Welcome A New Blogger & Mark What You've Read

I want everyone to take a moment to welcome a new blogger Miss Attitude over at Young, Black, A Reader I hope I am not the only one who is excited by this new addition. Though I must say I am slightly jealous, Miss Attitude's almost hit double digits in comments on her fifth post. Don't let that stop you from going over and saying hello. Its the neighborly thing to do

Susan over at Color Online made a list to see how well read we are when it comes to YA by or about Women of Color. I don't begrudge anyone who makes these well read list because there is no way to include everyone. I love that Susan understands this and expresses her concerns for this list shortcomings allowing people to add more titles in the comment box.


Put an ‘X’ by what you’ve read, “#” by what books are on your tbr and “!” by books you loved. This list in very short and focused on women writers of color. Feel free to add titles in your comments. The list sorely needs works by Native Americans and Latinas for example.

Susan’s Unofficial List of Great YA by or About Women of Color:
1. When Kambia Elaine Flew In From Neptune by Lori A. Williams
x Every Time A Rainbow Dies by Rita Williams-Garcia
3. No Laughter Here by Rita Williams-Garcia
! Jumped by Rita Williams-Garcia
5. If You Come Softly by Jacqueline Woodson
6. The House You Pass On The Way by Jacqueline Woodson
! Flygirl by Sherri L. Smith
8. From The Notebooks of Melanin Sun by Jacqueline Woodson
x Sold by Patricia McCormick
10. Heaven by An Na
! The Parable of The Sower by Octavia E. Butler
# Purple Hibiscus by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
13. Persepolis by Majane Satrapi
x The Rock and The River by Kekla Magoon
x Secret Keeper by Mitali Perkins
x Mare’s War by Tanita S. Davis
x A Wish After Midnight by Zetta Elliott
! Down To The Bone by Mayra Lazara Dole
19. Don’t Get It Twisted by Paula Chase
x Jason & Kyra by Dana Davidson
21 Forged by Fire by Sharon Draper
x Kendra by Coe Booth
xShine, Coconut Moon by Neesha Meminger
x Does My Head Look Big In This? By Randa Abdel-Fattah
25. Born Confused by Tanuja Desai Hidier
x Skunk Girl by Sheba Karim
27. The Meaning of Conseulo by Judith Ortiz Cofer
28. In The Time of the Butterflies by Julia Alvarez
x Kindred by Octavia E. Butler
30. First Part Last by Angela Johnson
! Pemba’s Song by Marilyn Nelson
x Wanting Mor by Rukhsana Khan
! M + O 4EVR by Tonya Hegamin
x Lucy The Giant by Sherri L. Smith
! The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros
36 Throwaway Piece by Jo Ann Hernandez
# White Bread Competition by Jo Ann Hernandez
38. Across A Hundred Mountains by Reyna Grande
# Silver Phoenix by Cindy Pon
40. Ash by Malinda Lo
x The Skin I’m In by Sharon G. Flake

Throwing Like A Girl Weezie Kerr Mackey

Throwing Like a Girl by Weezie Kerr Mackey 15 yr old Ella will be starting at a new school, in a new city (Dallas) in the middle of the school year. Ella must leave her best friends and the city (Chicago) she knows so well. One day Ella's teacher notices she's a natural athlete and suggest she try out for softball. This is the first time Ella has ever played softball, she's learning the game has she goes. Ella easily takes to softball and is determined to get better. I really enjoyed this book, the story moves very well Mackey's created a believable and likeable character in Ella. Mackey's writes an excellent game. It was a lot of fun watching Ella fall for the game of softball. 12up

read google preview

All or Nothing, NOT And Book Giveaway

I was helping a customer last week and we really clicked. She was looking for books for her daughters. I suggested two books I loved Hunger Games by Collins and Eyes Like Stars by Mantchev, she got both. The customer already had a book in her hand for herself, Angel's Game (which is really good btw). While we were walking an talking about books I decided I would show her a book by a Black author. Sometimes Black customers don't like to be shown books by Black writers. They don't say anything, but I've gotten the are you showing me this book because I am Black look. Well, Duh. Yes. But I didn't get this vibe from this customers so I showed her the new Carleen Brice book Children of the Waters (reading now, its so good) She got it. Somehow we started talking about Octavia Butler. She loves Butler's writing. When I found this out right away I told her about The Shadow Speaker by Nnedi -mbachu. I was going to stop there but I decided to go for broke and tell her about A Wish After Midnight by Elliott. As much as I enjoyed Elliott's YA titles I have to sell or suggest titles the store can get because the economy is so bad. I made an exception in this case because it would've felt wrong not to tell this customer about A Wish After Midnight because we clicked so nicely, she loves Kindred, and has two daughters.
Besides showing off my wicked selling skills, this story proves that it doesn't have to be all or nothing. I see so many Black customers who either only read Black authors or won't read them at all. Not having to be all or nothing applies to everyone. Yesterday, Susan did a post over at Color Online about being in funk because she couldn't find many reviews featuring characters of color. Our race, gender and all other box checks, shouldn't limit the books we read. I am with Susan, I would love to see more YA books featuring poc reviewed on a regular basis on more blogs.
Finally The Fun - Book Giveaway
Over at Color Online, Susan is hosting a book giveaway. Nine, authors were kind enough to donate a book to the giveaway. Including Brice and Elliott. There are some wonderful books to be won. So check it out and enter. If you commit to writing a review you can get 5 xtra entries (aka a whole hand) If you review books anyway what's one more.
Great Giveaway

CORA Diversity Roll Call

CORA Diversity Roll Call is a bi weekly meme, co- hosted by Susan at Color Online and Ali @ Worducopia. This week, its Susan's turn. The Roll Call : Science Fiction and Fantasy

"Your assignment: spotlight science fiction and fantasy titles where people of color are the leads, works by people of color in these genres or discuss your thoughts about race in these genres. Do you notice the absence of color? In what ways is race portrayed in fantasy and science fiction beyond using traditional racial terms like black and white? If the book covers prominently features people of color, does it affect your perception? Are we more comfortable with imaginary characters versus different race in these works?"

This meme is hard for me since I didn't grow up reading science fiction and fantasy. I asked two of my co-workers who read this genre for titles featuring characters of color, they couldn't help me. My first thought was damn really. Even in an alternate reality color is ignored. If literature was a math problem ignoring color would be the constant variable. IC =X Here are a few new YA Sci fi/fantasy titles featuring characters of color.

Rogelia's House of Magic byJamie Martinez Wood

City of Fire (City Trilogy) by Laurence Yep -(Sept) the author has many books out

Silver Phoenix: Beyond the Kingdom of Xia by Cindy Pon

The Comet's Curse: A Galahad Book by Dom Testa- This final title made the list because there appears to be an Asian guy on the cover. I am hoping there is actually an Asian character, but I don't know.

The Shadow Speaker Nnedi Okorafor - Not new but I really enjoyed it and didn't want to leave it off.

Wanting Mor Rukhsana Khan

Wanting Mor by Rukhsana Khan This is Khan's first YA novel. She is an award winning children's author in Canada. Jameela lives in a small village in Kandahar, Afghanistan. Set around 2001, Jameela has grown up surrounded by war. When Jameela's Mor (mother), dies, she is lost. Soon after the funeral, Jameela's baba, (father) sells everything they own and moves them to the city of Kabul. When they first got their, Jameela did her best to figure out the new world she was in. Her baba didn't care too much for her welfare. Without her mor their was no one to answer her questions, all she could do was follow. Jameela's baba remarries, the new wife works her very hard and he doesn't intervene. One day the new wife decides she doesn't want Jameela around. Jameela's baba leaves her in the market. It was very sad to see how trusting Jameela was, standing for hours before she would even sit because she worried her baba wouldn't see her when he returned. Luckliy for Jameela, a kind butcher takes her home with him to his family. Eventually, Jameela is placed in an orphanage. I didn't know if that was a good or bad thing, but it was still upsetting that Jameela was at the mercy of so many people. The orphanage turns out to be where Jameela finds a new home. She finally gets to go to school and make friends. Khan draws out several of the secondary characters to making the novel more interesting. I really enjoyed Wanting Mor and found I couldn't stop reading. When I was away from it I found myself thinking about Jameela. Jameela dreamed of her Mor often. She a practicing Muslim, throughout the book Jameela says her prayers. Khan's weaves Jameela's faith and prayers seamlessly into the story. The author also incorporates a few Farsi, Pushto and Arabic words, from the surrounding sentences it was pretty easy to figure out what the words meant* Nothing miraculous or unbelievable happens and that's part of Wanting Mor's beauty. Its simply the story of a girl from a village, who moves to the city, tethered to no one and how quickly she could get lost and forgotten. Wanting Mor would be perfect book club selection. Ages 11up

*Great practice for the SAT, if a young reader can figure out was a Farsi, Pushto or Arabic words, with the help of the surrounding sentence, than doing it with English words may not seem as hard.

Check out this great interview, over at Writing With a Broken Tusk. It made me want to read the book.

Papertigers review

Madcat Kathy Mackel

Madcat by Kathy Mackel 12yr old MadCat (given name Madelyn Catherine Campione), is the catcher for the Sting. The team is pretty good, this year they are going national. Its no longer about just having fun but winning and getting to the Softball Wordseries. Several sting players have been cut to make room for better players. I really enjoyed Madcat. Mackel gives the reader a good sense of the pressure top tier players and teams face. Madcat is a wonderful character, her voice is strong and believable. Though she is one of the best catchers, she dreams of getting some of the glory and pitching in the circle. The action on the field is described very well. Mackel takes the time to developed several secondary characters. Jess, Madcat's best friend and pitcher. She is determined to stay the number one pitcher. Blair, the new ace pitcher. She quiet, shy and naturally gifted. Mugger, though cut from the team she doesn't give up softball. Ivy, another catcher though competing for the same position, Madcat and Ivy become friends. One of the strengths of this book is Madcat's voice and her relationships with her teammates. Ages 10up

Dragonbreath Ursula Vernon

Dragonbreath by Ursula Vernon - This was so much fun, I think Diary of a Wimpy Kid fans will love it. Danny Dragonbreath is the only mythical creature at a school of reptiles and amphibians. Danny wants to make his parents proud and learn how to breath fire. He takes his father's advice, and thinks hot thoughts while practicing. Danny is being bullied at school by big Eddy, a komodo dragon. His best friend is Wendell, an iguana. Danny and Wendell, make a great friendship duo. Their verbal give n take is funny and smart. Danny always acts without thinking, taking Wendell, who is a good sport with him. Danny must do a book report on the sea, instead of going to the library, he visits his cousin Edward a sea serpent. Edward gives Danny and Wendell a tour of the ocean. Vernon easily incorporates ocean facts, sharing some very cool ones like when sea cucumbers get nervous they throw their guts at the enemy. Dragonbreath alternates between comic and text format, making this a wonderful choice for reluctant readers. When the sea serpent spits out his guts, Wendell is the unlucky recipient. This part is in comic form, so readers can see the look of disgust on Wendell's face and Danny laughing at his best friend. Danny and Wendell have a great time in the ocean, though there is an incident with a giant squid. I loved Vernon's writing, it was fast, fun, quick and smart. I highly recommand Dragonbreath. Ages 9up
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