On Sale Now : New Releases

Below are all the children's and young adult books published in Januray that I am aware of which feature characters of color or a diverse cast. Usually I post this list at the beginning of the month, since I showcased 2012 titles I will looking forward to on the Dec. 31, decided to push this post back until the end of the month. The Feburary installment will go up around the 15th, than this feature will be back on schedule.

Words Set Me Free by Lesa Cline-Ransome illus. by James E. Ransome

Stars in the Shadows by Charles R. Smith jr. illus. by Frank Morrison
Freedom's a Callin Me by Ntozake Shange illus. by Rod Brown
When Grandmama Sings by Margaree King Mitchell illus. by James Ransome
Just as Good: How Larry Doby Changed America's Game by Chris Cowe illus. by Mike Benny
Ellen's Broom by Kelly Starling Lyons illus. by Daniel Minter
We March by Shane W. Evans
Jazz Age Josephine by Jonah Winter illus. by Marjorie Priceman

What Color is My World by Kareem Abdul -Jabbar illus. by A.G. Ford
Touch the Sky:Alice Coachman Olympic High Jumper by Ann Malaspina illus. by Eric Velasquez
Freedom Song:The Story of Henry "Box" Brown by Sally M. Walker illus. by Sean Qualls
The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind by William Kamkwamba, Bryan Mealer illus. Elizabeth Zunon . Read this book for free and support the We Gives Book Campaign

The Lions of Little Rock by Kristin Levine
The Mighty Miss Malone by Christopher Paul Curtis
Dumpling Days by Grace Lin

Oopsy Daisy by Lauren Myracle
Crow by Barbara Wright
The Story of Half a Girl by Veera Hiranandani my review

The Book of Wonders by Jasmine Richards my review
Irises by Francisco X. Stork
In Darkness by Nick Lake my review

Teenie by Christopher Grant (paperback)
Sellout by Ebony Joy Wikins (paperback)
Zora and Me by Victoria Bond T.R. Simon
One Crazy Summer by Rita Williams Garcia (paperback)

The People Have Spoken (The Read In)

In February I will be co hosting an African American Read In with two other bloggers, Edi and Vasilly. We had a poll of six titles to choose from -

Good Fortune by Noni Carter
Fences by August Wilson
A Lesson Before Dying by Ernest Gaines
Topdog/Underdog by Suzi Lori Parks
Ninth Ward by Jewell Parker Rhodes
Pull by B.A. Binns

It was very close but Ninth Ward* was the selected title.

Ninth Ward is Rhodes first middle grade novel. I had the pleasure of interviewing the author when the book was released in 2010. Since Jewell Parker Rhodes is known for adult fiction, I hope readers who normally don't read MG or YA fiction will consider participating in the Read In which will start on Monday Feb.2oth,

That gives you more than enough time to get a hold of Ninth Ward from your book source of choice be it your local library or indie, or amazon which currently has the hardcover edition on sale for $6.40


The Black History Blog Hop hosted by Reflections of a Bookaholic and Mocha Girls Read starts on Wednesday.



*I don't do it often but because of the past interview and very close results I feel a little full disclosure is in order. I contributed two books to the Read In poll including Ninth Ward. I did vote but not for either one of my picks.

The Read In, Black History Month Blog Hop, Blog Tours

Next month is the 23rd National African American Read In. This year I will be hosting an online read in with Edi from Crazy Quilts and Vasilly from 1330V. Today is the last day to head over to Vasilly's blog to vote.

In honor of Black History Month, there's going to be a Black History Month Hop hosted by Reflections of a Bookaholic and Mocha Girls Read.

Purpose: To give black authors, books and those who support them a month in the spotlight.
Before the hop the hosts site will open the link for entry. Your site can post anything related to the weeks topic. Your site must link to the host site and add the button to the post as well.

The Weekly Topics for the Black History Month Hop can be found here I am really looking forward to participating. Besides the Read In I can't wait to include my interview with Vaunda Micheaux Nelson about her newest release No Crystal Stair. I loved this starred Kirkus Review novel so much, which was illustrated by R. Gregory Christie.

Nelson sent me her answers today (very early) and she does a much better job of summarizing No Crystal Stair then I ever could.

"No Crystal Stair is a 15-year labor of love. It’s about two things near and dear to my heart -- books and family. It’s is the story of a remarkable man who was a pioneer in the struggle toward literary diversity, a pioneer in the efforts to make more African and African American literature available in America. The man was the Harlem Professor, Lewis Michaux, my great uncle. His National Memorial AfricanBookstore became a Harlem landmark -- a gathering place for scholars, politicians, activists,writers, artists, actors, and athletes -- until its closing in 1975."

Yesterday I finished Panther Baby by Jamal Joseph. Joesph joined the Black Panthers when he was 15. At 16 he was the youngest Black Panther arrested in the Panther 21 case in 1969.


There's a beautiful sensibility to the authors writing. This excellent adult memoir screams YA crossover. For much of the book Joseph is talking about his teen years as a Black Panther. Can't wait to review this one and link it to the hop. Read an excerpt, via publisher.

I have a change of heart regrading Blog Tours. In the past I was against them because I thought caused online overload for books on tour. Now I realize that authors have to do what they must to promote their novels. It's not easy for authors and its getting harder every day. Plus there are so many blogs it would be easy for an author to do a tour with little readership overlap.

My first interview of 2012 was with Jasmine Richards, was part of the author's blog tour for her wonderful debut The Book of Wonders. As is my second interview with Ashley Hope Perez. Perez's blog tour for The Knife and the Butterfly begins at Forever Young Adult on the 30th. I am glad I do not have to follow them. Their review is awesome and serious bonus points for slipping in a Golden Girl.

Another thing that helped change my opinion, are authors who show that not all blog tours are the same. Perez's blog tour schedule , she's visiting a lot of diverse blogs and thanks to the great teaser lines I know each day will offer up something new.

I managed to squeeze in four titles in this post, hopefully one has caught your eye. If not how about one of the six books in the African American Read In Poll

In Darkness - Nick Lake

In Darkness by Nick Lake
Set in Haiti the story alternates between the present and the past. In the present Shorty is buried alive after the 2010 earthquake. Surrounded by darkness Shorty decides to share his story to pass what little time he has left. Shorty tells all including, his love for his Manman and twin sister, and what lead him to join a gang in his Site Soley neighborhood. In the past Toussaint L'Ouverture is about to become the oldest general to lead a revolution. There's an overlap between the two stories that Lake handles with a smooth hand.

In Darkness pulled me in hard from the beginning. Just two pages in I was reminded of Zusak's The Book Thief, partly because Lake was able to make the darkness feel like a real presence. And partly because Shorty was calmly telling his story and willing to accept what would come. I loved Shorty voice it felt real and honest. I truly appreciated the author's seamless inclusion of L'Ouverture and the revolution for freedom. I thought the author did an excellent job bringing Haiti and Shorty's Site Soley neighborhood to life. A 2012 favorite.

An excerpt of Now - Shorty's chapters

An excerpt of Then Toussaint L'Ouverture's chapters

A Few Tips for Authors Sending ARC Queries to Bloggers

ARC's is short for advanced reader copy. Publishers or publicists send out these review copies or galleys pre publication to reviewers. Sometimes authors wanting to help get the word out on their books will offer up arc's to bloggers. For those authors I've decided to list a few, hopefully helpful tips.

When sending an arc query to a blogger

1.Always use the blogger's name, spelled correctly. When there's no name its obvious its a general query sent to a blast list. Some bloggers will say yes to a review copy. However, yes doesn't mean the novel will be read anytime soon once it arrives.

2. Try to avoid using a general query. It doesn't entice or give a blogger a reason to not simply let it sit unread. Bloggers read a lot and usually have a ton reading material to choose from, library, purchased books, gifts other arc's, gifts

3. Include an excerpt. If a general query is unavoidable, there should be an excerpt. Though I think a sample of the novel is always a must.

4. It's better for an author and their novel if they seek out bloggers who read that genre and age level. For author's of children's or YA fiction - a list of bloggers via Kidlitopshere Central

5. After finding a few blogs that you believe will be a nice fit for your novel, go back and read a few of the reviews. Do pay attention to how active the blog is, if its weeks between new post the blogger probably doesn't have time for anything new.

6. If a blog has over 500 followers, chances are good that blogger has a very large pile of books to be read. If they say yes to arc query know that it will probably be a while before they get to it.

7. Bloggers read blogs. Finding bloggers via the comments of a blog with heavy traffic is a good way of catching the eye of a blogger with a ton of followers.

8. Do not have friends and family write bogus five star reviews on Amazon. Before saying yes to an arc query, I'll visit amazon and goodreads. If I see five star reviews claiming the books, the next Harry Potter, I'll quickly say no.

9 Try to give a blogger a reason to read your novel sooner rather than later.

10. If sending the arc on your own dime, use media mail. It will only take a day or two longer and is a lot cheaper.

11. Sometimes you can save your dime, by giving bloggers the choice of getting a electronic galley if its exists.

12. It's great to sell your book to a bloggers, so they will be more inclined to say yes to the query but do not forget to ask if the blogger would like a review copy. Never assume that the copy for review offer is implied. Thanks so much to Reads4Pleasure for 11&12