Elated Over Eleven: Sheela Chari

Oh hello blog! I was beginning to forget what book blogging even meant. Anyway I'm bringing back my Elated Over Eleven feature! In case you've forgotten you can read my previous Elated Over Eleven features here

Today I've finally pulled my act together to present an interview with Sheela Chari, whose Middle Grade book Vanished debuted in August! I recently received a copy for review and I'm eager to dive into its mystery-laden pages :)

Thank you for stopping by Reading in Color Ms. Chari!

What is Vanished about?

Vanished is a mystery novel about eleven-year-old Neela’s quest to find her Indian musical instrument when it goes missing. But it’s also her quest to overcome her stage fright and find her true musical self.

Yes you read that right this is a middle grade mystery with an Indian girl as a main character. But it's not about her being Indian in America, rather it's about her musical talent and her search for her missing instrument. Ahhhh

What has your road to being published taught you?

The road to publication is winding, with lots of potholes along the way. I expected that, because that’s what I’d been told by the writers I know who traveled that road before me. So I was prepared to wait, to persevere, and to expect setbacks along the way. And even if I was prepared, it was still an education, and I think I’m more patient and more focused than I was when I first started writing seriously.

But the other thing that this long and difficult journey has taught me is that there are unexpected pleasures along the way – a sudden dip in the road where you don’t have to peddle so hard and you can cruise on a piece of extraordinary luck: a beautiful cover, a rave review, a chance to talk to before a sprawling audience of young readers (when you were told that maybe one or two would show up at the bookstore for your event). Every time something wonderful happens to Vanished or to me as an author, I have learned to enjoy it for what it is – an unexpected, fun gift in my life as a writer.

And that is what scares me about writing. Who wants to become more patient? In all seriousness though I love that people are able to find the positives on the scary journey to get published. But also like Ms. Chari said, I think if I ever decided to write a book I would be slightly mentally prepared thanks to my reading of interviews with other authors and learning about what the publishing process really entails and how long it takes. And there are some amazing moments on that journey such as being blessed with a gorgeous cover like Ms. Chari's! And knowing that at least one reader connected with your story, I imagine that could keep me on a happiness cloud for quite some time...

What do you think the hardest part about writing a MG mystery is/was?

Writing mysteries in general is hard – at least for me. Partly because I think seasoned mystery writers start with the end and go backwards. In other words, they know who’s done what and when in their story, and then go back to the beginning to “cover up their tracks.” I did the opposite. I started at the very beginning with the same question as Neela – why did the veena disappear? And honestly, I didn’t know! I had to follow Neela and discover the reason why. As I kept writing, the story finally emerged by the time I got to the end. But it did require me going back and retrofitting content after I knew what the ending was. This seems needlessly difficult, but I guess that’s just the way I work!

As for MG, I’m not sure that played nearly as much as a role. I’m comfortable writing middle grade. This is because I’m secretly twelve years old. Okay…well, I would be if I had a choice!

What book would your book date?

Vanished might date Chasing Vermeer by Blue Balliett or Shakespeare’s Secret by Elise Broach. I loved both of these books for their atmosphere, for their kid detectives, and the way art and literature play a central role in the mystery (like Vanished, where music is integral).

But Vanished might also be secretly crushing on The London Eye Mystery by Siobhan Dowd. What a fantastic, smart mystery novel! But it’s also young adult, and a little too old for young Vanished! ;)

Haha I love that, we must protect the innocence of Vanished! It's vital that one doesn't grow up too fast...I adored Chasing Vermeer, so clever and as a bonus it was set in my beloved Chicago. Which reminds me that I could review that book here. Hmm maybe Vanished review one day, Chasing Vermeer review the next?

You grew up in Iowa City in the 1970s. Did you read books about kids of color? If not, did that bother you? Did you ever feel alienated and did this play into your writing?

I can honestly say I never thought about color when I was reading books as a child. I read because I wanted to know what happened next. I devoured all the Beverly Cleary books, the Anne of Green Gables series, Little Women, Heidi, Island of the Blue Dolphin, A Wrinkle in Time, The Secret Garden and A Little Princess, and I loved Nancy Drew. I loved these books for their sense of adventure, for bringing me to worlds I didn’t know about. I loved stories about tomboys and detectives, about girls who had traveled far away from their homes to find themselves, often under difficult conditions. Race never entered the picture. Likewise, I never saw myself being different, even though when I was a child, I was the only Indian-American girl I knew in my whole grade.

Certainly I think about these issues now, maybe because I have children of my own. I wrote Vanished because I really wanted to see more books about Indian-American girls solving mysteries and having adventures just like their other peers. I might not have read and wondered about these types of books when I was little, but if Vanished had been available back then, it would DEFINITELY have changed my life and the way I saw myself. There are many Indian-American girls who have read my book now and have really enjoyed and responded to it. I don’t know if all Indian-Americans want to read about characters like themselves (some still want to read about vampires!), but it’s really important to me that the option is there. I hope to see more and more mystery and fantasy books featuring PoCs being added to the middle grade shelf!

I read those same books as a kid! Children's classics never cease to amaze me because we all read so many of the same book and yet the power of books for kids is often ignored. Although I do remember starting and not liking, Island of the Blue Dolphin haha. We are the richer for reading those books (or so I like to think anyway) but I agree my mind would have been blown if I could have read a book about a character who looked me and was having a cool adventure. It's like you never know what you could have had until much later...(if that makes sense)

What are some of your current favorite YA/MG reads? What fellow '11 debuts are you looking forward to in the fall? Have you read any great 2011 debuts already?

This might be the hardest question to answer. I’m a member of the Elevensies, so I’ve been anticipating and reading a long list of books over the past year. Since I’m an MG author, my favorites have been the middle grades I read this year like Kat, Incorrigible by Stephanie Burgis, With a Name like Love by Tess Hilmo, and May B. by Caroline Starr Rose. All outstanding, with spunky female characters that know how to make their own decisions.

I also read many YA’s, and one of my favorites this year was Dead Rules by Randy Russell, which takes ideas of the afterlife and turns them into something new and thought-provoking. But I think I need to answer this question again when I get through my whole TBR pile!

What two PoC characters would you love to hang out?

I’m reading Grace Lin’s Pacy Lin books right now: The Year of the Dog, The Year of the Rat, and her most recent Dumpling Days, which I’m reading in ARC form as it won’t be out until January. I love Pacy’s directness, the way she invites you into her daily life, to be part of her Taiwanese heritage without a lot of explanation and back-story. Also some of her struggles to fit in remind me a lot of when I was growing up in the 1980s.

I’d have to say my favorite character growing up was Sacajawea. I read a book with the same title (Sacajawea by Anna Lee Waldo) when I was twelve, and her life history left a huge impression on me. It might have been that I just moved to Washington State at the time, where she had lived. But I loved this book, and I loved reading about her fierce pride, her incredible intelligence and astuteness, her knowledge of the land, and how she maintained her heritage in spite of being the first Shoshone woman to lead Lewis and Clark across the Columbia River to the Pacific Coast (something unheard of at the time in her culture).

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

Web site: www.sheelachari.com
Blog: http://sheela-chari.livejournal.com
Twitter: @wordsbysheela

Thanks for having me on your blog, Ari!

Not a problem, thanks again for stopping by Sheela! Buy Vanished

Elated Over Eleven: Medeia Sharif

Medeia Sharif is making her debut with the upcoming Bestest Ramadan Ever which releases July 8. Elated Over Eleven is a feature I started in which I interview debut authors of color (the Eleven in the title hints at being a 2011 debut just a fyi). Her book is one that I believe will help certain people get over their Islamphobia by being an entertaining read in which the main character is Muslim but so much more than that too.

Welcome to Reading in Color Medeia!

Tell us about your debut, Bestest Ramadan Ever

Fifteen-year-old Almira Abdul is fasting for Ramadan for the first time ever, but the month does not move smoothly at all. She has her first major crush, treads on her best friend’s toes, butts heads with a new archenemy, and has a strict old-world grandfather who drives her crazy. Her will is tested in more ways than one during the holy month.

What has your journey to getting published taught you?

To take my time. I made the mistake that many writers make: vomit words on a page, do a quick revise and edit job, and start querying. You need to put a manuscript away and later on look at it with fresh eyes. I now wait months between drafts and revisions, and every time I find ways to make a manuscript stronger.

And that is why I can't be an aspiring published author, haha. No patience for all those revisions although I would want my work to be as close to perfect as can be.

One of your characters is described as a Muslim girl who "struts around in super-short skirts, commanding every guy's attention." I'm going to go out on a limb here and assume that this character does not fit the “Muslim girl stereotype.” Did you have a specific goal in mind when you created this character or did she just come to you?

My goal was to create competition between Almira and someone who was like her. It would be one thing to compete with any sort of classmate, but Almira and Shakira are of the same culture and religion. And they’re after the same boy, Peter. I also wanted to show the range of Muslim girls as far as their personalities, dress, and attitudes go. In my next book readers will encounter someone who’s more traditional.

That's tough because personally I can attest to the fact that you are drawn to people of the same culture, you feel an automatic connection that while valid may not be enough to ensure you're friends. Acquaintances or maybe even 'enemies' because there is a sense of competition sometimes (I think) between people with the same heritage (this may only apply to minorities though). I love that a wide range of Muslim girls will be shown in your book, after all books in both subtle and not-so-subtle ways teach tolerance so that's important.

What book would your book date?



My book would date ANGUS, THONGS, AND FULL-FRONTAL SNOGGING by Louise Rennison. I think my book would appreciate the humor and boy craziness of that novel.

Stationery inspires you, as previously mentioned in a guest post. When did this love-affair with stationery begin? Any tips on how to found the right bit of stationery (or anything else) that inspires you?

I’ve always loved stationery, but I started collecting it in my mid-20’s. Before that, any notebook or pen would do. I collect colorful notebooks and multi-colored gel pens. I suggest that people find designs, colors, and textures that resonate with them. It’s all about the look and feel of the ink, paper, and cover.

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

I’ve read many verse novels this year, so I’ve become a fan of Ellen Hopkins, Sonya Sones, and Alma Fullerton. As for debut novels, I’ve already read several this year, and I have many in my TBR pile as well as on pre-order. I hope to read all of them, eventually. This summer I look forward to reading Natalie Zaman and Charlotte Bennardo’s SIRENZ, Dawn Metcalf’s LUMINOUS, and Carrie Harris’s BAD TASTE IN BOYS.

What two PoC characters would you love to hang out?

I’d love to hang out with Patti Yoon from Paula Yoo’s GOOD ENOUGH because she’s insecure and funny, and I’d like to tell her that she is indeed good enough for anybody or any situation. The second character is Jazz from Neesha Meminger’s JAZZ IN LOVE. She’s another lovable character.

I would be initimidated by Patti's smarts but she would make me laugh. Jazz would be so much fun to hang out with and I would follow whatever crazy plan she created.

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

One issue I have is that not everyone takes it seriously. For example, as one rude person told me, “So you didn’t write a real book.” I’ve encountered the attitude that YA/MG isn’t serious fiction. That’s more of an issue with how people react to it, rather than the body of books themselves. What I love is that YA/MG covers so many topics and is, at times, riskier than adult fiction. I believe it’s due to the fact that the characters are at a point in their lives when they’re experimenting with everything and becoming independent.

I'm with you, the fact that many people look down on MG/YA is ridiculous because as you stated, often YA/MG books can be even riskier than adult fiction. They cover a wider range of topics as well and I think the main characters are more likely to stay with you maybe not forever but far longer than in adult fiction.

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

Blog/Website – http://www.sharifwrites.com
Tumblr – http://sharifwrites.tumblr.com/
Twitter – http://www.twitter.com/sharifwrites

Thank you so much Medeia!

Elated Over Eleven: Candy Gourlay

This interview for my Elated Over Eleven feature is a bit different from others in the past. Both Candy and I were astoundingly busy (obviously she more so since she's the fairly newly published author!) so it took awhile for this interview to come together (that was entirely my fault). However we were able to have a bit more of a back-and-forth discussion :)

Tall Story was released in the UK back in 2010 and made it's U.S. debut on February 8, 2011.

Welcome Candy!

What is Tall Story about?

Tall Story is about a brother and a sister separated by visa problems. Bernardo, in the Philippines, is desperate to join his family in the UK - but how is he going to tell them that he's grown to eight feet tall? Basketball-mad Andi, in London, can't get into any basketball teams because (a) she's a girl and (b) she's tiny. Who's got the bigger problem? Then there's Bernardo's village who think Bernardo's extraordinary growth spurt has something to do with a giant of legend who saves them from earthquakes.

How did you break into publishing (was it easier to get published in the UK than the U.S.)?

I don't know what trying to get published is like in the US but I suspect it might be a bit like the UK - it took me nine years to get published. At the beginning I realized how little I knew about the industry - and how much I had to learn about writing books for children. I joined the Society for Children's Book Writers and Illustrators in the British Isles. In 2008, I won the SCBWI's inaugural Undiscovered Voices anthology competition which led my agent to sign me. Having an agent meant Publishers were more open to reading my work. But I still had to write a book that they wanted to buy. Tall Story was that book.

I'm no expert on publishing but the process sounds the same to me, long and arduous! SCBWI sounds like a wonderful organization and I love how they seem to have chapters EVERYWHERE (or at least in many parts of the world) XD

Did the magical realism aspect of the story (i.e. Filipino mythology interspersed in the story) come first or did you originally set out to make it a story about a short girl who loved basketball who met her giant cousin?

My original "what if" stemmed from remembering how I felt like a freak in high school (I felt big and bulky compared to my petite classmates). Then I thought, well what if you really were "freaky" ... what if you suffered from gigantism? A while back, I was afraid to put Filipino characters into the books I was working on because I was afraid that no publisher would want to publish me. But an agent told me that I had to put my ethnicity into my writing - she felt it was part of my unique selling point as a writer. And then I remembered stories my father had told me when I was growing up in the Philippines about a giant named Bernardo who caused all the earthquakes. I think it is the mythology that gives Tall Story a certain uniqueness .

What book would your book date?

It would have to be Cosmic by Frank Cottrell Boyce - a beautifully written, funny book about a boy so tall he is mistaken for an adult and manages to get away with adult stuff (like taking cars on test drives and later, going on a space mission!). I just love the Cottrell Boyce's humour - and the way he can bring out the essence of what really matters in his character's relationships.

You mentioned in a previous interview that you felt your ethnicity was a barrier to being published. Do you have any advice to authors who might feel the same way? And do you still view it as a barrier, why or why not?

What a good question. Someone like me who is culturally "other" - I was born and bred in the Philippines - have higher hurdles to jump. Not because of any racism but because we are operating outside our cultural norm. If my book were only to be published in the Philippines, I would have written it in a completely different way. But because I am trying to appeal to readers from both my native and my adopted homes, I worked hard on trying to create archetypes and reflecting the universality of our experience. I wanted my book to be something that someone from any country would read and say, "Oh that's exactly how I feel" at the same time, it's such a responsibility because I want Filipinos to read it and get all the nuances I injected from our culture. I felt like I was holding up a mirror to Filipinos and hoping that they like what they see.

I like how you said someone of color has higher hurdles to jump, not because of racism but because we are going outside our cultural norm. Interesting thought and I agree. Never would have thought to express it that way on my own, but it seems right. Or at least, it's not blatant racism, a lot it just has to do with white privilege and perhaps not remembering that we need diverse stories. when i was writing Tall Story, i kept thinking about how Filipinos would respond to the story. Filipinos have no representation whatsoever in children's books outside the Philippines - i talk about holding up a mirror ... what if they hate what they see? we Filipinos are very sensitive to how we are seen by the world, and all the stereotyping that happens (Filipino? are you a maid? - someone actually said that to me once) is hurtful and damaging to our self esteem as a nation. so ... yes, there's immigration in Tall Story, but it's just a backdrop to characters who I hope capture that sweetness and generousity that (I feel, anyway) characterizes our people. one of my fears as an unpublished writer, was that my Filipino-ness would stand in the way of getting a book deal. who would've thought that it would become my USP? Diversity goes two ways - sure, the white majority who influence the children's book industry needs to acknowledge that there is a rainbow of other people out there. but is the rainbow being true to itself? I wrote an entire novel with only white characters because I wanted to get published. I thought, writing is about "Write what you know", isn't it? So the colour of my character's skin doesn't matter. Then a literary agent told me such a book would be difficult to sell because it had nothing of the author in it. Which made me think, oh, so I will never ever get published. Then I read a book on plotting by James Scott Bell - he said you can't be content with just write what you know - you have to write who you are! And how amazing to find out that it's true. Tall Story was published to amazing acclaim in the UK - the most visited page on my website is my About the Philippines page. The Philippine Embassy in London liked the book so much they held a party in its honour. And I'm just thrilled that there will be some kids with Filipino heritage out there (my own included) who will point proudly at my book and say, "Hey there's a bit of me in there"!

I can think of ONE YA book with a Filipina main character. How pathetic. Now I know of at least two, baby steps. A party thrown by the Philippine Embassy in London? How cool! And what an incredible honor.

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

I can only list the best of what I read recently - a few are old titles and one of them isn't technically YA but should be read by teenagers!

The Help by Kathryn Stockett

Here Lies Arthur by Philip Reeve

When I was Joe and its sequel Almost True by Keren David

When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead

The White Darkness by Geraldine McCaughrean

A Swift Pure Cry by Siobhan Dowd

What I Saw and How I Lied by Judy Blundell

Devil's Kiss by Sarwat Chadda

Which two PoC (people of color) characters would you love to hang out with?

Billi Sangreal, the sword wielding heroine of Sarwat Chadda's Devil's Kiss, which combines Islamic mythology with the mythology of the Knight's Templar - she's got a bit of Buffy with an Asian aesthetic! Am I allowed to say my character Bernardo? He's just so loveable and I'd like to mother him ... If I'm not allowed my own character then it's got to be Bud (of Bud Not Buddy by Christopher Paul Curtis) - I know, it's a book from a while back but I adore Bud. I want to cook him a Filipino meal. I'll bet he'll love a bowl of pansit (noodles).

Absolutely Billi and Bud! No saying your own characters ;) I can't wait to meet Bernardo though. Bud was always hungry so I'm sure he'd appreciate any kind of food, but especially food cooked with love (and more unique than what he's used to). Hmm I've never had Filipino food but now I'm hungry.... As for Billi, I have undying love for those books. It's one of my most bookish regrets that there will not be a Billi #3 to further explore the Islamic mythology.

What is one issue you have with Middle grade fiction?

It's not an issue but a question. Are we really reflecting the experiences and sensibilities of our readers?

What is something you love about MG? I love the fantastical worlds of MG fiction ... Harry Potter's universe, the Mortal Engines world.

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

my website is tallstory.net and i blog on http://candygourlay.blogspot.com on twitter, i am candygourlay and do come check out my page for Tall Story on facebook!

BUY TALL STORY :) Thank you so much Candy!

Elated Over Eleven: Ashley Hope Perez

Today I have an interview with Ashley Hope Perez, author of the upcoming What Can't Wait (March 1, 2011). I devoured the book in about two sittings and just..wow. It's one of my favorite debuts of the year, I thought it was excellent. My review will be up on the release date so I'll save the gushing. But it's not just me who has mad love for this book. A lot of other people do too.

If you want to see why all the cool kids are talking about this book, read on ;)

Can you tell us about What Can't Wait?

Seventeen-year-old Marisa Moreno has smarts and plenty of promise, but she’s marooned in a broken-down Houston neighborhood—and in a Mexican immigrant family where making ends meet matters more than making it to college. At school, it's another story. Marisa's calc teacher expects her to ace the AP test and to get into an engineering program in Austin—a city that seems unimaginably far away. When her home life becomes unbearable, Marisa seeks comfort elsewhere—and suddenly neither her best friend nor boyfriend can get through to her. Caught between the expectations of two different worlds and carrying a dark secret, Marisa will have to decide what can't wait.

In addition to this description—cribbed from the awesome copy generated by my publisher, Carolrhoda Lab—I’d like to add that the book wouldn’t exist without my former students at Chávez High School, to whom the book is dedicated. It’s not based on any specific student’s experiences, but the stories they shared with me shaped Marisa’s world and her relationships. I tried to write the novel my students told me they wanted to read.

It's so awesome that as a teacher you actually listened to your students and later on wrote a book for them! I think the book is a combination of some of the experiences students go through in high school and as a teacher, I must admit to being surprised at how you treated the students in your book with respect. Most of my teachers mock us or could care less (with notable exceptions of course).

How did you break into publishing? You have two releases coming up, one in 2011 and one in 2012. Congrats!

Thank you! My agent, Steven Chudney, has been a wonderful advocate. It took a while for us to find the right publisher, but Carolrhoda Lab has been a great home for my writing. I was fortunate enough to get a two-book deal, which means that I get to continue working with the same editor (Andrew Karre). I love continuity, so this is a real blessing for me. For now, though, it’s all about What Can’t Wait!

As for finding an agent... it’s a difficult and humbling process. I do not have any horror stories of cold or callous responses from agents, though. While I got some form rejections, I also received kind and thoughtful notes wishing me well and offering suggestions. I was surprised by the generally positive response even from those agents who passed on the book. The only explanation I’ve come up with is that, because I handpicked the agents I queried, they were more sympathetic to my project than others less familiar with edgy YA might have been.

Like Marisa, some teens can relate to being told to put their education off in order to put family first. Other teens might be surprised by that. How will those teens connect to this story?

A lot of people focus on the importance of teen readers finding a reflection of their own experiences in YA novels. This is definitely important, and I did want to capture a story that my students in Houston felt they hadn’t encountered in books. But all fiction, YA included, also can serve as a way into worlds and experiences outside what we as readers know. This is how it is possible for me to love, for example, a book like Gingerbread by Rachel Cohn. The protag’s rich-girl-in-San-Francisco life couldn’t be more different from my own (or my life as a teen), but Cyd’s voice is honest and fresh, and her struggles are still compelling.

So my hope is that teens with support for education in their family will nevertheless find Marisa’s experiences engrossing.

I think this book is particularly timely for sophomores and juniors and maybe even seniors (even though they should all be done with the college process by now!). I for one did not realize that there were some families that valued family over eudcation, everything else yes, but not education. Marisa has to make an increidbely tough choice that many of us won't have to make and this book will definitely be an eye-opening and engaging read for anyone.

What book would your book date?

I would set What Can’t Wait up with Benjamin Alire Sáenz’s Sammy and Juliana in Hollywood. Sammy and Marisa may come from different communities and different decades, but they would definitely understand each other’s challenges and commitments. If my book were feeling a little wilder, I’d set it up with Matt de la Peña’s Ball Don’t Lie for a dose of Los Angeles and a life even rougher than Marisa’s.

Ahh Sammy and Juliana would definitely get Marisa! It's fitting, different times but similar challenges and distinctive, great main characters with strong voices. I still need to read Ball Don't Lie. *le sigh*

Did your Teach for America experience influence your writing of What Can't Wait or have any other influence on you? It's an amazing program.

TFA is indeed a phenomenal program. After working in numerous education-related settings, I would still say that the best teaching training I received came from TFA. I actually stayed on in my school after my TFA commitment, and I am still very much involved in education issues and in touch with my former students from 10th, 11th, 12th, ESL, and AP Lit classes (thank you, Facebook).

In terms of What Can’t Wait, one of Marisa’s teachers, Ms. Ford, reflects the TFA philosophy of challenging all students from all backgrounds to achieve academic success. While she motivates Marisa in many ways, Ms. Ford also drives her nuts, especially through her failure to recognize the challenges and obstacles Marisa faces outside the classroom. This is something of a delicate subject because some might say that there is a fine line between understanding a student’s challenges and lowering expectations. I found that students struggling to balance school and outside demands were a lot more responsive when I asked them first to tell me what was going on and then we problem-solved how they could still fulfill the expectations of the course. Often we teachers begin with what needs to get done and only ask about students’ situations as an afterthought.

First of all, I love how some teachers are willing to be friends on Facebook, I really do like that :) More importantly I admire all the TFA teachers for sticking with such a tough program that ultimately sounds rewarding. You've hit on something that I don't think is talked about much when talking about teachers. Being understanding of a student's situation while still mainting high expectations, it's a very, very delciate balance. Hopefully more teachers will adopt the method of asking first, and then following up on what needs to be done, not making the situaion of each student an afterthought.

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

Some YA titles I’ve loved recently are: Before I Die by Jenny Downham, Imani All Mine by Connie Porter, Every Time a Rainbow Dies by Rita Williams-Garcia, How to Build a House by Dana Reindhardt, Looking for Alaska by John Green, and Madapple by Christina Ledlum. I hate that I’m leaving so many books out, so I’ll just add a few more: The Book Thief by Markus Zusak, The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie, and The First Part Last by Angela Johnson.

For 2011 debuts, I’m especially looking forward to reading Something Like Hope by Shawn Goodman and The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin. The Elevensies site is a great place to learn about some of the authors debuting in 2011.

What two PoC characters would you love to hang out?

I would love to see Reason from Justine Larbalestier’s Magic or Madness series spend an afternoon with Janie from Zora Neale Hurston’s Their Eyes Were Watching God. This would be while Reason is pregnant. If anybody would listen to Reason’s story without judging, it’d be Janie.

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

I think writing MG must be harder than writing YA, because the books need to feel real without being too bleak or too explicit. With teen readers, I don’t really worry about what I will “expose” them to; with MG readers, that would have to be a consideration. Still, there are many MG titles I love. Some recent favorites include Gennifer Choldenko’s Notes from a Liar and Her Dog, Christopher Paul Curtis’s Elijah of Buxton, and Leslie Connor’s Waiting for Normal.

I love how YA and MG books are often the gateway “drugs” to a life-long addiction to reading. As an adult who still reads YA, books for teens make me realize how important it is to go on with the project of becoming oneself, which is what being an adolescent is all about.

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

Listen to a great public radio interview here

Folks can also visit my website, www.ashleyperez.com, where I have a blog, many reviews of YA books, and an excerpt of What Can’t Wait as well as The Knife and the Butterfly, my next novel. Readers can also find me at Goodreads, Facebook, or Twitter. Also email: novels@ashleyperez.com. I’d love to hear from you!

Thank you so much for stopping by Ashley! Pre-order

Elated Over Eleven: Bettina Restrepo (+ CONTEST)

Today I am Elated to present 2011 debut author Bettina Restrepo, author of Illegal. Welcome Bettina!

Illegal releases on March 8th and practically promises to be a controversial read. I can't stand that word when it refers to people 'illegal.' Ugh. Anyway, the book has already received some praise-worthy reviews and seems to be a popular debut that we in the book blogging world are all waiting for :) With that thought, take it away Bettina.

Please tell us a little about Illegal

14 yr old Nora waits for her father to come back to Mexico so that her life can begin again. He’s working a construction job in Texas and occasionally calls and sends money back to their withering village in Cedula, Mexico. When the phone call and the money stop, Nora creates a plan to cross the border to find him. It’s a coming of age story crossed with illegal immigration. It’s also a spiritual exploration many issues including right vs wrong, God, prejudice, and the forgotten people of society.

I love books where there's more to them then meets the eye. Based on the cover and Amazon/Goodreads summaries I would have just thought it dealt with prejudice and illegal immigration but the fact that it's also a spiritual exploration has piqued my interest even more! There's not much spiritual anything in YA.

How did you break into publishing?

My first story, Elevator Rules, appeared in Highlights for Children in 2003. I broke into publishing by taking classes, rewriting, and investing in myself and my writing.


You are Colombian and yet you chose to write about a Mexican girl's immigration experience. Is there a reason as to why you wanted to make the main character come from a culture different from your own?

I didn’t choose Nora, she chose me. I used to work as an auditor for a chain of Hispanic Supermarkets. I traveled to these locations and the people intoxicated me. One day while traveling, I saw a little girl on the side of the road and I wondered what her story was. She became Nora. While Nora is Mexican, I believe this story could be about any ethnicity.

I explore my Colombian roots in my next YA book, Telenovela. A comic look at a Colombian exchange student in an American High School who isn’t quite what she seems.

Very true, this story could be about any ethnicity, especially since many people come on student visas or work visas and then stay after the visas expire. Not to get too far ahead of myself but Telenovela already has a fabulous title and sounds marvelous :)

What book would your book date?

Illegal is a contemporary book set in Houston, Texas (although really, it could be anytown USA). I believe House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros, Esperanza Rising by Pam Munoz Ryan, and Ask Me No Questions by Marina Budhos. All are immigrant stories, but the House on Mango Street is written in lyrical prose and is absolutely stunning.

You grew up speaking Spanish and German. What are the benefits of coming from a bi-cultural home?

You have more holidays to celebrate, more languages and cultures top make your own, and the world is smaller and more accessible. It can also make you a stutterer (like I did throughout kindergarten when I didn’t know which language went where).

Couldn't have said it better myself, hooray for bicultural people! (and every other ethnic background/mix. Hooray for mixed up people!). While it can be challenging to balance both cultures I do love the varying perspectives I get from both and the world does seem more accessible. Since only one parent speaks another language, I'm not fortunate enough to have grown up bilingual so I envy you that! I do hope you weren't teased for stuttering, that infuriates me (the teasing, not stuttering).

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

I adore John Green with his use of humor and twisting plot lines. He is my secret literary boyfriend (although he doesn’t know it). Maggie Stiefvater, Jenny Moss, Michelle Zink. Too many to mention!

We have a great class at www.classof2k11.com - so choosing just one is way hard. I can’t wait to get my hands on The Pull of Gravity by Gae Polisner, or Stupid Fast by Geoff Herbach.

What two PoC characters would you love to hang out?

I don’t do drama or whiny girls. I think I would like to hang out with Hassan from An Abundance of Katherines because he makes me laugh and perhaps Jenna Fox (to see what is like to rebuild a life) from the Adoration of Jenna Fox.

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

Like I said above – I hate whiny characters who don’t DO anything. To me, YA is just like an adult read with a teen character. Nobody likes a whiner, and I see too many whiners. Teens are smart and saavy.

What I love about YA is that teens are smart and savvy, but inexperienced with life. Whatever they feel is at the extreme because it is the first time it happens and they don’t have the life experience to know if it will get better or worse. I also love YA because teens love greater and stronger than anyone else I know.

I agree on the dislike of whiny characters who don't redeem themselves in any way, shape or form. I love how you express YA 'an adult read with a teen character' combined with our inexperience with life. It's like that Eleanore Roosevelt quote about women ("A woman is like a teabag. You never know how strong she is until she gets in hot water"), but it applies to teenagers too. We are vulnerable creatures and we never know how strong we are until we are pushed to our limit. Or at least, I feel that way. And it doesn't hurt for a YA author to give us compliments ;)

Where can readers find out more about you and your books? Website http://www.bettinarestrepo.com/

Facebook: bettinarestrepo

Contest details! What Does It Mean to Be Illegal?

Dear Readers, if you would like to participate in a signed giveaway of Illegal (there are 5 signed copies), please answer the following question; Would you break the law to find your family across a foreign border?

Please comment with your answer, town/state or country (international is allowed, sweet!). The winner will be announced on April 1 and the winner must contact Ms. Restrepo with their mailing address.

Personally: I would

Can't wait to read everyone else's answers! Oh and if you say no, could you explain why not?

Elated Over Eleven: Wendy Wan Long-Shang

I'm late with this interview but better late than never applies most excellently to this interview. Welcome to RiC Ms. Shang!

Wendy Wan-Long Shang is the author of The Great Wall of Lucy Wu which was released January 4th (I let my sister borrow my copy before I read it and she won't give it back, she loves that the main character is her age and just like her, plays basketball).

The Great Wall of Lucy Wu is receiving a warm reception and I'm just saying, but, it has a 4 average rating on Goodreads. Impressed yet? Yes or no, doesn't matter, keep reading to learn more about this lawyer/author/hilarious basketball player.

Please give us the scoop on The Great Wall of Lucy Wu

Lucy Wu thinks she's about to have the perfect year - her big sister is moving out of their shared bedroom and her basketball team looks terrific (as does her crush, Harrison). But when her father announces that a long-lost great aunt is coming to visit and that Lucy should start going to Chinese school instead of basketball, Lucy thinks her year is in shreds - but is it? Like the Chinese saying that events that appear to be good luck or bad luck often turn out to be the opposite, Lucy discovers that while her original dream is not going to come true, she can create something even better.

How did you break into publishing?

I started off by taking a class with author Mary Quattlebaum at the Writer's Center in Maryland. Mary is a fantastic teacher, and teaches not just craft but industry basics as well. She mentioned that the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) is a good resource for writers, and I decided to join.

SCBWI lead to some amazing opportunities for me - I found my critique group at a SCBWI regional conference, and I also received one of their Work-in-Progress grants, which was a terrific confidence booster and a nice thing to mention in agent query letters. (True story: I was taking care of 6 kids when I found out about the grant. To this day, they will happily re-enact me jumping up and down and screaming. They think this is what publishing is about!) My book was sold by Lindsay Davis at Writers House to Lisa Sandell at Scholastic. (Lindsay has since left the industry, and I am very fortunate to now have Ken Wright as my agent!)

Frankly speaking, it's unusual to have a book about a young Chinese-American girl who loves interior design AND basketball. Even in the real world, when people think Asians and basketball the only person who comes to mind is Yao Ming. That's part of why I'm even more psyched to read The Great Wall of Lucy Wu. Why did you choose to create a character who is Chinese and loved both of these seemingly (to sheltered Americans anyway) unusual and disconnected things?


Well, Lucy is Chinese-American because I'm Chinese-American; as a first-time novelist, I knew I wanted to stick with what I knew! I also really love the way girls are today: you can be girly AND athletic. I wanted my character to reflect that idea because when I was growing up, there was a bit of the sense that you could only be one or the other. I chose basketball in particular because when I first started writing Lucy, we shared some characteristics, and I wanted to make sure she was her own person. And, if you've ever seen me on the court, I am not a threat to anybody...unless making somebody laugh so hard they're gasping for breath counts as a threat.

HA! I'm sure I'm even worse, the stereotype of being a good basketball player does not apply to me at all ;) But don't discount the gift of being able to make people laugh (well...erm...as long as it's WITH you and not at you). Seriously though, I love that today girls don't feel as though they have to fit in one mold. You can wear pink basketball shoes and still represent on the court.

What book would your book date (obviously it would be a very suitable date for a 6th grader)?

I think it would be really fun to have my book go on a date with Bette Bao Lord's In the Year of the Boar and Jackie Robinson. That book is about a Chinese girl coming to America and discovering what it means to be American, and I think it's a great mirror for my book, which is about a Chinese-American girl finding her Chinese roots.

We used to own that book, my sister read it but I never got a chance too. Now I intend on looking for it so I can read them back-to-back. And they both feature young female main characters who are unafraid to admit they like-no-love sports :)

You went from being an attorney working for juvenile justice (as well as being a court-appointed special advocate) to a writer. Do you think your experience with the law and courtrooms helped you in any way with being an author?

There are a lot of lawyers in the kidlit field. Rebecca Stead, 2010 Newbery Medal winner of When You Reach Me, and Kathy Erskine, the 2010 National Book Award winner of Mockingbird, were both attorneys! I think that going to law school teaches you how to analyze writing and think about how you want to convey your ideas effectively, so in that sense, legal experience is very helpful.

I never knew there were so many lawyers in the kidlit field, I don't know where I was hiding because I'm sure I would have read somewhere that Rebecca Stead is a lawyer. I do know that Francisco Stork is a lawyer as well, but that's all I've got off the top of my head. I admit, I have a hard-time wrapping my head around lawyers writing for kids (I've been around too many serious ones!) but especially if they work with kids, it makes sense. And all of the lawyers we've mentioned have won at least one award (Francisco Stork won the Schneider Family book award for Marcelo in the Real World)!

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

I adored The Strange Case of Origami Yoda by Tom Angleberger - it was funny and sweet and a little mysterious. As for debuts, I can't wait to read Winifred Conkling's Sylvia and Aki, and The Mostly True Story of Jack by Kelly Barnhill. Sylvia and Aki is set in 1940's California; Sylvia is Hispanic and must attend a "Mexican" school because of segregation laws; Aki is Japanese and her family is being sent to an internment camp. It is based on a true story. As for The Mostly True Story of Jack, I've had the privilege of seeing the first few chapters, and we're in for something really special. It's a magical story about friendship, loss and sacrifice.

Whoa, whoa, whoa! Why am I just now hearing about Sylvia and Aki? It sounds WONDERFUL. So much for not adding more than 500 books to my TBR *heads off to Goodreads* The Mostly True Story of Jack sounds quite mysterious and The Strange Case of Origami Yoda sounds HILARIOUS and I could certainly use a laugh-out-loud read...

What two PoC characters would you love to hang out?

I think it would be really fun to hang out with Alvin Ho of the eponymous books and Fern from One Crazy Summer. They're both such sharp, observant characters - I know I'd come away seeing the world in a completely different way.

What is one issue you have with MG books? What is something you love about MG?

One of the hardest things about writing MG is trying to avoid the typical tropes - orphans, red-headed best friends, boarding schools - or at least do something original with them! I love MG readers - they are the most appreciative readers in the world. I got a pop-up card from one reader, depicting a scene from LUCY, and it just melted me. And I thought, I bet even Jhumpa Lahiri (one of my favorite writers of adult fiction and a Pulitzer Prize winner) never got a handmade pop-up card!

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

They can visit me at wendyshang.com, and I am also a contributor at From the Mixed-Up Files, a multi-author middle grade blog.

Thank you so much for stopping by Wendy! Now score some points and buy The Great Wall of Lucy Wu. I'm thinking it's at least as spectacular as a half court shot? haha ok I'm done.

Elated Over Eleven: Crystal Allen

I've always intended on writing a post bewailing the lack of light-hearted YA and MG books about people of color (it's coming in February, I promise!). Fortunately, we do have some authors like Crystal Allen who are trying to show that not all books with poc main characters have to be heavy, they can be hilarious and just plain fun. Even better, Crystal agreed to be spotlighted in my new feature (inspired by Kelsey the BookScout) that highlights YA/MG debut authors of color.

Crystal Allen's debut novel, How Lamar's Bad Prank won a Bubba-Sized Trophy comes out February 22, 2011.

Welcome Crystal to Reading in Color!

Please tell us about How Lamar's Bad Prank Won a Bubba-Sized Trophy

Thirteen-year-old Lamar Washington is the maddest, baddest most spectacular bowler ever at Striker’s Bowling Paradise. But he doesn’t have game – not like his older brother Xavier the Basketball Savior. And certainly not like his best friend “Spanish fly guy” Sergio. So Lamar vows to spend the summer changing his image from dud to stud by finding a way to make money and snag a super fine Honey. When a crafty teenage thug invites Lamar to use his bowling skills to hustle, he seizes the opportunity. As his judgment blurs, Lamar makes an irreversible error, damaging every relationship in his life. Now, he must figure out how to mend those broken ties, no matter what it will cost him.

That title is a mouthful but most definitely an attention-getter!

How did you break into publishing?

In February of 2008, I attended a writer's conference in Houston, where superpower agent, Jennifer Rofe' from Andrea Brown Literary Agency, (Jen was not my agent at that time. I didn't have one) was one of the faculty members. By fate, she critiqued ten pages of LAMAR and loved it. She asked for more pages and I sent them to her. This interaction between us went on for nearly nine months (isn't that like a pregnancy?), where she asked questions, and made me really focus on areas of my story that could be stronger. Then, in December, 2008, Jen offered representation and after thinking long and hard about it for three seconds, I accepted! :)

Jen and I worked very hard on LAMAR, revising and talking things through. And once we believed LAMAR was the best he could be, Jen provided the manuscript to editors at several different publishing houses. During the submission process, I made wonderful connections with several extraordinary editors interested in LAMAR. But, I found there to be something special about the connection with Harper Collins' Kristin Daly, editor at Balzar and Bray. She clearly loved LAMAR as much as I do, and our conversation seemed easy from the moment we said "Hello." So, I signed with Harper Collins.

In all honesty, not only do I never read about Black people bowling, I rarely see it. I think it's awesome that Lamar's Bad Prank features a Black kid bowling. You bowl too. What attracts you to bowling and why did you decide to make it a focus of the story?

I've bowled all of my life. My father managed a bowling alley when I was very young. I've bowled on leagues since my middle grade years. A bowling alley is one place where trash talk comes in all languages; hands, facial expressions and of course, straight from the mouth! It's an equal opportunity, multicultural sport, where abilities and disabilities don't measure a person's level of skill . I've seen bowlers in wheelchairs "mash" other bowlers like potatoes! Once I realized there weren't many stories written with bowling as a main focus, I got busy with LAMAR and it's been so much fun!

I rarely go bowling but next time I do, I'll be looking out for trash-talkers! I love that it is an equal opportunity sport, although I never thought of that until you brought it up :)

What book would your book date?

I believe strengths and weaknesses should balance out a great relationship. Therefore, Olugbemisola Rhuday Perkovich's 8TH GRADE SUPER ZERO would be the perfect book to read with LAMAR and here's two reasons why:

1. In Super Zero, Reggie, the main character, lacks confidence, but eventually gains the self-assurance he needs. My main character, Lamar, has enough confidence for the entire planet, but later learns what it means to be humble.

2. Both stories have a focus on friendships and lots of humor.

If the summary of Lamar's Bad Prank and the interview so far hasn't sold you on the book, the above statement should allow you to finally make up your mind about why you must read this book. 8th Grade Superzero is one of my favorite books, absolutely wonderful! Time for me to check out my next date ;)

Do you have any bad (or good) pranks to share with us that you yourself committed?

One prank. When I was around nine or ten, I put a tack in my Mom's chair and then stood there while she sat on it. (Wait, it gets worse) I lied and said I didn't do it. Mom and I were the only people home at the time, so it couldn't have been anyone but me. Forgot to factor that in.

First prank. Last prank.

Oh no! I don't think I would still be alive today if I tried to pull a stunt like that. ha

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

I don't get to read much YA, but I do have a few favorites.

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie
Copper Sun by Sharon Draper
Dreaming Anastasia by Joy Preble.
Touching Spirit Bear by Ben Mikaelsen
Speak by Laurie Halse-Anderson

I'm sure there's more, but those came to me immediately!

As for '11 debut authors, I belong to a group of 2011 debut authors called "The Elevensies." We've been together for at least a year and I'm looking forward to purchasing all of their books at major bookstores!

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

I would absolutely love to hang out with Milagros De La Torre in the story, Milagros, Girl from Away, and Lula, a hilarious character in Janet Evanovich's bounty hunter series.

That is so funny that you mention Milagros since I recently read that book! The writing was lovely. Gotta love the humorous characters too

What is one issue you have with YA/MG?

I would have to say the lack of representation of young adults and middle graders of every race, in plain, everyday situations. There shouldn't be a stereotype of ethnic children doing ethnic things. Every African American character doesn't have a sibling or parent on drugs or in prison. Every Hispanic character doesn't have a sibling in a gang. Regular, everyday, kid-stuff should be the focus, so the ethnicity of the character is understood, but is secondary to a story every child can relate to.

What is something you love about YA/MG?

When what I mentioned above, works. Stories like:

Tears of a Tiger by Sharon Draper

Paris Pan Takes The Dare by Cynthia Liu

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

My website address is: crystalallenbooks.com

Thank you, Ari, for the interview!

You know what to do, preorder How Lamar's Bad Prank Won a Bubba-Sized Trophy (I have an ARC that keeps landing in the gutter [haha bowling joke] because I've had a lot of big school assignments and finals. But I'll be starting it asap!). Furthermore, please, please aspiring-authors take heed of Crystal's comments about the intense YA/MG books about poc. It's important.

Elated Over Eleven: Danette Vigilante

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

What is The Trouble With Half A Moon about?

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

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

How did you break into publishing?

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

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

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

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

What book would your book date?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Elated Over Eleven: Sarah Jamila Stevenson

This is my 2nd Elated Over Eleven interview. This is a feature I started in which I interview YA/MG 2011 debut authors of color. Kelsey at the Book Scout was part of my inspiration for the idea.

Today I'm thrilled to present an interview with Sarah Jamila Stevenson, the author of The Latte Rebellion. The Latte Rebellion releases on January 4, 2011. Keep reading to learn about why mixed race people are called lattes and how we balance cultures.

Hi Sarah and welcome to Reading in Color! Please tell us about The Latte Rebellion

The Latte Rebellion is about a moneymaking idea that spirals out of control; then hilarity ensues. (Hilarity always has to ensue when your scheme goes awry, right?) Asha Jamison, the narrator, and her best friend Carey—both high school seniors of mixed ethnicity—use an unpleasant racist incident as the springboard for their idea: they start a fictitious club (the Latte Rebellion) for students of mixed race, and the money they earn from selling t-shirts is funneled into their post-graduation vacation fund. But the Rebellion gains its own momentum, and as Asha gets more and more involved, her friendships and her academic career are put on the line, forcing her to make some difficult choices about what she believes in and who she wants to be.

How did you break into publishing?

Time, persistence, and hard work! That's the short answer. It isn't an easy or predictable road, and there's no magic formula, but you have to have those three—and probably a healthy dose of luck and good timing—to succeed in the writing field, and in the arts in general.

Taking creative writing classes really helped me develop that persistence and discipline. I got a lot of valuable advice about my work, and about the writing life, while in graduate school for fiction writing. But ultimately, here's what I did to get published: I sent my work out. I got rejected. Again. And again. And again. I revised my work some more. I wrote new things and sent them out. I got rejected some more. Until one day, about four years into it, somebody said yes. I'd been sending The Latte Rebellion to agents and editors for about a year and half before it was accepted to Flux. The whole "breaking in" thing is still kind of mystifying to me.

In The Latte Rebellion, mixed race people are called 'lattes' by the main character. How did that term come about?

Like my main character, I was probably drinking a lot of coffee! I was in the car, on a long drive back from visiting my parents, when the phrase "latte rebellion" popped into my head. (Fortunately, my husband was driving.) I jotted down a few notes with the bare bones of an idea—Asha, a half-South-Asian girl, decides to start a movement called the Latte Rebellion. I don't think I made the conscious connection between lattes and mixed ethnicity until a little later, as I brainstormed some more. All I know is, there was a post-it note on the car dashboard that said "Asha" and "Latte Rebellion", and the next thing I knew was, it was National Novel Writing Month and I'd written half the book.

Wouldn't it be awesome if people of mixed race started calling themselves 'lattes'? Non YA-readers would be so confused :p I'm not a coffee person but maybe this book will convince me to try it!

What book would your book date?

Maybe Robin Brande's Fat Cat—Cat being a smart, determined girl with

bright ideas of her own. Or Sherri Smith's Hot, Sour, Salty, Sweet—talk about a melting pot of mixed ethnicities! Or maybe Shine, Coconut Moon, by Neesha Meminger. Sorry, I guess that's three...

The more the merrier, your book is just a playa! I keep meaning to read Fat Cat. And Hot, Sour, Salty, Sweet has been on my wishlist for forever, I need to get on that. And I adore Shine, Coconut Moon :)

Mixed-race people often feel torn between cultures (or at least speaking for myself). Did you experience this yourself? If so, which culture did you lean more towards and how did you learn to reconcile both cultures?

Yes and no. In some ways, I was very much NOT confused, because I was born and raised in California, and I always felt very American in all the ways that count. At the same time, it can be complicated to figure out who you are in relation to the different sides of your cultural identity. In many ways I identified more with my mother growing up, with what I saw as the more mainstream side of my heritage.

It wasn't that I felt conflicted about being of mixed heritage, but I have to be honest—there were times while I was growing up that my father's Pakistani cultural traditions felt like an obstacle to my desire to be a "regular" American girl, to do what my friends were doing, to live life like the teenagers I'd read about in books. It was hard for me to cope with the dos and don'ts that were probably perfectly reasonable to him, from his point of view.

And I think I'm still working on reconciling the two cultures, weaving the two together in ways that fit me as an individual. Being married to someone of mixed ethnicity really helps, though, and I'm close to my in-laws, too—having an understanding support network has been so valuable. I'm probably not done exploring the topic, though. I think I'll always be mulling it over, meshing the two sides together in new and unexpected ways as my life continues forward.

I can relate to identifying with the more mainstream half of your heritage. So I may be one of the few people who is conflicted about my heritage (but I'm getting better!) ;) Slightly disappointed to hear that working on balancing both cultures is a life-long act, but like you said, it will be fun to see the new and unexpected ways the two cultures manifest themselves in our lives.

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

I'm a huge fan of fantasy and sci-fi—some recent fantasy reads that I really enjoyed include Fire by Kristin Cashore and Sacred Scars by Kathleen Duey. (The main character of Fire is mixed-race, too—she's half monster!) I really love the Chaos Walking trilogy by Patrick Ness. I also recently read The Ghosts of Ashbury High by Jaclyn Moriarty, whose books are truly hilarious.

As for '11 debuts, I'm so horrible at keeping up with these kinds of things (as you can see, most of my "recent" reads are a bit behind) but Jessica Martinez's Virtuosity sounds intriguing, as does Beth Revis's Across the Universe, and The Bestest Ramadan Ever by Medeia Sharif.

The cover of Across the Universe is brilliant! I love it. Virtuosity does sound really good and I'm quite looking forward to reading The Bestest Ramadan Ever. I feel as though Jaclyn Moriarty is one of those authors that everyone should read, I certainly intend to give her books a go.

What two PoC literary characters would you love to hang out?

Sticking with a YA theme, I'd definitely hang out with Samar from Shine, Coconut Moon, or Eunice "Bug" Smoot from David Macinnis Gill's Soul Enchilada.

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

I have an issue with the way YA/MG books are sometimes marketed, especially when the cover art or marketing verbiage is so overly targeted that it has the effect of limiting readership—books that might appeal to both girls and boys having a cover that would make boys embarrassed to read it, for instance. Or the whole "let's keep people of color off the cover so it will appeal to a wider audience" debacle, which frankly is a terrible argument in my opinion--but then it's just as bad when a book with a non-white person on the cover gets relegated to the "ethnic interest" section of the bookstore.

I love the coming-of-age aspect of YA/MG books—I may be far from my teen years, but I feel like great YA or MG novels can always teach readers something new about growing up and learning who you are. The way I see it, the process of growing up never stops, and I'm still figuring things out. :)

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

For more information about The Latte Rebellion, readers can visit the Latte Rebellion website: http://www.latte-rebellion.com

For information about me, they can visit http://www.sarahjamilastevenson.com – the site's under construction, but should be finished within the next few weeks.

I have two blogs: Finding Wonderland, a blog about reading and writing YA books which I co-write with author Tanita S. Davis, and my personal blog, Aquafortis (http://aquafortis.blogspot.com). My Twitter handle is aquafortis, too

Thank you so much Sarah! Pre-order The Latte Rebellion now and hooray for your soon-to-be debut =)