New Crayons, Giveaways and Chicago Printers Row Fest!

New Crayons is a meme where I share what new books I got this week. It's hosted by susan at Color Online.

In my next New Crayons post I intend on sharing what's on my summer reading list (not the whole list since that would be way too long!) I have finals this week so I won't be commenting on other posts as often as I would like. I'm going to try and write up at least two reviews today and schedule them to publish during the week.

From Book Fairy #3

Growing Yams in London by Sophia Acheampong

Makeeda is a fourteen-year-old Ghanian whose love of all things western causes her family to despair. She is always being compared to the dutiful and obedient Afua, her Aunt Grace's daughter. But it seems that whatever Makeeda does, it ends up in trouble. She just wants to hang out with the fit Nelson and her mates, and forget about the Ghanaian stuff. But when she has to do a school project, she begins to understand the depth of her cultural heritage and wonders if she can honour her culture and enjoy life as a London teenager.

-summary from Amazon.co.uk I'm really excited to read this book because it's YA about a POC in London! It sounds cute and I don't know anything about Ghana so it'll be nice to learn about Ghanaian culture. Thank you so much Kaz!

Ipods in Accra by Sophia Acheampong

Makeeda's plans for the summer holidays are falling apart!
Her parents suddenly announce that the family is going on a trip to visit their relatives in Ghana – and then she splits up with her boyfriend Nelson. Can things get any worse?

But in Ghana things are different, and Makeeda, the sophisticated London girl, makes some surprising discoveries about herself, her family and her friends. And, while she's struggling to reconcile her two cultures, could it be that she's found true love where she least expected it?

-Summary from Piccadillypress I didn't read the summary of this book because I don't want any spoilers since it's the sequel. Thank you Kaz!

What POC books did you get this week?

In Other News

Want to win a copy of Gringolandia by Lyn Miller Lachmann? I really liked the book and Lyn is a total sweetheart. Enter here for your chance to win and spread the word! Check out my sidebar for other giveaways going on that feature YA/MG POC books.

Also June 12-13 is Chicago's Printers Row Festival. It's THE literary event in Chicago, but it's mostly for adults. I usually don't go but this time I have a reason....Walter Dean Myers and Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie are going to be there! *Passes out* I'm so excited because all authors stay for at least an hour after their presentations to sign books. So expect to see a lot more reviews of books by Walter Dean Myers (he's written at least 70 books!). I want to have read as many books by Myers and Adichie as possible before the event (sadly since I have finals I won't have read that many) I plan on buying Monster (I'm pretty sure that's the book he is most well known for) to get signed and I also own Fallen Angels and Harlem Summer. I want to buy Purple Hibiscus by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie and I'll get her other books (The Thing Around Your Neck, Half a Yellow Sun) from the library. I highly encourage authors of color to go, it's a well attended event and a great way to get some publicity. Authors to learn how to set up an exhibit of your books go here (let me know if you are going or plan on sending in an application, I would love to see you there!) Are any of you guys going to Printers Row Fest?

Have a great Memorial Day weekend! Thank you to all all our veterans for your immense sacrifies. I love America for being the land of the free because of the brave :D

YA and MG Giveaways!

So in honor of me starting to review MG books, I'm giving away 2 packs of book for my next giveaway in keeping up with my September giveaway extravangza! Each pack contains a YA and MG book.
*Note I haven't yet read either of the MG books I'm giving away (they are high on my tbr pile though!)
There will be 2 winners. The 1st winner will get to pick which pack they want and the 2nd winner will take the other.

In Pack 1 I'm giving away

Naming Maya by Uma Krishnaswami (MG)

Although Maya has done her best to avoid it, she is spending part of her summer in Chennai, India, with her mother, who is trying to sell her grandfather's old house. Soon Maya is drawn into a complicated friendship with eccentric Kamala Mami, who has been a housekeeper and cook for years in Maya's extended family. At the same time, Maya is thrust into an ocean of memories, all coming at her too quickly for her to understand. In particular, she is forced to examine the history of her parents' divorce -- all the more painful because she believes the trouble began with the choosing of her name. For years the tension has simmered in a cauldron of anxiety, secrets, and misunderstandings. It is only with the help of Kamala Mami and Maya's cousin Sumati that Maya is able to see what happened to her parents.

In this compelling first novel, a young Indian American girl finally learns that she can choose which memories to keep and which to let go.
And

L.A. Summer by Sheryl-Mallory Johnson (YA)

Now that she’s sixteen, Mikki is dying for a change of scenery. She’s certain that there’s more to life than living in the city of Boone, Texas, with not one cute boy worth a stare. Her wish is to return to Los Angeles and reunite with her best friend, Stacy, so she can experience the real world.

Stacy, known for her loud mouth and street smarts thinks her summer will be “jacked up,” with her father forcing her to attend summer school. After learning that Mikki is coming to town, Stacy’s hyped! She can’t wait to see her old best friend after their six-year separation. The only problem – the fear they’ve both changed too much to still be best friends.

Living in Mikki’s old house is Stacy’s new best friend, Carlette. Carlette is anxious to finally meet Mikki, if she can break away from her over protective mother. Mikki is not the only person on Carlette’s visitor’s list. Her new boyfriend, Bone, is at the top. If her mother finds out Bone’s real age and lifestyle, Carlette will be on lock-down for life.

Enter fine egotistical Dominick, the boyfriend of Mikki’s dreams and Stacy’s worst nightmare. When Stacy discovers that Dominick is checking for Mikki, she tries to protect Mikki from getting hurt. But like her cop dad says, “A bullet proof vest can’t save a man who gets in the line of fire.” Mikki may have to save herself.

Across the way Carlette has troubles of her own. After wild ‘n out all night with Bone, Carlette disappears. No one can find her.

Summer heats up for all three girls. Can Stacy and Mikki’s relationship withstand the test of time? Will Carlette be found...alive? Will Stacy reveal her secret about Dominick to save Mikki, or leave Mikki in the dark, struggling to survive in a city too ruthless for a small town girl?

A review of L.A. Summer is coming soon!

In Pack 2 we have

A Wish After Midnight by Zetta Elliott (YA)

Fifteen-year old Genna Colon believes wishes can come true.When Genna flees into the garden late one night, she makes a fateful wish and finds herself instantly transported back in time to Civil War-era Brooklyn

I love this book so much, I want to give you guys another chance to win it! Read my review

Eigth Grade SuperZero by Olugbemisola Rhuday-Perkovich

Reginald Garvey McKnight created a superhero character in kindergarten; now he dreams of being a real-life leading man: The Guy who’s got game and gets The Girl. Instead, he threw up on the first day of school. In front of everyone. Eighth grade has gone downhill ever since.

Reggie's story has both humour and heartbreak as he figures out what it means to 'keep it real'. In EIGHTH GRADE SUPERZERO, Reggie wonders why things are so bad if God is so good; his faith at all levels is challenged by his friendships, his work at a homeless shelter, and a pair of “Dora The Explorer” shoes. A school election leads him to the superhero within; Reggie finds out that sometimes winning big means living small

To enter: Open internationally!

+2 Commenting on my review of L.A. Summer (or any of the other reviews of the books in this giveaway) once it's posted

+3 Become a follower

Must answer this question: Why do you want one of these books?

Ends: September 24 at 11:59 PM CT

*Blogger is at war again with me today, so I apologize for the weird spacing!