tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5255886452367019317.post3065656678738745279..comments2024-03-24T02:23:19.870-05:00Comments on Reading In Color: The Lack of People Of Color in Historical FictionMissAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11042352415616854651noreply@blogger.comBlogger39125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5255886452367019317.post-62037906922256456132010-08-18T09:48:35.069-05:002010-08-18T09:48:35.069-05:00@Anonymous-I liked the Joy Luck Club but I think m...@Anonymous-I liked the Joy Luck Club but I think most of us want more than that.<br /><br />@Joan-I don't read much in the paranormal genre so I'm at a bit of a loss. I recommend: Devil's Kiss by Sarwat Chadda, Bleeding Violet by Dia Reeves, Moonshine by Alaya Johnson (not YA but the main character is in her '20s and the book is excellent), Manifest by Artist Arthur. Sadly that's all I can think of at the moment. I hope that helps give you a starting point!MissAhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11042352415616854651noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5255886452367019317.post-53043767035892624092010-08-18T02:08:50.783-05:002010-08-18T02:08:50.783-05:00i'm currently having a problem with the YA par...i'm currently having a problem with the YA paranormal romance genre...i've been searching for YA paranormal romance books with heroes/heroines of colour..please i need some recommendations..would really aprreciate..thanks!!!joannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5255886452367019317.post-38721119103096248182010-08-06T12:35:14.498-05:002010-08-06T12:35:14.498-05:00I think the joy luck luck was a film that meant th...I think the joy luck luck was a film that meant the most the most in the notion of the many forms the use others in a verity of ways.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5255886452367019317.post-2700862862635283592010-04-07T15:39:20.657-05:002010-04-07T15:39:20.657-05:00@BC-Hmm this series sounds intriguing! Thanks for ...@BC-Hmm this series sounds intriguing! Thanks for sharing it with me. I'll keep my eyes out for it/MissAhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11042352415616854651noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5255886452367019317.post-43153651380549833912010-04-06T23:05:08.522-05:002010-04-06T23:05:08.522-05:00The Sons of Liberty is a graphic novel set in the ...The Sons of Liberty is a graphic novel set in the Revolutionary War period. It will be released May 25, 2010. Check it out! http://www.amazon.com/Sons-Liberty-1-Alexander-Lagos/dp/0375856706BChttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16160837201484635128noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5255886452367019317.post-52822834787955010792010-02-04T18:19:48.609-06:002010-02-04T18:19:48.609-06:00@Rebecca- Thank you! I'll be sure to check the...@Rebecca- Thank you! I'll be sure to check these out. Although I've heard there was/is a lot of controversary over ann Rinaldi's books and their historical accuracy. I'll have to research that.<br /><br />@Anonymous-Thanks for sharing the link. I agree seh is living history, I hope all young people take the time to listen to the stories of the older generations.MissAhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11042352415616854651noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5255886452367019317.post-37471925125803026972010-02-04T10:14:27.250-06:002010-02-04T10:14:27.250-06:00Ari, I just read this article. http://www.wltx.com...Ari, I just read this article. http://www.wltx.com/news/story.aspx?storyid=83614&catid=63 I wish someone who wrote memoir would get together with this lady and get her perspective. She's seen so much, and she must have such stories to tell. She is living history.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5255886452367019317.post-69946782561418992082010-01-29T23:59:23.492-06:002010-01-29T23:59:23.492-06:00This post is a bit old, but I was recently working...This post is a bit old, but I was recently working on my LibraryThing library and thought I'd add in some of the older historical fiction books I've read with POC main characters I found. <br />I *think* none of these are duplicates from your list or from any of my earlier posts, if any are I apologize. Some of the AA books do deal with slavery, but are NOT set anytime near the Civil War.<br /><br />MG:<br />Mystery of the Dark Tower by Evelyn Coleman (AA, Harlem Renaissance)<br />Circle of Fire by Evelyn Coleman (AA, 1950s)<br />Trouble at Fort LaPointe by Kathleen Ernst (Native American, 18th century)<br />Zellie Blake by Kathleen Duey (AA, Lowell Mills)<br />Run Away Home by Patricia McKissack (AA and Native American main characters, 1880s south)<br />Dust from Old Bones by Sandra Forrester (Biracial Creole girl in 1830s New Orleans)<br />Seaword Born by Lea Wait (AA, Early 1800s New England)<br />Children of the Longhouse by Joseph Bruchac (Native American, before arrival of Europeans)<br />The Well of Sacrifice by Chris Eboch (9th century Mayans)<br />When My Name was Keoko by Linda Sue Park (Korean children in WW2 during Japanese occupation)<br />Elk Girl by Thelma Hatch Wyss (Native Amerian)<br />Soft Rain by Cornelia Cornellisen (Cherokee Trail of Tears)<br />On the Long Trail Home by Elizabeth Stewart (Cherokee Trail of Tears)<br />Rosa Moreno by Kathleen Duey (Hispanic girl in early days of movies in Hollywood)<br />Dear Canada - Canadian version of Dear America series. Only really sold in Canada but copies usually turn up on Amazon.com. POC books were I think An Ocean Apart by Gillian Chan, The Death of My Country by Maxine Trottier, Blood Upon Our Land by Maxine Trottier. (I use this series to fill the void left by Dear America… I’m way past the age group and still really miss that series, wish more had been published)<br />Melitte by Fatima Shaik (AA, Colonial Louisiana)<br /><br />YA:<br />Second Daughter by Mildred Pitts Walter (AA, Colonial America)<br />The Color of Fire by Ann Rinaldi (AA, Colonial America)<br />The Education of Mary by Ann Rinaldi (AA, 1830s New England, <br />Chains by Laurie Halse Anderson (AA, Revolutionary War)<br />The Winter People by Joseph Bruchac (Native American, 1750s)<br />The Tribe by Valerie Bloom (Spanish Conquest of Caribbean through eyes of a Native girl)<br /><br />Once again lots more MG than YA, sadly… but I think that would likely be the case for any time period/subject mature that I searched for. Luckily the YA genre does seem to be growing.Rebecca Hermanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12045279026055038231noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5255886452367019317.post-37134968093048178432010-01-21T22:44:17.377-06:002010-01-21T22:44:17.377-06:00I am so glad you posted this! I don't read a l...I am so glad you posted this! I don't read a lot of historical fiction, but I will never forget Roll of Thunder Hear My Cry--it was one of those books that made me rethink the way that I saw myself...We definitely need good, diverse historical YA fiction in our lives.Rochelle Spencerhttp://www.rochellespencer.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5255886452367019317.post-47478183472113611642010-01-05T18:45:03.807-06:002010-01-05T18:45:03.807-06:00Clarifcation
*adding to tbr list
*know of one book...Clarifcation<br />*adding to tbr list<br />*know of one bookMissAhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11042352415616854651noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5255886452367019317.post-68678750055890194302010-01-05T18:44:33.723-06:002010-01-05T18:44:33.723-06:00@Jodie-So happy to help, it sounds like a must rea...@Jodie-So happy to help, it sounds like a must read and I've heard from Colleen (at Chasing Ray) that it's good.<br /><br />@mel u-Oh thank you for this recommendation! There are so few books about Filipinos in the U.S. for teens, I'm adding this to my list (I only know off on other book, Off the Boat by Melissa De La Cruz).MissAhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11042352415616854651noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5255886452367019317.post-73048484019794182272010-01-05T16:20:48.401-06:002010-01-05T16:20:48.401-06:00Here is an excellent book about the Filipino-Ameri...Here is an excellent book about the Filipino-American Experience-it is told from the point of view of a nearly totally Americanized teenage female-it is about her relationship with her very traditional grandparents-the scene where she is getting reading for her first High School Dance and the grandmothers want her to dress like it was 1950 and she was in Manila and not California is a classic<br /><br /><br />The Oracles: My Filipino Grandparents in America by Pati Navalta PobleteMel uhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08714473754458914681noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5255886452367019317.post-87605823255309248742010-01-05T03:08:01.274-06:002010-01-05T03:08:01.274-06:00Women's sufferage in Cuba? See this is why I r...Women's sufferage in Cuba? See this is why I read here, you always have such great book suggestions.Jodiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11462660276240016464noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5255886452367019317.post-53236927835227056712010-01-04T20:12:14.692-06:002010-01-04T20:12:14.692-06:00@Trisha-Good point, I would like to see some more ...@Trisha-Good point, I would like to see some more YA historical fiction about the U.s. but at the same time I think it helps make us better global citizens by reading about other countries besides the U.S. I'm starting to realize that historical fiction in general needs an overhaul. I hope the list is helpful :)<br /><br />@Rebecca-Dear America forever, haha! I'm going to try and reread/review some this month. I did rellyl ike in the Valley of the Moon so thank you for the other Sherry Garland titles, they're out my library so I'll check them out =)<br /><br />@Colleen-I'm so relived to hear that the firefly Letters is good (although with a great plot like that, it must be!). I'm looking forward to your post on books about Cuba for YA since Cuba is my 2nd fav Spanish-speaking country (next to my home country of Panama). I agree, I'm tired of the same old novels about the Holocaust. Obviously the Jewish people have had other signifcant historical events, but sadly I can't think of any. It's the same as the AA slavery/civil rights. <br /><br />@Christine-Another Graham Salisbury recommendation, my resolve to read all his books is further strengthened. You deserve the shoutout :D<br /><br />@PatriciaW- So glad the list is helpful and there are some really good historical fiction books out there that will make you a fan (like all the ones in my list). Brown Girl, Brownstones sounds good, I'll be adding it to my tbr pile. Thanks!MissAhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11042352415616854651noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5255886452367019317.post-83879331534695801412010-01-04T17:06:22.388-06:002010-01-04T17:06:22.388-06:00You've got a pretty good list. The lack of co...You've got a pretty good list. The lack of color doesn't get better in adult fiction, one of the reasons I rarely read historical fiction.<br /><br />You could add Brown Girl, Brownstones by Paule Marshall to your list. This was one of my favorites. It was a contemporary at the time it was published, but would be considered historical now.PatriciaWhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04572087157439187319noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5255886452367019317.post-68613347614592671812010-01-04T14:04:42.523-06:002010-01-04T14:04:42.523-06:00I was just going to mention Graham Salisbury, too....I was just going to mention Graham Salisbury, too. I haven't read "House of the Red Fish" yet, but I did read "Eyes of the Emperor," and it was extraordinary. He based the novel on interviews he did with Japanese-American WWII veterans and their experiences, some of which had never been told before. These were boys fighting for America at the same time their own families were in American internment camps. Their stories are powerful and unforgettable.<br /><br />This is a great, great post, Ari. <br /><br />(P.S. thanks for the shoutout!) :)Christine Fletcherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17350760019997430843noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5255886452367019317.post-23608492805976944212010-01-04T02:50:39.705-06:002010-01-04T02:50:39.705-06:00Graham Salisbury has a whole series set in Hawaii ...Graham Salisbury has a whole series set in Hawaii during WWII with a Japanese American teen protag. "House of the Red Fish" was really outstanding. (I have no idea why this is MG - I think it actually works better for YA.)<br /><br />I just finished "The Firefly Letters" and thought it was outstanding. I'm slowly putting together a column on Cuban and Cuban/American titles for later this year. I'm so glad to see them starting to appear for teens.<br /><br />One other thing - could they please take a break from Holocaust novels? Is this really the only historical Jewish experience that anyone can write about? Really?Colleenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18380722344521975869noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5255886452367019317.post-78728570848203955942010-01-03T22:37:13.829-06:002010-01-03T22:37:13.829-06:00@ Trisha,
OMG YES That's the one!! Yayyyyy n...@ Trisha, <br /><br />OMG YES That's the one!! Yayyyyy now I know the title in case I ever wanna reread it. =D<br /><br />@Ari,<br /><br />lol no prob. I'm flattered you think my words are worth ETA-ing. 8Dyuanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13106464795070487558noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5255886452367019317.post-69258128477629003592010-01-03T21:50:04.149-06:002010-01-03T21:50:04.149-06:00I loved the Dear America series. I wish they still...I loved the Dear America series. I wish they still published them, I would still read them! I do think there is more historical fiction in general for middle grade but I have seen more YA historical fiction in the past year so hopefully the genre becomes popular.<br /><br />If you liked the Dear America: Valley of the Moon book, the author Sherry Garland wrote several YA historicals. They are older so may or may not be still in print but the titles are In the Shadow of the Alamo (about a young Mexican soldier), Indio (about the Spanish Conquest of the Americas as seen through the point of view of a young Native woman), and The Last Rainmaker (about a girl in a Wild West Show who has a white father and a Native American mother)Rebecca Hermanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12045279026055038231noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5255886452367019317.post-51465933419843960112010-01-03T21:44:07.982-06:002010-01-03T21:44:07.982-06:00This comment has been removed by the author.Rebecca Hermanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12045279026055038231noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5255886452367019317.post-40951089116467329362010-01-03T20:10:07.438-06:002010-01-03T20:10:07.438-06:00@rhapsodyinbooks-I think I will have to read more ...@rhapsodyinbooks-I think I will have to read more adult fiction and nonfiction to satisfy my love of history. You're right, there are some great nonfiction books out there that read like fiction in that they are interesting and fast paced and entertaining. See, I'd never heard of Granville Woods, now my interest is piqued! I'll definitely check out Jefferson's Pillow. I follow all your recommendations :)<br /><br />@Dia-It is tragic out how many events have/are ignored and that's what this post is about, specifically events that affect poc. I would love to read a book about the black artists and writers who moved to Paris in the '20s (I'll check out Black Girl in Paris and the Feast of All Saints which sounds amazing and see what else I can dig up) nonfiction seems to be the main way to go right now.<br /><br />@hc-no I haven't read anything by Anjali Banerjee. Any recommendations of what book to start with?MissAhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11042352415616854651noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5255886452367019317.post-39780278105415541562010-01-03T18:46:56.462-06:002010-01-03T18:46:56.462-06:00Ari, here's the flap copy on my ARC of The Fir...Ari, here's the flap copy on my ARC of The Firefly Letters you were asking about on my blog--<br /><br />The freedom to roam is something that women and girls in Cuba do not have. Yet when Fredrika explores the magical island, she brings along Cecilia, a young slave who longs for her home in Africa. Soon Elena, the daughter of the house, sneaks out to join them. As the three women explore the lush countryside, they form a bond that breaks the barriers of language and culture.<br /><br />In this quietly powerful new book, Margarita Engle paints a portrait of early women's rights pioneer Fredrika Bremer and the journey to Cuba that transformed her life.<br /><br />(Henry Holt, March 2010, ages 10 and up)Wendyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11690852339559706714noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5255886452367019317.post-49727303179105089672010-01-03T17:43:10.840-06:002010-01-03T17:43:10.840-06:00I'm so glad everyone is contributing :)
@laur...I'm so glad everyone is contributing :)<br /><br />@lauramanivong-Thanks for stopping by and I'm always happy to spotlight poc titles. I'll edit my explanation of the book (I couldn't find a summary of the book on Amazon, I don't know why I didn't think to check your website).<br /><br />@Ana T-Glad you found me/us :) I haven't read Hunting Midnight. I'll check it out.<br /><br />@Ah Yuan-Laurence Yep was one of my fav writers growing up to because he wrote about non-white dancers (I danced for about 12 years). I really want to read Dragon Road and Weedflower (I really liked Kira Kira, need to review that!). Not sure of the Mongolian novel you're talking about. That's a really awesome theroy. mind if I post that in the post? you can always tell me to take it down if you don't want it up there. You're awesome!<br /><br />@susan-You got me started with some great titles. Glad to return the favor although I have a long way to go, your help is indispensable.<br /><br />@steph Su-Exactly. I'm tired of slavery/civil rights in historical fiction for AAs, immigration for Latinos, and railroad/internment camps for Asians (although post 9/11 I think people need to read more books about the internment camps and learn from our mistakes. Shine, Coconut Moon makes great connections of our post 9/11 world of 'muslim=terrorist' to the WWII Japanese Americans being impriosoned in internment camps. And if we could just get historically accurate books about Native Americans! So glad you're working to help change the future, we most certainely can!MissAhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11042352415616854651noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5255886452367019317.post-86547054295763457102010-01-03T17:27:38.359-06:002010-01-03T17:27:38.359-06:00@Steph Su - I actually love historical fiction in ...@Steph Su - I actually love historical fiction in general, but I'm with you about having big problems with "fact that they are either about, y'know, the railroad, or the Japanese internment camps, or the difficulties of immigration and culture clashes a la The Joy Luck Club (which I enjoyed, by the way, but I wouldn't want to read that kind of stuff constantly)."<br /><br />@Ah Yuan // wingstodust - <i>I Rode a Horse of Milk White Jade</i> by Diane Lee Wilson? I really like that book, although I'm a sucker for books set in Mongolia in general.<br /><br />@Ari - I have to mention Graham Salisbury's <i>Eyes of the Emperor</i>. It's about a Japanese-American teen at the start of World War II (which, I'll admit, is pretty much the only time you'll see a Japanese-American male protagonist in historical fiction). But it's based on a real experiment, in which the military thought Japanese had a different scent than Americans, so they tried to train attack dogs to recognize the "Japanese scent." <br /><br />I do think historical fiction needs more diversity in setting, time period, and plot in general, but, yes, this is even more true where historical novels featuring people of color is concerned.<br /><br />One more comment about your list of upcoming books (thanks for compiling, btw). Someone already noted how many middle graders there were, but the books are also predominantly set in other countries. I won't argue with the importance of this, but I also wouldn't mind seeing more historical fiction with people of color set in the US.Trishahttp://theyayayas.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5255886452367019317.post-73004854389912018282010-01-03T15:15:55.308-06:002010-01-03T15:15:55.308-06:00Thanks so much for mentioning Escaping The Tiger. ...Thanks so much for mentioning Escaping The Tiger. While it certainly deals with the aftermath of the Vietnam War, the characters are from Laos. It's loosely based on the turmoil my husband's family went through after the war in Indochina ended. It's wonderful that you highlight these titles. Sincerest thanks!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com