Throwback Thursday: The Ruby Notebook

The Ruby Notebook by Laura Resau 2010
Delacorte Press/Random House

Rating: 5/5

IQ (Zeeta thinking about the Castle of If aka Chateau d’If, located on a small island about a mile away from Marseille) “I wonder about true love, if that’s what J.C. had for my mother, even after one night. I wonder about Vincent and Madame Chevalier, and what their lives would have been like if they’d admitted their love years ago. I wonder about eternal life, if it would get boring, if you’d get sick of yourself and your thoughts and the world…or if things would seem new and different every day. I wonder if living forever would be terribly sad, always loving people, then leaving them behind. I wonder how you’d survive so many losses and still be able to love.” Pg. 233

Zeeta and her mother live in a different country every year, France is 16-year old Zeeta’s 16th country. Previously they lived in Ecuador which is where the first book in this trilogy, The Indigo Notebook is set. Zeeta’s mother loves living near water because she believes it calms her and can have healing powers so they settle in Aix-en-Provence, a city full of fountains, charm and mystery. Zetta soon befriends some traveling street performers and even develops a crush on one, Jean Claude. Unfortunately (or fortunately) Zetta’s boyfriend Wendell will be living in Aix-en-Provence for a summer art program, Zetta is torn over how she feels about Wendell and Jean Claude. She is also troubled by the mysteries anonymous notes and gifts she has been receiving, she calls this admirer her fantome (ghost). Wendell agrees to help her find out who her fantome is and to find a mysterious underground spring whose water is rumored to bring immortality. Zeeta’s help is enlisted by a local antiques dealer, Vincent and his reclusive artist friend, Madame Chevalier.

I’m still puzzled by Rumi quotes but I’ve just accepted that I will never understand him or Zeeta's mother's random use of them, but at least Zeeta doesn't get it either. This book was as close to utter perfection as a book can get. I freely admit that I’m biased towards books where the main character is completely immersed in another country. *shrugs* My previous complaint was that the author didn’t throw in enough Spanish/Quichua phrases but she obliges me here. I LOVE that this book not only features common French words and phrases but also French slang. It truly makes these books stand out because the reader is as close to immersion as possible without visiting or having the book be entirely in French. I’ve been on a French kick lately (reading this book, Anna and the French Kiss, watching Midnight in Paris-FABULOUS movie, and soon to read Paris Noire and This Side of the Sky) and I adore the culture, I desperately want to visit. I enjoyed this brief exchange about the French language when Zetta meets Jean Claude for the first time, “’Enchante, Zeeta.’ He says formally, shaking my hand. Enchanted to meet you. Not pleased. Not glad. Not happy. Enchanted. Magic seeps into even the most mundane interactions in this language.” (pg. 31), no wonder French is known as the language of love! Once again the setting comes alive in Laura Resau’s more-than-capable hands. We can see the street performers doing backflips and passing around a hat for coins, the quiet mime in the town’s square, envision the old houses with private houses and commiserate with Zeeta early in the book as she heads to the only Internet café in town to email and call Wendell. The cast of characters are lively, almost every facet of their being explored from the isolated Madame Chevalier to the mime Torture (French for turtle. Pronounced tor-TEW) to the nomadic members of the theater group Illusion (Jean Claude, Amadine, etc).

I could relate to Zeeta’s fear that she did not know how to be in a long-term relationship because her mother has ever been one. Not that I am in that same situation but Zeeta expresses her confused feelings on romance so well that it’s easy to sympathize with her because it's a frustrating situation. It’s easy to see why she is attracted to Wendell and Jean Claude, they both have attractive qualities. Instead of chasing Wendell’s birth parents as in the first book, here Zeeta is trying to get a better idea of her father because she suspects he might be her fantôme, even if he’s not she’s determined to make Layla remember any sort of clue. I can’t imagine having absolutely no idea who may father was or no way of tracking him down and having a mother who is utterly unconcerned. It’s easy to get caught up in Zeeta’s fantasy about her father but the actual scenario isn’t all that unrealistic. The story turns into a mystery and then takes a delightful turn into the magical involving Celtic lore and warriors and fountains. There’s definitely a quality of magical realism in this story and it flows smoothly with the narrative. I was pleasantly surprised by the Celtic traditions woven into the story but it was fascinating to read about because I was not familiar with the Celtic influence in France.

The Ruby Notebook has a whimsical quality but there’s more complexity to the story than that word allows. It’s a captivating read set in a captivating place, Aix-en-Provence. I really liked that Wendell and Zeeta didn’t do a cliché we-are-so-in-love-in-France type thing, instead their relationship is rocky. They both had some unrealistic expectations of a long-distance relationship and they have to work out the kinks or decide to break up. Not an easy decision but one that is explored realistically. The mystery unravels slowly and it’s truly difficult to figure out who the fantôme is, I did not see it coming. These stories could easily be adapted into films, they read like a screen-play (not that I’ve ever read one). Again, it is not necessary to read the first book in the Notebooks series but I highly recommend you do. You will finish this book feeling utterly enchanted with the setting, characters and author. Do not read these books hoping to be cured of wanderlust, I now have an insatiable desire to travel.

Disclosure: From the library

If It Takes a Village, Build One

If It Takes a Village, Build One: How I Found Meaning Through a Life of Service and 100+ Ways You Can Too by Malaak Compton-Rock 2010
Broadway Books/Random House

Incredible Quote "I believe that if you care about people, you should care about all people. And if you really believe that we are all part of this human race, all global citizens, then it makes sense to care about all people and to help people anywhere in the world. Certainly, the individuals who receive your time, money, and support appreciate it. But I also think each of us benefits when we serve internationally. There are the cultural benefits, such as learning more about another way of life and understanding other parts of the world in a more in-depth way. Even more important, I think we come to feel that the world is a warmer, friendlier place and that we are part of a human family that sustains us all." pgs. 151-152

Malaak Compton-Rock is a dedicated humanitarian. She has written a book to help others help more people. Her mother took her to rallies and exemplified a life of service to her, and both her parents discussed politics, race and education at the dinner table. In her first book, Ms. Compton-Rock shares the lessons she learned from her mother, and various jobs on living a life dedicated to service. She also provides tips on how to raise children committed to volunteerism and includes resources such as websites and names of various organizations worth checking out to consider volunteering with and/or giving a donation. Starting with how to find the right volunteer opportunity for yourself and your family and continuing with how to throw a fundraiser, start a nonprofit and research reputable charities. To quote the book flap this is "the must-have book (and perfect gift!) for aspiring do-gooders". (And I 100% agree with that quote).

One of my favorite quotes is "service is the rent we pay for living" first said by Marian Wright Edleman. This quote is the daily mantra of Malaak Compton-Rock and through the stories and tips she shares, it becomes quite clear that she is paying more than her share. I was skeptical at first as to how usable her tips would be considering that she also happens to be the wife of Chris Rock and thus has lots of money and influence to give to various worthy causes. Ms. Compton-Rock however, continuously stresses that she realizes how fortunate she is but for the most part are tips are applicable to would-be (and current) volunteers of all incomes. Certain tips concerning corporate sponsors I don't think will apply to everyone but there are other tips about using local businesses and other resourceful ways to save money on planning an event. What I disliked the most about this book was the fact that after all the author's talk about buying gifts, cards, etc from non-profit organizations (or businesses like RED) she doesn't take her own advice and donate the profits from her book to a particular cause. Or at least she doesn't publicize it which is both good and bad. Good because if she does donate proceeds from her book sales, she's being humble by not showcasing it but I'm more eager to buy books where I know proceeds are being given to a certain organization I support and/or find interesting.

I chose the quote I did as Incredible because I've often struggled when people remind me (especially my mom) "charity begins at home". I realize that and we all know America has its fair share of problems but I'm also drawn to working with international NGOs (well not exactly work per se although that's what I want to do after college but for now I just mean choosing where to donate my money and whether or not to spread the word) and I never have the answer for the question of choosing domestic vs. international causes to champion. I want to do both and now thanks to Ms. Compton-Rock I have an answer I can adapt in my own words. She describes it perfectly (if only I was so eloquent)! Another key point she makes early on that I think is well worth bearing in mind concerning deciding how much to donate she states that people "often start feeling guilty about how small their gifts seem, not realizing that every cent counts to a nonprofit organization. They turn what should be a joyous, positive, self-affirming experience into something that causes them guilt or sadness. And no one should be feeling either of these emotions when they have decided to serve by giving" (pg. 31). Sometimes I feel sad when I'm giving but only because I wish I could do more, I wholeheartedly agree that when you donate money you should happy because you took a BIG first step. But I also think you should feel a bit restless and a CRAVING to do more.

If It Takes a Village, Build One is an essential read for everyone because everyone can/should donate their time, money and talents to serving others. The author doesn't try and guilt the reader with harrowing statistics (while there are a few sprinkled throughout they never overwhelmed me with sadness and I'm a mess when it comes to that sort of thing), instead she provides the statistics and then shares the organizations that are DOING something to lower those scary stats. Her stories are uplifting and I *plan* on keeping this book around for the rest of my life for organizations to volunteer for during and after college as well as for tips on how to raise kids (if I ever have any) with generous spirits. I closed this book feeling like (as cliché and cheesy as this is about to sound) I could DO ANYTHING and MAKE A DIFFERENCE in some kind of positive way. I immediately emailed two local organizations I volunteer for with some new ideas and the wheels are turning in my head concerning the blog and C.O.L.O.R. Personally I would recommend this to everyone!

Disclosure: Bought (while in NYC at a closing Borders. I LOVE NYC!)

Ps Check out the author's website for even more resources

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.

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.

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!

Tutored

Tutored by Allison Whittenberg ARC
Delacorte Press/Random House

Release Date: Today (Dec. 14, 2010)

Rating: 2/5

IQ "Color was the easy part. Black was also a culture. Wendy doubted that these [white girls comparing tans] girls ever had black-eyed peas to welcome in the New Year or danced the pop and lock at a family picnic. And beyond cultural expressions, she wondered if these girls had any concept of consciousness. Did they know anything about Angela Davis or Sally Hemmings? Or were they stuck in a one-dimensional experience of race? A pigeonholing, based on sight only." pg. 78

Wendy Anderson and Hakiam Powell "are at opposite ends of the spectrum-the social spectrum, the financial spectrum, the opportunity spectrum, you name it." Wendy lives in an all-white suburb of Philadelphia and she wants to learn more about her Black culture so she volunteers to be a tutor at an inner-city community center. Her father was born and raised in the ghetto, but once he got out, he never looked back and now he looks down on "those people." Wendy dreams of going to a HBU, but that's not going to happen under her father's roof. Hakiam is one of "those people" her father can't stand. He moved from home to home in foster care and now he's in Philly to start over while staying with his cousin (and he's often stuck babysitting his cousin's daughter). Wendy and Hakiam meet at the community center and they don't get along. But slowly, they begin to learn to tolerate each other. Which grows into something more... (quotes from back of ARC)

This novel reads like a work in progress. I honestly couldn't believe the book ended where it did, I flipped back and forth a few times. The ending isn't suspenseful, it's a solid and cute ending but it seemed so abrupt. The transitions from chapter to chapter were awkward and not a single character is well developed. The story is told in third person but I still expected to learn more about Wendy. Off the top of my head all I can tell you is that she's the only black girl at her school, doesn't really get along with her father, is a tutor and wants to attend a HBCU (I had to go back and look up what HBCU because I couldn't remember if it was Howard or Spelman). Hakiam came a little closer to being two dimensional, but the book ended before he could fully manifest. I wanted to know more about Wendy's likes, Hakiam's likes (we learned a good deal about their dislikes), more details about growing up in Philly, etc. Why did Leesa (Hakiam's cousin) have such an attitude? Why is Wendy's dad so against poor Black people? Furthermore, there is no romantic chemistry. I'm not an expert, but there was absolutely no indication that they would like each other except for the obvious 'opposites attract'. It's only after they've started to hook up that I could sort of understand why they liked each other, but again, I needed MORE.

Mostly I can only commend the author on what she tried to do. Although I loved the scene when Wendy and Hakiam go on their first date and Wendy has an entire conversation with herself. I also enjoyed some of the banter between Wendy and Hakiam. At times it was sharp, both of them being quick on their feet. At other times, it fell flat. I'm glad the author tried to write a YA romance about Black people that wasn't street lit (not knocking street lit but I like having options). I like that the author wrote about Black prejudice towards other Blacks. I like that the author tried to address the positives and the negatives of going to a HBCU.

Tutored has potential. I firmly believe that if it was longer (the ARC is 179 pages) and the romance slowed down, there would be more obvious chemistry between Wendy and Hakiam and the characters would be more fleshed out. It's not just the characters that need fleshing out though, it's also the issues the author tries to address. I appreciate her discussing Black prejudice, use of the 'n' word and HBCUs but she only touches on these for the briefest of moments. There's no gradual change in attitudes, instead it's a rather dramatic shift. I was hoping Wendy and Hakiam would talk more because when they did, they had interesting discussions. Hakiam opened Wendy's eyes to a new world and she did the same for him, they are good for each other but as a reader, the palpable connection just wasn't there. Ultimately I not only WANTED more, I NEEDED more from the book in order for it to be a success.

Disclosure: Requested for review. I'm not going to do that anymore I don't think because I feel even more terrible if i write a critical review. Anyway, thanks Random House!

REview: Mare's War

You may not remember, but in honor of my now-passed 1 year blog anniversary, I decided to re-review some books that I felt I didn't even come close to doing justice and they were a 'first' for me. In this case, Mare's War is the first review I ever emailed to an author. And I credit Tanita Davis 100% with indirectly (through her blogroll sidebar) introducing me to Color Online and company. She was even kind enough to comment on my review (but please don't read it, I'm so embarrassed by it, I can do much better). OK enough babbling, here's the review.



Mare's War by Tanita Davis 2009
Knopf/Random House


IQ "Peaches thinks she can change folks' minds about what goes on here, but I know better. Folks always do believe what they want to believe about everything. You can tell them the truth, then tell 'em again, but they don't always want to hear." Mare pg. 186


Octavia is fifteen and Tali (Talitha) is seventeen and neither one of them wants to go a road trip with Mare (their grandmother. Mare is similar to the French word "Mere" which means mother) from California to Alabama. Mare is weird, she doesn't act the way a grandmother should (after all, they aren't even allowed to call her grandma!). She wears high heels and wigs. She drives fast and furious and she smokes. The girls are convinced Mare is crazy. They've never bothered to get to her, but this road trip will force them to learn about Mare's past and for Mare to learn about the girls current lives.

Yet another book that reminded me why people should re-read books. I loved getting reacquainted with Mare, although she was the same as I remembered. I would still love to have her as my grandmother (as long as I could have three) ;) I still don't understand how or why Octavia and Tali can not want to spend more time with their vivacious grandmother. I still wish that this book was set only during World War II and told from Mare's perspective. But on this re-read, I think I came to better appreciate the modern parts as well. I'm in the process of still learning how to drive (getting my license any day now) and I could more fully sympathizes with Octavia's fears of driving. I totally get it and it made the scene between her and Tali all the more heart-warming. This quote essentially sums up Octavia's personality and thought-process "'Live a little. I hate that phrase. People always say it when they want you to taste something gross or try something that might hurt. 'Live a little', is what people say when they want you to risk total and complete humiliation." (pg. 62). I do wish that we learned more about Tali and got to hear her side of things (besides what she wrote in postcards and said on the trip).

A strong message that runs throughout the novel has to do with truth. Not just telling the truth, but getting people to face it and accept it. "Sometimes folks don't wanna hear things,' she [Mare] says shortly. "You can talk till your blue in the face, but if you're not talking to the right person, it won't do you any good." (pg. 30). I thought that was a really interesting concept, because I think being in a war is the quickest way to make you face reality and accept things that you might not otherwise. For example, some white soldiers began to have more respect for Black soldiers after seeing them in action. Back home in racist America, they might not have ever reached that conclusion. I adored reading about Mare, Peaches, Ruby and even Gloria. The best part about this novel (aside from its setting) is that we get to learn about some of the women in the 688th Battalion, Company C in the U.S. Women's Army Corps. We see the more human side of the "mean girl", some people suspect one of the girls is a lesbian, but she never officially "come out" and that's cool. Each character has a story and they are given some time to tell it, through dialogue and Mare's observations.

Mare's War is a beguiling story chockful of history that doesn't feel forced. While I may not remember the characters of Octavia and Tali, Mare and her story are unforgettable. Mare went through so much, before and during the war (and afterwards too but we only learn the basics of Mare's life after the war). It's an absorbing tale about women who are often ignored in history. To be honest, it made me even prouder to be an American. Even though women could not fight in battle, reading about Mare's journey to Europe makes for some unusual reading. And what's not to love about some family bonding? As an added bonus, we see snatches of growth from Octavia and Tali as well. My hope would be that this book inspires everyone to look into their family history, to talk to their relatives and get their stories. It certainly inspired me.

Disclosure: Bought =)

PS Did you know that Octavia was named as a tribute to Octavia Butler? Well I totally didn't =/

Male Monday: Efrain's Secret

Efrain's Secret by Sofia Quintero 2010
Random House

Rating: 4/5

IQ "I think about how often people are too busy judging what others in dire straits are doing when they should be giving thanks that they are not in a position to know with absolute certainty that they would not do the same." Efrain pg. 227

Efrain Rodriguez is going places. He is a high achiever (well on his way to being valedictorian) and determined to get into an Ivy League college. The main problem is his family can't afford to send him to an Ivy. His mother works long hours and his father left the family to live with a younger woman and start a new family with her. After Efrain receives his less-than-stellar (for an Ivy) SAT score, he realizes that he needs to take a SAT prep course, but his mother can't afford that either. All Efrain wants is to be able to go to an Ivy and make something of himself and be able to help his mother and younger sister out, so he turns to drug dealing. "Convinced that by temporarily capitulating to society's negative expectations of a boy like him, he can eventually defy them." (back cover). Soon Efrain is lying to everyone that he loves and it's proving to be a lot harder to get out of the drug selling trade than he thought it would be.

Efrain Rodriguez and his story is a must read. It's not enjoyable, I HATE that someone who works hard and gets good grades faces the very real possibility of not being able to go to the college of his/her dreams. But this is an important story, one that on the surface some readers may think they can not relate to. However, even if you can afford to go to whatever college you want (my guess is that most of us can't), you can still get something out of this story. The characters have a plethora of stories and they offer a glimpse into the lives of people that often get ignored by everyone. Stereotypes are shattered. Efrain's life is hard, "Most people use an alarm clock to wake up in the morning. I rely on my worries." (pg. 206) but he hardly complains, he simply states that he knows he has to work hard and do everything on his own. The few times he slips into complaint mode, it's understandable. The author does of an excellent job of showing the reasons as to why anyone would enter the drug dealing business through Efrain and his friend Nestor. They enter for different reasons; Efrain to pay for college, Nestor to take care of his family. The author does not paint drug dealing in a glittery light, she presents the facts and allows readers to determine on their own if they think what Efrain and Nestor did was justified. She shows the appeal drug dealing has. Efrain and Nestor saw no other way to make ends meet, they began selling drugs to help those they loved even though their dealing drugs hurt those who loved them the most. This is a novel about men and Thieu relationships with their family, friends, and girlfriends. Chingy (whose real name is Rashaan but he looks like Chingy, hence the nickname) and Efrain have a solid friendship, one that anyone would be lucky to have with their own best friend, same goes with Nestor and Efrain. It's a shame that they don't all hang out anymore (they stopped hanging out once Nestor dropped out of school and began selling drugs); their conversations are open and often times entertaining (especially Nestor and his urban legends. I also loved the part where they argue over whether the expression is "Word is bond" or "Word is born." I say word is bond!). Efrain and his father Rubio (which means "blonde" in Spanish, his real name is Cesar) have a tense relationship since Rubio walked out on Efrain, his little sister Amanda and his mother. Rubio is a womanizer,"The only thing Mandy and I got from Rubio is the last name Rodriguez but according to the U.S. Census, so do over eight hundred thousand other people. Rubio probably fathered half of them." (pg. 17) Efrain refuses to talk to Rubio, although Rubio is trying to make things right (he doesn't go about it in the best of ways but he's trying). Their relationship is filled with bumps, but there's hope.

I do wish that we had learned more about Chingy. Most of the book talks about the relationship between Nestor and Efrain. Nestor becomes a well developed character bu Chingy remains largely undeveloped. The reader knows a little bit about him, but I would have liked to learn more about Chingy. Also at times this novel read too much like a textbook or admissions guide to getting into college. Efrain and Chingy seemed to be lecturing at you. Their conversations seemed stiff for high school students. However, one character who remained candid and real was Candace. Candace is a girl Efrain is interested in and she has quite a story. She is a survivor of Hurricane Katrina, her family moved up to the Bronx after the hurricane hit. At first I was confused as to who she was living with (her mother, Mrs. Lamb and her aunt Ms. Lamb), but other than that her story is a great addition to the plot. Candace talks about why people didn't feel the need to leave New Orleans when they heard about the upcoming hurricane and she talks about the chaos that occurred afterward. Reading about the relationship between Candace and Efrain was one of the most delightful parts of the story. They have secrets but they are loyal to each other and they respect each other. In reading about their relationship all I could think about was 'where can I find a guy like Efrain?' Lol (I also wanted to know where I could find a teacher like Senorita Polanco).

Efrain's Secret at times seems to have too much going on. The author juggles lots of smaller stories, but the end result while a bit unbelievable is satisfying. There is a dramatic climax that is both expected and unexpected and the ending is not devastating, but it's not either. It's left open as it should be. The multiple stories of Efrain, his family, Nestor and Candace make this novel better and more unique. The story is never a depressing drag, after all it focuses on guys and their conversations are usually pretty funny :) I do think the author was too heavy handed in explaining the college process, but it's important for people to know and if teens aren't learning about how to apply for college from their school counselors than I hope a book like this becomes an indirect resource. The SAT vocab word that heads each chapter is a nice touch.

Disclosure: Received from Doret as part of a trade (I gave her Crossing). I'd say we both got a good deal out of it =) thanks so much Doret!

Male Monday: Love is the Higher Law

Love Is The Higher Law by David Levithan 2009
RandomHouse/Alfred P. Knopf

Rating: 4.5/5

IQ "There's the drown of things and the swim of things, I guess. I've been going back and forth, back and forth. I feel the weight of it. And this bewilderment-how can something that doesn't have a form, doesn't have a definition, doesn't have words-how can it have such weight? And yet, there's the need to swim.
"Life goes on," I [Jasper] offered
"Yeah, but you see, Life goes on is a redundancy. Life is defined by its going on." Claire pg. 102

Love Is The Higher Law is about the days immediately after 9/11 and of course, love. When two planes crash into the World Trade Center, Claire is in school, Peter is waiting for Tower Records to open and Jasper is asleep. They don't really know each other well, they all meet briefly at a party, and Peter and Jasper go on a date (late on 9/11). Claire knows Peter, but only vaguely knows Jasper. In the aftermath of 9/11 they get to know each other better as the devastation and loss of NYC bring them together. In reviewing this book I will also talk about my 9/11 experiences and what I remember later on.

The character of Claire keeps me from giving this book a perfect rating. Claire comes off as way too preachy, as only a vehicle for the author to preach his message of love, kindness, volunteering and being anti-war. These are all noble things, but I felt that the author should have showed us Claire's beliefs and not had her preach to anyone who would listen. I know that one character shouldn't ruin a book, and she didn't ruin it. But her chapters were often the longest, and while they were deep, they were my least favorite. Also the lack of parents seemed a bit unbelievable to me. I think that a tragic event such as 9/11 would bring families together or at least have kids thinking about their parents. Jasper's parents have a presence in the book and Claire's mother is occasionally mentioned (I don't think anything was said about her father) and Peter's parents are mentioned in passing. I wanted to see how 9/11 affected family relationships as well. The two other main characters were awesome. Jasper keeps people at a distance with his sarcasm and random comments. He can be rude but is so lovable. He's also gay. And Korean. I love him. He was never once a stereotype and he had me laughing at all the ignorant or silly comments he has had to face as a gay Korean. He shrugs them off and pokes fun at them. Peter was a great character, although I didn't get as much of a feel for his character either. He loved music and was gay, but other than that, I don't know much more about him. I enjoyed reading about him because he was so awkward and sweet, he was obsessed with "love signals" which could be quite funny. The story is told in alternating POVS but largely focuses on Jasper and Claire's thoughts (Claire has longer chapters but Jasper has more chapters).

The most compelling part of this book was the description of 9/11 and what happened afterward. What did it look like, how did people react? The author states in his note that he wrote the book because readers "will have less and less firsthand experience of what it was like to be in New York in those hours and days and months." (pg. 165) Basically, he wrote the novel for me and others like me. I was in 2nd grade when 9/11 occurred, about to turn eight. I don't remember being told about 9/11, I do remember being annoyed (*wince*) at all the television coverage that "planes crashing into buildings" was getting, even the kids channels were constantly being interrupted (from what I remember). That's all I remember. I don't know if my school even announced that it happened, I do remember people being afraid that the Sears Tower (a lot closer to home for me) would be next and there was a bit of paranoia and hysteria on the news and in the community. Reading Love Is The Higher Law was an emotional read for me because it so vividly described what happened, the horror and disbelief people felt, the memorials that went up and the most importantly, the simple goodness that people showed. "This, I think, is how people survive: Even when horrible things have been done to us, we can still find gratitude in one another." (pg.76). The seemingly small actions that people took to help one another, business owners giving things away for free that people needed, people helping each other, parents hugging their kids and remembering to say "I love you". It blew me away because this experience was so foreign to me. I got choked up reading about the second plane crashing into the towers, I've seen the pictures, but reading about it first-hand (the author says that many of the thoughts and descriptions of this book are from what he remembers since he was about 20 blocks away) left a big impact (but the pictures are very powerful too).

Something that absolutely shocked me was that gay men can't give blood if they've had sex but straight people who have had sex can give blood My mouth literally dropped open. I' m a huge supporter of giving blood and I encourage everyone to do it. Blood is always needed and to restrict a growing part of the population from helping out in such an easy and affordable (it's free!) way, is utterly ridiculous. But then I looked it up and LifeSource at least, has no restrictions (according to its website) about gay people giving blood. I could be wrong, maybe the website wouldn't say that so blatantly. If you know otherwise or if the rules have changed about this since 2001, please let me know in the comments. This novel is an emotional read, but it has tender and light-hearted moments. Love Is The Higher Law is needed for all the readers like me who do not remember 9/11 or who are not even born yet. It's not an enjoyable read, but 9/11 was the defining moment of the early 21st century (still is) and it's important that people understand why it had such an impact and what New York City went through. I think that all people can benefit from this final lesson, expressed by Peter, "Maybe in the end that's all we need. Talking and listening." (pg. 158) Love, listening and talking, sounds good to me.

Disclosure: From the library

PS Sorry for such a ridiculously long review and the glimpse at my own personal experience, do people like reading about personal experiences in reviews? (Personally I do, but if people don't want to hear them, I won't share them).

Throwback Thursday: An Ocean Apart, a World Away

An Ocean Apart, a World Away by Lensey Namioka 2002

Random House Teens

Rating: 3.5/5

IQ "So far, I'd found that people became annoyed, even angry, when you did something unexpected. They wanted you to conform to their idea of what you should be. Chinese were expected to be experts at laundry, girls were expected to do exquisite embroidery, and Westerners with big noses were not expected to speak Chinese. People liked you to be predictable because it made them feel safer." Xueyan pg. 148

Xueyan (her nickname is Yanyan) is sixteen and living in Nanjing, China where it's customary for girls her age to get married. But Yanyan has no interest in marriage, she wants to be a doctor. Most women don't go to college in 1921, especially not for medical school. When Yanyan is offered the opportunity to go to Cornell college in America, she jumps at the chance. But then she realizes that moving to America means she won't be able to see Liang Baoshu, the only man she has ever considered marrying. Yanyan decides to move to America, but Baoshu isn't giving up that easily.

I was really excited to read this novel. China in the 1920s, sounds great! Unfortunately, An Ocean Apart, a World Away did not live up to my expectations. My only problem with it was that I found it tedious. This is rare, I don't usually find historical fiction boring, but this novel moved so slowly. Also, I don't think it helped to have half the story take place in Ithaca, New York. After all, nothing happens in Ithaca! There's no diversity and hardly anything to do. Yanyan was bored and lonely and I was bored with her. I wanted more China time or to really delve into the experiences of Chinese students in America. Yanyan is an outsider, so she doesn't spend much time with the few Chinese students there and I wish that she had. I wanted to know about their experiences too, to have their stories interwoven.

The novel does present an interesting portrait of China. During the 1920s China was separated into different groups (China became a republic in 1911, a rather ineffective republic). Eventually, the Nationalists and the Communists become the dominant groups fighting for power (and then they get into World War I & II). Before China was a republic, the Manchu Qing dynasty ruled. The Manchu are not Chinese, their language is similar to Turkish and they come from the northeastern part of China. At first, the Qing dynasty was doing well, they didn't Chinese women to have bound feet, and China was calm and prosperous. However, during the late nineteenth and early twentieth century, China was embroiled in the Opium Wars, the Boxer Rebellion and other events. The result was a weakened China that the the U.S., Britain, Japan, Germany, Russia and France tried to take over. It's interesting because Liang Baoshu is passionate about restoring the Manchu dynasty. He is a Manchu, Yanyan is Chinese and she's not so sure she wants to see the Manchus back in power. I enjoyed reading about the differences between the two groups of people and following Yanyan and Liang Boshu's debates. Of course, Yanyan meets someone in America too, so we have a distant love triangle. I love Yanyan though, she studies martial arts with her Eldest Brother (her Second Brother ignores her), she discusses politics with her father, devotes herself to learning English at the school she attends in China and studies medicine on her own. In America, she takes hard courses precisely because her counselor told her Chinese people and especially Chinese women, could not succeed at them. This was refreshing to read about because Yanyan does not necessarily prove him wrong (I don't like when a character comes into a new setting and does perfectly at a strange school in hard subjects), she struggles but she handles the situation maturely. I also really admired her for leaving her home at the age of sixteen and traveling across the world to a foreign place where she wasn't fluent in the language. That takes courage.

An Ocean Apart, a World Away had potential with a strong female main character and unique setting, but this novel crawls along and there's little action. There's a lack of secondary character development which is a shame, because the other characters (not just the Chinese students but the other women students) seem to have interesting background stories. I liked reading about China in the early 190s and the learning about the various disputes going on, and of course, the discrimination against Asians and women made my blood boil. Other people will probably enjoy this novel more than I, it had too little action and adventure for my tastes.

Disclosure: I bought this book. I got this one because Yanyan's feet are not bound. Lensey Namioka has another novel with some of the same characters called Ties that Bind, Ties that Break, but I chose not to read it because I don't know if I can handle reading about the foot binding process just yet. Eventually I will read it.

Male Monday: Saving Maddie

Saving Maddie by Varian Johnson
Random House

Release date: March 9th, 2010 (tomorrow!)

Rating: 5/5

IQ "And that was when I knew Dad was wrong. Because when Mom and Dad and everyone else saw Madeline, all they saw was the girl with the bad attitude and sexy body who didn't care about her faith or her family or even herself. The girl who threatened to sway me from the path of the righteous. But when I saw Madeline, I saw a girl who prayed before every meal. A girl whose eyes shone with sadness every time her father was mentioned. A girl who desperately needed someone to tell her she was good. I saw a girl who was asking-no begging-for someone to help her." Joshua pg. 145

Whew long quote there but it illustrates quite well the way we tend to view people and it also gives people a peek into the complicated journey of Saving Maddie. Saving Maddie is about Joshua who is a PK (preacher's kid) and a really good guy, abstinence, no drinking or drugs or smoking, he regularly attends religious retreats and he leads his church's youth group. He used to have a best friend named Maddie Smith, but she moved away years ago. Maddie has changed big time from the way Joshua remembers her; she's got an attitude, she's gorgeous and she's no longer a good PK. Maddie is not accepted by the church community especially when she shows up to church in a very provocative dress, Joshua's parents think Maddie needs to be saved and Joshua wants to be the one to save her. But as he spends more time with Maddie, Joshua begins questioning his own status as a good guy and whether or not Maddie can really be saved.

This is one of those books that you can't judge based on the cover. I really like the cover (although I wish it wasn't headless), but the book is narrated by a guy and that is not conveyed through the cover. I think the pink cover with a girl's purple lips on the front may be a turnoff to guys because they may think it's about a girl. They would be missing out since this is a great story for guys (and girls). Also, I see Maddie and Joshua as African American (according to this interview, some people have criticized Maddie as being too light). Maddie is described as having brown skin and I think that comes across on the cover, I don't recall if she's described one way or the other (dark brown skin vs. light brown skin). In the same interview, Mr. Johnson notes that Joshua is never identified as African American, though he sees him as African American. As do I. I think I thought of Joshua as African American because most of the people he interacted with were black (his friends, the elderly community, his church) and to be honest, the author is black so I thought Joshua would be too (I'm more inclined to imagine a book by an author of color to be about a POC, though this is not always true).

You may start this novel off thinking it will justify how you feel about 'judgemental, preachy Christians' or you may go into thinking that it will show that 'no one is too bad to be saved and the Christian way is the right way.' You would be wrong on both counts. Once again Mr. Johnson has taken a controversial subject (in My Life As A Rhombus it was abortion) and broken it down. All too often people think issues are only black and white, but there are always gray areas. Mr. Johnson deftly describes those gray areas with absolutely no judgement. His characters make their own decisions, they fall down and they dust themselves off and get back up. Their preconceived notions about religion are challenged and in some cases, verified but not in a way that is expected. Also it asks the question that is it worth saving someone else but losing yourself in the process (and I am also of the opinion that not all people need to be saved, so this book also brought up that point as well which I found quite interesting).

The minor characters never completely disappear, they reappear and we learn enough about them to feel that none of them are one-dimensional (I loved reading about the mom's character development). Joshua is such a great guy, especially because he can be really awkward and you just want to go 'aww'. It's also amusing for me (as a girl) to read about the issues guys deal with, because they do illustrate how confusing we girls can be. Maddie is awesome as well (after you read this book, I think every girl will secretly want to be Maddie in some way), she's comfortable in her own skin and presents a confident demeanor to the world but she has her own demons. Saving Maddie is not just about religion, it's also a unique love story. Unlike other books where people fall head over heels in love right away, this romance builds up slowly (if you can even call that). I thought it would be immediate since Maddie and Joshua are childhood friends, but it's quite accurate in portraying that both of them have grown up and moved on. It's quite a sweet read, because before they are attracted to each other romantically, they are friends and they have to rekindle that friendship as well (and of course there are other people in this love equation/square). The ending is also very tasteful and sly ;) The romance asks the question that if you really love someone should you save them? (especially if they are happy as they are and if you change them, they may lose the qualities you love about them).

Saving Maddie is an eye-opening, delightful story that will tear down assumptions readers have made about religion and love and build up the idea of being open minded and looking beneath the surface. I wish the book was required reading in my religion class (yet another YA book that has classroom potential!) because it addresses some important points. Guys don't let the cover turn you off, I think you will relate to Joshua and his struggles (not just with religion but with sex/drugs/alcohol/being a good guy) and I also think girls can relate to him. I hope to read more about Maddie and Joshua. Varian Johnson has proven once again that he is a fantastic author and he has sealed in my mind that he can do no wrong (I still need to read his first novel, Red Polka Dot in a Room Full of Plaid) This book is a must read and everyone will get something out of it (atheists and non Christians don't let the idea of Maddie and Joshua both being PKs turn you away, the Christian references is not overbearing or tedious) High school and up.

Disclosure: Received from publisher. Thanks Jessica/Random House!

Mr. Johnson is starting his blog tour here, it's a very insightful and entertaining interview. Visit Reading in Color tomorrow because I will have a guest post and it's Mr. Johnson's birthday! So something special must be planned :)

PS On a more personal note, I think this book left a substantial impact on me because I'm going through one of those tests of faith where I'm not sure where I stand on the issue of religion. I definitely started Saving Maddie with the intention that it would justify why I should move away from the Church (although I mean the Catholic Church and none of the characters are Catholic) because of 'preachy, judgemental Christians.' Well, I should not have made that assumption since this book has left me with some food for thought and it has helped me refocus and hone in on what I like/don't like about Christianity.

Throwback Thursday: Orphea Proud

Orphea Proud by Sharon Dennis Wyeth 2004 Random House

Rating: 4/5

IQ "Have any of you experienced that kind of loss? There you are living a little peanut-butter-and-jelly-type existence, surviving school, answering e-mail, seeing a flick, counting the days until your escape from the dray prison walls of high school and the ruthless eye of the sadist who himself your guardian and BINGO! Fate trips you up, cracks open your chest, yanks out your heart, cuts it in half with a sharp pair of scissors, and then stuffs it back inside of you. And the world tells you to keep on going." Orphea pg. 56

Orphea Proud is told in an interesting narrative. Orphea tells her story to an audience during an open-mic night, she's a writer, but it took her awhile to work up the courage to perform at an open-mic night. Orphea realizes that she loves her best friend Lissa, and is lesbian at a young age, but she keeps it a secret because she isn't sure if her feelings are true. When she turns 16, she acts upon these feelings and shortly thereafter, Lissa dies. Orphea has already lost her father and mother, Lissa's death is the final blow. She has to live with her half-brother Rupert who she does not get along with. This novel tells the story of Orphea struggling to remember and heal from her loss, accept her sexuality, face prejudice and find her family. I think this poem is the best intro to the book:
Despite appearances, this isn't a book you're
holding
This is a stage, with a soaring painting taking shape before your eyes.
A big-booty poet at the mike, and a seat right in front, just for you.
This is a place where wise old ladies live and boys act like horses.
This is a vision of love that was crushed and brought back to life.
And this is my story. I'm Orphea Proud
Welcome to the show.

Orphea has a very distinctive voice. The author has such a way with words, especially in describing grief "My mind was filled with images. Images of her, like photographs stuffed into a drawer so full that it could no longer move. A stuck drawer, stuffed with pictures of our lives completely out of order, chaotic, careening clips of our own private movie." (pg. 56). While Orphea is a lesbian, this book is less about her sexuality and more about recovering from the death of loved ones. Orphea didn't have much love for her father, but she loved her mom, Nadine. After her mom died, Lissa is the only person Orphea can really trust and they become even closer. I could easily see an Orphea attending my school and even being friends with her. The author makes the point that we are uncomfortable when faced with death and we don't know how to comfort those who have lost loved ones, so we ignore them or act awkwardly. Orphea recognizes this, but she doesn't mind because she wants to be left alone. Orphea shatters when Lissa dies, but not in an annoying 'get over it' kind of way, it's sad and pathetic but you feel so bad for her and just want to give her a hug because her life is just bad at this period in time.

I loved how the author connected Orphea's story to the legend of Orpheus and Ophea does mention it herself, since her mother named her after Orpheus (otherwise I might not have made the connection) but once this connection was made, I realized the two stories were similar, which I thought was a cool touch. I didn't really understand the point of Ray, a boy that Orphea befriends. He didn't add much to the story for me even though 'es in it a lot. I don't think he was completely necessary to the story, he's a 14 year old boy who loves to paint and gallop like a horse. His story was interesting but random, I don't think he really helped Orphea grow. Orphea's brother, Rupert is such a jerk. Boo. He was a bit of a cliche, the religious, protective brother who doesn't want a lesbian sister, but he was also a bit more original in some other aspects. I couldn't figure out his wife, Ruby. She was just there, hovering in the background, not very well-developed. On the other hand, I loved the brief mentions of Orphea's two adult friends, Icarus (more Greek names! Except not really a connection to the Greek myth as far as I could tell) Digits and Marilynn Chinn. They were loving, eccentric characters (shady pasts but good hearts). Orphea's two aunts were great as well, Aunt Cleo and Aunt Minnie. The friendship and love between Lissa and Orphea is well-written, you understand why they are such good friends and why it's so hard to let go (well, you can imagine how hard it is to lose someone but Orphea is really devastated). The author did a good job of describing rural Virginia and it's prejudices and the story had an interesting twist that I didn't seem coming (it was a little odd but it was still intriguing). I think the book could have been even better with more audience interaction, most of the conversation is one-sided with Orphea responding to a question the reader doesn't hear/see.

Orphea Proud is a captivating book. Orphea travels from Pennsylvania to Virgina to New York and it's a journey you will readily want to accompany her on. While Orphea struggles to accept her sexuality, it's not really the main focus of the book, it's more so about healing and love. I enjoyed watching Orphea grow and gain the confidence to reach the point where the book starts off with, her triumphantly sharing her story with us. I want to close this review with another poem I really liked. I highly recommend this to all GLBT teens as well as all of those who like reading poetry and to all who have lost a loved one. High school and up (not sexually explicit but some language that could be considered offensive).

Everybody has got a story has to tell
Everybody has got an eye
The truth is what you want to see
In your body's mind
Your mind and mine clicked like gold
You whispered that my hand was old
The lifeline long though fractured at the palm
Was it this hurt that you foretold?
You with your soul of an ancient seer
Next to my thumb did you glimpse the slippery road?
Or was it my future you felt when I held your hand in
mine
My bitch friend Fate, dying to get on a roll
Still, I am yours, embraced by time
Those moments when we touched enshrined
Forever in my body's mind
-pg.62

Throwback Thursday was the idea of Taste Life Twice. You review older books (in my case books published before 2007).