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Showing posts with label Racism. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Racism. Show all posts
Monday, August 07, 2023
Pulitzer Prize-Winning Cartoonist Pens Gut-Wrenching, Powerful Graphic Memoir
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
Once I started reading The Talk, a graphic memoir by Darrin Bell, I couldn't put it down and it's a heavy book—in more ways than one. The title refers to the vital discussion parents must have with their Black children about racism. For boys, especially, this includes instructions on how to act calm, respectful, and non-threatening in any confrontations they have with the police, no matter how unfair or ridiculous the situation might be. Bell, who is bi-racial, was raised in East Los Angeles in the '80s and '90s by his white mother. His parents were divorced, his Black father largely absent from his life, so it was his mom who explained how things were for people with Darrin's skin color. The talk was prompted by the 6-year-old's request for a squirt gun, a plea that ended in his acquisition of a neon green toy that (despite his mother's warning) led to a terrifying run-in with a police officer that deeply traumatized the little boy.
As the book explains, Bell continued to experience acts of blatant racism as he grew up, including being shadowed while shopping, getting shut down by teachers, name-calling from his peers, accusations of plagiarism, profiling by police, and more. He sought solace and escape in his art, where he found his voice as a political cartoonist/satirist. His pointed, provocative, and often controversial ruminations on politics, injustice, prejudice, racism, and more have earned him both accolades and death threats over the years. In 2019, he won a Pulitzer Prize for editorial cartooning, the first Black person to do so.
It's easy to see why Bell's work has earned so much attention. The illustrations in The Talk are top-notch, loose but also vivid and compelling. No less so are his words, which pair with his pictures to create an immensely powerful story. For me—the white mother of an adopted, bi-racial child—the most poignant, heart-wrenching chapter in the book is the final one, in which Bell's 6-year-old son asks his dad about George Floyd. Not having planned to deliver "the talk" until the boy is a bit older, Bell is forced to shatter his child's innocence by talking about the hard truths of living while Black. It's excruciating to read, especially since, in the cartoon face of Bell's child, I see mine.
The Talk is many things: raw, angry, gut-wrenching, timely, impactful, and, yes, hopeful. Surprisingly, it's also funny in parts. I laughed out loud when Bell recalled his mom marching to his school in her bathrobe and curlers to confront the principal. Embarrassed, he pled, "Mom? Couldn't you at least get dressed before ruining my whole life?" While most of the book is very serious, there are moments like these that occasionally lighten the mood. Mostly, though, The Talk is a hard-hitting denunciation of racism and injustice. Like Bell, I also hope that the issues he addresses in the book can be overcome so that our Black children can live in a world that is safer, kinder, and more empathetic toward them. One step in that direction is to read this excellent book, take its message to heart, and use it to confront our own prejudices in order to create a better world for all of its people.
(Readalikes: Surprisingly, I haven't read a lot of other books like this. I should. Which do you recommend?)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for language (no F-bombs), violence, disturbing subject matter, and mild innuendo/sexual content
To the FTC, with love: I received a copy of The Talk from the generous folks at Henry Holt and Company in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!
Monday, February 07, 2022
Dual-Timeline Family Secrets Novel Not As Compelling As It Sounds
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Inara Erickson has always done what's expected of her in order to please her father, an intimidating and successful Seattle businessman. Now that she's out of grad school, though, Inara's not feeling very keen on starting the job she's been offered with Starbucks, especially once she learns the offer is at least partially due to her dad's influence. Instead, she wants to turn the dilapidated house she's just inherited from her aunt into a boutique hotel. It might be crazy, but she knows that with a little remodeling (okay, a lot of remodeling), she can create a calming place of retreat on beautiful Orcas Island. All Inara needs is someone who believes in her ability to make it all come true (preferably someone with a lot of cash to invest in a new hotel).
When Inara discovers a scrap of intricately-embrodiered silk hidden inside a forgotten cubbyhole at her aunt's house, she's puzzled. The fabric appears to be of Chinese origin. Inara's family has lived on Orcas Island for generations and she's never known any Asian people to reside there. How did the scrap come to be there? And why was it hidden away? Sensing an unsolved mystery, Inara begins looking into the history of the house and discovers the heartbreaking story of a young 19th Century Chinese-American woman who swam for her life in order to reach safety, only to find an uncertain future on Orcas Island. Inara feels that something awful must have happened to Lu Mei Lien, but what? And what role did her ancestors play in the woman's disappearance?
I'm always up for a novel that takes me back in time to explore intriguing historical moments, tantalizing family secrets, and the truth lurking beneath placid surfaces. If the story utilizes an always-compelling dual timeline format? All the better! The Girl Who Wrote in Silk by Kelli Estes offers all of these elements, so I was eager to dive into the tale. While the San Juan Islands setting is atmospheric, the characters in this novel aren't nearly as vivid or colorful. They're sympathetic and likable enough that I cared what happened to them, but none of them are the kind of story people I think about after I close the book. The plot is compelling enough that I kept reading (listening, actually), but I never felt so engrossed that I couldn't have walked away from the story. Estes' prose also feels uneven, with patches of melodrama that made me roll my eyes. On the whole, then, I didn't end up loving this novel. I liked it well enough to finish it, though, and that's saying something.
Note: I listened to this book on audio. The narrator, Emily Woo Zeller, is okay. Her voices annoyed me at times, but overall, she's fine.
(Readalikes: I can't think of anything. Can you?)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for brief, mild language (no F-bombs), violence, and disturbing subject matter
To the FTC, with love: Another library fine find
Monday, January 24, 2022
Chamberlain's Newest Heavy-Hitter An Engrossing, Moving Read
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
Round Hill, North Carolina
2010—Both architects, Kayla Carter and her husband designed their dream house together, excitedly anticipating the day they and their young daughter could move in. After a freak accident during the building, Jackson is dead. Now a grieving widow, Kayla can hardly face the idea of living in the home, beautiful as it is. All of her misgivings come to the fore when a strange woman visits her at work, warning her away from the property. It doesn't help when Kayla's new home is vandalized and her own father fills her head with stories about the haunted woods in her backyard. Although she's completely unnerved, Kayla decides no one is going to scare her off her own property. It's time to face her future head on by making the house she and her husband built together into a place of refuge and healing for herself and their beloved daughter.
1965—Raised in a proper Southern household, 20-year-old Ellie Hockley's future has already been written. She'll marry her banker boyfriend, raise a passel of children, and grow old hosting meaningless tea parties and society galas. Longing to do something significant, Ellie decides to join a campaign to help Black people register to vote. Her family and friends react with disbelief, shock, and anger. Defying them all, Ellie goes to work, where she experiences—for the first time—harsh realities like poverty, racism, hate, and violence. As they work together, she finds herself falling for a fellow campaigner, a young Black man named Winston. The forbidden romance will lead to consequences far beyond anything either one of them could imagine...
When Kayla meets Ellie, who has moved in next door temporarily to take care of her elderly mother and terminally ill brother, she learns the real story about what happened during the fateful summer of 1965. Devastating secrets, kept for decades by her father and others, will finally come to light, revealing shocking truths about Round Hill and its residents.
I've enjoyed all of the hard-hitting past/present novels I've read by Diane Chamberlain. Her newest, The Last House on the Street, is no exception. While it's not my favorite of the author's books, it's still a compelling, well-written story that is thought-provoking, moving, and engrossing. The plot is engaging, even if it doesn't contain any real surprises. Kayla, Ellie, and Win are all sympathetic characters, who are easy to root for. None of them is really unique or memorable, but they're all warm, compassionate story people. Although the novel ends on a hopeful note, overall it's pretty sad and depressing. This surprised me as I wanted happier endings for this cast. On the whole, then, I didn't absolutely love this book. I liked it and I will always read more by Diane Chamberlain. The Last House on the Street just isn't my favorite of hers.
(Readalikes: Reminds me of other books by Diane Chamberlain as well as those by Susan Meissner)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for language (one F-bomb, plus milder expletives), violence, mild sexual content, and disturbing subject matter
To the FTC, with love: I received an e-ARC of The Last House on the Street from the generous folks at St. Martin's Press via those at NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!
Saturday, October 23, 2021
Chinese Perspective on Titanic Disaster Makes New YA Novel Unique, Intriguing
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As well-heeled nobs queue up to enter their luxurious cabins on the famed Titanic, the unlikeliest of first-class passengers lines up with them. Valora Luck, a 17-year-old British-Chinese acrobat, should be accompanying her wealthy employer on the trip across the sea. The old woman's surprise demise has left Valora with two unexpected gifts—a ritzy room all to herself and the freedom to do whatever she pleases during the voyage. The young woman intends to use her time to find her twin brother, Jamie, a sailor whom she hasn't seen in two years; persuade him to join her once again as a dynamic acrobatic duo; and convince an influential American circus owner onboard to hire them. No small task, she knows.
When Valora is turned away on the gangplank because of her ethnicity, she's devastated but determined. She will get on Titanic, no matter what it takes. With a little assistance, some sneaky acrobatic moves, and a lot of pluck, she does just that. In order to do what she needs to while on the ship, Valora has to dodge ship security by keeping a low profile, disguising her true identity, and not drawing any attention to herself. She needs to be able to move throughout the entire ship without arousing suspicion. Just as she's finding success, pulling all her goals within reach, disaster strikes. As Valora struggles to save herself and those she loves from an icy death, her future seems to be sinking right along with them. Will she and Jamie live to find acrobatic success in New York City? Or will they, like so many others, go down with the great, "unsinkable" Titanic?
I find the Titanic disaster endlessly fascinating, so when I heard that Stacey Lee—one of my favorite YA historical fiction writers—was penning a novel about the disaster, I was stoked. Especially since the story was to pay homage to the ocean liner's real Chinese passengers. Although there were eight Chinese men aboard Titanic, six of whom survived, their stories have never been told. Unlike other of the ship's refugees, these men were not welcomed warmly in America. Instead, they were shipped off within 24 hours of arriving in the U.S., all but ensuring their plights would be forgotten. Luck of the Titanic is not directly about these men, but it addresses issues of racism, classism, and other challenges Chinese people faced in Europe and America during that period. These elements add intriguing layers to the story, which is also packed with plenty of action and conflict to keep readers turning pages (which I did, finishing the book in a day). Valora is the best kind of storybook heroine. She's daring, determined, kind, loyal, and brave. It's easy to root for her as well as the other very likable characters in the book. While I loved all of these things and more, there's one thing about Luck of the Titanic that I despised: the ending. It took me by surprise, but not in a good way. In fact, the finale made the novel feel unfinished and dissatisfying. I didn't exactly throw Luck of the Titanic at the wall (I bought an expensive hardcover, so I had to be careful) in frustration, but I wanted to, darn it! The ending soured the read for me, which—up until that point—I had been enjoying most thoroughly. Grrr.
(Readalikes: Reminds me of other Titanic novels I've read, which you can see by selecting "R.M.S. Titanic" from the drop-down menu under the "Labels" tab on the left sidebar of my blog)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for brief, mild language (no F-bombs), violence, and scenes of peril
To the FTC, with love: I bought a copy of Luck of the Titanic with a portion of the millions I make from my lucrative career as a book blogger. Ha ha.
Friday, March 12, 2021
Middle Grade #OwnVoices Novel Eye-Opening and Empowering
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Despite the endless hours she works, Mamá always comes home in the evenings to say goodnight to her girls. When she fails to appear one night, Minnie hopes Mamá has just been unable to get away. With no word from her, however, Minnie begins to fear the worst: she's been detained by ICE. Knowing she can't confide in anyone—not even a surprising new school friend—she carries on as best she knows how, trying to keep her sisters calm, fed, and entertained. Nothing seems to go her away, although somehow, the girls seem to be getting a bit of help from the Peques, the Argentine fairies Minnie's younger sisters still believe in.
Even the Peques can't help with Minnie's upcoming audition for Peter Pan. Minnie knows a penniless Latinx girl has no real hope of playing Wendy, but she's desperate to try for the part. Mamá knows how important the audition is to Minnie and promised to be there. Is she really going to miss it? If she could be there, Minnie knows she would be. What has happened to Mamá? She can't conceal her family's situation for much longer, but her mother has always insisted strangers can't be trusted. What is Minnie to do?
Let's be honest here, the cover of On These Magic Shores by Argentine-American Yamile Saied Méndez is...not great. Thank goodness it came to my attention because of The Whitney Awards. Had I seen the book in a library or bookstore, I never would have picked it up. And that would have been a shame because there's a lot to like about this #OwnVoices middle grade novel. It touches on a lot of tough issues—racism, poverty, fear of deportation, children with too much responsibility, etc.—in a way that is eye-opening but also approachable. As Minnie struggles, she learns the value of friendship, forgiveness, asking for help when you need it, and being grateful for what you have even if it's not a lot. Some of the lessons are more subtle than others, but they're all there. Although the plot of On These Magic Shores isn't always logical, the transitions between scenes not always smooth, and the prose a little rough in places, overall the story is engaging and compelling with enough going on to keep me turning pages. The magical realism isn't my favorite element of this novel, but it worked well enough. Character-wise, Minnie and her sisters are sympathetic heroines. Minnie's prickly personality makes her difficult to like, especially when she acts like a victim-y brat. She does grow and change because of her struggles, but she's still a bit hard to take. Others act inconsistently (Maverick, for instance), but they're still a likable lot overall. There are enough issues with On These Magic Shores that I didn't end up loving it. However, it is an eye-opening, empowering, empathy-inducing story. I liked it overall.
(Readalikes: Reminds me of Land of the Cranes by Aida Salazar and Efrén Divided by Ernesto Cisneros)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for scary situations (absent parent, racism, fear of deportation/police, etc.)
To the FTC, with love: I received a finished copy of On These Magic Shores from the generous folks at Lee & Low Books as part of an awards competition I am helping to judge. Thank you!
Wednesday, December 30, 2020
MG Road Trip Novel Warm, Entertaining, and Illuminating
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
G'ma has always been a spitfire, but as they travel, Scoob starts to notice behavior that's strange even for her. Is there a reason she's constantly ducking Dad's phone calls? Is her spur-of-the-moment road trip really about teaching Scoob about the Civil Rights Movement and his own history? Or is G'ma up to something a little more ... criminal?
Clean Getaway by Nic Stone is a warm, enjoyable novel that asks readers to consider a serious question—how far has America really progressed when it comes to race relations? Through the experiences of Scoob and G'ma, which mirror those of G'ma and G'pa in 1963, we can come to our own conclusions. It's an unsettling but important question that all of us, regardless of ethnicity, would do well to ponder. Despite its weighty subject matter, Clean Getaway is a funny book as well as a surprising one. There's plenty of humor as well as mystery and adventure to keep it interesting and appealing. Of course, it's got thoughtful, poignant moments as well, all of which combine to create an engrossing, moving read. In addition to powerful lessons about racism, the book also teaches kids about the importance of knowing your own history and learning from grandparents while acknowledging the messiness of family life as well as the fact that there is always more to a person than what we think we know about them. It's an illuminating book in many ways and one I very much enjoyed.
(Readalikes: Reminds me of When I Hit the Road by Nancy J. Cavanaugh)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for difficult subject matter (racism, parental abandonment, death, etc.) and scenes of peril
To the FTC, with love: Another library fine find
Monday, December 14, 2020
Little Rock Nine Memoir Inspirational and Empowering
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Journalist Melba Patillo Beals was a 15-year-old high school junior when she and eight others became the first Black students to enroll at Little Rock Central High School. Determined to get the same education as her white peers, she endured name-calling, being spat on, death threats, being burned with acid, and hundreds of other humiliations at LRCHS. Although she did not graduate from the institution (she completed her schooling in California, where she boarded with white Quakers), she endured a year of hell there. It was a year that changed her forever. In Warriors Don't Cry, Beals tells her story of both terror and triumph in an intimate, personal memoir that is memorable and moving. The book provides a horrifying but fascinating peek into the history of the Civil Rights Movement, giving readers a gut-wrenching look at what one innocent child had to endure simply because of her skin color. What stands out is Beals' faith, determination, and inner strength. Her story is an important, empowering one that intrigued and inspired me.
(Readalikes: Reminds me of Elizabeth and Hazel: Two Women of Little Rock by David Margolick and The Lions of Little Rock by Kristin Levine)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for language (no F-bombs), racial slurs, violence, scenes of peril, and disturbing subject matter
To the FTC, with love: Another library fine find
Friday, December 11, 2020
MG Fencing Novel Unique and Enlightening
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
At his old junior high, Donte Ellison didn't stand out at all. Now living in a Boston suburb and attending a snobby prep school, he feels like the whole world has turned white. Donte and his brother are both bi-racial, but Trey can "pass" with his lighter skin and straight hair—he's navigating their new school just fine while Donte is constantly bullied.
When Donte's main aggressor takes things too far, Donte decides the only way to get the kid to back down is to beat him at his own game: fencing. With no idea how to play the sport, Donte seeks out an old Black janitor who was once a fencing champion. Arden Jones reluctantly agrees to coach Donte, Trey, and a few other kids. As they learn how to fence, their confidence grows, and their team becomes one that's at least worth a second glance. Now that Donte's managed to channel his anger into mastering a new sport, can he prove himself to the bully? Is revenge even important to him anymore?
(Readalikes: Reminds me of The Other Half of My Heart by Sundee T. Frazier as well as the movie Life of a King. Rhodes' books have also been compared to those by Jason Reynolds and Jacqueline Woodson)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for violence and racial slurs
To the FTC, with love: Another library fine find
Tuesday, December 08, 2020
Unique MG Historical Eye-Opening and Important
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With a white father and a Chinese/Korean mother, 14-year-old Hanna has always been different, never quite fitting in among Asians or Caucasians. She's never stuck out quite as much anywhere as she does in her new town of La Forge in Dakota Territory, though. Although Hanna tries to show people that she's kind and hard-working, a person just like anyone else, the townspeople can't see past her mixed ethnicity. When she walks down the street, they stare and whisper. When she's finally allowed to enroll in school, parents withdraw their children. When she tries to make friends, she's rebuffed. All Hanna wants is to become a successful dressmaker like her mother. Along the way, though, she's desperate to find just one person to be her confidante, one who will accept her for who she is instead of how she looks. Can Hanna achieve her dreams in a place as unfriendly as La Forge? Or will she and her father be forced to move on once again?
Little House on the Prairie was one of my absolute favorite book series growing up. Laura Ingalls Wilder's descriptions of frontier life were so vivid and captivating that they seemed to tell everything there was to know about homesteading on the prairie. Turns out, Wilder left out a few things! With her newest middle-grade novel, Prairie Lotus, veteran children's author Linda Sue Park aims to rectify that. Like the Little House stories, this one describes pioneer life in rich detail, making it come alive for the reader. It's told through a different lens, though, one of prejudice and small-mindedness, not just against Asians but against Native Americans as well. Through smart, brave Hanna we see the courage and resilience that is required not just to do daily battle against these hardships but also to triumph over them. Prairie Lotus ends on a positive, hopeful note, teaching valuable lessons about empathy, inclusion, and standing up for what's right along the way. While I didn't end up absolutely loving the novel, I did find it interesting, important, and eye-opening.
(Readalikes: Reminds me of the Little House on the Prairie books by Laura Ingalls Wilder as well as The Downstairs Girl by Stacey Lee)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for violence and scenes of peril
To the FTC, with love: Another library fine find
Friday, November 06, 2020
Middle Grade Murder Mystery Upbeat and Hopeful
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Like always, Zoe Washington has baking on the brain. If she can convince her mom and stepdad to let her audition for Kids Bake Challenge, she knows she can sweep the competition with her mad skills. She could even end up as a star pastry chef with her own television show! Zoe just has to prove herself so her parents will take her seriously as a budding baker.
From the Desk of Zoe Washington, a middle-grade novel by debut author Janae Marks, is a quick but impactful read. With themes of racism and wrongful conviction, it's a timely read that's as thought-provoking as it is engaging. Although the book deals with heavy subjects, overall it tells an upbeat, hopeful story. Zoe is an easy-to-root-for heroine who's full of spunk and determination. As her eyes are opened to hard truths, she learns some important lessons about family, friendship, forgiveness, and fighting for what matters. Even if Zoe's particular situation is foreign to some readers, the lessons she learns will resonate. They certainly did for me. For all these reasons, I very much enjoyed From the Desk of Zoe Washington and will keep an eye out to see what the talented Marks does next.
(Readalikes: Um, nothing's really coming to mind. You?)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for difficult subject matter and references to murder
To the FTC, with love: Another library fine find
Monday, October 19, 2020
MG Deafness Novel Illuminating and Compelling
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"Deafness is not an affliction. The only thing it stops me from doing is hearing" (95).
In Mary Lambert's community on Martha's Vineyard, 1 in 4 residents is Deaf. Everyone—those who can hear and those who cannot—uses the town's sign language to communicate with each other. In 1805 Chilmark, Deafness is not odd or other. It just is. Eleven-year-old Mary has never felt different or lesser because of her inability to hear. Until things start to change in her world.
When Mary's older brother dies in a tragic accident, Mary's grief is compounded by her guilt. She knows in her broken heart that she caused his death. Then, a scientist from Connecticut shows up in Chilmark eager to study its unique "affliction." Although other Deaf residents are willing to be studied, Mary has no desire to become anyone's "live specimen." When she becomes one by force, she will learn a hard lesson about how Deaf people are treated outside of Chilmark. Can she escape back to her beloved island? Or is Mary doomed to endure a life of servitude, humiliation, and abuse, all because she was born without being able to hear?
Show Me a Sign, a middle-grade novel by Deaf librarian Ann Clare LeZotte, is both fascinating and eye-opening. It's set in a real community, where during the 19th Century Deaf and hearing people intermingled every day, using their own brand of sign language to communicate. Mary's story starts off slowly but the action soon picks up, making for an exciting and compelling tale. Not only does the book explore what it means to be Deaf, especially in a time and place where the condition wasn't understood, but it also teaches some important lessons about ableism, racism (LeZotte draws a not-so subtle parallel between the mistreatment of the Wampanoag people and that of the Deaf), empathy, and standing up for one's self. I don't know how appealing this one will be to young readers, but I found it engaging, illuminating, and thought-provoking.
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for violence, scenes of peril, and scary situations
To the FTC, with love: Another library fine find
Monday, September 28, 2020
Hopeful Family Secrets Novel Thought-Provoking and Touching
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Reporter Elizabeth Balsam will do anything to break a huge story about a local politician's secret involvement in the 1967 Detroit race riots. Her dodgy methods don't get her the scoop, however; they get her sacked. Finding herself with a lot of extra time on her hands all of the sudden, Elizabeth decides to follow up on an odd request from a stranger who asks her to deliver an old camera and a stack of photos to a relative she's never met. Her curiosity is piqued by her visit to Lapeer County, Michigan, where Elizabeth meets Nora Balsam, her great aunt, for the first time. It's clear from the get-go that Nora is hiding a very intriguing story. Her journalistic Spidey senses tingling, Elizabeth determines to uncover her family's secrets. What she finds is a startling tale of love, strength, resilience, courage, tragedy, and a past that isn't nearly as distant as one would think ...
I'm a sucker for books about family secrets, especially those that stretch back through the generations. We Hope for Better Things, a debut novel by Erin Bartels, fits that bill perfectly. It tells a surprising tale that's full of action, romance, mystery, history, and more. The book is populated with likable, sympathetic characters. They're all flawed, imperfect people who struggle through challenges, make mistakes, and yearn for redemption. Plot-wise, this novel is engaging and compelling. Although We Hope for Better Things is a Christian novel (it won a Christy Award last year), it's more inspirational than preachy. Overall, it's an appealing story that is clean, uplifting, thought-provoking, and timely. I enjoyed it very much.
(Readalikes: Reminds me of novels by Susan Meissner and Lisa Wingate)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for violence and mild sexual innuendo/content
To the FTC, with love: I bought a copy of We Hope For Better Things from Amazon with a portion of the millions I make from my lucrative career as a book blogger. Ha ha.
Monday, January 27, 2020
MG Novel Straightforward, Thought-Provoking, and Entertaining
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Twins are rare enough, but 11-year-old Minni King and her sister, Keira, are more unusual still. Children of a Black mother and a white father, Minnie's skin matches her dad's while Keira's is the same shade as their mom's. Their parents have always assured them that what matters most is that they're all part of the strong, tight-knit King Family, but that doesn't mean their unique family doesn't attract plenty of stares and ignorant comments from people in their mostly white Pacific Northwest community.
When the girls' overbearing grandmother calls, insisting Minni and Keira come stay with her in Raleigh, North Carolina, in order to compete in the Miss Black Pearl contest, Keira's over the moon. She's vivacious and gorgeous, the perfect candidate for a
Mingling in a mostly Black society for the first time in her life, Minni feels very, very white. While she struggles to define her own Blackness, she also bristles at her grandmother's constant criticism of Keira. As the sisters each experience racism, prejudice, and confusion about their mixed ethnicities, they will both learn valuable lessons about identity, understanding, sisterhood, and family.
As the white adoptive mother of a bi-racial child, I'm always glad to find books like The Other Half of My Heart by Sundee T. Frazier (who is the daughter of a Black father and a white mother). They open my eyes to issues my daughter will likely face in her life and aid me in knowing how to help her through them. While The Other Half of My Heart tackles issues like race and identity in a blunt, straightforward way, the story is also funny and entertaining enough to keep middle graders reading. The plot's a bit loosey-goosey, but the story moves fast enough to prevent it from getting dull. While the tale is predictable, I still found it enjoyable overall. I listened to this one as an audiobook and especially liked the narrator, Bahni Turpin.
(Readalikes: Reminds me of other novels about being Black (or bi-racial) in a white world, including The Blossoming Universe of Violet Diamond by Brenda Woods; Black Boy, White School by Brian F. Walker; Sell-Out by Ebony Joy Wilkins; SLAY by Brittney Morris; etc.)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
To the FTC, with love: I received a free audiobook of The Other Half of My Heart through a promotion at Audible.
Monday, December 30, 2019
Frankly, It's A Lot of Fun
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
As the child of hardworking Korean immigrants who sacrificed to move to the U.S. in order to give their children a better life, Frank Li is expected to assimilate. But not too much. Although he was born in Southern California and not even his parents use his Korean name, Frank is nevertheless expected to marry a Korean girl. Problem: Koreans are not exactly plentiful in Playa Mesa. Also a problem: Frank has already fallen hard for smart, funny Brit Means, who is white. Thanks to his older sister's marriage to a Black man and her subsequent disownment from the family, Frank knows exactly how his loving (but totally racist) parents react to mixed-race relationships. He can't let them know about his.
Enter Joy Song, the daughter of a couple Frank's parents know from Korea. Joy's got a secret she's keeping from her own racist parents—she's dating a Chinese boy. In order to keep all the adults in the dark, Frank and Joy decide to fake-date each other, a ruse that delights their parents. When things go awry and then awry-er, Frank learns some important lessons about friendship, family, first loves, and forging the future for himself that he really wants.
Frankly in Love by David Yoon is a funny, upbeat story that's more than just a romance. Although the story spends a lot of pages on Frank's fumbling about on his path to true love, it also hits on issues of identity, racism, parental expectations vs. children forging their own paths, the struggles of those with hyphenated identities, and what love really means. Frankly in Love has poignant parts along with humorous ones. Frank's voice is especially engaging. He's funny, self-deprecating, and thoughtful. His friends are a likable bunch; even their flawed, sometimes totally clueless family members feel authentic. The novel gets long, but overall, it's an enjoyable romp that's entertaining, thought-provoking, and fun. I could have done without the strong language and R-rated bits; otherwise, I liked Frankly in Love a lot.
(Readalikes: Um, I can't think of anything. Can you?)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for language, violence, and innuendo/sexual content
To the FTC, with love: Another library fine find
I'm Not Dying With You Tonight An Exciting Thrill-Ride of a Debut
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
When her mother decides to relocate to Venezuela for a job, Campbell Carlson is sent to live with her father in Atlanta. She's trying to fit in in her new environment, but things aren't going well. When she reluctantly volunteers to work the concession stand at a high school football game, Campbell never expects that the night will turn into a frantic race through a rioting city with an unlikely ally by her side. But that's exactly what happens when a fight breaks out at the school and quickly turns into an uncontrollable free-for-all, with fists and racial slurs flying to-and-fro like deadly arrows.
Lena James doesn't know the white girl cowering in the concession stand, but she can tell her pale-faced classmate needs someone with some backbone to help her out of the nightmare happening all around them. Good thing Lena's got backbone to spare. Taking Campbell under her wing, she leads her off school property into the dangerous nearby hood, where the two of them race toward what they think is safety—only to find that nowhere is safe, not with riots breaking out all over the city. Can the two learn to trust each other enough to find their way home? Or will they become victims of the violence that's raging like wildfire through Atlanta?
I'm Not Dying With You Tonight is a debut novel for both Gilly Segal and Kimberly Jones. The book tells a wild, adrenaline-fueled story that had me burning through pages so fast it's a wonder I didn't sprain my wrist! The tale is so intense that I actually had nightmares after reading it. With a white girl in the minority, it offers a unique view of race issues, which is furthered by the dual narrative that shows two different perspectives, highlighting the assumptions and prejudiced thoughts each had about the other. With minimal personal details about either of the girls, I'm Not Dying With You Tonight is hyper-focused on the action, which brings up issues of racism, unfair police targeting, stereotypes, etc., but still keeps the plot moving at a dizzying pace. It's an exciting but thought-provoking novel that will appeal to both thriller and action/adventure fans. Personally, I loved it.
(Readalikes: Reminds me a little of SLAY by Brittney Morris)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for language (a handful of F-bombs, plus milder expletives), violence, blood/gore, innuendo, scenes of peril, and depictions of underage drinking and illegal drug use
To the FTC, with love: I received a finished copy of I'm Not Dying With You Tonight from the generous folks at Sourcebooks for the purpose of Cybils Award judging. Thank you!
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