Throwback Thursday: Don't Know Where, Don't Know When

Don't Know Where, Don't Know When (The Snipesville Chronicles #1) by Annette Laing 2007

Rating: 3/5

IQ "Do you really find labels helpful? I find the minute I sum up something give it a name, and put it in a box, I've stopped trying to understand it, and that will never do...." The Professor pg. 192

Hannah Dias has just moved from exciting San Francisco, California to boring small town Snipesville, Georgia with her father and brother, Alex. In Snipesville they meet Brandon, who Hannah deems a "dork" but he and Alex hit it off right away. The kids also meet the mysterious Professor. Shortly after they meet the Professor, the kids are transported back to England during WWII. They can't go home unless they find George Braithwaite (not that they know who he is or what his connection is to Snipesville), but they may not make it out alive.

Hannah is probably one of the most annoying characters I've ever read. She was so frustrating, argh! I understood her initial panic at traveling back through time but gradually as she learned more about why she was there, I grew sick of her attitude. She was completely spoiled, always complaining and refusing to go with the flow. To make matters worse, I don't think she changed that much at the end (maybe she will in the next book?). I felt bad for her because part of her acting out was due to her mother's death but at the same time, some of her actions were just inexcusable. Alex was charming, although I could occasionally understand why Hannah was annoyed with her younger brother (he could be a bit of an unintentional Goody Two Shoes which rubbed us both the wrong way, ha ha).I didn't think Hannah or Alex acted that realistically for their age, but their age is never really specified so I can't be sure. They could act quite young in forgetting that certain things/expressions weren't around during WWII, it seemed as if an older kid would not have slipped up so many times or been so naive. At first I was a bit irked by how vague the time travel descriptions were, I still don't really get how the kids traveled through time, but it's not that big a deal. For people who really like details, this may be a problem, but it wasn't for me.

Time travel can be really confusing but this author makes it pretty easy to follow. She introduces a few major characters and storylines and then managed to connect them all back together, which was impressive to me (the Prologue was completely confusing and when it all started to make sense there was a huge light bulb moment for me :) I also loved how this book looked at the 'little things', everyday life for the English people in the countryside during WWII. It was eye opening because usually you only hear about battles/soldiers and important people, it was refreshing to see how ordinary people lived during these scary times. I also appreciated the look at how Black people were treated in England. Brandon is Black and a rarity in England, many people he meets have never met a Black person before. It was interesting to read about because I never really thought about POC in England during this time but I would have just assumed they were as bad as white Americans. I would say the English treated Black people about the same as Americans did, there were just less Black people so we weren't as much of a "threat."

Don't Know Where, Don't Know When is an original read that concerns how ordinary people lived in the extraordinary time of WWII. It talks about the children sent to the countryside to get away from the bombing of London, food rationing, pubs and so much more. I learned a lot from this novel. The writing is mostly easy to follow and while it doesn't always flow, it is entertaining. The author has a very fun and engaging way of writing, which helps because while I couldn't relate to her characters due to their immaturity, I laughed at the situations they got in and things that they said. I enjoyed her matter-of-factly hilarious explanations of certain English terms and events during WWII in the Foreword. The mystery aspect kept me turning the pages, eager to find out who George Braithwaite is and his importance to the story (it was a lovely surprise). I would read the sequel, A Different Day, A Different Destiny (set in 1851 in England, Scotland and the U.S. I know what was going on in the U.S. at the time, but have no idea about the other countries.)

Disclosure: Received from the author. Thank you Annette!

Throwback Thursday is hosted by Take Me Away Reading

Male Monday: Year of the Horse

Year of the Horse by Justin Allen 2009

Rating: 2.5/5

IQ “A person’s an American because he wants to be. That’s all. [Jack]

“I’m not sure I understand.” [Lu]

“America isn’t a place, exactly. And it’s not a people either. It’s an idea. If you believe in it, then you’re an American.

“But that would mean everybody’s an American.” Lu commented “Anybody can believe.”

“Anybody can,” Jack agreed. “But not many do. It isn’t always the easiest thing to believe in. America falls short about as often as it succeeds. More often, some would say. But that doesn’t mean its worthless.” Pg. 317

In the case of the above quote, the I in IQ stands for Interesting. I think the aforementioned quote is quite interesting, mainly because I don't know if everyone would agree if that's what it means to be an American.

Year of the Horse is a Western tale mixed with supernatural elements. Yen Tzu-Lu (nicknamed Lu), is the son of Chinese immigrants. One day, his grandfather's store receives a mysterious visitor, Jack Straw (more of a legend than a man). Jack wants Lu to accompany him and the rest of his gang to find gold that has been stolen from the leader, John MacLemore (really Jack is the leader and MacLemore is the boss who pays everyone). Lu will be the explosives expert. Along with Lu, MacLemore and Jack, the gang consists of Sadie MacLemore (the young daughter of John MacLemore), Chino (a Mexican outlaw), and Henry Jesus (freed slave and former Union soldier who is now a marksman and buffalo hunter). They set off into the Western frontier where they encounter nature, animals, not so friendly people and a bit of magic.

My main problem with this novel was the characters. They had such potential on paper; a diverse group of characters setting off on a Western supernatural adventure. However they remained firmly stuck on paper. Lu was passive throughout the entire novel. I didn't understand how he could just go along with Jack and a bunch of strangers. The reader does not see Lu agonizing over this fact (although he does worry about leaving his mother), we don't see how Lu feels about a lot of things. He observes and in my opinion, he never fully manned up. He did what he was told to do and didn't show much spine. There was no character growth. Chino, Henry, the MacLemores and even Jack fell flat. They broke down some stereotypes, but only stereotypes that people would have had during their time (I doubt a person in the present would still think African Americans can't read, but then again....), I wanted to see the characters become more than just the African American, the Mexican, the Girl Who Dresses Like a Man and the Mysterious Leader. They remained encased in their roles and the reader barely catches a glimmer of their personalities. The plot sounded good, but it wasn't executed well. There was a lot of stopping and starting. A few times, I forgot what the gang was searching for. Also, I was expecting more action. This may however, be due to the romanticizing of the Western era. The ending was a bit awkward too, it sort of ended on an odd note.

I did like the setting of the story and the historical aspect of Year of the Horse. The author is very attentive to details and through Lu we learn a lot about how things were done on the frontier; from shooting guns to skinning buffalo. The history nerd in me loved all the details! The gang also meets some interesting characters, including a family of Mormons and a man named Bill who has a pet lion, Sweetheart. The reader doesn't spend much time with any of the minor characters that the gang meets on the way, and I would have liked to have read more about them (especially Bill and the Mimbrachua, a Native American tribe). I also appreciated the Mark Twain references, especially in the prologue. It's probably one of my favorite parts. The prologue is reminiscent of the prologue to The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (and apparently, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, which I have not read) in that the author assures the readers that everything is a fact, nothing is censored and that the novel should not be kept from the "inquisitive adolescent reader". It also threatens legal action against any who claim this book is fiction, only for adults and too wild for readers. In other reviews I've read that this novel makes references to Washington Irving's work, but I am unfamiliar with his writings, so I can't say. I also enjoyed the infusions of magic that ran throughout this book. They make the story more unique.

Year of the Horse is a well researched novel with a unique setting and factors in the plot, but it never fully reaches up to its potential. With a diverse cast, Western setting and paranormal activity, it has the potential to truly be outstanding. However, the characters remained blank with no personalities, little action and the plot didn't flow very well. The use of magic does help the novel stand out and move the plot along, but at some points it seemed to be more of a convenient excuse as to how a character could do something. The novel does have an interesting setting and the historical aspects are intriguing, but all the details may seem tedious to those who are not into Westerns or historical details.

Disclosure: Received from the author. Thank you Justin!

PS Read the cover story of Year of the Horse. It's had so many different covers! Plus, Justin is pretty funny. I like the end result, especially how the person on the cover could be any of the characters :)

The Shadow Speaker

The Shadow Speaker by Nnedi Okorafor-Mbachu 2007
Hyperion/Jump at the Sun Books

Rating: 4.5/5

IQ "History is change. The great change, the change of my father, the chance in Kwamfa, the change of my mother, the change of me. The reason anyone writes history is to record big changes. If history is change, then I'm definitely a part of it." Ejii pg. 10

The Shadow Speaker tells the story of fourteen year old Ejii Ugabe who is a shadow speaker (which means exactly how what it sounds like) living in Niger in 2070. There has been a nuclear fallout that has produced A Great Change across the world. People with special powers are born (like shadow speakers, they are all called metahumans) and countries are falling apart, separating and coming together. The world as we know it today is totally different from the world of 2070. Ejii's father does not embrace this change and as chief of Kwamfa (the town Ejii lives in) tries to implement traditions in the old way (wearing burkas, girls marrying young and having no say in anything, etc.). Ejii witnesses her own father's death and with this death she is given a grand opportunity to help not just Kwamfa but all of Earth. She sets off across the Sahara desert and encounters creatures both good and evil, friends and foes.

I think this book has officially made me a sci/fantasy fan. (A Wish After Midnight and Silver Phoenix helped introduce me to the wonders of the genre). I loved it, and my only problem and the reason I just can't give it a 5 is because of the ending. The ending is so suspenseful and I haven't heard anything about a sequel being written and thus I am left with many questions (the romance, the fate of the world, of Ejii)!!! So if a sequel is being made someone let me know and I will change the rating because otherwise this book was marvelous.

Earth in 2070 sounds cool but a bit scary too. I love the world Nnedi Okorafor-Mbachu has created and I especially love how it's sci fi set in Africa and Africa is one of the leading powers during this time. Between shadowspeakers, windseekers, smoke, the Aejej and jinnis. And of course Jaa. I can't fully explain the wonder of Jaa but I will try, she is essentially the most powerful woman in the world and she has two husbands (a nice change from the usually male polygamists, she is a female polygamist). She is fierce, fierce, FIERCE! I don't know how else to describe her. She's beautiful, brave and a good leader. But she also has flaws (that I can't share because that would spoil it). The best way to explain her is to use this quote "Jaa was a madwoman and the sanest individual Ejii'd ever met. She was so sharp in mind that she hadn't had to think before [...this is a spoiler that I shall not share!], so sure she was of her actions. She knew exactly what she was doing, Ejii thought. And she regrets non of it." (pg. 195) So there you go, Jaa is the craziest wisest person there is. The author fully emphasizes this point. Half the time I loved her and the other half I was suspicious. Jaa and Ejii have a love/dislike relationship and the author describes it so well, she keeps you in suspense.

Africa is described as one of the more forward thinking continents. The author has a captivating, wild imagination. I also thought it was interesting that even after the world is full of so much technology (like an e-legeba), magic and modern creatures (flying carpets), there were still some old world traditions such as storytellers, polygamists (the male polygamist is old world, but Jaa having multiple husbands is more original) and slavery. I thought the most intriguing aspect of this world besides the new technology/creatures/metahumans was the fact that there were still slaves. why would a world so far forward still need slaves? Just one of the many questions that the Shadow Speaker brought to mind (along with questions about what life would be like after a nuclear explosion and what technology has in store for us, the negative and the positive).

The Shadow Speaker is action-packed and enthralling. The characters are all well-developed and the world is completely believable, if I live to 2070 (I'm too lazy to do the math to see if I would still be alive so pardon my bad math) I wouldn't be surprised if the world turns out the way Nnedi Okorafor Mbachu (well some parts anyway!) This book made me think but most importantly it was thoroughly enjoyable. 8th grade and up.

Gateway

Gateway by Sharon Shinn 2009 Penguin

Rating: 3.5/5

IQ "'Of course I'll want to remember.' She said. 'The idea of losing any of my memories is terrifying to me when I think about all the ways that could happen-if I have a concussion, if I have a brain tumor, if I fall into dementia when I get old. If I'm here, if this is real, I want to hold onto it forever.'" Daiyu pg. 83

The premise of Gateway sounded so interesting (Chinese girl trained as a spy) and while the end result was a bit of a let down, the book was still an enjoyable read. Daiyu is from China but she was adopted by American parents and now lives in St. Louis. One day, Daiyu comes across a vendor selling a beautiful black jade ring and when she learns that 'daiyu' means 'black jade' she knows she must have the ring, especially because when she tries it on, the ring seems to be made for her. After Daiyu buys the ring she walks under the Arch and is instantly transported to another city (Shenglang) in another world. In this world, the wealthy are the Chinese (the Han) and the lower classes are white (cangbai) and Black (heiren). Daiyu is brought to this world to send an evil prime minsiter, Chenglei to another world. Chenglei is a servant of the gods who creates suffering and chaos in other worlds and now he has taken over Shenglang. All the Han love him because he keeps him them rich and happy, but the lower white and black classes want to overthrow him. Daiyu is trained in the ways of the rich Han in order to infiltrate Chenglei's court and send him back to his orignal world.

The downside to this novel is the romance. It happens way too fast. Basically it consists of Daiyu being transported to Shenglang, meeting Kalen (who is white and therefore of a lower class which provides conflict later on), being comforted by him and BAM! They are in love. I had to go back and re-read a few pages to make sure I hadn't missed anything. There was no deliciously slow development of romance that helps you get to know both characters as they get to know each other. Nope, Daiyu and Kalen knew they were perfect for each other right away *sigh* This wouldn't be so bad if the plot had more action, but it doesn't. The whole plot is supposed to be about Daiyu taking down an evil prime minister but it becomes her constantly pining after Kalen interspersed with some lessons on how a proper Han girl acts. After a while I was just tired of it. Since Kalen is not developed that well I don't see why she's in love with him, he's sweet but he's nothing spectacular. The author attempts a love triangle, but poor Quan (whose a rich Han) never stood a chance. And I didn't really see what was wrong with Quan anyway except that he's Han and likes to drive fast. And how bad is that? I wanted some action, if not butt kicking of prime ministers then at least some interesting romantic action but it stays safe and predictable.

The good aspects of the novel were the descriptions of the new world Daiyu is in. I found the idea of iterations fascinating and they provided a nice stretch to my imagination. The idea that there are other models of the world out there in different dimensions that are all connected by gateways is an interesting thought. An iteration is a world that was created as a copy of the original model (the original model is not Earth but that's all we learn). "The Arch you know is more than a symbol of man's exploration of the western reaches of your continent. [...] It is a magical portal to worlds beyond worlds. Every iteration constructed by every god contains a doorway in that very same spot." (pg. 33) Sharon Shinn has created a wonderfully imaginative world that I didn't want to leave. I loved the idea of there being a non-white majority because it showed that rich people act the same, regardless of race, thinking only of themselves and their wealth. I also love the way the author has with words, she describes beautifully, like "As the barriers slowly ascended, water first began seeping out, then gurgling out, then pouring through in a great frothy frenzy, leaping and joyous as a fluid pack of hunting dogs. The sound built from a mild rumble, like a hundred faucets turned at full blast, to a whooshing roar as the greatest part of the pent-up water came gushing through. And then the noise became quieter, calmer, as the river found its level and the water slowly returned to normal." (pg. 77) The words leap off the page, I can hear the roar of the water. The writing is like that throughout the rest of the book, remarkably fluid. Finally, I could relate to Daiyu's struggle over whether to blindly follow what she's being told (that Chenglei is evil and must be destroyed) or to find out for herself. She realizes that she can't in good conscience banish someone who is in her eyes innocent until proven guilty and I think that is something we all struggle with at one point in our lives.

Gateway is an entertaining read. The synopsis is a bit misleading in describing Daiyu as training to be a spy, she really isn't. She spends most of her time thinking about Kalen and learning the ways of the rich Han, which is unfortunate because I think with more spy action, Gateway could have been truly great. The world Daiyu inhabits and the writing make the story. The world Sharon Shinn has created is well-thought out and the exquisite writing will keep you turning the page. Also, I think the cover is beautiful, such bright and pretty colors! 7th grade and up.

A Wish After Midnight

A Wish After Midnight by Zetta Elliott 2008

Rating:10/5

I.Q. (Incredible quote, a line that is quotable, it can be funny, beautiful and/or deep) "Sometimes I feel like there's a tattoo on my forehead that says 'ghetto'. And I don't know if it'll ever go away, not even if I change my clothes, move out of this neighborhood, and graduate from college.. ... The thing is, everyone who's black ain't ghetto, and everyone who's ghetto ain't black." Genna

This book is amazing. I wanted to just read it all day, but I had to keep setting it down to pick up my siblings or go to my job (which made me irritable, I'm sure my family is relieved that I finished this book and they can talk to me again without fear of me biting their head off for interrupting my reading). As a full disclosure, Zetta did send me this book, but (as with all books I get sent) I reviewed this with no special treatment or preference or anything in mind. I am not exaggerating about how much I loved this book, if I hadn't liked it you would know.

The I.Q. line is something that I've tried to explain so many times, that 'everyone whose black isn't ghetto and everyone whose ghetto isn't black' to so many people, to no avail! I'm the farthest thing from ghetto, but there were kids in my middle school who were convinced that I was ghetto, like Genna says (I'm paraphrasing here) about Hannah (a white lady who befriends her) you can tell that people are disappointed that you aren't acting ghetto or 'black enough' around them. I was really able to relate to Genna and so many thoughts that I'd had (like the ghetto quote) were expressed in this book.

My favorite character is Genna. I see myself in her for the most part. I admire the fact that she is so determined to get out of her bad neighborhood and go to college and become a psychiatrist. I also admire her strength and work ethic "sometimes people give you things and they don't know when to stop. They give too much, 'cause they want to fix all your problems, but sometimes you got to fix your own problems, your own kind of way." I think she really grows when she's transported back in time, positive changes and real growth occur.

AWAM is about 15 year old Genna Colon (she's Panamanian and Black like me!!), who lives in a bad Brooklyn neighborhood that she wants to get away from. Genna believes in wishes and everyday she visits a fountain in the Brooklyn Botanic Garden and throws a penny in and makes a wish. She wishes that she were different and that she could be someone else and live a different life. She gets her wish and goes back in time to 1863 Brooklyn. Life in 1863 Brooklyn isn't necessarily any easier than life in 2001 Brooklyn.

My other favorite character is Paul. There are two boys in Genna's life, Judah and Paul. Judah is the boy from 2001 Brooklyn and Paul is a boy she meets in 1863 Brooklyn. Judah likes reggae, has dreadlocks, and is Jamaican. He's serious, has strong opinions and doesn't like America. He wants to visit and maybe even live in Africa. I liked Judah in the beginning of the book, but he really got on my nerves afterwards (read the book to find out why!). Paul on the other hand is different. Part of the difference may have to do with the different time periods, Judah living in the present, Paul in the past. Paul is half-white, half-black, funny and saves Genna's life. He asks permission to "call on her" (so cute! ahh 1800s romance...), but Genna refuses because she feels beholden to Judah. I don't really understand why Genna is so loyal to Judah since they are in two different time periods. I think it's because Judah made her feel special for the first time in her life and so she doesn't want to let him go because she's afraid no other guy will find her special. But Paul does find her special! He listens to her as well. Forget Team Edward and Team Jacob (I'm no Twilight fan), there should be a Team Judah and a Team Paul! I'm definitely on Team Paul. Thank goodness there will be a sequel, Judah's Tale (release date TBA). Hopefully, Paul will be back and Genna will come to her senses!

Another interesting part of the story was the attitude that white abolitionists in the North held towards African Americans. They wanted to help them, but still viewed AAs as inferior. They didn't want them to be slaves, but they didn't think they could go to college or hold certain jobs. The author did an excellent job of using dialogue and details to showcase that fact.

I can't stress enough, why people should read this book. I didn't find the book as much sci-fi /fantasy as I did historical fiction. An interesting aspect of the time traveling was that (unlike in other books I've read about time travel) while Genna was in 1863, life in 2001 moved on. Usually, time stops or the person isn't gone for as long as they think they are. I can't recommend this book enough. 8th grade and up. For historical fiction lovers, sci-fi/fantasy (time travel element) lovers, fans of realistic fiction and all people who just want to read an amazing story. The characters are deep and complex, the plot is new (I didn't know anything about New York City during the 1860s, especially the fact that there were riots going on during the Civil War in NYC) and the writing is just all around superb. Warning: The ending is a cliffhanger, be prepared! This book is in my list of top 10 favorite books.

A bit off topic here but today Reading in Color is celebrating two special events! Today is our president Mr. Barack Obama's birthday (I am an unapologetic Obama fan). Happy birthday Mr. President!!

And today is Reading in Color's one-month anniversary! We made it :) Congrats to us and our followers/readers! Thanks for all the support and I'm sure this blog will continue to grow and get even better. In honor of this one-month anniversary, a contest will (hopefully) be announced this weekend. Stay tuned!