How Lamar's Bad Prank Won a Bubba-Sized Trophy

How Lamar's Bad Prank Won a Bubba-Sized Trophy by Crystal Allen 2011
Favorite quote "But around two o'clock those curls droop and dangle as if Sergio's growing black noodles on his forehead and girls love that too. Once I tried some of that mousse stuff in my afro. I squirted a pile of that extra hold foam in my hand and rubbed it through my hair. For ten minutes, I waited for black noodles to dangle on my forehead. Instead my afro held an old-school slant as if me and Frederick Douglass had the same barber." Lamar pg. 24

Don't ask me why but the above quote tickled me pink, I actually burst out laughing. well ok, I know why. I've always been amused by Frederick Douglas's' hair, extraordinary guy, but oh man, that hair. *shakes head* Reminds me of Cornel West too. Anyway this book is about Lamar who is the baddest, maddest bowler at Striker's Bowling Paradise. He is King of Strikers. Sure Lamar is one of the best bowlers around, but he's not so great with girls, in fact he's constantly striking out with them. While Lamar is doing all his bowling, he also has to deal with his older brother, Xavier the Basketball Savior. Xavier is revered in their hometown of Coffin, Indiana and Lamar's father is quick to go to Xavier's basketball games and go over strategy with him, but it's been years since he bowled with Lamar. Lamar's tired of being ignored so when bad boy Billy Jenks invites him to take part in his bowling hustle, he accepts. Here's a way to make enough money doing something Lamar loves in order to buy a Pro Thunder (expensive pro ball) and maybe even impress his hero, famous bowler, Bubba Sparks. Oh and Lamar just may get the girl.

Some of the 'lingo' is rather cheesy in this book. In fact, at times it seemed outdated. On the very first page Lamar is listening to his best friend Sergio 'bump his gums'. I've never heard that expression before so I asked my dad who knows a lot of slang. He said that expression was older than he was (he grew up in the '80s), but hey, maybe it's popular in Indiana? There are a few other examples of really cheesy dialogue/comebacks but in the end, I think it all adds to Lamar's charm. I was amazed at Lamar's confidence, but being totally honest, it's not at all surprising. I think (for some reason) it's a lot less surprising to see a young and confident main character. In middle school, I think many guys think they are invincible, whereas many girls are a bit shyer. Regardless, Lamar reminded me of my brother and all the other young guys I know who love to trash talk. Although I did think Lamar's constant strutting was a bit much. The author juggles a lot of storylines and I do think the ball was dropped a few times. Each storyline is interesting and starts off well developed, but a couple were quickly wrapped up, much of the action occurring off the page (*cough* Sergio and Tasha *cough*). Lamar and his father clearly have issues they need to work out and everything seemed to get really happy really fast, but Lamar is just so gosh-darn adorable that you can't help but want him to have a cheesy ol' neat ending.

As you can probably tell, I love Lamar. I want to meet Lamar (actually I've already met Lamar and been annoyed by him but guys like Lamar seem less annoying in books). Lamar is one of the most well rounded characters I've come across. He has seriously debilitating asthma and he managed to tug at my heartstrings when he wanted to play soccer to impress a girl (Makeeda), but his doctor said that based on his health that was just not possible. I love soccer so I was able to sympathize with wanting to play (just not for the same reason) and I would be crushed too if I was told I couldn't play because of asthma. Lamar has two personalities, at home he is quiet, afraid of his brother, trying to help out his dad anyway he can since money is tight. Xavier borders on only being a jerk, with no shot at redemption, but there are enough minor details given to make Xavier slightly more well rounded. Lamar lives in absolute terror of X and it's not unjust, X has anger management and refuses to take his medication. But X's anger management is not used as an excuse for his meanness towards his brother and I appreciated that X does not get off easy. A person can only take so much before they snap and Lamar's breaking point is realistic and frustrating. Readers will be covering their eyes hoping that Lamar will not actually go through with his plan (encouraged by Billy Jenks), but unable to look away.

How Lamar's Bad Prank Won a Bubba-Sized Trophy is a jolly, globful of laugh-loud (as Lamar would say) read that still manages to effectively portray more serious topics. Lamar's mother has died and his father has not exactly been a comforting presence to either of his boys. It was refreshing to see a contemporary book where the father wasn't outwardly cruel, instead Lamar's father is drowning. He's so busy working not just to keep food on the table, but to pay for a few luxuries. Lamar is working class/middle class, he's not going to go hungry, but his dad works a lot to make sure Lamar can bowl and Xavier can continue to play basketball. Unfortunately, he doesn't help Lamar with much else. There are underlying class issues as well. Lamar's best friend, Sergio is rich and he can't understand why Lamar joins in Billy's bowling hustle. But many readers can understand it. Sergio gets a lot of extra things, pocket money, nice clothes, two loving parents, etc. Lamar has his bowling pass and the same old clothes, who wouldn't get tired of always being around someone who has so much more? I had feared that Lamar would fall into a pity me trap since he seems relatively innocent but he gets himself into some severe (well severe for a thirteen year old) scraps and he is held accountable. The consequences kind of stink, even though they are realistic. In addition to Lamar's trash talking about his bowling skills (he's so proud of his bowling, awww), his falling in-like with Makeeda is great (it's so wrong but I almost cried when he saw Makeeda who has apparently changed significantly since he last saw her and he called her 'Fivehead' to her face. After he tried to step to her. Oh Lamar :) I want more books like this. Funny with a more unusual sport played and a diverse cast. Sergio is Latino, Lamar is Black, but their story is universal. In fact, there are only slight hints that Lamar is Black and I love that.

This review originally ran @ Reading in Color

Pull

Pull by B.A. Binns 2010 (ARC)
WestSide Books

David Albacore has moved from his small-town California home to Chicago. He had to move once his father murdered his mother and went to jail, forcing David and his two younger sisters to move in with their unwilling Aunt Edie. Aunt Edie lives in a tiny apartment and is barely making ends meet on her own, David works every day after school to make sure his family is provided for. He's an extremely talented basketball player and so David has to make a decision. Go for a basketball scholarship or quit school and work in construction full time. It was his mother's dream for him to go to college, but he's sure that she wouldn't want the family to be split up either (which would happen once David moved away for college since he would no longer be able to take care of them). In addition to juggling work and family, David has a growing attraction to Yolanda Dare, the girlfriend of the school's "king" and major player. David doesn't believe he can have it all, so he's going to need to pick and choose.

In all honesty, I was skeptical about this book, based on the cover alone. Yet another book you can't judge based on its cover. I really really liked it. It was beyond refreshing to have a guy male character who is not a "lovable nerd" or a "playa with a soft interior". David seems to fit in the middle of these two extremes. He's not a playa, nor is he particularly good at school and he's surprisingly not hopeless when it comes to girls (it most likely helps that his mother was a good example and that he has two sisters). I was afraid that David would try and play the "noble hero" throughout the novel. He does try it, but he soon realizes that he does resent his sisters. Because of his sisters he can't keep his paycheck for himself or take The Dare (as Yolanda is known) out on fancy dates along with a host of other things. The noble thing about David is that he acknowledges his resentment, but fights to keep it under control. Much like David, Pull is a frank story that does not hesitate to talk about sex, swear or even gay relationships (I was grinning from ear to ear when I read a certain scene between Carl and Neill. They were underdeveloped minor characters sure, but they were gay and it was NO BIG DEAL. Yes!).

Not gonna lie, at first it was a bit jarring at how much David thought about sex. But eventually I shrugged it off because I have no doubt that it's realistic and it's really not that important. And in the story it's not discussed graphically anyway. You know how they say that a guy is worth keeping around based on how he treats his mother and sisters? David is awesome in that respect. Not perfect, but the way he treats his sisters (especially his freshman sister Barney) is so tender. I shared his pain at not being able to reach his youngest sister, Linda and at his frustration over Barney's obliviousness towards a certain character. As you can tell, I have a bit of a crush on David ;) Asides from David's personality, I was impressed at how each of David's siblings portrayed a different style of grieving. David does not know how to help his sisters and they don't know how to help him. It's a long and painful process, filled with denial, anger and immense sadness. It's also about guilt and debt, how much do we owe our loved ones, living and deceased? There's no easy answer.

Pull is a straightforward read that places a refreshing emphasis on sibling/family relationships over romantic ones. I did have a really hard time understanding Aunt Edie, the explanation for her actions seemed to convenient and implausible, there was not enough evidence to back up her actions. I wanted more character development of David's acquaintances (he doesn't allow them to get close enough to be friends) and his youngest sister Linda (how did she handle school??). It covers a lot, but none of the issues drown the book. From domestic violence to bullying to the ultimate decision about college, no issue is rushed, it flows naturally in the story. The marriage class was incredibly transparent (do those classes exist in high school?) but it was cool to see issues of family and marriage discussed in a high school setting. There is no moralizing in this narrative. David makes a hard decision and it's not one that everyone will make, but I completely understood why he made it. That's what makes this story so notable. I'm sure writing this story was no cakewalk (oh look a reference to an awesome quote, see below) but the whole novel reads like a testimony to one. Excellent.

Disclosure: Received for review from publisher. Thank you WestSide!

Fav quote: "People think cakewalk means easy. But real cakewalks were difficult as hell according to my grandmother. They required endurance, balance and training, and only the best lasted until the end." David pg. 30-31

WWOC: Renee Watson

Full name: Renée Watson

Birth date: July 29, 1978

Location: Paterson, NJ (But I grew up in Portland, Oregon)

Website/blog: http://www.reneewatson.net/

Genre: Children’s and Young Adult Literature

WiP or most recently published work:

Recently Published: A Place Where Hurricanes Happen and What Momma Left Me

Writing credits: Picture Book: A Place Where Hurricanes Happen (Random House, June 2010)

Middle Grade Novel: What Momma Left Me (Bloomsbury, July 2010)

Articles in Rethinking Schools:

Five Years After the Levees Broke: Bearing Witness through Poetry (Spring 2010)

From Pain to Poetry: The Murder of Sean Bell (Spring 2008)

How frequently do you update your site? Monthly

Is your site designed for reader interaction? No, not yet. Although I post new poems and short stories often. Teachers can also download teacher’s guides for my books.

You've had a busy year, with two new releases (What Momma Left Me and A Place Where Hurricanes Happen). Was it intentional to publish two books so closely together? What was your inspiration for both books?

No, it wasn’t intentional at all to have both books come out so close together. The books are published with different publishing houses, so that’s why the release dates were so close together.

In 2006, a year after hurricane Katrina, I led poetry and theater workshops with young people who were coping with the aftermath of Katrina. The children I worked with inspired me to write A Place Where Hurricanes Happen. Their poetry and stories stayed with me long after I returned to New York, and I wanted to write something to honor their experience.

What Momma Left Me was first a stage play I wrote in high school. I don’t really know why the story stayed with me all these years. I have always been intrigued by the notion of generational curses and blessings—do children really become their parents? And I’ve also worked with young women who either experienced or have been affected by domestic violence, and so, the story was birthed out of a combination of my own questioning and witnessing.

What Momma Left Me has a bit of a Christian leaning. Did you worry that this would alienate any readers? Why did you decide to have the prayer of the Our Father/Christianity overall play a role in the book?

I was never worried about alienating readers because I believe readers are always taking in new worlds so I figured if Christianity was not a part of the reader’s life, they would accept it as Serenity’s truth.

It was important for me to show a young person struggling with what she believes. Having Christianity play a role in the book was another way of questioning and examining what is passed down from one generation to the next.

I also tend to write close to my reality, and growing up church was definitely a part of my life. I wanted a realistic picture of the black community, and in my experience, the Christian church has always played a role—big or small—in the neighborhoods I grew up in.

What was it like to have A Place Where Hurricanes Happen featured on NBC Nightly News? How did the subject come up?

I was very honored to have A Place Where Hurricanes Happen featured. The illustrator, Shadra Strickland, and I were determined to go to New Orleans and give books to students who inspired the story. We were both so excited to share the experience. It was our first time meeting and sharing the work together. So on many levels, the trip to New Orleans was special.

Top 5 reads you’re looking forward to reading in 2010?

Right now, I’m preparing to teach poetry and theater residencies for the Fall and Winter, so I’m reading poetry books so I can get material to use in the classroom. My Top 5 reads right now are Morning Haiku by Sonia Sanchez, Crowned by Ellen Hagan, Blood Dazzler by Patricia Smith, and I’m also devouring Linda Christensen’s book on teaching about social justice issues through poetry, titled, Teaching for Joy & Justice. But in terms of fiction, Chimamanda Adichie’s collection of short stories, The Thing Around Your Neck, is patiently waiting for me for finish it.

100 words or less how would you describe your work?

Because of my background in poetry, my fiction tends to be lyrical. I write about topics that are important to me, and so, even though I write fiction, my stories are very close to reality.

100 words or less please share your thoughts on

Writing and activism

The two are synonymous to me. In the classroom, when I teach poetry, I am always telling students that their voices are powerful, that their voices can change the world. When I teach the poems of Langston Hughes, Martin Espada, Willie Perdormo, Lucille Clifton, Gwendolyn Brooks, Maya Angelou—and countless others—students see how mighty the pen is. I challenge them to think about how their writing can be used as a weapon against injustice, as a bullhorn for the silent, and a witness to the neglected.