Finding My Place Traci L. Jones

Finding My Place by Traci L. Jones

Set in 1975, Tiphanie and her parents are moving from Denver to Brent Hills a Colorado suburb. Tiphanie will be entering the ninth grade and she will be the only Black female student. No one speaks to Tiphanie the first few days, Jackie Sue is the first person to speak her. Tiphanie family moved because her father got a promotion at the bank. Tiphanie's mother works in real estate. Many of the students that attend Tiphanie's new school come from financially successful families. The students are afraid to speak to Tiphanie fearing what others may think. Jackie Sue as no such fears since she is considered an outcast for living in a trailer.

Slowly Tiphanie begins to adjust to her new school. Though now, Tiphanie worries about what her friends from the old neighborhood will think. Tiphanie is searching to find a balance between her two worlds. I really liked Tiphanie, she is a very well grounded thanks to her parents, who were active in the Civil Rights Movement. Tiphanie's and Jackie Sue become close friends fast. . There friendship is tested by Jackie Sue's secrets.

I really enjoyed Finding My Place. It was a quick, fun and entertaining read. Jones knows how to write a good story and great diagloue. As with her debut, "Standing Against the Wind", the story moves along with ease. ages 10 up.

Read an excerpt

On Sale Now : New Releases

I am still trying to make showcasing new books that feature kids of color, a regular feature. Since I missed last week this will be a little long. Though I am okay with that, since I know some weeks there with only be a few titles. Enough talk.

New Releases.

Dotty by Erica S. Perl illus. Julia Denos


This is one of my favorite new picture books. When Ida starts school she brings along Dotty her imaginary friend. This is a very good story filled with diverse characters

El Dia de Los Muertos / The Day of the Dead by Bob Barner illus. Teresa Mlawer


Welcome To My Neighborhood! A Barrio ABC by Quiara Alegria Hudes illus. Shino Arihara


Around Our Way On Neighbors' Day by Tameka Fryer Brown illus. Charlotte Riley -Webb

This is a really good debut. My review

Heart of a Samurai by Margi Preus


90 Miles to Havana by Enrique Floris -Galbis

This is about Operation Pedro Pan, getting children out of a new communist Cuba without parents. This could be paired with another new release about Operation Pedro Pan, this year The Red Umbrella by Christina Gonzalez. Also Leaving Glorytown a memoir by Eduardo F. Calcines

Yummy by G. Neri illus. Randy Duburke

The more I look at this book, the more I appreciate what the author did. It's so well done, and necessary. Loved it. My review Also check out the 3 blogger interview with the author, I was apart of that started here.

Cruisers by Walter Dean Myers


Manifest by Artist Arthur


Paperback releases

Luv Ya Bunches by Lauren Myracle

My review The second book, Violet in Bloom comes out Oct. 1. Its as good as the first one.

Nerds by Michael Buckley

My review The second book, M is for Mama's Boy comes out Sept 1. and its as good as the first one.

Libyrinth by Pearl North

This one as been on my tbr list for awhile. The second book, The Boy from llysies comes out
Nov 9

Ruined by Paula Morris








My review This could be paired with the soon to be released Ninth Ward by Jewell Parker Rhodes. Both stories are set in New Orleans.

Feel free to mention any new releases that feature kids of color, I've missed in the comment box.

Baseball Break

Check out this ESPN story about 13 yr old Chelesa Baker a little league pitcher. She hasn't lost a game in four years. Joe Niekro (who pitched in the majors) taught her to throw the knuckleball. It's a wonderful and inspiring story.

If you missed it check out the baseball feature I did with nine authors, especially if you are looking for some really good baseball books. One of the things I love about that line up is the gender balance. Seven out of the nine books have female characters who love the game of baseball, either as fans or players.

Around Our Way On Neighbors' Day- Tameka Fryer Brown - Charlotte Riley-Webb

Around Our Way On Neighbors' Day by Tameka Fryer Brown, illus. by Charlotte Riley -Webb

On a nice summer day, a girl enjoys a neighborhood get together. She does many things including jump double dutch, chase after the ice man, watches boys play basketball and eat foods as diverse as the people in her community. Brown does a beautiful job showing happiness on neighbors' day. As well as the togetherness of the community.

"Blue sky, no clouds. No one stares. Or cares That loud music blares. Hustle bustle, salsa sway. Wild day, around our way."

Riley Webb's colorful illustrations bring life to the neighborhood. Around Our Way On Neighbors' Day is a rhythmic story. Writing such a story not easy. One word can throw off an entire verse.

At times I do feel Brown used words that hurt the flow of the story. Though overall this is very good picture book debut, that's well worth reading. I especially loved the portrayal of a diverse community. I look forward to reading more books by Tameka Fryer Brown.

Author Interview with G. Neri

Welcome to part two of three blogger interview with G. Neri. on his latest release Yummy. Feeling a little lost, check out part one at Crazy Quilts. My review of Yummy.

4. I am going to quickly piggy back on Edi's second question. Neri - Yummy is just your third novel. You've written a free verse novel, a YA novel, and now a graphic novel. Your debut Chess Rumble (which I loved) was very well received, getting many honors including 2008 ALA Notable Book and 2009 ALA quick pick for reluctant readers.

Did you ever consider writing Yummy as a free verse novel?

No. Yummy was written before I wrote Chess Rumble, which is where I discovered the free verse form, again quite by accident. For CR, I had two characters from two different stories who seemed to want to be in the same story. It was an odd thing but I listened my characters. So I made a Word Document with 2 columns and copied both stories into it, side by side. By some
miracle, they seem to fit together like a jigsaw puzzle, and I copied one slowly into the other, leaving me with a long, thin column of words. When I saw how the sentences where being broken up, I noticed it gave it more power and rhythm, and more of a distinct voice. I’d never written free verse, but loved Alice Walker poems, so I ran with it. And I guess, it worked. Now some folks would call me a poet because of that and the Lee Bennett Hopkins Poetry Award I won. But I wouldn’t dare call myself a poet. I’m just a storyteller.

5. Who was Yummy? Why tell this story?

Yummy Sandifer was an 11 year old wannabee gangster who made the cover of TIME magazine in the 90s because of 5 days that captured the nation’s attention. Trying to impress his gang, he tried shooting at a rival gangbanger but accidentally killed a neighbor girl he knew growing up. He became a fugitive hiding in the Southside of Chicago as the story grew bigger by the day. But he became such a liability that his own gang took him out before he could squeal to the cops.

What grabbed me and most people who read or saw these tragic events unfold, was how polarized the opinions were between the media, politicians, adults and kids. Some thought he was a straight up thug who got what he deserved. Others thought he was as much a victim as the girl. Others thought he’d been abused by his parents, the state system, his gang and the laws they took advantage of by using these little shorties. It was a great opportunity to talk about the gang issue in a bigger context and from all perspectives, without me moralizing about it.

6. Neri, you've written a powerful story. Reading Yummy I couldn't help but think about how this story plays out across the U.S. every day. Maybe not to this extreme but many boys are lost to the streets. Yummy has the ability to open eyes and minds.

Is there anything you'd like to say to librarians or teachers who may think the gangs and violence within the story are too mature for their students?

It really depends on the area and who the readers are. I know urban schools that could handle this story in 4th or 5th grade and most definitely by middle school. Some white suburban schools might respond to it in 8th, 9th or 10th grade. But to me, it is vital to begin this discussion at an age where young kids are getting sucked into gangs and these days, that could be anywhere from ages 8-14. Me or any teacher telling young people to stay out of gangs has no effect. Showing Yummy’s story is a powerful tonic that may plant a seed in a young person’s mind.

I hope you are enjoying Neri's answer as much as I have. He is an author well worth reading. Neri is on my read it as soon as it comes out list and I have yet to be dissappointed. My review of Chess Rumble. My review of Surf Mules

Part three and conclusion of this three blogger interview with G. Neri is at Ari's Reading in Color blog.