New Books

In the past I was told I was free to ask for titles I thought would sell in the children's section. This of course was pre economic woes. I am far from optimistic but I handed in a list of titles . A few weeks past, nothing. I didn't ask about it because I figured it was a long shot to begin with, but they came, New Books New Books. Sweet. Retail sales have dropped everywhere but thankfully parents are still coming into bookstores to buy children's books. As long as you're familiar with the product and can read your customer children's books are the easiest to handsell. I am at the point now where customers don't even know what hit em. After all these years my approach is so smooth and sick, its crazy. Making suggestions is second nature now. For instance- A customers comes in to buy a joke book for an 8yr olds birthday party. I can't help but ask if her sons read Diary of a Wimpy Kid. She said No, I said What! She buys 2 one for son one for his friend. A customer is buying a Project Runway kit for her niece. How could I not show her Catwalk . I have a sweet one two punch going with Sugar Plum Ballerinas: Plum Fantastic and Little Divas right now. Of course I am happy the store gets the sale now more so then ever, but I am happier that children and teens are getting their hands on books they could possibly love. Hopefully parents and teachers will continue to buy their books from bookstores. The happy and satisfied customer- Some may stray but they all come back.

I'm Late Mari Evans

I'm Late by Mari Evans- Evans has an extensive biography and I am embarrassed to say I was unfamiliar with her work before this. I'm Late is only 74 pages not including the post questions. This is the story of three teenagers LaNeese, Moonlight and Alisha. 14 yr olds, LaNeese and Alisha are pregnant. The story opens with LaNeese telling her boyfriend Moonlight. His response "Your What" "Shit"
LaNeese tries to hide her pregnancy from her mom. When LaNeese's mother finds out she is very supportive. LaNeese starts going for pre-natal care. I can't think of many teen novels that mention prenatal care. Unfortunately the class does not teach LaNeese that hitting your child is not the answer.
Alisha is pregnant by some random guy. She is overweight and doesn't see herself as pretty but the baby will be proof that someone once touched her. Alisha has horrible eating habits and doesn't visit a doctor while pregnant.
Moonlight (Moon)- Just wants to get drafted by the NFL
I'm Late is Only 74 pages not including the post questions. Written in 2006 the author doesn't risk dating it by mentioning clothing labels or anything else that could make a reader pause . I'm Late reads real, and is written in an almost play like format. I could see students acting this novel out. The post questions allow for continued discussion.
Time to Share

LeNeese goes to the clinic
"Neesie had no idea there was so much to it. She had thought that they would just grow by themselves and come out after nine months when they were ready. Nine months. That was about all she or any other girls her age that came to the Clinic knew. Nine months."

"By May Alisha knew she was pregnant. She might still have gotten an abortion but she didn't want one. Her periods never came back, and she never told. She finally decided not to even tell Nessie."

Voices in First Person Lori Marie Carlson

Voices in First Person: Reflections on Latino Identity by Carlson, Lori Marie This is a collection of writings by 21 Latino authors. Including Sandra Cisnerso, Oscar Hijuelos, and Gary Soto. Some of the stories I glanced over, others I read 2 or 3 times. That's the beauty of collection a reader is allowed to pick and choose. There is more then a enough in this collection that moves me to pause, think and laugh. I honestly don't know what else to write about Voices in First Person so I'll give excerpts from three of my favorites


Asking Her Where She Is From by Michele Serros
"I can't get by a week without a white person asking me that question. Sometimes when I'm asked the Question, I like to lie and make up areas within the Latin world from where I supposedly originated."


Last week I wanted to Die by Susan Gevara
Then, when I die, I will fly away with colored string and glass beads pasted to my wings. I will fly straight up to heaven, and I will take Satan with me. And if God doesn't like it well, I'll just refuse to leave. Satan will have to let me do all of the talking this time. I can't really see myself convincing God of everything, but we could at least have a conversation."


The Barrio ABC's by Quiara Alegria Hudes- Two kids battle through to spot what they see around there block. Its like the dozens


kid 1- G is for Graffiti
kid2- and for Gentrification
kid2- Z is for Zone. Empowerment zone Drug free zone. No parking Zone. Construction Zone.

Trouble Follows Monica McKayhan

Trouble Follows: An Indigo Novel (Kimani TRU) by Monica Mckayhan I didn't read my first Kimani Tru novel until last September. When I told Toni she gave me a well deserved head shake. As much YA as I read there's no excuse for me waiting so long to read a Kimani Tru novel. The first was Indigo by McKayhan. I loved it, so it only makes sense that the first Kimani Tru novel I review is an Indigo novel. 15 yr old Jade is moving back to Atlanta. When her parents divorced Jade moved with her mother and sister to New Jersey to live with her grandmother. Jade started acting out at school, so it was decided she would move back in with her father to get straighten out. Jade is happy to move back, so she can be with her best friend Indigo again. Indigo is on the H.S dance dance and has a great boyfriend, named Marcus. The novel alternates between these three characters. McKayhan writes characters and situations that teens can relate to and learn from. The author confronts many issues in the novel. Jade comes face to face with a teacher who abuses his position and touches her inappropriately. To keep her weight for the dance team Indigo develops an eating disorder. I really liked this story line because there is still a perception that black girls don't do eating disorders. McKayhan doesn't push the issue but she puts it out there. Marcus is a straight A student with a part time job and plans for his future. However the police don't see that, while riding with his teammates they're pulled over and arrested. McKayhan shows how easy it is for a black male to get caught up even when he's doing right. The issues never overshadow the story. Trouble Follows moves at a great pace and I really cared about these characters.

Time to Share Jade's 1st day

"My heart pounded as I roamed the halls of my new high school. It pounded so loudly that I could actually hear it. I'd missed Indigo all morning, too busy trying to find my classes. That wasn't until the afternoon that I finally spotted her. I took two steps at a time until I reached the third floor. She was standing in the middle of the hallway, cheesing and wavy. I would have to teach that girl how to be more cool and low key."

Guardian Julius Lester

Guardian by Julius Lester Set in Davis a small southern town in 1946. Its the story of a lynching seen through the eyes of a white teenager.. 14yr old Ansel Anderson works in his father store. Ansel is friends with lil Willie (no last name given because he's a Negro.) The two work and fish together. Though the small town is filled with racial tension the two boys are friends. Everything is going well until Willie's father is accused of raping and killing a white girl. Ansel is with his father, Bert when Big Willie runs to them for help. Bert refuses to speak out against a Davis for a Negro and won't allow Ansel to either. Bert makes Ansel attend the lynching because it will be bad for business if he doesn't. Lester does a great job of putting the reader in that moment. I could see the white people remixing about past lynchings, standing around the tree with the little children on their father's shoulders waiting for Big Willie undeserved sentencing like it was the fourth of July. I was reminded of Billie Holiday's Strange Fruit while lil Willie climbed the tree to cut his father free. After that day Ansel and Willie both got out of Davis and they never spoke again. I must admit I was expecting the two to meet up by chance as adults. The fact that they didn't I believe is a fundamental difference between a white and black author. Ansel's apology would do nothing for Willie. So its only fair that Ansel be forced to live with his non action. Guardian is a short read and Lester does an excellent job of capturing all of the characters. I liked the authors notes as much as I liked the novel itself. Lester shares many things like why he decided to write Guardian. Lester also included Lynching by State and Race records between 1882-1968. 539 black lynchings were reported in Mississippi during that time. When I read that stat the first thing out of my mouth was Mississippi God Damn, no wonder Nina Simone wrote that song.

Time to share, the novel is just over 100 pages and I don't went to give anything away so I will share from the author's notes.

"I wrote a 75 page treatment of the movie I envisioned about the white boy at a lynching. The producer read it, but his mind was set on a movie about a lynching from the perspective of blacks. There was no creative challenge for me in writing that story. I felt like it had been done, and I wasn't interested in writing something that would enable whites to shed crocodile tears for blacks"