Crossing Xia Fukuda

Crossing by Andrew Xia Fukuda

Freshman Xing Xu is one of two Chinese students at his upstate N.Y. high school. Xing goes by the name Kris since no one can pronounce his Chinese name. Xing is a quiet loner. His family immigrated to America when he was a child and Xing has yet to feel connected to his new home. Even, Xing's only friend Naomi Lee, who he once called an FOB. (fresh off the boat) as adjusted easily to life in America.

"But it was not only her name I secretly envied. She now spoke English with a pitch perfect accent. I'd been in America two years longer than she, in fact, but you wouldn't know it from the heavily accented Chinglish I used. Her English was Julie Chen perfect, mine was Jackie Chan cumbersome"

Xing doesn't talk in school, many people think he can't speak English. Xing is bullied for being different. When students begin to go missing and are murdered, including a few who used to tease Xing, he becomes a suspect.

A new student, Jan Blair joins the class on the first day of school. Blair is bullied and called names. Even Xing does what he can to avoid any association with her, for fear of being taunted even more. Jan Blair is called Blair Witch (after the movie)

I had a problem with this cruel intentions only nickname. Blair Witch (a very bad horror movie) was in the late 90's. As far as I know its not considered a classic movie that's still being referenced. So the nickname felt dated.

I loved the premise of Crossing. However I didn't enjoy this book as much as I would've liked. I found the chapter transitions a little abrupt. I thought Xing Xu was a great character. His struggles living in America one of my favorite parts of the novel. Originally and understudy, Xing gets the lead in the choir when another classmate goes missing.

There were points in the novel where Xing's voice was very clear. The author allowed me to truly understand Xing. However, many times I thought the author was onto something with Xing but rather than explore it more the moments were stopped. I would've like to see Xing's relationship with his father development a little more. Since Xing's father was the one who wanted to come to America. Did America live up to the father's dreams or was he disappointed like his son.

"Your father thought puberty robbed you of your voice. But it wasn't puberty, was it? It was America." I sat stunned. My father had never told me this. There were times when I had sensed his encouragement for me to sing and in latter years, his disappointment when I refused to. "

Though the missing and murdered classmates of Xing weren't the focus of the novel. As a lover of mysteries, I still expected the author to develop this storyline as well as he could have. The author did a good job of keeping my interest when describing all the missing students and when the bodies were found. However, I was little dissappointed when I discovered who the murderer was.

This is Fukuda's first novel. Xing made this novel for me. As I said before there were some great moments that really showed the author writing ability. I look forward to reading more by Fukuda.

3 review by bloggers who really enjoyed Crossing

Book Gazing

Gal Novelty

Reading in Color

On Sale Now :New Releases

I don't have any on going features. Since the people haven't spoken, I simply post on whims Though this is the second week I've highlighted releases featuring kids of color. I figure two more week I can call it a feature.

Ling & Ting: Not Exactly the Same! by Grace Lin - I loved Lin's Newbery Honor book Where the Mountain Meets the Moon. I am looking forward to reading her first early reader. There aren't enough early readers that feature kids of color.


Recently many people were upset with the cover change of Cindy Pon's YA debut Silver Phoneix. Because of poor sales the Asian girl on the cover was removed. The paperback cover was Whitewashed. Its not enough to scream after the fact that you will support covers with kids of cover on them. So please go ahead and look for, buy and support Ling &Ting. Speaking with our wallets is the only way diversity will continue. And I want to see more early readers with kids of color.

Around Our Way on Neighbor's Day by Tameka Fryer Brown illus. by Charlotte Riley-Webb

This is Brown's picture book debut. In the description on Amazon oxtail stew is being cooked up. That makes me happy, hungry and very interested. ( I wonder if they had plantains to go with the Oxtails)
The picture book market is not very good right now. So if you want Around Our Way on Neighbor's Day, chances are you will have to order it at your local bookstore. If you want the book, don't let that stop you from buying it.

Mali Under the Night Sky: A Lao Story of Home by Youme Landowne

New Girl in Town (Liberty Porter First Daughter) by Julia DeVillers - This is the second book in the Liberty Porter series. I've gotten around to reading the first book yet. Though I will give this series a go now, after reading the excerpt


Sellout by Ebony Joy Wilkins - Ari's review

What Momma Left Me by Renee Watson Ari's review



New in Paperback

A Perfect Season for Dreaming by Benjamin Alire Saenz


Shine, Coconut Moon by Neesha Meminger

Bobby vs. Girls (Accidentally) by Lisa Yee

Here are my rules that can change at any moment for this possible weekly feature. Chances are I will miss new releases, when I do I will showcase them the following week. I will also only show the paperbacks of books I loved or author I love. If can't find enough new releases, I will skip a week.

Martha Ann's Quilt for Queen Victoria - Kyra E. Hicks - Lee Edward Fodi

Martha Ann's Quilt for Queen Victoria by Kyra E. Hicks - illus. by Lee Edward Fodi

This is the story of Martha Ann Ricks. Martha Ann was born around 1817 on a Tennessee plantation. When Marth Ann's father learns about a group called the American Colonization Society which will help enslaved Blacks start a new life in the African country of Libera, the family begins to save every penny. The family finally makes their way to freedom and Libera in 1830.

Martha Ann's parents die of the African fever. Martha Ann decides to make them proud by making a quilt for Queen Victoria. The Queen sent in a navy to try and stop slavery, the quilt was Martha Ann's way of saying thank you. Martha Ann saved her coins and worked on that quilt for years. When Martha Ann was 76 she finally made the trip to see the Queen and present the quilt

This is the first picture book I've read where American Colonization society and slaves escaping to Libera is mentioned. I really enjoyed Martha Ann's quilt. Fodi's illustrations were just okay for me. Though Hicks text was strong enough to overcome this, she writes a great story. The story is filled with a lot of information about Mary Ann Hicks and her life in Liberia.

Marth Ann's father saving every coin for the families trip to Libera, and than Martha Ann saving every coin to visit the Queen - I was reminded of A Chair for My Mother by Vera B. William. I think the two books might make a good pairing.

Hicks has a newer book out illus. by Bill Gaskins called This I Accomplish: Harriet Powers' Bible Quilt and Other Pieces I am not familiar with Harriet Powers. Though after looking at a few of her pieces I want to know more. Plus the cover of This I Accomplish is gorgeous.

Though I haven't seen it yet, I think This I Accomplish would go well with Stitchin' and Pullin': A Gee's Bend Quilt by Patricia McKissack. Since both are picture book stories about famous quilters.

Seth Baumartner's Love Manifesto Eric Luper

Seth Baumgartner's Love Manifesto by Eric Luper

Seth is by dumped his girlfriend at Applebees. While there Seth sees his father having lunch with a strange woman. With nothing going right with his love life Seth decides to start an anonymous late night podcast call The Love Manifesto.

Seth doesn't even tell, his best friend Dimitri the name of his show. Though Dimitri figures it out, as do other people. When that happens Seth has some explaining to do. Until then Seth talks freely about what's going on in his life. Including the many reasons why he loved his ex, and what he thinks of his father's mysterious friend.

I really enjoyed this book. Its great balance of funny and serious. Seth is a great realistic and believable character. He cares about his show and really wants to know why his relationship didn't work out. Seth is on his fifth summer job. This time he's working at the golf pro shop at the country club.

The author does an excellent job with the various relationship. Seth's relationship with his father is a little rocky. Seth's father is constantly telling him what he needs to do to be successful. The two with be participating in a golf competition at the country club. I really liked Seth's friendship with Dimitri and Dimitri's younger sister Audrey.

This is one of those books I appreciated that much more a few days after I finished it. Looking back on Seth Baumgartner's Love Manifesto, I realized I am not familiar with many YA books where the father and son's relationship is apart of the storyline. Also the dialogue was spot on good. Eric Luper has simply written a really great story. I highly recommand for reluctant reader guys. Ages 13 up.

Read an excerpt

NerdsHeartYA - 2nd Round

This is the second year of the NerdsHeartYA tournament. It started with 32 YA books published in 2009. All the books got little fanfare. Hopefully this will bring some much needed attention to some very good books.

First Round Results. For this second round bracket, I must decide between

Almost Perfect by Brain Katcher

Say the Word by Jeannine Garsee


I will start with Say the Word, since I read it first. I had already read Say The Word and I really enjoyed it. I was looking forward to reading it again. Though this time I read it with a more critical eye.

Shawna is being raised by her father in Ohio. Shawna was seven, when are mother leaves her father for another woman. Now 10 yrs later, Shawna gets a call from, Fran her estranged mother's partner. Shawna's mother had a stroke and is in the hospital. Shawna makes it to NY to see her mother before she dies. Though there is no last conversation. Say The Word is about what happens after. Shawna is caught between her father's demands, his need to always be in control, and Fran's family. There was no updated will. The right thing for Shawna's father to do would be to give everything to Fran and her sons Arye and Schmule. Instead in takes everything out of spite.

Shawna trying to live up to her father's expectations, straight A's, follow in his foot steps and become a doctor. Shawna's father is emotionally abusive always calling her stupid putting her down in front of others. Shawna's best friend Lee Lee is always there for her. Though when Shawna finds out LeeLee, is a lesbian, she wonders what that means about herself and what people will think. When truth comes out that Scumule is Shawna's brother everything gets more complicated. Shawna's father wants full custody and refuses to give Fran visitation privileges. If it sounds like there is a lot going on in this book that's because there is.

Garsee does a wonderful job of balancing the many storylines. I found Shawna likable from the beginning. Shawna is a well drawn out character. Though I found her father to be a little one dimensional, a bad guy with no redeemable qualities. Its true some people are like that, the first time I read Say the Word I was okay with Shawna's father. This time I wished the author would've given us something to like about him, so it wasn't so easy to hate him.

Reading Say the Word with a purpose, took some of the fun out of it. I wasn't able to simply enjoy, I had to question. Besides Shawa's father there were a few other things that didn't stand up too well to a closer look. This time I wondered why Shawna doesn't have a another story about her mother after she moves in with Fran. The one time Shawna visit her mother, things go very badly. So focused on an opening art exhibit, Shawna's mother doesn't realize how sick Shawna is. After that, mother and daughter don't see each other again until Shawna's mother is in the hospital. Without another interaction, I am left wondering what type of mother Shawna had. Was she insensitive and self centered artist or was she a loving mother who for a moment lost her head to her art.

This story really made me think about the rights ( or lack of ) same sex partners have. When Shawna's mother is in the hospital, Fran must pretend they are sisters in order to see her. Even though they've been together for 10 yrs. Shawna's father being able to take over everything including funeral arrangements is just wrong. Though Fran has been raising Scumule since he was born, she has no legal rights to him. I knew this could and does happen, though I've never really thought about it. However, I know there are people who have never considered problems gay and lesbian couples face because they can't marry. While telling a good story Garsee also educates.

Almost Perfect by Katcher - My first time reading, I saw two very positive reviews last year. So I was excited for an excuse to read it. Logan is a senior. He lives with his mother in a small Missouri town. Logan can't stop thinking about his ex girl friend, Brenda. Then, a new girl moves to town, Sage. Logan, is instantly attracted. Sage wants the two of them to just be friends. Logan wants more but accepts being friends. After Logan kisses Sage, Sage confesses to being a boy. Logan questions is sexuality for liking a transgender person.

It took me much longer to get into Almost Perfect than I would've liked. I simply wasn't connecting with Logan. Early on their many references to his ex- Brenda and what they didn't do. They were together for three years, they never did more then kissing. Brenda wasn't ready for more. When Brenda's ready, she has sex with someone else.

When Logan looks back on his years with Brenda he remembers how patient he was. Its nice to see a guy, is willing to wait and not be too pushing. Though I found it difficult to believe Logan wasn't frustrated that his physical relationship with his longtime girlfriend was stagnant. If Logan was, he never expressed it. Logan was simply a little too nice for my liking.

I found myself enjoying this story a little more midway in. When Logan and Sage meet at a cemetery to talk about the kiss. Its the first time, we get to hear Sage's voice. Its a voice I wish would've come earlier in the story. This story is about a teenage boy coming to terms with understanding and falling for a transgender person, so its Logan's story to tell. Still I wanted more of the complex character that was Sage.

One of the Almost Perfect's strengths were the conversations between Logan and Sage, after Logan knew Sage's secret. Logan always does his best to understand. The little we see of Sage is honest and open. Logan has two close friends since grade school, but these friendships aren't drawn out. Katcher is focused on Logan and Sage's relationship.

I found Almost Perfect to be a good read. I think its really hard for a narrator to carry many scenes by themselves. Logan must do exactly that. My not connecting with the main character kept me from enjoying this book as much as I would've liked. Logan's feeling of confusion over Sage were very believable. I think the author wrote this with the intention of getting people be more understanding and accepting of transgendered individuals. I believe he succeeded.

Not More of the Same

Say the Word and Almost Perfect are worthwhile reads. Both deal with subjects that don't get much attention within YA literature.

I've never reread a novel to judge for a competition. Before I started I thought Say the Word, would have an advantage. However, I quickly realized that wasn't true. This time I would be looking to poke holes in everything I liked about Say The Word the first time.

Though, I was reading Almost Perfect for the first time, my expectations were high thanks to reviews and the premise. So in the end neither book had an advantage. Both had something to live up to .

It came down to one thing for me. Say the Word's multiple story lines vs Almost Perfect's single storyline. Logan is considering life after high school and possibly going to college but this still revolves around Sage.

Single storylines are very hard to pull off, especially if it features one main character. There is nothing else to focus on , every little perceived missed opportunity by the author is noticed. Whereas with a multiple storylines I may not notice or care if something is just little off because so much is going on.

This time questioned a few things Garsee did or didn't do, I still really liked it and thought it was the stronger of the two.

My decision

Say the Word moves on

When this tournament is over, one book will be declared the winner. Though I hope everyone will take a moment to look at the 32 wonderfully diverse shortlisted books.