A Love Story Starring My Dead Best Friend - Emily Horne

A Love Story Starring My Dead Best Friend by Emily Horne

16 yr old Cass's best friend Julia died in a car accident. In secret, Julia was writing a musical, A Totally Sweet Ninja Death Squad. When Julia's drama friends find the first and only draft, they decide to put on the musical in her honor. Cass is not a drama member, with Julia gone, she feels out of place with the drama kids.

It doesn't help that there's tension between Cass and Oliver. Oliver, (a drama person) was Julia's boyfriend. Cass is unsure of her sexuality but everyone at school has already labeled her a lesbian. The only thing Cass knows for sure, she had feelings for Julia. She never acted on them but Oliver was not okay with that.

While Julia's drama friends and Cass were working on the musical, Oliver said something that shouldn't have been said to Cass. She decided right then to get away for awhile. Cass and Julia were suppose to drive to California during the summer break. Cass decides to continue on the trip alone riding her bike.

The novel alternates between now and then. In the now, Cass is back home, working on Julia's musical again. She is forced to spend time with Heather, the mean girl from middle school. Heather got the lead in the musical. In the 6th grade she whispered and laughed behind Cass's back and called Cass a dyke to her face. Very slowly and carefully Cass and Heather begin to understand and open up to each other.

In the then, Cass recalls her cross country bicycle trip. The then reminded me a lot of Shift
by Bradbury, which I loved. Horne is able to get across Cass's inner struggles.

I read this story in one sitting. There's much to love about it, including the alternating story lines. Cass is a well drawn and believable character. When Cass and Heather are alone for the first time in years there is much tension. The author doesn't waste the readers time with an I am sorry from Heather. Since both the bullied and the bully know that's not enough. Instead Heather shares her secrets, and proves she's a different person with her actions.

Horne doesn't shy away from religion. Cass and her parents are Quakers. Cass's parents have strong beliefs and always give their support. Cass never worried about being disowned by them if she happened to like girls.

Horner's debut is a beautiful, orignal and a must read. I am usually unimpressed by author blurbs. Though every once in awhile I will see one that will make me stop and take notice. I came across A Love Story when I was working in the YA section. I took it home that day because of the blurb by author Steve Kluger. 1 - I loved his novel My Most Excellent Year:

2- Kluger doesn't blurb like its going out of style.

Independence + Controversy

Today is July 4 Independence Day in the United States. I always have a hard time getting excited about this holiday, since Blacks were still slaves in 1776. For some reason I decided to make myself feel even better and read a little of Susan Campbell Bartoletti's upcoming release - They Called Themselves the kkk When I requested an arc I couldn't bring myself to capitolize the k's and I still can't. The book is fact filled and very readable. I love the extensive bibliography and source notes. The book will be released in August.

Sometimes when I see an issue being discussed at other blogs, I assume others have already heard about it, and I fail to mention it. I am going to try to stop doing that.

On July 1, Jodie talked about another case of Whitewashing a young adult cover. This time it's the paperback of Cindy Pon's The Silver Phoenix . A few other post to check out on this issue Jeannie Lin's , Ari's @ Reading in Color and Tarie's @ Asia in the Heart, World on my Mind

I really liked The Silver Phoenix. However I don't think the cover did it justice. And I said so in my review.


The cover doesn't do the book enough justice. I read Silver Phoenix because I kept reading great reviews about the book. If not for those reviews, I would have missed a great read. The cover simply doesn't entice me. There are two strong male progatonist in the novel, but neither are featured on the cover. Not putting at least one of the male leads on the cover limits the audience.

Two cover's I would have liked better

The three travel most of the way by foot. There is one horse which Ai Lang rides.
Cover option 1- Ai Lang on the horse (dagger visible) with Chen Yong and Li Rong on either side of her (swords visible)

At one point the three must ride a dragon together.

Cover option 2- The three riding a dragon Ai Lang is holding onto the dragon, Chen Yong holds onto Ai Lang, and Li Rong holds onto Chen Yong. When I read that scene I thought it worked very well visually and would make a great cover. Weapons showing of course. There's something about weapons that always makes me pause, unless I am on the street, then I run.

What if Ai Lang was holding a dagger on the cover. What if people passed on Silver Phoenix not because there was an Asian girl featured on cover but because it fails to convey the strength of the female protagonist, or the action within the story. Now we will never know.

I have my fingers crossed that publishers will not start to think Whitewashing middle grade and young adult covers is the way to go if they want a little attention.

The Last Airbender movie was released on Thursday. The movie was adapted from a very popular Nickelodeon cartoon series. On the show the main characters are Asian, however White actors were cast to play all the main parts except the villains. For a better understanding of this controversy check out this wonderful article by Q. Le. on the history of facepainting in Hollywood.

The reviewers have not been kind to The Last Airbender - Roger Ebert gave it a half a star Every time I think about how this movie was poorly casted, reading one of the many bad reviews or thinking about how much money this expensive movie won't be makes me feel much much better.

Q. Le, article got me thinking about when of my favorite biographies from last year Shining Star: The Anna May Wong Story by Paula Yoo and Lin Wang.

Anna May Wong was the first Asian movie star in Hollywood. Wong along with many other Asian actors were denied rolls in the 1937 film The Good Earth, about Chinese farmers.

If you were thinking about seeing The Last Airbender, I say don't waste your money on what sounds like a very bad movie. Consider buying a great biography instead.

On Sale Now : New Releases

So I've been able to read many of the books that were on my Mark Your Calenders post back in January. I just wanted to take a moment to mention some recently released books on that list. I don't know when I will get a chance to read any of these. (hopefully sooner than later) but I figured the least I could do was highlight them. When I was able to I was able to I've linked to reviews and excerpts.

Black Jack : The Ballard of Jack Johnson by Charles R. Smith, illus. by Shane W. Evans

From the excerpt alone, this biography look like a serious TKO. I thought Smith and Evans would create an amazing book, but I am still blown away by the little I've seen. Looking forward to getting my hands on this one. The book received starred review from publishers weekly and school library.

Mr. Mendoza's Paintbrush by Luis Alberto Urrea paintings by Christopher Cardinale.


The cover looks gorgeous and the story sounds great

"Be careful growing up in the green, wet, mango-sweet Mexican village of Rosario, where dead corpses rise up out of the cathedral walls during July when it always floods; where vast silver mines beneath the town occasionally collapse causing a whole section of the village to drop out of sight; where a man with a paintbrush, to wit Mr. Mendoza, is the town’s self-appointed conscience."

Mr. Mendoza's Paintbrush recieved a five star Kirkus Review

Saltypie by Tim Tingle.


I thought it would be nice to read a non fiction book on an American Indian journey by an actual American Indian. I read Tingle's Crossing Bok Chitto this year and love it. It made me want to read Saltypie even more, as did

Deebie Reese's glowing review of Tingle's Saltypie. Read an excerpt

The Other Half of My Heart by Sundee T. Frazier.

I really like the excerpt, the writing looks like something I could really lose myself in. This is Frazier's second middle grade novel. Her debut novel Brendan Buckley's Universe and Everything in it, was awarded the Coretta Scott King John Steptoe award for new talent in 2008

Bamboo People by Mitali Perkins


I've been hearing very good things about this one. After reading and loving Secret Keeper by Perkins last year, I am not surprised. Check out a few reviews and read an excerpt

The Cardturner Louis Sachar

The Cardturner Louis Sachar
When I think of Sachar, I think of middle grade fiction not young adult. So when The Cardturner, Sachar's first YA novel came in a few months back, I made a mental note of it but that was pretty much it. I've haven't been having much luck finding MG or YA books will male protagonist recently. So I thought why not give The Cardturner a go, especially since I'd read a good review and a co -worker enjoyed it. After finishing yet another book where the ending turned on me, The Cardturner was just what I needed.

17 yr old Alton Richards as a very rich great uncle Lester (Trapp) Ever since Alton was young, his parent's told him Lester was his favorite uncle. Now, Uncle Lester is blind and his health is failing. Uncle Lester doesn't have any children of his own to pass his money on it. So, all immediate are doing their best to get close and be nice. Alton's parents are no different. Somehow Alton gets roped into driving Trapp to bridge and being his cardturner.

Trapp doesn't play a fun game of bridge with three friends. This is some serious, masterpoints are at stake bridge. The game of bridge is an important part of this story. Before I read this book I knew nothing about this card game. Now, I am pretty sure I can watch a bridge game and follow maybe 25% of it.

Somehow Sachar, made me care about a card game that's usually associated with a people of a certain age. Cardturner worked so well for me because of Alton. I liked his voice from the beginning.

Ever since I was a little kid, I've had it drilled into me that my uncle Lester was my favorite uncle. My mother would trust the phone at me and say, "Uncle Lester wants to talk to you," her voice infused with the same forced enthusiasm she used to describe the deliciousness of canned peas. "Tell him you love him." "I love you, Uncle Lester," I'd say. "Tell him he's your favorite uncle." It got worse as i got older. I never knew what to say to him, and he never seemed all that interested in talking to me. He was actually my great uncle, having been my mother's favorite uncle long before he was mine. "

By the time the game of bridge was introduced, Sachar already had me with Alton. His parents were very interesting, at times inappropriate and always funny. Alton's, 11 yr old sister, Leslie was smart, sweet and a natural at bridge. I really liked the brother sister dynamic in this story.

Trapp is very good at bridge. He once made it to the national championships. Now Trapp won't talk about it, whatever happened kept Trapp from playing bridge for years. Alton is determined to find out what went wrong. Alton's best friend Cliff is dating Alton's ex girlfriend. Alton, likes someone new, Toni, Trapp's former cardturner. Once again Cliff as eyes for a girl Alton likes.

Alton learns a few things about bridge, as his uncle cardturner and he shares that knowledge. When ever is going to go into depth about a bridge maneuver, there is an image of a whale. Sachar did this for those who don't want to read about bridge can skip these parts. Though I don't see why anyone would want to.

I really enjoyed The Cardturner. It was a very fun and entertaining read. I always appreciate a novel that simply is what it is, that in itself makes it very good. The only I wish, I have for this story - I wish Leslie got a chance to meet are great uncle. She's easily took to the game of bridge and I think the two would've have connected.

Alton was a great character. Cardturner its okay for middle grade students. Its nice having a YA nolve with an older teen male protagonist that I can recommand to readers 12 up.

Read an excerpt

A review @ Guys Lit Wire

The Mariposa Club Rigoberto Gonzalez

The Mariposa Club by Rigoberto Gonzalez

Its the senior year of high school for four openly gay friends. Mauricio (Maui) Trini, Isaac, and Liberace. That's his real name, but he goes by Lib. The four call themselves The Firece Foursome.

Maui is the narrator, he is our guide into the Fierce Foursome. When the school year begins the four friends want to start a GLBT club in their high school. Though this story is mainly about "the girls" (what they call each other), their friendships, family relationships and their Mexican communities lack of acceptance for their sexual orientation.

The Mariposa Club works very well on so many levels. I loved the dialogue and characters. Gonzalez created four characters with distinct personalities. Maui, Trini, Isaac and Lib all have their own coming out story. Some of the parents are more accepting.

Some novels teach more then others. A story about four gay male teens in a small Mexican community is one of those stories. I now know that in Mexico sometimes gay men are refered to as fluttering butterflies. Mariposa is butterfly in Spanish.

It could've been really easy for the author to cross the line into too much this is what the reader should know territory and not enough story. However Gonzalez finds a wonderful balance. He makes the reader care about the four friends and their friendships.

Jodie's review @ Book Gazing

A review @ Queer YA