The Agency: The Traitor in the Tunnel

The Traitor in the Tunnel (The Agency #3) by Y.S. Lee 2012

Candlewick Press

Rating: 4/5

IQ "All the feelings she had long suppressed overcame her at last, making her stagger. It was like a physical blow: she not just alone, but lonely. The solitary sate was nothing new, of course. But she was lonely now for different reasons. She was lonely despite the possibility of family-perhaps because of that very likelihood. Because she might not be absolutely truly alone, after all, and she might have preferred it so." Mary pg. 98

Mary Quinn is officially an agent and she is determined to do exceptionally well on her first assignment. To her dismay, she is given a "boring" case in which a petty thief is stealing inconsequential things from Buckingham Palace. Mary is placed as a maid in Queen Victoria's court in order to prevent any future thefts and discover the identity of the thief. But while Mary grows impatient with her case another arises when the Prince of Wales witnesses a murder in an opium den. The queen does not want him to testify due to the scandal and Mary's interest is piqued further when she learns that the accused killer may be someone she is quite familiar with.

Compared to the other two books, this one left me disappointed in terms of the mystery. The mystery element seemed to be completely disregarded at times. Worse, the conclusion was random and anti-climatic. It was not nearly as exciting or interesting as I had hoped. I read this as though it would be the final book in the trilogy (it was originally supposed to be a trilogy and it is the 3rd book) so perhaps that explains some of the ambiguity in terms of the motives of certain characters (lady-in-waiting, Octavius Jones, Anne & Felicity). Nevertheless I am still baffled as to why the criminal(s) committed the crimes that they did.

I chose the quote I did because I can relate to not necessarily wanting company, to preferring being alone but not lonely. But what this book lacks in terms of mystery development, it more than makes up for it on the romance front. James & Mary have the most engaging of exchanges, especially at the end. They both have a wry sense of humor, stubborn nature, a love of adventure and a belief in fairness for all. They make a wonderfully exasperating team which makes the storyline all the more fun. I was thrilled that we finally learned more about Mary's past, this is when new twists are thrown into the story and everything untangles in a way that makes sense. As always the best part of the book is Mary Quinn herself (with Mary&James a close second). Mary is extremely resourceful, it is amusing to see how frustrated she gets with this case in which no gossip is allowed at the palace, thus how is she to discover information? Never doubt that Mary Quinn will find a way to obtain the information she wants. Mary's resilience is inspiring, and I love the author's focus on her working-class origins as well as the daily life of other working-class people. I think many historical novels today want to focus solely on the wealthy or upper middle class, it's nice to see a book that does not shy away from describing the poverty of Victorian England and the grinding lives of the English and immigrant working class.

I needed a lovely historical fiction read, one that reminded me of why I loved studying history so much and The Traitor in the Tunnel more than delivered on that front. I appreciated the personal glimpses of Queen Victoria when she was not playing her role as THE QUEEN, instead the author paints a portray of a Queen Victoria who bore a great weight on her shoulders but who also loved her family and lots of laughter, she had a mischievous spirit. I felt that this book in the series spent more time explaining things but not in a boring manner, rather the author finds ways to cleverly insert historical or tactical information into the story (or blink-and-you-might-miss-it). One of my 'complaints' (not really I complaint since I LOVED the second book) was that I wanted to know more about The Agency and gradually more details are being revealed in this book. James Easton is infatuated with Mary Quinn as am I. This is a series that I cannot praise enough, I wish every world/European history class had at least one of these books as required reading.

Disclosure: Received from the author as part of the Candlewick Blog Tour. Thank you so much for including me Ms. Lee & Candlewick! Please read the guest post (very prevalent to the book) about opium as a Victorian obsession

Under the Mesquite

Under the Mesquite by Guadalupe Garcia McCall 2011
Lee & Low Books

Rating: 4/5

IQ "I know he wouldn't purposely/hurt me; he's just venting/his frustrations,/So when I feel his anger/blowing my way,/I hold my breath and try to see through it. /But then the smoke burns my eyes/till they start to water,/and I know it's time to move-/find a clear spot/away from the smoldering coals." "What's Gone" Lupita pg. 111

Lupita is the oldest of eight siblings and so she is a huge help to her mother. Her mother tries to hide her cancer diagnosis from her children but Lupita discovers the truth and she is terrified by the very real possibility that she could lose her mother, the thread that holds their large family together. Lupita must take charge as head of the family while her father works and drives her mother to various treatment facilities, but her siblings won't cooperate with her and her class load is hardly manageable. If Lupita falls apart she fears the family will fall apart and she cannot allow that to happen.

Lupita's friends were bizarre. They jarred me so much that I couldn't get them out of my head even after they disappeared for a brief time from the pages. Her friend Mireya makes one horrid comment in the beginning of the book and I expected Lupita to stop being her friend. But she doesn't. Lupita seems to pretty much be a loner anyway so I could not fathom why she still talked to Mireya. It seemed unrealistic to me because I do not think anyone would remain friends with someone who made such an awful comment about their family. I also think that whether because it was free-verse or just short, it was hard to connect with the other characters. This is Lupita's story but when you have eight other siblings I can't help but feel that more notice should be taken of them. I also wanted to know more about her relationship with her father.

This novel is not driven by plot, it is driven by emotions and a series of small events in Lupita's life that affected how she is now. I think this book's strength lies in the fact that it focuses less on Lupita's mother succumbing to the disease and more on how her mother's illness affects Lupita and their strong mother-daughter bond. The mesquite grows in Lupita's mother's rose garden and at first her mother tries to remove it but eventually she gives up. Lupita and her mother are both stubborn and they book strive to see the beauty in pain and in ugly things. Lupita uses her mother's illness to help herself become a better actress, to inspire her writing. But her poems are not angst-ridden, instead they are thoughtful. This thoughtfulness is a theme for the author as more and more now I find myself able to applaud the ease at which an author includes Spanish and English side-by-side without offering the direct translation. Lupita is not babied and neither is the reader. I appreciated the little moments of joy that permeated throughout this novel. Like Lupita I was worried for their family and then something amusing or a border-line miracle would occur and we would both be reassured that maybe everything would be OK.

Under the Mesquite is a fast read filled with sublime poems that will make this book stretch out further because you want to go back and re-read the lines. Lupita's self-direction and courage are admirable qualities and we should only be so lucky to remain as steadfast as she does. She is not a saint, she lashes out at her siblings at times just like anyone else would. I admired her utter selflessness as her college funds and the college funds of her siblings were drained in order to pay for her mother's operations. I would do the same but it might take me a little more time to come around. To be perfectly honest though, while this book is lovely, it did not stay with me. I had trouble writing this review because I could not remember the small details in this book. Since this is a book that is all about the small things, the little details that change during the illness of a loved one, this is problematic. But that's just me.

Disclosure: From the publisher. Thank you so much Lee & Low!

My Own Worst Frenemy

My Own Worst Frenemy by Kimberly Reid (Chanti on the Case #1) ARC
Dafina KTeen/Kensington Publishing Corp

Release Date: Today!

Rating: 4/5

IQ "But as soon as I see him sitting on the library steps waiting for me, I turn to lava, hot for him but without form. I have no resolve; everything in me turns soft." Chanti pg. 265

I chose the above sentence for the Incredible Quote because I thought it was a good example of the author taking tired old lines to describe feelings and creating new similes. The lava comparison made me pause for a second whereas if it been something like "weak at the knees" or "turned into jello" I wouldn't have given it a second glance.

Fifteen-year old Chanti (short for Chantal) has already managed to gain the disdain of her new principal, Headmistress Smythe and the 'queen bee' Lissa at her new school, Langdon Prep. Langdon is filled with mostly rich students, except for Chanti and the super-cute Marco Ruiz. Chanti and Marco attend Langdon on scholarship and everyone knows it and looks down on them because of that fact. They are also easy targets and as things begin disappearing around the school, it becomes clear that someone is setting up Chanti and Marco. The final straw is pulled when Chanti and Marco are blamed for home burglaries. Chanti's mother is an undercover cop so she can help her daughter clear her name a little but she also can't risk blowing her cover. Marco is willing to help Chanti figure out who the burglar is and possibly even to catch him/her.

Chanti is funny but it's not all silly humor, early on in the book she is talking about how to pronounce her name, "And please pronounce my name right-Shawnty, not Shanty like the towns where poor people live in a Steinbeck book" (pg. 2). At first I thought this line was an obvious trick to show how uniquely smart Chanti was for her neighborhood (where most of the kids didn't give two hoots about school) but she doesn't utter many of those lines and when she does, it doesn't seem obnoxious. In fact, it seems like a plausible line for someone with enough confidence to say. Chanti also reminded me of my younger sister in a good way. My sister utters ridiculous statements all the time and Chanti inadvertently does too such as when she's trying to silently tell other girls to back off Marco, "I'm at the back of the line working up the nerve to give her the evil eye that says 'he's mine, and you'd be wise to back up.' Some women can do that. Lana could. MJ could. But they're both scary and scary won't work for me. I could probably do crazy. Just as I'm about to get my crazy look going, Lissa looks down at the notes she's about to bore us with. Smythe looks up at me then, and I'm pretty sure she thinks I'm crazy.
'Is there anything wrong Chantal?'
'No, um..it's just that I don't have a pen.'" (pg. 24). Chanti describing herself trying to get her crazy look going made me laugh out loud for some reason. Probably because it's something I or one of my friends or my sister would say. I also really appreciated the fact that Chanti didn't over-use random slang nor did she talk completely proper. Like many Black students I know, she knew when to speak properly and when she could relax a bit and that transition is something not all authors grasp but it's an important distinction I think.

The mystery was excellent. I admit I was skeptical since Chanti was fifteen (and I do wish she was older because that might make it a little more realistic) and so she had to work her way around the driving issue and that didn't always work out plausibly. And I didn't like the fact that the book is mostly about Chanti, her mother and Marco. More character development is needed, I especially found it hard to believe that EVERYONE at Langdon refused to befriend Chanti. The mystery element kept me guessing and there were enough twists thrown in to keep me guessing but not enough to completely confuse me. I do wish Chanti's mother hadn't been a police detective because while I don't read many mysteries I feel as though that's a classic cliche (a la Nancy Drew), detective-whose-parents-are-cops-or-lawyers. That being said I really liked the fact that Chanti used authentic cop tips, she didn't go off and do crazy things. Since her mother was a cop, she makes a point of distinguishing between how cops act on TV and how they can act in real life. Sometimes I need a reminder that cops on TV are not 99% authentic! There's a good number of suspects and it's easy to follow along with Chanti as she eliminates them. The romance is light, in fact, there isn't really any romance which I liked because the way the book ended concerning Chanti's relationship with Marco made a lot of sense (bonus: bicultural romance!) for high school underclassmen.

My Own Worst Frenemy is a fine example of books we need more of in books for youth. An intelligent main character who doesn't take herself too seriously who happens to be Black and who uses common sense to solve a mystery that isn't completely random and unrealistic (i.e. a teenager solving a murder). Chanti is a fun protagonist and she could easily have been one of my best friends. I was pleasantly surprised at issues of class that were more in depth than I thought they would be concerning not just the students at Langdon but also the faculty and janitorial staff. There are some definite holes; the conclusion was rushed, more character development is needed, at times the author seemed to be stretching to make characters appear as suspects/remove them from the suspect list and personally I wish Chanti was older but overall it was a strong debut and I certainly intend on reading further about Chanti's escapades (particularly to find out the backstory of Bethanie. I'm dying to know more about her!).

Disclosure: Received from author. Thank you so very much!

Off Color: Guardian of the Dead

Guardian of the Dead by Karen Healey 2010
Little, Brown and Company

Rating: 4/5

IQ "It's the shape of the story that matters, the way belief forms around it. The story has real weight." Mark pg. 173


Ellie Spencer attends Mansfield College, a boarding school in Christchurch, New Zealand. At seventeen years old she does things lot of other teenagers, do some smart activities and some not-so smart activities. Everything is grinding along for Ellie when a mysterious and beautiful woman becomes fascinated with Ellie's best friend, Kevin. The woman's fascination borders on disturbing and there's something off about her. Ellie also has a new fascination, Mark, who finally begins to notice her but it's almost as if he's enchanted her. Ellie quickly learns that she should trust her gut as she is thrust into a world of Maori mythology and fairies. There's also a serial killer on the loose known as the "Eyeslasher". Killers, fairies and lots and lots of magic will lead Ellie on a roller coaster ride over the course of a few days.

Some of the scenes jumbled together in this book. I found myself having to go back and re-read to put the events in order because for some reason in my mind they weren't clear. I think I was most disappointed in the lack of Kevin time. Not only because Kevin had Maori heritage and I wanted to read about that but also he's a genuinely interesting character. He vanishes for much of the novel and while I understand why that disappearance occurred, I wish he could have been worked in better. I also didn't like the storyline of Ellie's sister. It adds a diverse aspect to the story but other than that it was pointless. I had hoped that we would at least 'meet' Magda or hear from her but Ellie mentions her briefly every now and then and proceeds to move on. I found it hard to focus on this book too, perhaps because it moved too slow or maybe because I got too hung up on understanding the mythology/various cultures of New Zealand? I'm not entirely sure but that's entirely on me. When I closed the book I honestly did not understand why the battle for immortality occurred the way it did. There seemed to be too many supernatural elements thrown together within a few chapters, it felt rushed. I'm still not entirely sure how the Eyeslasher murders and the paranormal creatures were related....well I think I understand it but it seemed to be an unnecessary stretch.

It is hard to keep the Maori mythology straight but I didn't care, I just wanted to learn more, more, more! While the mythology seemed to be introduced at random times and could be jarring, it was fascinating to see its modern day connections. I was very pleased at how the ending of the book showed how what had occurred in the supernatural world still affected the real world. There are some devastating repercussions that made me very sad but I didn't mind the realistic aspect, I appreciated it. Adding to the overall realistic theme of the novel is Ellie. She constantly refers to herself as big although I'm not sure if she's overweight or not (I would imagine not since she takes tae kwon do). Since Ellie is trained in tae kwon do (black belt) she's able to defend herself physically which is a lot of fun to read about because some of the info shown could prove useful in real life to the reader. I also grew enamored with the ending for not being too open or firmly shut and Ellie does not put her future education on hold. She talks about classes during the book and she plans on going to University, in fact she agonizes over what she wants to study BECAUSE WHAT SHE LOVES WON'T PAY MUCH. Boy oh boy could I relate to that anxiety. It's also quite funny to read about Ellie's Classics professor, Gribaldi, who is always complaining that her students in New Zealand don't work as hard as AP American students. I'm sure that's not true but it must be nice not being exhausted every waking minute because of school. As Ellie says "I couldn't see the appeal of working yourself ragged and doing ten thousand extra-curriculars. So New Zealand only had seven universities, and most entrance courses required entrants to meet a bare minimum of standards. So what?" (pg. 49), sentences like that would did seem didactic at times. However, I didn't mind because I love comparing and contrasting how teens live in different countries. And like Ellie I don't see the appeal either but that attitude has/will hurt me.

I was enamored with Guardian of the Dead due its close-to-perfect ending along with its authentic characters struggling with teen insecurities, diverse cast and informal view of life in New Zealand specifically life at a prestigious New Zealand boarding school and in Christchurch. At times the author seemed to be pointedly discussing the diversity of her characters, when describing Samia it came across more subtly that she was Muslim, but for other characters Ellie would flat-out describe them as Asian or Desi. I'm not sure which I would prefer but it was something small that I found interesting. I do wish the book's ending had been less jumbled and that more characters became 3D. Ellie, Mark and Iris are the three teens I would say become fully fleshed out but there are so many other characters worth exploring (Kevin)! Ellie is fairly logical but not more so than the average teen except for the fact that she knows self-defense. She seems to think the most inappropriate thoughts at crucial moments but they made me pause because they were good points. When a particular character dies she observes "in the movies, you could close the eyelids of a dead man by passing one hand over his face. I had to pinch the skin of his right eyelid and tug, and even then it wouldn't close all the way over the emptied eye socket" (pg. 289), a gross image but who would have ever considered the logistics of that particular scenario? I found Ellie's down-to-earth, insecure, self-deprecating, somewhat quirky (but not obnoxiously so) personality to be refreshing.

Disclosure: Received from publisher. Thank you so much L&B Company!

*Note: I had originally planned on reading this the 2011 Global Reading Challenge. While it technically counts for the challenge since it's set in New Zealand, it does not count for my personal guidelines since the main character is not a person of color and her best friend who is does not play as much of a role in the story. But I think the author's next book does have a main character of color so I added it to the list!

PS Just a fyi: one of the characters is asexual. I've never read a book that even mentions being asexual so I was really happy to see it mentioned because I know nothing about that sexual orientation.

Throwback Thursday: Monsoon Summer

Monsoon Summer by Mitali Perkins
Delacorte Press/Random House

Rating: 4/5

IQ "But the line had gone dead, I walked home replaying our conversation, sheltered in the privacy of my umbrella. What had those missing words been? If only the connection had stayed clear! Now the words were drifting in outer space somewhere, and I'd never find out what they were." Jasmine pgs. 110-111

Jazz Gardner has a great business going with her best friend, Steve Morales (a guy she's secretly in love with), they sell Berkley Memories and their business is doing quite well. Unfortunately (or is it?) for them both, Jazz's mom wins a grant for her and the family to travel to India and set up a women's clinic near the orphanage where Jasmine's mom was adopted from. Jazz doesn't want to go not just because she doesn't want to leave Steve but because she's not a big fan of volunteer work (after all how do you know the person you're helping really needs help?). Jazz doesn't have a cell-phone or a laptop so she will have to rely on rare long-distance phone calls with Steve and hope that he won't start dating another girl. Jazz is not, however prepared for the madness and magic of monsoon season in India, the countryside is lush and the people are a bit crazy but crazy isn't always bad.

Something that's really starting to get on my nerves about girls in books is when they constantly complain about their bodies (which I get believe, I hate my body) but then there are AT LEAST 2-3 guys interested in them. In Jazz's case, she goes to a dance club and every guy wants to dance with her and I understand that before that she thought she was ugly but after that she should have felt way better about herself. And yet she continued to believe she was ugly, it especially pained me that she thought that because she was tall. I really don't think a person's height should affect how good they feel about themselves. It was hard for me to relate to Jazz though because she's not a 'do-gooder' and while I don't do all I can to help people, volunteering is a huge part of my life so it was hard for me to fathom someone so dead set against it, even after her motive is explained. Plus who wouldn't jump at the opportunity to visit India? Yes it would be tough being without technology (I'm spending 10 days in Guatemala with no phone and I think I'm already going into withdrawal and I haven't left yet....) but this is a chance for Jazz to see a new country, learn more about her heritage and make a 'small' difference. I was sympathetic though to her being worried that Steve would start crushing on a girl while she was away. I can definitely empathize. But I was a bit peeved that Jasmine was 'in love' with Steve at the age of fifteen. *sigh*

Steve was an one-dimensional crush (well Jazz would say his flaw is that he's too nice/too caring) and that made it hard for me to take him seriously, but the other characters were well-drawn, especially members of Jazz's family and that made me happy. Granted Jazz was spending the summer with her family in close quarters so they needed to be described in great detail but I liked that their personalities were shown through their actions or Jazz's observations, not just Jazz talking to the reader. I also loved that a rich girl character we are introduced to wasn't a complete brat, she shows that she's privileged but she's nice to Jazz and as someone who is tired of the rich-girl-is-a-bully storyline I really appreciated the character. Jazz starts out the book being quite selfish so that makes her transformation all the more sweet to read about and Jazz isn't whiny selfish, she's just very cautious which leads to her being selfish. Reading about Jazz slowly opening up to the wonder and madness of monsoon season in India is cheering and India is described with resplendent detail, especially the scenes where Jazz describes the marketplace and Karthak dance.

Monsoon Summer's magic lies in reading about Jazz's maturing, it's a truly captivating coming-of-age because I wasn't always sure she would come around. *Spoiler: highlight to read* Is it selfish/mean of me to say that I was happy this story didn't turn into a miraculous meeting between Jazz's mom and her biological parents? That would have been incredible but not very realistic *End of spoiler* This is an absolutely perfect summer read since it's deep but I didn't drown in the depth and there are enough light-hearted moments that the story is entertaining. It's interesting to read about Jazz's struggle to balance two very different standards of beauty, American standards and Indian standards. The author shows the ridiculous American (thin is everything) and Indian ideas (dark skin=bad) of beauty that are ingrained in the respective cultures and how they hurt girls in both cultures. And as much as I thought Steve was unrealistic, he's still adorable and a great friend. Danita was my favorite character because how can you not like someone whose a hard-worker and is determined to keep her family together, even when the monsoon affects her and makes her almost-agree to something crazy? Jazz's parents are in my top ten favorite parents in YA because not only are they vividly present but they go on a date night. And Jazz treats her parents like human beings. *Happy sigh* Read this book for the setting of India and one of the most rewarding coming-of-age stories in YA. Plus the food sounds phenomenal.

Disclosure: Received as part of Goodreads BookSwap

*I will be in Guatemala with no Internet access from June 10-20. All emails/comments will be answered upon my return.

Male Monday: Shooting Kabul

Shooting Kabul by N.H. Senzai 2010 (ARC version) Paula Wiseman Books/Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers

Rating: 4/5

IQ "Relieved the elderly couple stood up from the bench. In the process Abay's scarf got caught in the rosebushes. Dada ]grandfather] grinned, revealing a strong set of white teeth. With gnarled hands stricken with arthritis he gently unhooked her scarf and broke off a large yellow bloom and handed it to her. Abay [grandmother] giggled like a young girl and took a sniff of the rose." pgs. 205-206

I chose the above line because I thought it was really sweet and very well described. I can see the image in my mind, and it makes me smile. Picture perfect :) Fadi and his family left Afghanistan for America. In the process, his six-year-old sister, Mariam is lost. Somehow (no one is quite sure what happens and so they all blame themselves) Mariam got lost in the melee caused by the Taliban trying to prevent the group of people Fadi's family was with from being smuggled out of the country. Fadi and his family arrive shortly before September 11th and they notice how much things change after 9/11, specifically for anyone with brown skin. It's also harder to find Mariam. Fadi's art teacher informs him about a photography competition, the grand prize is a trip to India. Fadi loves taking pictures, but India is next to Pakistan and he's hoping to locate Mariam at a refugee camp on the border of Pakistan and Afghanistan. A long shot to be sure, but it might be his only chance to bring Mariam home.

I was surprisingly displeased with the ending. I could tell it was coming as the amount of pages got shorter but I kept thinking, no it can't be! The ending felt rushed and I wasn't a fan of the epilogue. Ugh. I was really looking forward to the ending because of course I wanted everything to turn out happily but it was too convenient and too sudden. I also felt at times that there was no plot, which works for some books, but not so much for this particular book. Part of it might also be that I'm starting to lose patience with stories about assimilation, and this book spends a lot of time on that topic. Which is understandable but I was more concerned about Mariam and the bullying/violence as a result of 9/11.

I loved how the author explained the Afghanistan situation in such a concise way. I've never paid much attention to the situation in Afghanistan, I know the basics (i.e. we're fighting to keep the Taliban from taking over again) but I feel much more interested in not only the history of Afghanistan, but also what is currently going on over there. I think that today Americans (and Westerners in general) dismiss the Taliban as extremists, without realizing (I say this as someone who thought the former) that the Taliban did a lot of good at first. They brought peace to a country that was warring internally and that is why they had a lot of Aghan support, especially amongst the Pukhtuns (largest ethnic group in Afghanistan). I learned all that and much more from this book. The emotional scenes are very well-written. I don't think it's possible for someone to read the scene where Mariam is left behind without feeling as though your heart is breaking. Especially since Fadi blames himself and ok, I sort of blamed him too BUT only for about 5 minutes. Really he couldn't have done anything. The cover image is a great visual of what the scene must have been like and the writing really puts a human face on the terror the Taliban inflicted in the hearts of the Afghan people.

Shooting Kabul is noteworthy, to me, because the information about relatively current events in Afghanistan (a country we learn very little about in school) is presented in such an accessible way. Even if you don't like politics and/or following current events, how can you not be interested in other cultures? This book gives a great introduction to the various tribes in Afghanistan and how the Taliban came to power. I also really liked how this book was quite technical in talking about photography, it wasn't vague 'Fadi took pictures in black and white' instead it described how to set up a darkroom and what goes on in there and what exactly it takes to set up shots in different lighting settings. I enjoyed the information immensely since I know very little about photography. While the book seemed to lose its focus around the middle and the end came about too quickly, the story is stirring with a delightful cast of characters. From twelve year old Fadi to his older sister Noor, to his parents and his extended family, each character is described in great detail. The parents are active, in fact the storyline with Fadi's parents was both sad and engrossing (his father feels he has lost his honor by losing Mariam, Fadi's mother becomes depressed). Also while the ending came about quickly, the result of the photo competition was quite a surprise. *SPOILER* highlight to read: I thought he would at least place in the top 4. But to only get an honorable mention? That was cold on the author's part. And a very good twist ;) *End of spoiler*

Disclosure: Received from Lyn. Thank you!

Daughter of Xanadu

Daughter of Xanadu by Dori Jones Yang 2011

Delacorte/Random House

Rating: 4/5

IQ "Courage is not an attribute some people have and others do not. It comes when you fear losing something valuable. I wondered about the other Mongol soldiers around me, and about other soldiers in history. How many of them had been brave in battle simply to defend themselves or comrades they loved? No storyteller would relate this side of valor." Emmajin pg.. 179

Emmajin is the sixteen-year oldest granddaughter of Khublai Khan and she wants to be a solider in his army. These are exciting times, the Mongols have conquered much of the Eastern world. Northern China, parts of Central Asia, Russia, Poland, and Hungary. In the book the Mongols hoped to invade India and Christendom (Western Europe such as Italy) as well. The storytellers spin tales of victory and laud the soldiers who achieve glory on the battlefield, Emmajin wants to know that feeling, she wants to win the respect of the men. Marriage doesn't interest her neither does love until she meets the handsome foreigner, Marco Polo. Marco is a merchant from Venecia and he's different not just in looks, but in personality from the Mongols. He isn't very well versed in the 'manly' skills of archery, horse racing and wrestling. Yet, he has a gift for storytelling and charms the Khan with his tales. At first, Emmajin is assigned to get to know Marco so she spends a summer at Xanadu learning about Venecia, Marco and all of Christendom. Eventually the Khan entrusts Marco with a secret mission and he travels with Emmajin across China. while on the journey, Emmajin sees a different side of Marco, he holds his own. Unfortunately that doesn't make it any easier for her to stay away from this middle class foreign merchant.

Sorry for the long summary, I went a bit overboard on the historical details. This book is worth it though, this was a great read, but I'm especially happy because I haven't read any historical fiction this year so I needed a good fix (plus in my Comparative Government class we were studying China so it was perfect). Fortunately, Daughter of Xanadu delivered. I think this book will inevitably draw comparisons to Mulan, but the only similarity is that they both feature strong Asian female main characters. Mulan is Chinese, Emmajin is Mongolian. There is a difference. Also the ending of Mulan is happy, the ending in this book is left rather open, it could go either way. It is rather happy but I felt that there's enough story left to create another book but it's wrapped up semi-neatly to satisfy readers (or at least to satisfy me). I adored the historical details in this novel. Emmajin must teach Marco about Mongolian culture, through their dialogue I learned a ton of information about life for the Mongols at that time as well as life in Western Europe. The conversations between Emmajin and Marco were natural, they never felt forced as if the author needed to bring in historical information so she gave them dialogue. Instead their conversations naturally flow from a bit of shy flirtation to discussing whether or not the Pope will acquiesce to Mongol rule.

The romance is quite well done. It's not a mutual dislike relationship nor is it head-over-heels. There's a sense of mutual distrust or at least, a sense of wariness between Emmajin and Marco. The romance might develop too slowly for some, but for me, it was at the perfect pace. Seeing Marco through Emmajin's eyes was fascinating and somewhat amusing. Marco Polo has always been this distant historical figure, but now I feel as though I know a bit more about him and can (somewhat) imagine what he would have been like. A polite, charming young guy who loved adventures. I almost wish the story had been told in alternating perspectives though because I didn't feel that I got to learn as much about Marco Polo as I would have liked. Emmajin spends a lot of time with her cousin, Suren (who like Emmajin is fictional) but I don't feel that his character significantly developed. *SPOILER: Highlight to READ* And maybe it's Mongol culture but I found it a bit unsettling that the soldiers were relatively unaffected by Suren's death? He's the heir out of all the Khan's grandchildren, so shouldn't his death be slightly traumatic to others besides Emmajin? *End of Spoiler* I also really appreciated that the author made a conscious effort to talk about revered Mongolian women. Chinggis (known to us as Genghis) Khan and Khubilai (aka Kublai) Khan are pretty well known (well most of us at least remembering hearing their names), but how many know about their wives? They had many wives but Khubilai's wife, the Empress Chabi sounds fascinating and I was engrossed by the story of Ai-Jaruk.

Daughter of Xanadu is a luring tale that is impeccably well-researched, chockful of historical details that never overwhelmed me. The story is all about strong women but Emmajin never seems to be historically inaccurate in her fierceness. The ending being so open-ended is probably one of the few things that was fairly unlikely to happen historically, but since Emmajin is fictional, I don't think it's that big a deal. It would be if a sequel is made (which I hope there is!). Emmajin goes on a mesmerizing journey of self-discovery, the change is very visible, slow and genuine. She gradually begins to see her culture through the eyes of Marco and she's both shocked and pleased at how he views the Mongols. He forces her to question all that she holds dear, including joining the army. Ironically, it is the Khan whose army she wants to join that gives her some valuable advice "All enemies are people, like Marco. Every man, you kill in battle has a father, an uncle, a homeland, some skill, perhaps a sense of humor. everyone who joins the army must learn that." (pg. 131). War is hard and while Emmajin doesn't think it's glamorous, she isn't prepared for the chaotic battlefield. A small detail that pleased me: I had no idea what the dragons really were! I won't say more for fear of spoilers but once I found out what they were, it made total sense. A must-read for lovers of Mongolia, China, historical fiction/historical romance and those looking to travel via book.

Disclosure: Won from Rebecca's Book Blog. Thank you Rebecca & Random House!

PS Coincidence? After I finished this book, the very next day in my English class we read Samuel Taylor Coleridge's "Kubla Khan" (we are studying the Romantics and I'm not a fan but this poem was funny because the analysis was basically that Coleridge was on something [opium I think] when he wrote this. It's vague and random, basically he has this dream that he wants to share with us but he can't remember it and I don't understand the connection to Khublai Khan outside of the opening lines). It's pretty neat when what I'm studying in school connects to YA.

Teenie

Teenie by Christopher Grant 2010
Knopf Books/Random House Children's Books

Rating: 4/5

IQ "Whenever I look in the mirror, I can see little traces of my ancestors. My bronze complexion, like my hair, is probably from the mixture. My full lips show my West African heritage, and my straight, narrow nose has Western Europe all over it. When it comes to my green eyes, well, I haven't been able to pinpoint that one yet. I really don't like the way I look because I look so...different and mixed up." Teenie pg. 18

High school freshman, Martine (Teenie) desperately wants to be accepted into a prestigious study-abroad program in Spain. Teenie loves Brooklyn, but she wants to see other places as well and she really wants to get away from her strict West Indian parents for a bit. She loves her parents but they don't allow her as much freedom as she would like. The captain of the basketball team, Greg, starts to take an interest in Teenie while at the same time, Cherise (Teenie's best friend) is meeting up with a guy she met over the Internet. Teenie has a bad feeling about Cherise's relationship and Greg is proving to be a distraction that affects her grade. Teenie needs to pull herself (and Cherise) together.

There isn't anything I really didn't like about this book. At first, I worried that the humor would come at the expense of Teenie's West Indian parents (her mother is from Grenada with Portuguese and Syrian blood and her father is from Barbados with Irish and Carib Indian heritage). Her mother is serene and not a source of humor, but Teenie's father is hilarious, strict and he has his sweet moments. Teenie talks about her big West Indian family with a mixture of pride and embarrassment (don't we all feel the same way?), she mocks them but there is love beneath her words. "My family there [Barbados] uses curse words for the smallest things. Don't let them get angry, because they're liable to lob some serious vulgarity, the harshest being 'God blind yah.' That's deep." (pg. 10) HA! Teenie's father and her descriptions of her family will have you laughing, but much of the humor also comes from Teenie's relationship with Cherise. Cherise is fast-on-her-feet and she does not hesitate to diss those who insult Teenie (only she can do that). I found the friendship between Teenie and Cherise to be authentic, at times they grow closer, always having each other's backs (for example when Greg first talks to Teenie, Teenie is too shy to speak. Cherise tells Greg she has laryngitis. Classic!) but then they grow angry with each other and drift apart. That's a quintessential aspect of high school friendships, they are constantly changing and that is reflected in Teenie. While the reader (and deep down, Teenie) know Cherise is making a mistake meeting this strange guy from online, it's hard to fault her for getting angry at Teenie. Yes Teenie is looking out for her but Teenie's help ends up having some 'serious' consequences that make Cherise angry. I have to admit, I would most likely be angry like Cherise first and it would take me awhile to calm down.

Teenie is, for the most part, a fresh-faced, innocent freshman. Boys make her nervous and when she wears a tight-fighting, she is unprepared to handle all the attention she receives. She wants to be noticed but she has no idea how to talk to any guy, except Garth. I think a lot of us have a Garth in our lives in some form. Garth has a crush on Teenie and part of that comes from Teenie being one of the few people to actually talk to him. Garth is big and very smart, which results in him being made-of by the kids at school (including Cherise). Teenie can talk to Garth because he's just a friend and he's a wonderful friend. He's extremely timid but he tries to be tough at one part and it's so awesome to read about because I did not expect such actions from Garth (that's a sign of a good author, he made me view Garth in the narrow view of the other students!). Greg asks Teenie for a 'blessing' and while I'd never heard of that term before (is it a NYC thing? Or just a teen thing? I discussed this with some of my friends and none of us knew this term but we thought it was quite funny and we may be using it ;), I was able to figure out what it meant. Unfortunately, Teenie had no idea what a blessing was and I was expecting a humorous incident but instead it turns into an awful experience. It's an awful experience that needs to be in this book and needs to be discussed a lot more than it is currently.

Teenie is an upbeat story that did not go in the direction I expected (the summary is rather vague now that I think about it) but I'm so glad it didn't. My sister is in 8th grade and she asked if she could read this book and I'm going to give it to her because I think this is a must-read for girls going into high school. Especially if you don't feel comfortable talking about certain issues regarding the opposite gender with your parents (which is 100% understandable). I like that this summary doesn't hint at the issues it addresses because this book goes beyond the issues. Every member of Teenie's family is fleshed out, including her two twin college-aged brothers (who are so much fun to read about but they made me not want an older brother anymore) as well as Greg, Garth and Cherise. I also loved the brief bit about God. So many YA books don't mention God at all and maybe most teens don't have a religious upbringing. But personally, I'm forced to go to church and it was refreshing to read that Teenie was forced to go as well. Even better, her faith strengthens her a bit but she doesn't have some flashy revelation/miracle type thing, it's subtle. Don't miss out on this story, it's told with both levity and maturity, Teenie hasn't completely grown up yet (after all she's only a freshman) but she's beginning that confusing and exhilarating thing called high school and it's great to see more and more contemporary multicultral novels appearing in which race isn't the driving factor.

Disclosure: BOUGHT =D

PS Read my interview with the author (which gives you a glimpse of the funny potential of Teenie)

Male Monday: Boys Without Names

Boys Without Names by Kashmira Sheth 2010 (ARC)

Balzer + Bray/HarperCollins

Rating: 4/5

IQ "How far these frames will travel? [....] Who are the lucky people who will buy them and never know who worked on them? Maybe one will end up in a young girl's room. She will never know a young boy like her made the frame with his sweat and tears while his heart ached for his family." Gopal pg. 154

Gopal is eleven years old and living with his little sister and brother (twins) and his parents in a rural Indian village. After a rough year for crops and looming debt payments, Gopal's father decides the family should move to the big city of Mumbai. Hopefully in Mumbai his father will find better work thus ensuring his family will have a better future. When Gopal's father leaves to look for Gopal's uncle, Gopal decides that he needs to find work before school starts. He meets Jatin, a young stranger who offers him a job at a factory. Gopal eagerly accepts but his mother is against the idea. When he tries to tell Jatin that, he ends up in a sweatshop making beaded frames. He makes no money and receives little food and he is not allowed to talk to the five other boys in the room. One night, Gopal decides enough is enough and shares a kahani (story) with the boys, thinking that it will help the boys open up. Telling stories has never been so freeing.

First off, I didn't love this book but I didn't hate it, it's firmly in the middle. The writing and characters are decent, but the plot is excellent. The story is very slow-moving and it was hard to stick with it. I felt anxious because I knew Gopal was eventually going to end up in a sweatshop and I wanted to both avoid that part and get to it quickly. Even once the story picks up, daily life at the sweatshop couldn't seem to capture my interest. Which makes me feel horrible for saying so. At first it was intense and upsetting, Gopal and the five other boys are beaten for the stupidest reasons and of course, they are underfed and working in cramped conditions. But gradually, I grew impatient with the story. Time flies by quickly and nothing really happens until close to the end when the boys start opening up.

For the most part Gopal fluctuates between sounding very old and wise for age, and then he acknowledges his terror at the situation he's in. He misses his family but he's trying to pull it together because he knows once he gives to a defeatist attitude, he's lost. Gopal is the typical noble young hero which can be somewhat annoying because I wanted to see a character flaw but given his trying situation, I let it go. Gopal was responsible to begin with and even though he's not the oldest one at the sweatshop, he continues fighting even when it seems that the other boys have long given up on changing their situation. The Incredible Quote I shared tore me up. How many things do people own or see in stores without knowing how they got there, who made them? I have no idea about the conditions under which my clothes get made. What if boys just like Gopal, Amar. Barish, Kabir, Roshan and Sahil made my picture frames, clothes, etc? It's a tough thing for me to wrap my mind around and really makes you wonder. I knew a bit about sweatshop conditions from my freshman world religions class, when we watched a video on Nike and sweatshops. Most people in my class thought it was a bunch of fuss over nothing. At first, I resolved to never wear any more Nike products. But doubt began to grow in my mind, maybe it wasn't as bad as the video made it seem? I'm ashamed to say I forgot all about it. This book made me uncomfortable because it reminded me that I didn't take the allegations seriously. But it's real, this story is based in real facts.

Boys Without Names puts a human face on child labor and for that it is both commendable and gut wrenching. The beginning is very, very slow but tough it. The start of the book is all about setting up the book with details of life in Mumbai, poverty and getting to know the hardships Goapl's family faces. Makes for a slow start and you're not in a for a treat once the book picks up. The story is absolutely awful in its subject matter and even though I never felt a personal connection with any of the characters, the plot drove the book and made me stick with it.

Disclosure: Won from Alyssa at the Shady Glade. Thank you!

Jazz in Love

Jazz in Love by Neesha Meminger 2010
Ignite Books

Rating: 4/5

IQ "I felt his arms tighten around me. I dropped my head back against his shoulder and stared up into the sky. This time I knew what he was talking about. The stars. they were like a thousand suns. And at night, that's what they felt like, little pricks prodding everyone to do what's deep down inside, and not worry about anyone or anything else. They were like a veil, letting the secret part of you be heard-the part you kept shut and quiet under the harsher light of the daytime sun." pgs. 142-143

Jasbir (aka Jazz) is a great student, an obedient daughter and a good friend. She's in the Future Stars and Leaders (FSL) program which is for the smartest of students and everything seems to be going well. One day, after school, Jazz is seen hugging one of her best friends, Jeeves. This gets back to her mother who decides that it's time for the Guided Dating Plan. The Guided Dating Plan consists of looking through headshots of 'suitable' Indian boys and picking out which ones Jazz wants to meet. Jazz doesn't want to meet any of them, but she picks one to make her mama happy and he's (Mit) not at all what she (or her parents) expect. Jazz then proceeds to develop a crush on a very unsuitable boy (i.e. not Indian enough, West Indian). It's junior year and in addition to her new crush, Jazz begins to make some unusual decisions, specifically revolving around her Auntie Kinder who's ex husband is abusive. It's going to be a very different year.

The Incredible Quote I shared features a good way of describing how different it can feel to stare at the stars. One of the most inspiring things can be a night sky full of stars and it can lead people to self-reflect and do things they might not normally do. This book is almost like the veil letting the secret part be seen. It seems to be some kind of secret that teens of color want chick lit and contemporary fiction that isn't SO INTENSE ALL THE TIME. The stories of tough neighborhoods, alcoholism, drug use, abusive parents, etc. are vital for ALL teens to read. But it's nice to be able to relax and just read about a teen who happens to be a teen of color, living life. That is why I love this book. Yes Jazz has additional troubles of having very tradition Indian parents who are secretly planning out her marriage, but she also has crush troubles like everyone else and like many teen girls today has to deal with parents who don't want her to date. Jazz isn't trying to constantly rebel against her parents or complaining about them, she just wants a little more freedom to have a crush on whoever and to be able to act on her feelings.

Bonus points for Jazz having a crush on Tyler R., who is West Indian (yes a two-culture [bicultural?] romance!). The author introduces a bit of tension that exists between West Indians and Indians but it doesn't overwhelm the reader with details, it's very succinct. While not all readers have to deal with ethnic cultural pressures, we all have to deal with feeling like an outsider and being true to ourselves, the whole coming-of-age deal. "But did it take courage to just keep doing what you're told, without asking any questions? Did it take a different level of courage to not love the person you loved, and do what was considered appropriate-as Auntie Kinder had done? Or to pretend you were something you weren't-like what Mit was doing?" (pg. 105). At times Jazz in Love threatens to be overwhelmed by a second plotline, one involving Auntie Kinder and her abusive ex. I didn't mind all the time, since that plotline kept me feverishly turning the pages, afraid that Jazz's plan would blow up and hoping, hoping that it would all work out. The story with Auntie Kinder has an 'aww' factor (it's never too late for true love), but it does at times, overshadow Jazz and Tyler. Tyler only seemed to come up when it was convenient, sometimes he was pushed aside (and at the most inopportune times!) and I wanted more from him because he was cute and a bit of jerk but he had some family drama that needed to be explored.

Jazz in Love is a splendid read, perfect for those readers who think the only books about poc are 'problem' novels. It's also an essential read for those who like excellent contemporary novels, it's not issue driven. There are some issues underlying this book, but they do not take over the book. At the heart, this book is about being in-like, having a crush and navigating those treacherous waters while not neglecting your family and friends. It's also about deciding how far you will go to make your family happy. The treatment of GLBT people in ethnic communities is addressed as are other unique difficulties to growing up Indian in America. For the most part (more Tyler details!), the major and secondary characters (Auntie Kinder and Dr. Babaloo) are well-thought out, three dimensional. The Jeeves storyline reads like the same old story but it completely surprised me. It was so nice to see the strong friendship between Cindy and Jazz, no guy drama, no self-esteem issues that could ruin their friendship. Their friendship is a strong one and it was lovely to read about. A sequel is a necessity I think (well not really since this book stands strongly on its own but a sequel would be nice). I want to see more of Jazz, Jeeves, Tyler and Cindy.

Disclosure: I may or may not have Tweeted my excitement to my small world when I found out I was in the acknowledgements (ahhhh!!). Received for review, thank you Ignite Books :D

PS Another favorite quote "I decided, right then and there, that I would do anything-anything at all-to have what I was feeling right this moment, as a permanent part of my life. How could a person marry someone not knowing if they'd ever feel like this in their arms, on the hood of a car? So many kids in the world got to do this without hiding it. Without being afraid that someone would immediately force them into a marriage they didn't want if they ever got caught. I liked this feeling. It was huge like the sky above us, and I wanted to follow it to see where it led." (pg. 141)

PS One of my favorite reviewers and all around people in the history of the world, The Rejectionist reviewed Jazz in Love today over here and the equally fantastic Zetta has an interview with Neesha Meminger. AND the spectacular Edi has an interview with Neesha and a giveaway (!)

Bitter Melon

Bitter Melon by Cara Chow (ARC) 2010
Egmont USA

Rating: 4/5

IQ "School is supposed to be a place of achievement. We work hard to get the highest grades. We join sports, academic decathlon, and speech, and we compete to win. Later we compete to get the best jobs and earn the highest incomes. We are always striving to be number one. There's only one problem with this model. Not everyone can win. In every competition there has to be a loser." Frances pg. 176 (from a speech she gives)

Frances is going to attend Berkley and become a doctor. Then she will become very rich and be able to take care of her doting mother. Or at least, that's what her mother wants. Frances isn't sure what she wants but she's starting to realize that she doesn't want to be a doctor. With the help of speech class (which she wasn't supposed to take, she should be in calculus) Frances realizes she's pretty good at public speaking. Her mother would disapprove of speech class but since Frances keeps it a secret (her mother wants her to be in calculus), she is able to enjoy something that makes Frances happy, and not just her mother. Of course, Frances' secrets can't stay hidden forever, now when there's competitions involved and a boy and a change in college plans...

I'm not entirely sure why the book is set in the '80s. It makes the seem semi-autobiographical (which isn't necessarily a bad thing), although the '80s environment does make the actions of Frances' mother even more stifling. There's no easy way for Frances to get away, no Internet or cell phone to help her escape, even if only for a little while. I was skeptical of the sudden friendship with Theresa. France dismisses Theresa (rather unjustly it would seem) and then all of a sudden they become friends. It's a startling friendship because it's not one I saw coming and I guess it was more a friendship out of necessity, Frances' mother and Theresa's mother are friends so the girls decide to become friends too. The prologue was completely unnecessary. I think it should have just been incorporated into the story because it didn't add any extra depth to the story (or at least to my understanding of the story). The epilogue I'm a little more forgiving of but I wish the story had been closed in a tidier manner, thus making the epilogue unnecessary. The book also tries to address issues of class but it leaves those questions unanswered.

I admit after I did a WoW post for this book, I began to grow afraid that it would fall into the same old 'hard-working immigrant parent just doesn't understand their child'. Yes Frances' mother doesn't understand, nor does she want to try to understand Frances but it's not always clear that love is at the root of all that she does. This is an unusual book in that it details not only physical abuse (and the physical abuse isn't as bad as I've read in other books, Frances' mother slaps her around but thankfully, it never got worse than that) but verbal abuse. Verbal abuse may not leave physical scars, but readers start to notice that all the insults Frances' mother hurls at her are hitting their target and leaving a mark on Frances. Her mother tells Frances that she's fat and stops making her lunch, Frances accepts that she's fat and becomes listless. So on and so forth. To make matters worse, there is no easy way for Frances to escape. She shares a bedroom with her mother and is wholly dependent on her (her mother won't show her how to open a checking account or do anything else that she needs to learn in preparation for college), her mother searches her mail, and there's only one landline so her mother can intercept Frances' calls too. It takes overbearing to a whole new level and I admire Frances for not having a complete and total breakdown. I also admire the author for talking about this subject because while verbal abuse may not seem as bad as physical abuse, it can have damaging results (suicide, depression, etc.)

Bitter Melon delivers a poignant tale of verbal abuse. How much should we take when it's from someone we love? Especially since Frances is raised by her single mom and she feels that she owes her mom (her mother is constantly reminding her of all that she sacrifices on Frances' behalf). I could not put this book down as Frances' mother bore down more and more on Frances and I waited for Frances to reach her breaking point. There's no dramatic moment like I anticipated, but that wouldn't have worked with Frances' personality anyway. I also liked that the book explored friendships of convenience and how that whole matter was resolved. I almost wish the book had been set in the present day because the '80s didn't add anything extra to the book except for mentions of cassettes, President George H. W. Bush and Frances attending an all girls school. I really enjoyed the peek at speech competitions and I'm glad that speech did not immediately help Frances 'find her voice' (which I had thought would happen but I'm happy I was wrong). Just because you find your voice doesn't mean people will listen, you have to learn how to use it effectively and that's one of the crucial parts of the story.

Disclosure: Requested for review and I'm happy I did :) Thank you Egmont!

PS This quote goes in-hand with the Incredible Quote at the top of the review, "But our success should not be measured only by test scores, college attendance, or annual income. My mother would not be seen by most as successful. She is not featured in Forbes or Fortune. But where would the suited figures on the covers be without workers like her? Where would our heroes be had they not had parents to guide them?" (pg. 174)

Male Monday (Off Color): The Lighter Side of Life and Death

The Lighter Side of Life and Death by C.K. Kelly Martin 2010
Random House Children's Books

Rating: 4/5


IQ "I don't want to obsess on what Kat said about staying away from each other but how exactly do you cut yourself off from someone that you've thought of/seen/spoken to every day for the past three years? I understand that she's confused but her cure hurts worse than the disease." Mason pg. 94


Mason Rice is loving life as a sixteen-year old. He just came off a performance high for a play that he had a starring role in. Then, that same night, there was a party and he lost his virginity to his gorgeous best friend, Kat Medina. he thought it was an amazing. Until he learns that Kat didn't see as such a great experience. She regrets crossing the friendship line and she wants to forget it ever happens, even if she has to forget Mason. Mason is confused by Kat's reaction and hurt so when he meets the attractive Colette, he decides he wants to get involved with her. Thing is, she's twenty three. Mason's not sure his feelings are reciprocated until Colette invites him to her apartment and from there a good times relationship ensues.

I saw the cover of this book and for some odd reason I thought it was about two poc. I now realize Mason is white and the brown-skin belongs to Kat. Who knows what I was thinking. I also didn't know the story took place in Canada. I was completely confused when Mason said he only had a year and a half till he left home since y'know, in the U.S. it would be two years. Not that this bothered me, the story was a great one. I do wish that Kat had been better developed. I guess since Kat was trying to stay away from Mason, it's harder to show her personality. I wanted to understand why Mason was so enamored with her but since his contact with her was limited in this book, I never got a grasp as to why he thought she was so special. She didn't handle the situation well, but that made the book more realistic. I could understand why she felt so flustered after she lost her virginity to Mason. That's a bit awkward, especially since they weren't dating. I didn't understand Brianna's deal either. Brianna is Mason's new stepsister and I wasn't sure if she just hated life in general or if she was mad that her mom married Mason's dad? I needed some more glimpses into her life. I also would have liked more about Mason's friends. He seemed to keep them all at a distance which was interesting.

I love that it's about a guy who's living a fantasy, getting involved with a sexy older woman. I love that Colette knows Mason's 'living the dream' and she doesn't mind. well I don't love it per se, I love that it's being addressed. I like that the author is so unflinching in writing about it. There's no moral undertone to this story, everything is just reported. This is how Mason feels, this is what Colette says, etc. There's no grand explosion in the end and I appreciated that. The consequences of the relationship aren't ignored, there are consequences but nothing drastic happens. I was worried that this book would be very high-drama but it was low-key, much like Mason and Colette's relationship. There are no graphic sex scenes but they are portrayed. After all, would anyone really expect Mason and Colette not to have sex? Their relationship starts off as being focused on the good times, but it does get complex. There are significant others in both their lives and what they are doing, while not illegal, is frowned upon. I like the added situation of Mason having to adjust his home situation. Mason's parents are divorced and for years it's been just him and his dad. Now he has to accept that his father is getting re-married to a woman with a pre-teen and a young kid. It's a big adjustment and on the surface Mason seems to take it in stride. On the surface only.

The Lighter Side of Life and Death is indeed about situations that are a lot easier to deal with than life and death (drugs, death of family members, etc). The author doesn't mock the issues teenagers face or try to show that there are simple solutions to our problems. it's complicated, but in this story at least, teens can handle it. There's a great distinction between love and lust and the author makes that clear. Mason has to find that out for himself though. The 'i-love-yous' aren't traded until the very end, as it should be. The book could use further secondary character development but the book mostly focuses on Mason and Colette, and those two are at their fullest potential. Their relationship is one of fun and doubt. The reader (like Mason) knows it won't work out, but that doesn't make this any less of a notable tale and I got caught up in it all. Plus there's an added bonus of the story being set in Canada, a country that was quite foreign to me.

Disclosure: Overdue from the library. Yay late fees!

Milagros: Girl From Away

Milagros: Girl from Away by Meg Medina 2009

Christy Ottaviano Books/ Henry Holt and Company

Rating: 4/5

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

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

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

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

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

Disclosure: Received from the author. Thank you Meg!

Little Paradise

Little Paradise by Gabrielle Wang 2010
Penguin Books Australia

Rating: 4/5

IQ "She noticed how a certain colour made one person's skin glow, and yet the same colour against another person's skin made it appear lifeless. She saw, too, how clothes reflected a personality-happy, sad, wild, shy, fun-all revealed in the way a person dressed. It was then she realised that clothes had the power to transform, to bring out the inner beauty of a soul. And from her own soul she drew her creations." Mirabel pg. 15

It's 1943 and Mirabel is seventeen. Melbourne, Australia is rather far off from the fighting of WWII but there are still some soldiers stationed there. Mostly American ones but there are some Chinese soldiers as well. Mirabel does not expect to ever work up the courage to talk to any soldier. She's shy and focused on designing dresses. Falling in love was not a part of her plan, but then she meets JJ. JJ is a Chinese soldier who helps to send messages from Australia to China to help coordinate with the war effort. Falling in love with a soldier is frowned upon by Mirabel's family, especially not a poor one. This combined with JJ returning to China, threaten their relationship.

The pacing is rather odd with this novel. It's sort of like a butterfly or a hummingbird. The story moves fast, floating from event to event, never stopping long enough to fully dive into the event or the characters involved. The romance seems to develop quickly, but too quickly. Neither Mirabel or JJ have any noticeable flaws, nor do we get a distinct grasp of their personality. I wanted to know more about what made JJ laugh, what did he and Mirabel talk about, etc. The books is a romance but oddly enough I felt that I learned more about the politics and events surrounding China during and after WWII. Furthermore, I wished we had learned more about mapmaking, it seemed rather vague.

This story is even easier to get emotionally involved in because it's based on a true story. Mirabel is astonishingly brave. She is in a seemingly dire predicament but she bravely packs up and heads to Shanghai to find JJ. Once in Shanghai she has some connections that make her search a little easier but she can't depend on the help of her friends forever. Watching her grow even more self assured and remaining positive about finding JJ is empowering. The whole of China is facing tumultuous times as the Kuomintang struggles to maintain its power and kills anyone who is even accused of being a Communist, no questions asked. Mirabel is remarkably quick-witted when it comes to dealing with both the Kuomintang and the Communists. I like that the author maintains a neutral tone throughout the novel concerning the Communists and the Kuomintang, she highlights the good and the bad of both parties. Even before Mirabel heads to Shanghai, she starts to gain confidence as a mapmaker.

Little Paradise is an accomplished novel that covers WWII in Australia, which is mostly a foreign place to Americans, we know nothing about what was going on there during WWII. What makes the story even more winsome is the romance. Granted the details can be vague at times and the characters are not as fleshed out as I would have liked. However, the story goes above and beyond in historical detail, covering not just Australia in the '40s but China as well. It's an informative read but the romance is at the forefront. The book also covers the alienation many Asian people felt in Australia, Mirabel even changes her name to fit in better (it used to be Lei An). While it's disappointing to learn that racism was so prevalent around the world, it's still interesting to see how racism reared its head in other countries. As a bonus the book is beautifully packaged. Not only is the cover sublime, but so are the inside and back covers feature the designs of Ms. Wang's mother. I would recommend this book to people who wish to learn more about Australia's history, Asian immigrants in Australia, the negative and positives of the Communists and the Kuomintangs (essentially: history lovers) and romantics.

Disclosure: Received from the author. Thank you so much Gabrielle!

Off Color: Other

Other by Karen Kincy 2010
Flux

Rating: 4/5

IQ "My pooka half rises slowly within me, leaning against my bones. It isn't eager to shapeshift and fight. It's...defensive. Feeling my fear. My fear? It is me, of course. I can't talk about myself as if I have split personalities. I can't section off half of myself and pile all the recklessness and shame there." Gwen pgs 166-167

Gwenhwyfar (Gwen) Williams is half-pooka, half human. Gwen has never met her Welsh pooka father, and Others in her community (the name for paranormal creatures in this book) hide their identities, so she has no one to talk to about the complications and joys of being Other. As half-pooka, Gwen can shapeshift. She usally shapeshifts into a horse as its the most common form of a pooka (I chose the IQ to illustrate how Gwen feels about shapeshifting), but she can change into any animal. A new werewolf pack has moved into Gwen's hometown of Klikamuks, Washington and at the same time, Others are being murdered. No one is safe, Gwen has lost one dear friend and she does not intend on losing another. Gwen decides to investigate who is killing Others and with the help of Tavian, a Japanese fox spirit, she comes closer and closer to the truth. But Gwen's time is up.

I read this because April really liked it. Plus the fact that she describes Tavian as being awesome and Asian, caught my eye. If not for that review, I wouldn't have read this book. Not because it didn't sound interesting, but because I don't have time right now to read non-poc YA/MG books, especially in the paranormal genre. But I'm so glad I saw that review because I would have missed out on a highly unique and enjoyable story. I thoroughly enjoyed learning a bit about the world of pookas. A small quibble with the story, is that personally, I wanted more information on pooka and Wales. Part of me wishes that Gwen had visited Wales/met her father/interacted with other pookas. But there's a possibility of a sequel and the book worked just fine the way it is. The ending seemed really rushed though. The build-up was done at a good pace, not too fast and not too slow, but all of a sudden, bullets were flying, people were being kidnapped and then BAM we know who the killer is. That being said, I never knew who the killer was, I was kept on my toes.

Tavian is a marvelous character. He is versatile, however, he has no noticeable flaws. So in that respect, he is not realistic. While I can't overlook that, I do have much love for him. I love that he's short, Asian, and hot. How many times have you read/seen an Asian teenage guy portrayed/described as 'cute' or 'hot'. Or even a short guy? So hooray for guys shorter than their crushes/hot Asian guys! Heehee ;) In addition to his looks, Tavian is incredibly patient and compassionate. Tavian and Gwen start off as friends and while there is chemistry bubbling between them, it is subtle. Tavian is a kitsune, which is a Japanese fox spirit. He can turn into a fox as well as create illusions. Zach (Gwen's boyfriend) is OK. I admit he's a nice guy, but he has some really rude/awful moments and even if Gwen forgives him, I cant bring myself to. I liked that the love triangle is so understated and while the reader may think it's obvious who Gwen should pick, the author completely surprises you with actions from both love interests. Gwen is utterly charming. She's not too bratty, not sickly-sweet, she was someone I could relate to and since her personality wasn't on either extreme, I felt that she was someone I would meet at my school (although she is homeschooled so I wouldn't actually meet her :p). She's quiet, but quite astute and she has a rebellious and protective spirit, which I adore. Her half-pooka side does not define her but it makes the story a more enriching experience.

Other is a singular novel set in modern day America in which Others are a natural sight, but they face prejudice. The prejudice that Others face can easily be uncomfortably remind people of how GLBT people are treated along with ethnic minorities. In addition, Gwen's feelings of isolation due to her half-pooka side run parallel to feelings of loneliness that other teenagers may feel as a result of what-have-you. The romance is refreshing since it's understated and while the love triangle leans towards one of the love interests, neither one is vilified. I had trouble liking Zach (as crazy as it sounds I was better able to sort-of understand the killer than him) but I think that has to do with my own personal experiences with prejudice. I can be harsh when it comes to ignorant people when it comes to discrimination. Gwen is a heroine that everyone will like and readers will delight in the fact that SOME paranormal creatures openly interact with humans. More pookas and kitsunes please.

Disclosure: Won from Young Adult (& Kids!) Book Central. Thank you!

Male Monday: Pull

Pull by B.A. Binns 2010 (ARC)
WestSide Books

Release Date: October 27, 2010

Rating: 4/5

IQ "People think cakewalk means easy. But real cakewalks were difficult as hell according to my grandmother. They required endurance, balance and training, and only the best lasted until the end." David pg. 30-31

David Albacore has moved from his small-town California home to Chicago. He had to move once his father murdered his mother and went to jail, forcing David and his two younger sisters to move in with their unwilling Aunt Edie. Aunt Edie lives in a tiny apartment and is barely making ends meet on her own, David works every day after school to make sure his family is provided for. He's an extremely talented basketball player and so David has to make a decision. Go for a basketball scholarship or quit school and work in construction full time. It was his mother's dream for him to go to college, but he's sure that she wouldn't want the family to be split up either (which would happen once David moved away for college since he would no longer be able to take care of them). In addition to juggling work and family, David has a growing attraction to Yolanda Dare, the girlfriend of the school's "king" and major player. David doesn't believe he can have it all, so he's going to need to pick and choose.

In all honesty, I was skeptical about this book, based on the cover alone. Yet another book you can't judge based on its cover. I really really liked it. It was beyond refreshing to have a guy male character who is not a "lovable nerd" or a "playa with a soft interior". David seems to fit in the middle of these two extremes. He's not a playa, nor is he particularly good at school and he's surprisingly not hopeless when it comes to girls (it most likely helps that his mother was a good example and that he has two sisters). I was afraid that David would try and play the "noble hero" throughout the novel. He does try it, but he soon realizes that he does resent his sisters. Because of his sisters he can't keep his paycheck for himself or take The Dare (as Yolanda is known) out on fancy dates along with a host of other things. The noble thing about David is that he acknowledges his resentment, but fights to keep it under control. Much like David, Pull is a frank story that does not hesitate to talk about sex, swear or even gay relationships (I was grinning from ear to ear when I read a certain scene between Carl and Neill. They were underdeveloped minor characters sure, but they were gay and it was NO BIG DEAL. Yes!).

Not gonna lie, at first it was a bit jarring at how much David thought about sex. But eventually I shrugged it off because I have no doubt that it's realistic and it's really not that important. And in the story it's not discussed graphically anyway. You know how they say that a guy is worth keeping around based on how he treats his mother and sisters? David is awesome in that respect. Not perfect, but the way he treats his sisters (especially his freshman sister Barney) is so tender. I shared his pain at not being able to reach his youngest sister, Linda and at his frustration over Barney's obliviousness towards a certain character. As you can tell, I have a bit of a crush on David ;) Asides from David's personality, I was impressed at how each of David's siblings portrayed a different style of grieving. David does not know how to help his sisters and they don't know how to help him. It's a long and painful process, filled with denial, anger and immense sadness. It's also about guilt and debt, how much do we owe our loved ones, living and deceased? There's no easy answer.

Pull is a straightforward read that places a refreshing emphasis on sibling/family relationships over romantic ones. I did have a really hard time understanding Aunt Edie, the explanation for her actions seemed to convenient and implausible, there was not enough evidence to back up her actions. I wanted more character development of David's acquaintances (he doesn't allow them to get close enough to be friends) and his youngest sister Linda (how did she handle school??). It covers a lot, but none of the issues drown the book. From domestic violence to bullying to the ultimate decision about college, no issue is rushed, it flows naturally in the story. The marriage class was incredibly transparent (do those classes exist in high school?) but it was cool to see issues of family and marriage discussed in a high school setting. There is no moralizing in this narrative. David makes a hard decision and it's not one that everyone will make, but I completely understood why he made it. That's what makes this story so notable. I'm sure writing this story was no cakewalk (oh look a reference to the Incredible Quote! heehee), but the whole novel reads like a testimony to one. Excellent.

Disclosure: Received for review from publisher. Thank you WestSide!

Throwback Thursday: Pirates!

Pirates! by Celia Rees 2003
Bloomsbury


Rating: 4/5


IQ "She laughed a little, and I smiled at the picture her words painted. I felt my spirits lifting. She had brought hope to me, as a wind springs from nowhere to take a ship out of a flat calm, to fill her sails and send her singing through the water, speeding on her one true course." Nancy pg. 375


Squee! You guys LOOK at that cover. Minerva's face is on the front! I would have bought this book on the spot based on the title and cover. A Black Female pirate?! Sadly I own the U.S. paperback version in which Nancy's face is on the front and Minerva's is on the back (I wonder if Nancy's face is on the back of the UK paperback?). *sigh* I wish I owned that copy instead. Besides Minerva and her one ruby earring being on the cover, I really like the font used and the purple. Plus I love that Minerva is so realistic looking. She's not airbrushed (I don't think), her hair is all over the place probably due to the wind from a pirate ship. Yeah I don't many black girls have hair that looks good windblown and it's nice to see that fact displayed on a cover ;) I also think it's cool that the cover could be a portrait. I don't know, I will investigate. However, I do like my copy too. Minerva looks very determined on the back cover and the one ruby earring that she and Nancy wear stands out more. I'm indifferent about Nancy's side of the cover.


*Ahem* Enough cover talk, back to the book. Nancy Kingston did not plan to initially become a pirate. But when she realizes that the men in her life have planned out her entire future, she realizes she must leave. The man she is supposed to marry is cruel and much older than her sixteen year old self. Nancy is living in Jamaica on her family's plantation, Fountainhead and she is attended by a slave, Minerva Sharpe. Nancy and Minerva decide to leave the plantation together and they end up being taken on by the pirate ship, Deliverance. However, the man Nancy is engaged to (Bartholome) has "pledged to follow them over the seven seas". More importantly, the man Nancy loves, despises pirates. He is a sailor in the Royal Navy and Nancy isn't sure that he will take her back or if she will ever see him again.

This book is about pirates, what's not to love? That practically guarantees that there will be lots of fights, cursing, romance, and travel. Something I really liked about this novel was when Minerva and Nancy run away, Nancy doesn't have to "adjust" to a slave not waiting on her hand and foot. It may not have been wholly realistic, but it was relief to read historical fiction about a white girl who is not used to be waited on hand and foot. The story is dramatic but in a good way. The battles are described in vivid detail as is daily (ordinary) life on a pirate ship. The attention to detail that the author has is wonderful and makes for a more engaging read.

I wish that the novel had been told from Minerva's perspective. I think it would have been even more interesting. Minerva was bold, courageous, and resolute. Nancy's side of the events made for a delightful read, but it could have really been great from Minerva's point of view. Nancy was too passive for me, she never seemed to really take charge of her destiny, instead she let it be shaped by the events occurring around her. I was also bothered by the book being told from Nancy perspective as she looks back on her past. The constant "if we had only known"... spoiled aspects of the story because you knew something big and bad was about to go down.

Pirates! is a gripping read. There is always something going on, always an air of inevitable danger. The pirates have dynamic personalities, good or bad. The men don't want women on board at first, but most of them come around. There are various incidents along the way, but they all lead up to the big showdown between the pirates and Bartholome. The historical accuracy (well I assume it's accurate since such great care was taken to report everything) makes the book an even better read. Not only are historical details about pirate life included but so are details about life in Jamaica in the 18th century as well as life in England during that time. It covers the role of women, sailors, and Black people. The only thing that detracts from the book is the wistful voice that looks back on the past (along with my personal preference of Minerva over Nancy). Nancy reflects on how Captain Broom seems to know when his men (and women) need their spirits lifted. This book has a lot of blood and unfortunate events, but it has moments of levity (some of them surprising) that keep this from solely becoming an action-based book. One of my personal favorites (it was a reread).

Disclosure: Bought with my own cash money!

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