British terms could be figured out based on contest. I gathered that the GCSE is like a high school entrance exam? I do wonder if all the British bands mentioned were real or made up (like Fairytale, 221). Does anyone know? I loved how everyone says "All right?" in place of "hey" or "what's up". I think I got a better feel for how teenagers in London interact with each other. The author did a good job with IMs and text messages. Sometimes authors include technology and it just doesn't work because they mix up what goes with what. Sophia Acheampong makes no such mistake and the IM conversations were particularly entertaining.

One of my favorite parts of the novel was the emotional and family aspect of it. Makeeda isn't overly rebellious of her parents and Ghanaian culture, but she does resist some of their rules. The reader isn't talked down to as the author talks about Ghanaian culture, the explanation of Ghanaian terms is very subtle, it comes from conversations or the context around it.Her relationship to her parents felt authentic and I'm glad that her parents weren't ghost figures, they had an active presence in her life. Not only were her parents active, but Makeeda actually spent time with her younger sister, Delphina. Sometimes they get along, sometimes they don't. Their relationship was refreshing because while Makeeda is annoyed by Delphy, she doesn't hate her (too many times siblings in YA books only seem to hate each other). It seems obvious to the reader right away that Makeeda has two admirers. However, as the novel continues, I began to doubt if a certain someone really did like her, since he dated other people. I was suspicious about DJ Nelson for most of the novel and I didn't always buy their relationship, it just seemed odd. I also thought her teacher's resistance to Makeeda researching Yaa Asantewaa (A Ghanian Queen) was puzzling. That particular storyline did not go where I thought it was going and I wasn't satisfied with the result. SPOILER, highlight to read: I thought Makeeda's teacher was so against it because she was a bit racist. What I mean is that she didn't think Ghanaian culture (or even African culture) had any important figures to learn about, therefore she didn't want Makeeda to do the project. Instead she claims that she just thought there wouldn't have been enough reference material. The author could have really done something with that storyline and I was disappointed that she did not. *End of Spoiler

Growing Yams in London is a beguiling novel that looks at life in London for Ghanaian teenagers. It's yet another novel that emphasizes that even if we have different cultural backgrounds, the struggles we go through are mostly the same, especially as teenagers. It can seem a repetitive message but it's one that some people obviously still need to hear. Makeeda is a funny, sometimes awkward main character. She is someone that everyone can relate to, especially in her struggles with her parents, and in trying to juggle school, friends and her slowly blossoming love life. All the characters are well developed and a lot of fun to read it (especially Nelson's friends and Makeeda's best friend Bharti). The IQ shows the humorous side of this novel and it's a very fun read. I look forward to learning more about them. I'm eager to start reading the sequel to see what's next for Makeeda and to learn if her little sister was able to grow yams in London :)

Disclosure: Received from Book Fairy #3 Thank you Kaz! *hugs*

Throwback Thursday is hosted by Take Me Away Reading