New Crayons: What's New On Our Shelves

Remember when you were a kid and getting new crayons was a big deal? Getting new books holds the same kind of magic for some of us big kids. Every week on Sunday, I post what's new in our box. Hope you'll share what you picked up from the library, store or in the mail, too.

This has been another busy week and a disappointing one. Apparently, books I've been expecting have not arrived and they should have. Please send good vibes that we get them soon. Despite that we did get other gems:

A Girl Like Me by Ni-Ni Simone. We had another title by the teen drama diva and it walked with a quickness. I'm hoping we can keep this one on the shelves a little longer. According to Edi at Crazy Quilts, Ms. Simone's writing is urban, candid but not crass and funny.
Synopsis
She's got a voice like Keisha Cole, attitude to burn--and is the body-rockin', Bebe-sporting girl everyone in her high school wants to be...or be with. But in real life, sixteen-year-old Elite has a crack-addicted mother, no father in sight, and is secretly raising her sister and two brothers on her own. Now a radio contest has put her up-close-and-personal with mega-hot singer Haneef and their chemistry is too sizzling for Elite to stop pretending. And as the clock ticks down fast for this 'hood Cinderella, she has only one shot to save her family and make all of her dreams come true.

Whatever!: The Complicated life of Claudia Cristina Cortez Series by Diana G. Gallagher. Laura at Stone Arch Books donated these. She's pretty excited about the series and says it's great especially for reluctant readers. I'll be pitching these on Monday to our Rise -N- Shine girls.
Claudia, Becca, and Monica have their own club the Whatever Club. What are they supposed to do when Claudia's friend Adam wants to join? He doesn't play by the clubs rules, and he's making the Whatever Club miserable. But Claudia doesn't want to lose one of her best friends.

Kendra by Coe Booth.
From Booklist
Fifteen-year-old Kendra has been raised by her grandmother, Nana, while her 29-year-old mother has been away earning university degrees. Now that her mother’s PhD is complete, Kendra is hoping that the family will finally reunite, but her mom chooses to get a studio apartment without her daughter. Kendra’s longing for love leads her too quickly into a physical relationship with hot Nashawn. Kendra doesn’t want sex, in part because Nana threatens to have her physically “checked” to confirm her virginity, but Nashawn suggests oral and anal sex as alternatives to traditional intercourse. Kendra agrees, and she is guilt ridden over the acts (which are frankly discussed) as well as confused by the passion she feels... Kendra’s talent at architectural drawing and set design will attract artistic teens, while her realistic daily problems with friends, family, and boys will appeal to a wide audience.

I realize I haven't covered much adult fiction later but my head is donation mode. Bear with me. To find more summer reading for young people, see my mailbox post at Black-Eyed Susan's.

What did you get? Drop us a link with Mr. Linky. Happy reading.