New Crayons: What's New On Our Shelf

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. I think crayons is a pretty cool metaphor for multicultural lit. Every week we receive a book is a good week.

It's been a light week. To all authors and publishers, our staff has grown which means we are capable of reviewing more and sooner so if you're looking for a little promotion, feel free to send us a copy. The loot:

Iran Awakening by Shirin Ebadi- I got this on trade. Currently reading it for Women Unbound. My freshman year in college I took Sociology. My professor was Akbar Muhadi (Someone correct my spelling if it's wrong). He was dynamic. Taking his class meant having my first relationship with someone Iranian. He was married to Nina, my math professor and they had a young son. Sociology was easily a favorite class, and I liked Nina very much (I was impressed that Iranian women didn't change their names when they married). I didn't know it at the time, but meeting Akbar (he told us to call him by his name and not title) was a meaningful connection and it shaped how I viewed Iran and its citizens. Because of Akbar, I couldn't listen to news about Iran and think nameless, evil people. Iran is a country and it is more than its government and its politics. While reading this, I kept wondering how this time had been for Akbar and his family. I took his class in '83. That means he had family and friends at home during a war. His wife was able to teach when women in Iran were being stripped of their freedom and careers.
Found a great review from Ana at things mean a lot.
is Shirin Ebadi’s account of her life in Iran, and of her work as a lawyer and activist who specialized in children and women’s rights—and which earned her the Nobel Peace Prize in 2003.

Shirin Ebadi begins by telling us the story of her childhood – she was raised in a progressive family who never taught her that she was inferior because she was a woman.

Library:

Last Night I Sang To the Monster by Alire Saenz. Picked this up because of Doret. The woman has yet to steer me wrong. See her review here.
In rehab Zach must admit he has a problem with alcohol and begin putting his life back together. This novel was intense, beautiful, strong and believable. I finished this novel awhile back, Zach is still with me. I remember Zach worry about where his monster comes from (maybe his brother) or what God tattooed on his heart.

The Negro Speaks of Rivers by Langston Hughes. Illustrated by E. B. White Discovered a new blog today- Book Kids. I'm embarrassed to say I didn't know about this site. You all are going to have to do a better job of informing me. Anyhoo, I picked up this title because of the award winners and while I'm talking about award winners, almost none of the award winners announced this month were available at my library. This is why we must nominate POC books because they win they are listed and promoted and then they are read.

Each image is rich with wonderful detail and the raw, emotive power of Hughes’ writing translates beautifully int Lewis’ art. Read Emily's review at BookKids.

What did you get this week in the mail, at the bookstore or the library?

Happy Reading.