The Bluest Eye - Happy Anniversary

Claudia from The Bottom of Heaven asked if I wanted to participate in Blogger's roundtable for Toni Morrison's The Bluest Eye, to celebrate its 40 anniversary. There was only one answer I could give YES.* First Happy Anniversary to the Bluest Eye. And thank you Claudia for asking me to participate.


The first time I read The Bluest Eye I was 13 or 14 yrs old. I feel very lucky to have discovered Morrison so early. I missed Mildred Taylor, the same thing could've easily happened with Morrison. The Bluest Eye wasn't school reading, though I do recall my 9th grade English teacher, giving me a list of authors right before the beginning of summer. I am pretty sure Morrison's name was on the list. At the time I was reading a lot of genre fiction books by Stephen King or Silence of the Lambs by Thomas Harris. I was just discovering Black authors. Sure I read James Baldwin, Richard Wright even Donald Goines, but it was the ladies who had me.

Of course alot of The Bluest Eye, was over my head the first time I read it. Though that didn't matter since Morrison's characters and language felt familiar.

Forty years later I will always be thankful for Morrison's first novel. The Bluest Eye opened literary doors for many Black female authors.

Without it I may never of had the chance to read Tina McElroy Ansa, Toni Cade Bambara, Gaylor Naylor, Ntozake Shange, Alice Walker and all the other Black female authors whose stories speak to me like genre fiction never will.
There were a few topics, we could've tackled for this roundtable. I choose - Humanizing Cholly Breedlove: Vilified? Redeemed? How did you respond to this character or how might we read him today?

The first time through Cholly Breedlove was evil. Any man who would hit his wife, set his house of fire and rape is daughter couldn't be anything but evil. Years later when I reread The Bluest Eye, I payed closer attention and noticed there was more to Cholly. I felt compassion towards him.

This was the first time I had to reevaluate my perception towards a particular character after rereading a novel. So I decided to take an even closer look at Cholly.

Cholly Breedlove is Pecola's father. Pecola is the little girl who dreams and wishes for blue eyes. With blue eyes Pecola believes she will be beautiful and loved. Breedlove's are poor and ugly. One is bad but both is unforgivable.

Before Cholly becomes half of a marriage that thrives on conflict, he is a man with potential. Cholly almost lost his chance at being anything. When he was four years old his mother placed him on a junk railroad. He was saved by his great aunt Jimmy.

Cholly's aunt raised him until he was 14yrs old. When she's dies, Cholly ran away to find his father. His aunt took care of him but there was no love. Cholly's went searching for a male role model and someone to love him.
Many young men and women would've been disillusioned to the idea of love if they hadn't already experienced it by the time they were teenagers. But Cholly still believed in love and wasn't afraid seek it out. Since he wanted it so badly, I believe Cholly could've easily returned love properly if he knew how.

There isn't much interaction between Cholly and Pecola until the very end, since he doesn't know how to be a father. Though when one looks closely, its easy to see, if given the chance Cholly would've tried to learn how.

"One winter Pauline discovered she was pregnant. When she told Cholly, he surprised her by being pleased. He began to drink less and come home more often. They eased back into a relationship more like the early days of their marriage." (p121)

The first time I read the scene where Cholly raped Pecola, it was an act of violence with no redemption. The next time my heart went out for Cholly as well. He is a Black man who must admit he failed to protect his daughter from a world that more than willingly to destroy her.

"Her back hunched that way, her head to one side as though crouching from a permanent and unrelieved blow. Why did she have to look so whipped? She was a child - unburdened- why wasn't she happy? The clear statement of her misery was an accusation. He wanted to break her neck - but tenderly. Guilt and impotence rose in a bilious duet. (p161)

It must have been hard for Cholly to face his family knowing (or feeling as if) he failed them, especially Pecola. Daughters are supposed to be protected. Cholly wondered what he could give his daughter, this makes me believe, if Cholly had anything to give he would.

What could he do for her ever? What give her? What could a burned out Black man say to the hunched back of his eleven year old daughter? If he looked into her face, he would see those haunted, loving eyes. The hauntedness would irritate him the love would move him to fury. How dare she love him? Hadn't she any sense at all? What was he supposed to do about that? Return it? How? What could his colloused hands produce to make her smile? What of his knowledge of the world and of life could be useful to her? What could his heavy arms and befuddled brain accomplish that would earn him his own respect, that would in return allow him to accept her love?

Cholly was as much a victim as Pecola. Every time I read The Bluest Eye, I see Cholly clearer. There's little boy who almost never was, the boy who went unloved, the young man who had his first sexual experience ruined by two White men, the young man who was dismissed by the father he never knew, and a man who never learned how to love.

Women Writers of Color: Kyra Davis

Full Name - Kyra Davis
Birth Date - August 22nd
Location - Los Angeles
Website/blog - KyraDavis.com and Kyra's Web Log
Genre- Chick Lit/Women's Fiction

Most recently published work
Vows, Vendettas & A Little Black Dress

Writing Credits
I've had six books published. Five within the Sophie Katz Mystery Series and a novel called So Much For My Happy Ending

How frequently do you update your site?
I try to update my blog three-four times a week

Is your site designed for reader interaction?
I encourage readers to leave comments on my blog (or on my Facebook or Twitter page to which the blog is linked) and I try to respond to reader's questions promptly.

Post of note or something in particular you want readers to check out.
"Yesterday's news," probably isn't as irrelevant in the world of blogging as it is in the world of newspapers but I do think that last week's news lacks...well, if nothing else, immediacy. So rather than point to a blog post that is important to me at this particular moment I would rather encourage readers to check in every few days to see what's going on in the present

How would you describe your work?
The Sophie Katz mysteries feature Sophie who is a hip, multiracial, quick-witted novelist who is constantly stumbling into the path of danger. With the help of her eccentric and diverse group of friends Sophie investigates the crimes that are happening around her and finds ways to bring the bad guys down. It's Sex And The City meets Murder She Wrote. So Much For My Happy Ending is about a woman who discovers that her new husband has a serious psychiatric disorder. It’s the story of her path to self-discovery as she learns to cope with the ramifications of that.

I love your Sophie Katz books. I was very sad there wouldn't be any more. How does an author say goodbye to a series that ends too early?
Well, you don't say goodbye. Shortly before I got the news from my publisher I was talking about the series to this guy I was on a date with. He was a bit of a jerk on a whole but also a VERY successful business man. I joked that I would probably be more financially successful if I started self-publishing the series and he looked at me like I was an idiot and said, "Well of course you would be. You may hold on to your readership for several more books but you're not going to grow it by a significant percentage at this point in the series nor is any publisher going to dedicate a meaningful marketing budget to promote the 6th book in a series that hasn't yet made The New York Times list. If you self publish you'll lose a lot of readers but with social networking you should be able to keep your base and you'll keep one hundred percent of the profits which should make up for the lower circulation. That's obvious." At the time I was slightly (and perhaps unjustly) offended by his intimation that I was being dense for not having already realized all that. Then a month later I got the news that my publishing house was going in a different direction and, out of necessity, I found myself thinking about that conversation again. The reality is that bookstores are, in the face of a tough retail environment, cutting inventory and as a result publishers are focusing all their attention on trying to get as many of their blockbuster books into the stores as possible and are giving less and less attention to driving up the sales for their midlist authors. But with the Internet making up more and more of the market share and with this new ebook revolution (iPad, Kindle, Nook, Google's upcoming ereader and so on) midlist authors may not need to be so reliant on traditional publishing anymore, particularly if they already have a loyal fan base. Of course it's a lot more work that way. You're essentially going into business for yourself. You have to be your own art department (for the cover), editor, publicist, salesperson and so on and so forth. But it's absolutely doable. Since my announcement last week that Mira will no longer be publishing Sophie I have received just under three-hundred emails from readers pledging to purchase the next Sophie book regardless of whether or not I choose to publish it myself or even as an ebook exclusive. With support like that I should be able to keep Sophie alive for a little longer.

Can you tell us a little about Vows, Vendettas and a little Black Dress ?
Sophie Katz attends the engagement party of her best friend Dena Lopiano's cousin, Mary Ann. But the party takes an ugly turn when someone shoots Dena. She was shot in the back while alone in a room and there were no witnesses. Dena survives the assault but it's questionable if she'll ever walk again.

Enraged, Sophie vows to find Dena's attacker. Sophie's boyfriend Anatoly, who is a P.I., tries to convince her to leave the investigating to the police but to no avail. Sophie has known Dena since high school and she's sure she knows everything there is to know about her: her likes and dislikes, her friends, her lovers (past and present) her habits and hobbies, her missteps and successes. Now, as Sophie's loathed to admit, she even knows the color of Dena's blood. Yet Sophie is shocked to find that there actually are an enormous number of people who have a motive for trying to kill Dena. With more suspects than she knows what to do with Sophie sees that she has her work cut out for her. But she won't be deterred even if it means facing down a killer on her own.

Thanks Kyra. I must confess I checked out your blogs for the first time and will probably become a lurker. I am very happy to hear we haven't heard the last of Sophie Katz. Vows Vendetta and a Little Black Dress is out now and its soooo good. My review

The Lady Matador's Hotel: A Novel by Cristina Garcia

Set in a luxury hotel, in a fictional Central American capital. The lives of several guests play out over a week's time. The central character is Suki Palacios, a Japanese Mexican American matador. She's in town for the first ever female bull fighting competition. Suki Palacios is a very memorable character. There is strength in her skill and beauty. She commands the attention of everyone.

The ongoing presidential election is an essential part of the story. This novel is filled with strong female protagonists, including ex guerrilla, Aura Estrada. Aura comes face to face with the colonel responsible for the death of her brother.

Garcia has crafted a beautiful, elegant and lyrical story. Only 205 pages, the author takes the less is more approach. I love novels where there's meaning and purpose behind each word and pause.

"Last night Suki visited the cathedral, off the colonial plaza. It was All Souls Day and the whisperings to the dead rose from the pews, circling in the naves until they hummed with a humid sorrow. Suki trusts in the enigmas of the unknown as she does her own eyesight, or the pumping muscles of her heart. The trick is balancing the measurable known against the vast chaos that defines everything else. In medical school, Suki's professors praised her for her lack of sentimentality but they underestimated her respect for the imperceptible." (from arc)

Cristina Garcia is a bestselling author and National Book Award Finalist. The Lady Matador's Hotel will be released in September. Garcia also as a collection of poetry that will be released in May called The Lesser Tragedy of Death. Don't be surprised if you see that reviewed here in the future.

A Mystery in Miami

Sweet Mary by Liz Balmaseda

Balmaseda is a two time Pulitzer Prize winning journalist and this is her first novel. It was one of my favorite mystery debuts of 2009

Dulce Maria (Mary) Guevara is a single mother and a very successful Miami real estate agent. Mary has worked hard to provide a nice home for her and son, Max. Mary's life is turned upside down when she is mistaken for a drug queen pin. One morning the FBI searches Mary's house and she's arrested in front of her son. After the charges are dropped, Mary realizes the only way to get her life back and not lose custody of her son is to catch the real criminal.

Sweet Mary was such a pleasure to read. I loved it. Mary is a wonderfully crafted character. Part of the beauty of this mystery is Mary comes across as a real person. She is an accidental sleuth, like Laura Lippman's Tess Monaghan or Kyra Davis's Sophie Katz.

One of the many strengths of this story is the relationship between Mary and her best friend Gina Torres. Gina helps search for the real criminal. Balmaseda allows the reader to get a good taste of the city of Miami. Sweet Mary is a wonderful addition to the mystery genre.

Would We Forget?

I recently realized with the exception of genre fiction, like mystery or horror, or funny fiction from authors like David Sedaris or Christopher Moore, I don't read many White male authors. After I had this revelation, one of my first thoughts was what if Women of Color had more say in end of the year best of list, would White male authors be forgotten?

A lot of books come out in any given year, too many for anyone (even professional reviewers) to read. I've always assumed professionals reviewers typically read the books getting a lot of high praise first, next comes the books that they find interesting and could possibly be an undiscovered gem.

Women of color authors are at a real disadvantage with the second category. Maybe I am wrong but I simply don't see many White male reviewers seeking out novels by female authors of color if there isn't any buzz.

Publishers Weekly's Top Ten of 2009, did not include any female authors. Here is PW's 100 Best Books of 2009 I only see two women of color authors on the list. The LA Times favorite fiction of 2009. This time there one woman of color author. NPR's Best Books of 2009. Someone please correct me if I am wrong but I only see four authors of color. NPR's best of list are complied by different people and broken up into categories. I find it ironic that no women of color authors made the Under -The Radar List

USA Today list of the 100 bestselling books of 2009. There is only one author of color on that list. Sapphire, the author of Push. Some may think I am stretching it a bit by including that last list but I don't. Readers seek out and buy books they hear about be it book reviews, awards and end of the year list. To have only one female author of color on that USA Today list is pretty sad. Though looking at this best of list, it doesn't come as a surprise.

When I thought about how many White authors I don't read I could see how this exclusion of Women of color authors could easily happen. Though that doesn't make it right and is not an excuse. If a person is reading for pleasure, its fine to stick to what you know and love. However, when what a person reads influences what others will and will not read, they should seek out more stories.

Looking at those best of list, made me sad and angry. I didn't seek out the lists to prove my point. I simply looked for any I could find. If anyone knows of any mainstream best of list that features several female authors of color please let us know about it. Also looking at those list made me realize, though I may not read a lot of White male authors, I am not that bad. A few White male authors I've read and loved. Richard Price, Dennis Lehane, Wally Lamb, George Pelecanos, Joshua Ferris, Lee Child and David Benioff

If Women of color had more say in what was considered the best fiction, I would like to think we would do a better job of not overlooking the contributions of White male authors. Since we know how it feels to have stories about us, dismissed or unrecognized.

Paper Butterfly: A Mei Wang Mystery: PI in Contemporary China

Paper Butterfly: A Mei Wang Mystery
Diane Wei Liang
Simon & Schuster
May 2009
reviewer: Doret

This is the second Mei Wang mystery. 31, Mei Wang was a police officers on the raise. After being forced out Mei Wang sets up her own PI business in Beijing.

I love mysteries and I have a thing for private investigators. A female PI, is an added bonus. So, I was drawn to the first Mei Wang book, The Eye of Jade last year. I loved Mei Wang. She's strong and smart and refuses to let others tell her how to run her business. Many people think its scandalous and inapporiate that she has a male assistant from the country. I enjoyed Eye of Jade and there's obvious growth in Paper Butterfly. I love an author who is willing to give more with each book.

Mei Wang is hired by a record company to find a pop star before a big concert. As with Eye of Jade, Liang gives the reader a excellent look at China's political history. Mei Wang search forces her to remember what happened in Tiananmen Square ten years ago. She believes solving this case will help make amends for not taking a stand than.

Liang's writing is very smooth, she easily incorporates facts about China into the story. I loved that this series is set in contemporary China and not during WWII. Liang's is doing an excellent job of developing Mei Liang. Like any good P.I. she has some personal issue to deal with. Creating issues is not hard, the difficulty lies in getting readers to care; Liang does this with ease. I highly recommend the Mei Wang novels for anyone who enjoys PI mysteries or novels set in China.

Perfect Shot: Rigaud's Got Game

Perfect Shot
Debbie Rigaud
Simon & Schuster
2009
Reviewer: Doret

I love when a book gives exactly what it promises with good writing and no unnecessary tricks like out of the blue Vampires. Perfect Shot was such a joy to read. If I had known I was going to enjoy it has much as I did, I would've read it sooner.

15-year-old London is a volleyball star. She's working part time at an art store to raise money for volleyball summer camp. A guy (Brent) catches London's attention at the art store. She soons finds herself accidentally entering a modeling competition to catch Brent's attention, a photography intern.

London doesn't feel like she fits in with the other girls. Rigaud does a great job of developing and creating a very likable character in London. Yes, she's tall and beautiful but she's still unsure because of all the name calling in middle school. So its easy why London would feel insecure around the other contestants. Plus, London is more sporty than fashion. It's her best friend Pam that has the eye for fashion.

London's biggest competition is an old frenemy, Kelly. I loved the contest. Think, Next Top Model but online with believable challenges. The Perfect Shot was a whole lot of fun to read. I laughed out loud many times.

Perfect Shot is a part of Simon & Schuster's Romantic Comedy series. It's the first one that features Black characters. It's was so nice to read a light, fun and well written YA book with characters of color. Ages 11 up. Only $6.99

While reading Perfect Shot, I thought of Love at First Click by Elizabeth Chandler. Another great Sports & Boys (S&B) chick lit read.

There's also The Ex Games (snowboarding) by Jennifer Echols

Sports & Boys chick lit is a beautiful thing.

Doret Interviews Debbie Rigaud

Thanks to Doret, we present an interview with author, Debbie Rigaud. You can find Part I of their interview at Happy Nappy Bookseller and we'll follow up Doret's review of Perfect Shot tomorrow.

Perfect Shot is your first novel, though you've been published before,
including an essay for a collection called Transculturalism. Can you tell us a little about "Voodoo Ray?"

Sure. Let me first point out that I had nothing to do with the title of my essay, "Voodoo Ray." It was only when the book was already published that I saw the title it was given. But I was grateful for the opportunity to
contribute a piece about growing up Haitian-American. I guess the essay grew from my frustration with narrow and often rude reactions to my Haitian heritage. Once people learned about my background, their response usually was voodoo, boat people, ugly people, or that poorest country phrase we've heard a zillion times. To my face.

Seldom did it register for most people to mention Haiti's unique history. A hugely successful rebellion took place there, albeit at a significant cost. I've always felt that Haitians sacrificed so much for the sake of human rights throughout the New World, yet their descendants are made to feel ashamed or on the defense about who they are and where they come from. *quietly steps down from soap box*

I did do a slight double take at the title. Debbie, please get back on your soap box. How did the Haitian revoultion impact human rights of the New World? Do you have a family connection to the revoultion?

LOL! The reason I don't like to stay in my soapbox for too long is because at heart, I'm really just a new age girlie who'd rather join hands and sing Kumbaya. But my experiences in life have taught me that it's important to know a bit of your history. Speaking of which, The Black Jacobins by C.L.R. James is a good book about the Haitian revolution. Andyes, on my dad's side, I do have a connection to the revolution, a great-great-great (great?) grandfather was a revolutionary leader.

I thought your essay in Transculturalism was informative, powerful and question raising. Why do you think Toussaint Louverture and other Haitian revolutionaries go unrecognized?

Good question. It could have to do with the singular role that they play in history. These revolutionary heroes led successful slave rebellions against celebrated giants like Napoleon and formidable forces like the British regiments. I had a discussion with a British friend, who thought I was making wild claims when I told him about the Haitian Revolution. Only after he consulted history books and did independent research did he believe me. It's always cool when a friendly exchange leads us to learn something fascinating about a persons, back story.

I agree, its nice when people actually listen (and hear) and learn from each other.It's very rare especially when politics and nationalities are involved. Debbie, can you tell us a little about your recent fund-raiser for Haiti?

Here in Bermuda, there are two local charities who have a history of doing amazing work in Haiti. After the quake, a group of us organized a few fundraisers in support of these two charities. Both of which have medical teams treating survivors in and outside of the Haitian capital. Most recently, we held an island-wide tag day that helped raised thousands of dollars for Haiti.

Everytime I hear of a new fund-raiser for Haiti, it gives me hope and reminds me that people still care..

What do you think will happen in Haiti? What would you like to see happen?

Like everyone else, I hope that the country rebuilds with an improved infrastructure. Among Haitian-Americans and other Haitians living abroad, there's been talk of playing a significant role in that process, which is great. A lot of people who left Haiti decades ago are planning on returning home to lend their expertise or assist in any capacity that they can.

Debbie- Thank you so much for taking the time to answer these questions. I hope people will read this and be encouraged to look for more answers.

Yes. And I also hope that the next time a teen is selected to take on a singular role, she's inspired to instead ask, Why not me?

A Haitian Ghost : Ruined by Paula Morris

Ruined
Paula Morris
Point
2009

Rebecca Brown and her dad have always lived in NYC. Mr. Brown, travels on occasion for work. This time he will be gone too long for a neighbor to watch Rebecca. Rebecca is headed to New Orleans to live with a woman she has only meet once, Claudia and her twelve-year-old daughter, Aurelia. In order to get into the exclusive academy for her sophomore year, Rebecca must pretend she is Claudia's niece. Rebecca gets along very well with Aunt Claudia and Aurelia which is good since they live in a shotgun house and there isn't much room.

Rebecca doesn't care much for New Orleans. Everyone seems concerned with money, family ties, status and who knows who. At Rebecca's new school, the students from the most connected families are known simply as Them. The Gray's, Bowman's and Sutton's are the core families.
Helena Bowman and Marianne Sutton are the It girls at Mead Academy. Rebecca doesn't like or trust either. There's only one living person Rebecca enjoys spending time with Anton Gray. Both know their relationship would not be accepted so they do their best to keep it a secret. The only other friend Rebecca has is Lisette, a ghost. Lisette is around Rebecca's age, she died in 1853 under suspicious circumstances. Lisette has been haunting the cemetery, across from Aunt Claudia's house since her death. She can't go in peace until the truth comes out. When Lisette was alive she was a free person of color. She and her mother lived in Faubourg Treme. Rebecca spends much of her time in the cemetery talking to Lisette.

The author does a wonderful job of incorporating a lot of New Orleans rich history:

Rebecca decided to smuggle her homemade sandwich in to the library. She liked looking at the maps of Louisiana and the Caribbean, back when France and Spain and Britain were fighting over territory and power. It made her think of pirates and buccaneers, of plantation ladies and dashing explorers though, she knew, this was a naive and romantic view. Back in the days when Haiti was called Saint-Dominique, it was known as the Pearl of the Antilles, a place of incredible riches where the French produced sugar and coffer and rum for their entire empire. But this was only possible because of hundreds of thousands of slaves. And the brutal treatment of these people led to the slave rebellion and Haitian revolution, which was incredibly bloody and terrible. Rebecca's class had been story it in history. Anyone with the means to escape Haiti fled the fighting and thousands of these refugees came to New Orleans like Lisette's grandparents. With them they'd brought their music and their food and their religion, voodoo. According to her teacher they changed the the culture of New Orleans forever. And now, since the hurricane, people had moved to the city from Mexico and Central America, to work on rebuilding houses; the city would change again.

After I read the passage, I knew it was the one I would share, though I had many to choose from. I especially loved when Lisette gives Rebecca a tour of New Orleans. The two hold hands so Rebecca can see the many ghosts of the city. The ghosts speak many languages and are of many ethnic backgrounds. This was one of my favorite scenes in the book. It was a pleasure to visualize the two walking down the streets of New Orleans invisible to the living.

Sometimes, with a novel when one part of the story thrives with life the other part suffers. This didn't happen with Ruined. The author has written a beautiful story all around. I loved it.
I must thank Casey at Bookworm 4life for bringing this book to my attention. I have a thing for novels with ghost especially with a hint of a mystery. While Ruined was on my radar when I found out Lisette was Haitian I bumped it up on my reading queue. I am very happy I did. Every time a customer mentions New Orleans I am quick to put Ruined in their hands. Ages 14up.

________________________________________________________
Doret knows YA. She's bookseller, reader and reviewer. When she's not helping here with lists and other features here at Color Online, Doret blogs at Happy Nappy Bookseller. Check her out.

Open Letter To Bloomsbury

Dear Bloomsbury:

By the time you read this I'll be gone. I will be off reading, selling and promoting books by any other house. It pains me to have to write this letter, but you left me no choice. After the Liar cover controversy, I thought we understood each other better. Obviously I was wrong. I will spell it out for you now. I will give you a little customer insight so maybe you'll find a way to win a few of us back. I am not the only one who has decided to say no to Bloomsbury, nor am I the first and I won't be the last. It wasn't the lack of a Brown face on the Liar cover that caused the outrage. It was the whitewashing.

How long did you think it would take before people started take notice of this new cover lie? When did you realize that you couldn't get away with putting a White girl on the cover of Dolamore's YA debut Magic Under Glass where the main character is clearly a person of color. When did you start to sweat, Bloomsbury? Was it here or here, or how about here.

Yes, it took a moment but people are talking and no one is shutting up anytime soon. We may disagree about how change should come about but we all agree it's necessary. Bloomsbury, when you decided to whitewash yet another YA cover, you left me no choice. Boycott it is. I hate that I must do this but its pretty clear the only thing you care about, is your bottom line.

I had a few Bloomsbury titles in my hand selling repertoire, no more. I refuse to go on business as usual like nothing is wrong. We've come to a very ugly place and we didn't even have to be here. There is no law that requires all YA books have cover faces. Bloomsbury, you don't want to put Brown faces on your covers, fine. But, that doesn't give you the right to insult and disrespect me with whitewashed covers.

I can't promote or sell books by a publishing house that regularly enforces the idea that Brown isn't good enough. Bloomsbury, I won't help you profit while you willingly let teens of color doubt their self worth. Boycotting was not an easy decision for me.

It still makes me sick to think what I am doing will hurt authors, who have done nothing wrong. Isn't that what you want Bloomsbury, potential boycotters to worry how their actions will impact authors careers and livelihoods? Bloomsbury, I wouldn't put it past you, to bank on this well placed concern for authors as protection against a financial hit.

It was this last bit of thinking that sold me on the idea that boycotting was the right thing (for me ) to do. Bloomsbury, if you cared about your authors and readers, you would not have put us in this situation. There will be more booksellers and even book buyers who will decide to say no to Bloomsbury.

The only Bloomsbury title I will actively sell is Larbalestier's Liar to prove Brown can sell. I know it doesn't sell as well as White but who's fault is that. Publishers deemed White girls the only worthy girls on YA covers a long time ago. It will take time to correct the brainwashing.

There is one title I am on the fence about saying goodbye to Cook's Our Children Can Soar Bloomsbury please, tell me why you decided to publish Our Children Can Soar, when you routinely step on the wings of many young people with your only White is right cover complex.

The Montgomery Bus Boycott lasted 382 days. That took love, faith, strength and determination. Many people risked so much to bring about change. This in comparison is nothing. I will do what I deem necessary for change and say no to Bloomsbury.

*Thanks Doret for allowing me to republish this here.
Special thanks to Terri for creating our Boycott page

Color it Up II: Doret Talks Books

I usually don't know ahead of time what my non review post will be. This particular idea came to me while I was reading Amber Kizer's new YA novel Meridian. I've already finished and really enjoyed the book. ( my review )

Here's a quick back story: In the novel, since Meridian was small animals have been dying around her. As she got older the animals got bigger. On her 16th birthday Meridian sent to live with an Aunt, who will explain Meridian powers. She is a Fenestra, a window, helping people move on to the afterlife. For her safety Meridan must the bus to her Aunt's in Colorado. While at the bus depot Meridan helps translate for an older women. When they get to Colorado the woman's daughter Dr. Portalso -Marquez thanks Meridian for help her mother. When I read that, I was like What! a Latina doctor. That is just one example of color in this novel. I don't think it was a concidence that this was the last novel I read in 2009.


*I think its fitting that I would end the year reading a book with a protagonist that does not exist in a color free world. It made me think of all the other books that I've read like that this year that have embraced diversity.

Luv YA Bunches by Lauren Myracle - This is a great book. How often do you see a MG book with a Muslim girl that's not historical fiction. How often do you see an MG book where one of the main characters has two moms. Myracle has all of this diversity, like its the most natural thing in the world.



NERDS: by Michael Buckley This book is so much fun. Not only is the cast diverse, just like Luv YA Bunches so is the cover. Thank you Abrams books. This is book one in the series. Each character will get a chance to be in the spotlight. I have no problems with the author starting with the White male protagonist. Its always easier to start with the familar. Though I have my fingers crossed that the next character the author decides to show case is a character of color.



Ruined by Paula Morris - This is one of my favorite novels on the year. The Haitian ghost was unexpected and loved. The author gives alot of New Orleans history along with the history of Haitian in the city. My review If you get a chance watch the book trailer, it's great.



Devil's Kiss by Sarwat Chadda - I thought this novel was great. I discovered it thanks to a wonderful interview with the author over at Finding Wonderland. Chadda said many things that made me want to pick up his first YA novel

Including
What's interesting is the feedback I've had from some schools regarding the religious and ethnic mix of the characters. Again it was just how I see the world, so that's what I wrote.

Skunk Girl by Sheba Karim - I loved the main character Nina Khan. Some of my favorite scenes of this book were of Nina eating lunch with her friends and their boyfriends. The divesity with seamless and natural. It just was and it didn't hurt that the scenes were well written and funny.


The Ring by Bobbie Pyron -I really enjoyed this one and I loved the MC, Mardie. If any of these novels could have easily had an all White cast it would be this book. The story of a White girl in Colorado who starts boxing to deal with her problems. Though not only are there Black and Latino secondary characters, the author takes the time to develop their story lines.




Liar by Justine Larbalestier - Micah is one of the most original protagonist I've read in awhile. Though if you think Liar made this list just because the MC is Black, you'd be wrong. Its here because Liar is set in current day NYC and some of Micah's teacher last names give hint at their ethnicity. (imagine that) and Zach the boy who is murdered is called a White Latino by his friends. (I did a double take when I read that, didn't realize White people knew there was a difference)

All of these authors found their own way to add color to their novels. I hate the fact that I am still surprised when I find color in MG and YA novels. I shouldn't want to tell everyone that there is a Black, Latina, Muslim, Indian, Asian character in such a such novel. Its 2010 Color should no longer be the exception it should be the norm. Novels should reflect reality. I am over books with multiple White protagonists and no people of color . Now, I am not looking for forced diveristy. I hate that just as much as a colorless world. I don't expect or want every group of friends to be rainbow colored that is not reality. Though there is no excuse for a color free book with 3 or more White protagonists. I expect these friends to interact and talk to other people besides each other. (I am so over the TV show Friends the World is all White fake reality. ) I don't need want or expect a character of color be a main character or even a secondary character all the time. What I do expect is that people of color are recognized and not forgotten. It doesn't even have to be big. It can be something as small as an MC noticing that a store owner reads his national paper everyday.(insert the name of said paper, good to go) The diversity bar is so low right now. Readers who want it , love it and seek it out are willing to accept almost anything. So make the effort.

*originally this article appeared at Happy Nappy Bookseller.

Color It Up:The Top 100 Children's Fictional Chapter Books Poll

Children's blogger, Betsy Bird of Fuse #8 Production, over at School Library Journal recently announced a new poll. The Top 100 Children's Fictional Chapter Books.

Everyone has until January 31, send along there 10 top middle grade choices of all time. When I saw the announcement, I knew that the majority of my selections would feature kids of color. I would be to able to vote for Juster's The Phantom Tollbooth , Paterson's Bridge to Terabithia, Konigsurg's The View from Saturday or any number of middle grade novels with White protagonists that I love and deserve to be on the list. But I can't. With my picks I am striving for a little color balance. I don't feel bad or guilty about the way I will vote. I love color in fiction but I am not blinded by it. I don't lower my standards or exceptions simply because a book has characters of color.

I haven't sent my 10 top middle grade choices yet. Haven't even written them down. They're still floating around in my head. Though I am happy they're there because I can remember what I loved about them and why they're deserving of my vote. If you think what I am doing isn't necessary then take a look at the results of last year's 100 Picture Book Poll results. I recommend more then a few of those titles on a regular basis at the bookstore where I work. It's a great list of titles but its also noticeably lacking in color.

I can't complain about last year's results since I didn't vote or take the time to ask others to remember color when choosing their favorite picture books. I am asking now - if you are taking part in the poll, please consider coloring it up. Please take a moment to think about middle grade novels with characters of color like Flake's Money Hungry, Garcia's I Wanna Be Your Shoebox
or Lin's The Year of the Dog.

Blessing's Bead

Blessing's Bead

Debby Dahl Edwardson
Farrar, Straus and Giroux
2009

This is a family generational story that ends in 1989 and begins in 1917. Book I is Nutaaq's story. Her family are Inupiaq Eskimos. At Sheshlalik, the annual trade fair Nutaaq's older sister Aaluk marries a young man from Siberia. Before Aaluk sails off with her new family she gives Nutaag two Blue Beads which are believed to calm the spirits. That is the last gift that will ever past between the sisters.

Thanks to Ice Curtain,the borders between Alaska and Russia are closed. Families are now seperated by an ocean. Nutaaq's story is just under 60 pages, but the author manages to paint a clear picture of the Inupiaq people. From the first page I was quickly taken by the authors writing.


Book II is Blessing's story. Her Eskimo name is Nutaaq, named after her great-grandmother. Blessing and her younger brother, Isaac are sent to live with Aaka, their grandmother when its discovered their mother is drinking too much. Aaka's Eskimo name is Aaluk, named after the aunt she never meant. Nutaaq and her grandmother are connected by to their Eskimo names.

Blessing and Isaac are now surrounded by family they hardly known. Blessing's story is as captivating as her great- grandmother's. She slowly begins to understand the strength of her name and find the rhythm to an Inupiaq dance buried deep inside her consciousness. Blessing's Bead was a real joy to read. Edwardson's writing is straight forward kind of beauty. I loved it.

The author's interviewed @ Jacket Knack
The author @ Cynsations

One Crazy Summer: Time Well Spent

One Crazy Summer
Rita Williams-Garcia
Amistad
January 2010
reviewer: Doret

One Crazy Summer by Rita Williams-Garcia It's 1968, three sisters, 11-year-old Delphine, 9-year-old Vonetta and 7-year-old Fern will be spending the summer with their mother in Oakland, CA. They live in Brooklyn, NY, their dad and grandmother, Big Ma. Their dad decided it was time they got to know their mother. I loved these girls voices. They rang true and familiar.

The sisters call their mother by her first name, Cecile. She left right after Fern was born. The girls quickly realize they will have to keep themselves occupied for the summer. Cecile is a poet and not maternal. The kitchen is her workspace and it's off limits to the girls.

At night they eat takeout on the living room floor. In the mornings, the sisters go to the People's Center, for the free breakfast provided by the Black Panther's. They stay for the program, which is taught by Sister Mukumbu. The author gives glimpses into lessons being taught at the center, though it's really from the girls' actions that we understand the impact the Black Panthers have on them.

The sisters attend the summer program throughout their stay in Oakland. At the end of the summer, the Black Panthers have a rally in the park for 17-year-old Bobby Hutton. He was the first member of the Black Panthers and was shot down in his underwear, while trying to surrender. The Panthers want the park to be named in his honor. The children of the summer program are allowed to participate. The sisters decide to recite one of Cecile's poems. It's a beautiful poem, that I've read several times. It reminds me of Nikki Giovanni's "Ego Tripping."

If I had to guess, I'd say Williams-Garcia spent time with these sisters before she let them out in the world. Their relationship is natural and believable. Though it's Delphine voice, we hear most often, the author gives each girl a distinct personality.

I smiled my way though this book. It's filled with an honesty I love to see in middle grade fiction. The sisters are simply beautiful. There isn't much middle grade historical fiction featuring Black characters that at some parts warm your heart making you laugh out loud, then just as quickly teaches something. I wish this book was around when I was younger, I would've swallowed it whole.

The Black Panthers are a very important part of history, but they've been ignored until this year's release of The Rock and The River by Kekla Magoon and soon One Crazy Summer. It's inevitable that these two novels will be compared. I think it would be best if they were simply paired. Though both books are about the Black Panthers, the authors' approaches are different. There is no better, just another way.

One Crazy Summer scheduled release date is January 26. I highly recommend pre-ordering it right now. Ages 9 up.

While you wait if you haven't already, check out the above mentioned The Rock and The River by Magoon or Williams- Garcia's recent YA release Jumped, which is a National Book Award finalist this year.

The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms: Book One of the Inheritance Triology

The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms
N.K. Jemisin
Orbit
February 2010
reviewer: Doret

Yeine Darr is only 19-yrs-old and already a chieftain among her people, the Darr. They are the outcast and barbarians of the north. Yeine's father is Darr but her mother is Arameri. The Arameris are a powerful people. They have gods on their side, literally. The Arameris have four gods enslaved since the gods' war to ensure their continued influence. Yeine's mother was the rightful heir to throne, but she left it all behind for Yeine's father. After the sudden death of her mother, Yeine is called to the City of Sky, home of the Arameri.There she is named heiress to the king, (her grandfather), along with two cousins. The three will fight amongst themselves to see who will succeed the king. Yeine has Arameri blood but none of their characteristics. She must learn quickly in order to challenge her cousins. Yeine needs allies fast to protect herself and her people, the gods are an option.

Yeine's voice is quickly established. Through her we begin to understand the world, the author's created. It's a world where gods were once its sole inhabitants and their bickering lead to their downfall. Now the gods belong to the Arameri. At first I couldn't grasp gods being imprisoned by man though the author is very convincing. It didn't take long for me to believe it and lose myself in the world she created. Jemisin's writing is straightforward, visually appealing with the right amount of action and the unexpected. I was captured by it.

This is one of those books, once I started, I couldn't stop. I simply had to keep turning the pages. This need to keep reading was do it part to wanting to know if or how Yeine would establish herself among the Arameri people. Then there were the gods, my heart went out to them, for their loss and enslavement. Yeine's relationship with the gods is fragile and undefinable. With one god in particular, Nahadoth, this is especially true. Nahadoth is power; he will do an Arameri's biding though the question must be worded correctly otherwise he won't stop until all is destroyed. There are layers of tension, sexual being one of them between Yeine and Nahadoth. Their relationship is complicated, the dynamics always changing.

The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms is book one of the Inheritance trilogy. Jemisin has written a lovely foundation with this first book.She manages to establish the past the and present at the same time. Though readers will be drawn to Yeine, the gods, and the battle to rule Arameri, they will first be drawn to the wonderful cover created by Cliff Nielsen. I am of the opinion that the cover art is as important if not more than the words themselves for first time authors. The cover of The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms is eye-catching. Nielsen has given readers a reason to stop and take notice. The story's premise will hold them and Jemisin's writing won't let them go.
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Doret knows YA and more. She's bookseller, reader and reviewer. When she's not helping me with lists,"What Do I Read Next?" and any number of other features here at Color Online, she's blogging at Happy Nappy Bookseller. Check her out.

I Wanna Be Your Shoebox

I Wanna Be Your Shoebox
Christina Garcia
Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing
2008
Reviewer: Doret

I loved this book. Yumi Ruiz Hirsch is Cuban, Jewish and Japanese. She's also surfer/skater boarder, classical clarinetist, who loves good rock ( Ramones), and she plays a decent bass guitar. Garcia refused to limit who Yumi was and who she could become. The summer is over, Yumi is returning from Surfer's camp, she'll be entering the 8th grade. Yumi's lives with her mother. Her parents have been divorced since she was one. Yumi is very close to Saul her Jewish grandfather. Saul is ninety-two and dying of cancer. Yumi asks Saul to tell his story and he does. The story alternates between Yumi's everyday life and visiting Saul.

Much is going on in Yumi's life. Her mom is dating for the first time in years and due to a lack of funds, the school orchestra is being discontinued. To save the orchestra, the members decide to put on a rock concert with classical instruments. Yumi is one of the students who takes charge. It was her idea.

How about a fund raising concert? I suggest. Maybe an all girl punk band. Dad says you can play punk with three chords and lots of attitude, so how hard could it be? I figure we could cover a couple of great Ramones songs, maybe write one of our own. In less than five minutes everyone is already fighting over a name for our nonexistent band. I'm in favor of Don't Call Me Miss. the other contenders are Testosterone Free Zone (TFZ), The Anastasia's, Kisses for a Dollar, the Neo-Cramps, and Nasty Girl. Quincy complains that boys shouldn't be excluded from the band and says he'll play in drag if he has to. Believe me, at six foot two and one hundred seventy pounds, that would not be a pretty sight.

I loved this book from the beginning. Garcia's created a wonderful character in Yumi. The ending reminded me of another book I loved Kephart's, House of Dance. I knew Saul was going to die, but it's still sad. The authors don't want the readers to linger on death but to look forward and they look to dance as a way to embrace life. This book came out in 2008, I only just heard about it last recently. I Wanna be Your Shoebox is a book diamond. I loved this book so much I will be reading Garcia's adult novelDreaming in Cuban, next. I don't usually read two books by an author so close together but I Wanna be Your Shoebox was so good I am making an exception. Ages 9 up. I highly recommend it. An excellent book club selection. I read the hardcover edition but I like the look of the QP better so that's the one I used. The paperback will be released on Sept 22. though this book is hardcover worthy. Or simply check your local library. Read an excerpt. As an added bonus here's Dreaming in Cuban Google Preview.

If you're thinking, "Oh my an added bonus, I've never seen that before. This book must be extra special," You would be correct. So go get your hands on a copy of I Wanna Be Your Shoebox.
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Doret knows YA. She's bookseller, reader and reviewer. When she's not helping me with lists and "What Do I Read Next?" and any number of other features here at Color Online, Doret blogs at Happy Nappy Bookseller. Check her out.

What Do I Read Next? Friends Matter

Susan and I are still waiting on requests, until then we are happy to give suggestions. Today we're talking about friends. One of the great things about reading novels featuring friends is a reader can find a piece of themselves in one or all the characters. It's also a pleasure to watch the friendships develop. We recommend the following list of YA books featuring groups of friends:

Skunk Girl by Sheba Karim. I really enjoyed this novel. I believe this is the only book on this list where friendship isn't obvious from the summary. The author does an excellent job of developing Bridget and Helena, the best friends of the main character Nina. I absolutely loved the easy banter and diversity of the lunch scenes that included the best friends' boy friends.

Its Chicks by Tia Williams. If you're looking for a fun, laugh out loud read, filled with a little drama I highly recommend this series. See feature on Tia Williams at The Brown Bookshelf.

Who's Your Daddy? by Lynda Sandoval

Chicks Ahoy by Lynda Sandoval. I haven't read either of the Sandval titles (yet) but they both look like fun.


Chameleon by Charles R Smith Jr. This is one of the most overlooked titles of '08. It's a great book. Readers get to know four friends. Its '80s Compton, the summer before the boys will go to high school. Read review at Happy Nappy Bookseller.

Temptress of Four by Gaby Triana

Rogelia's House of Magic by Jamie Martinez Wood






So Not the Drama by Paula Chase - Fans of Harrison's Clique series my find a new series to love. You can read Ari's review at Reading In Color.

Mexican White Boy by Matt de la Pena. I loved this book. The author took the time to develop the friendships between the main characters.


Girls Stay in the Picture by Melissa de la Cruz. I love this cover.


Lip Gloss Chronicles by Shelia M. Goss. Check out the feature at the Brown Bookshelf.


If after you reading this list, your first thought is,"What about this?" or "I can't believe you forgot that?," please add the forgotten or unknown title to the comment box. If something looks interesting, please tell us what is and why.

Did this work for? What should we talk about next week? We need your feedback. Thanks.

Shades of Love. This symbol and tag will be used to help you readily identify posts focused on children and YA literature. We're going to do our best to consistently use this and other markers to help you navigate here at Color Online. Click on the tag to find more Shades of Love titles.