Recommded Summer Vacation Reads

A few months back, someone sent me a copy of Saving Maddie by Varian Johnson (See Ari's review). I carried the book with me on my bus commute with the intent to read it over a couple of rides and lunches at work. Well when I got to work, I shared the book with a co-worker whose son is a reluctant reader. She's always looking for something for him. Without thinking, I offered the book. Later when I asked her if he liked it she told me her son started reading it but she could tell he was reading it because she wanted him to so she gave it to her niece (she wasn't happy about the girl's normal reading choices). She said her niece immediately got into the book so much so she apparently told her cousin about the story then he wanted it back. When the niece finished the book, my friend asked if her son could finish reading it. This go round he, too, became engrossed with the book staying up late to read, something my friend says never happens. When he was done with the book, his younger sister wanted to read it so he gave it to her without telling his mom he had finished. In the end my gifted, soft cover book endured a real good wearing from three teens. My co-worker felt so bad about the condition of the book, she got me a hard cover. So to Varian, I apologize for not reviewing your latest but I hope you and other readers will appreciate how well received the book was among these teens, two of whom are preacher kids.

Before summer I read Tortilla Sun by Jennifer Cervantes. I wrote about it though not a full review. Loved it. Before I went on leave I shared this book with the same co-worker mentioned above. I'm pretty sure I know what she's going to say.

Next is One Crazy Summer by Rita Williams Garcia. I love this author's work and this book is no exception. Do check out the video clip at Zetta Eliott's blog. I was twenty pages shy of finishing when I made the same mistake of sharing a book too soon. I told a friend of my daughter's how much I enjoyed it. Actually, she had come to see my daughter and while waiting she noticed the book on the hallway bookcase ( my daughter's friends often eye my books and then shyly they will sometimes ask to borrow one). I watched her her read the book titles and I knew she was going to ask. I started to say let me finish but I couldn't risk her not coming back (she's actually a regular reader and likely would ask) but I seize all opportunities to give kids books.

Last book is Elizabeti's Doll by Stephanie Stuve-Bodeen. I received this book from the publisher. It's a lovely book about a little girl who wants to emulate her mother. Her mom recently had a new baby and Elizabeti wants one to care for, too. The story takes place in Tanzania. The little girl doesn't own a doll so she searches for something to be her baby. She settles for an oval not to heavy or large rock. She takes good care of her baby. She makes the sweetest comments such as she's relieved her baby doesn't make the same mess in her cloth like her new baby brother does. Really enjoyed this. Look for it.

A Book and a Prayer: The Negro Speaks of Rivers

The Negro Speaks of Rivers, illustrated by E. B. Lewis
Langston Hughes
Disney - Jump at the Sun Books
2009

I picked up this book for a couple of reasons, first because its the Coretta Scott King (Illustrator) Honor Book and the poem is by Langston Hughes. I confess I didn't know who E. B. Lewis is but after reading this book, I made it my business to learn more about the illustrator.

While I knew the poem and enjoyed it, I can tell you reading it in concert with Lewis' illustration is an entirely new experience. In fact, I'm going to say the experience was to borrow Lewis' description, spiritual. Lewis writes that he knew the poem from his boyhood but when he got the assignment he experienced the text in a whole new way. He said he recited the poem over and over until it became like a prayer and you feel that as you turn each page. There is a reverence, a peace, a kind of beauty that washes over you.

I shared my borrowed copy with several co-workers and they all loved it. One mom said she was going to purchase it this weekend. I wish had been exposed to more illustrated books as a child. As an adult I'm discovering the power and beauty in illustrated books that I didn't know existed. It's hard to describe what it means to me to experience art in this way. I do know that I want to read more illustrated books, and I hope that some parent with young children reads my reaction to this book and is motivated to seek out more books more often for their children. The Negro Speaks of Rivers is a prayer everyone should experience at least once.

I'm including this read in my POC Challenge count.

Paper Tigers Reading The World Challenge

Okay, I couldn't not join Reading the World Challenge at Papertigers.org. Majorie is a great multicultural literature proponent and a lovely person. Of course, I've rationalized that this challenge overlaps with my other challenges so here's the details:

Choose one book from/about/by or illustrated by someone from each of the seven continents –
Africa
Antarctica
Asia
Australasia
Europe
North America
South America

Have the books read aloud to you or read them yourself; share them as part of a book-group or in class. Combine your choices with other reading challenges.

The books can be picture-books, poetry, fiction, non-fiction… the choice is yours.

You can find lots of ideas in the PaperTigers Reviews and Reading Lists sections.

I'm not creating a reading list but I will periodically edit this with recommendations.

GLBT Reading: January Mini-Challenge

Hi everyone! January's mini-challenge here at the Challenge That Dare Not Speak Its Name is a simple one. What we'd love for you to do is take a moment to write a paragraph or two on why this challenge and/or this issue is important to you. Once you do, come back and link your post up here.

This challenge and the challenges that face the GLBT community matter to me because members of this community are my friends and family. My belief in equality and inclusion for all people means just that- all people.

This challenge matters to me because I believe it is harder to hate someone after you’ve taken the time to know them. GLBT issues are our issues. Our common human flaw to use difference as a reason to mistreat and exclude is unacceptable, inhumane, just plain wrong.

This challenge matters to me because at the end of the day, we all bleed. Cut someone and it hurts. I want to stop the bleeding.

Social Justice Challenge

From the organizers of Social Justice Challenge:

Reading opens new worlds to us and can sometimes expose the injustice in our own. We have all been powerfully moved by the injustice we have learned about in books and decided we wanted to host a reading project that would encourage us to learn more about these issues in the world. We have chosen to focus each month on a different area of social injustice in the world. During that month, we are asking that you read something from the list of resources or watch something suggested by that month’s host.

This challenge is very different than others. This requires serious commitment. You’re asked to read to learn and follow up with an action step. There are multiple participation levels. Your level may change month to month. You are asked to commit to the Activist level 3 out of the 12 months.

Activist–At this level you are agreeing to participate fully in the activities of the month. You will read at least one full length book as well as choosing something from the other media list. You will also complete an action step.

Intern–You agree to either read something from the reading resources (it can be an essay or children’s book) or choose to do something from the other media list. You will complete an action step.

Volunteer– You agree to read at least one of the recommended blog posts, essays or shorter novels. You will complete an action step.

Observer — Need a break? Just follow along with the blog for the month. This month has no commitment level. You can only do a maximum of three months at this level.

A different topic will be covered each month. Short list:

· Domestic Violence & Child Abuse
· Genocide
· Poverty
· Illiteracy and Education
· Modern Day Slavery
· Homelessness & Refugees
· Women’s Rights

The Challenge That Dare Not Speak Its Name!

I am joining another challenge (I’m pitiful I know), the GLBT: The Challenge that Dare Not Speak its Name! I’m hoping a few choice challenges will help me focus in 2010.

The basic idea of this challenge is to read books about GLBT topics and/or by GLBT authors.

The challenge runs year-round, and there will be three levels of participation:
· Lambda Level: Read 4 books.
· Pink Triangle Level: Read 8 books.
· Rainbow Level: Read 12 or more books.
You don't need to choose your books right away, and they can change at any time. Overlaps with other challenges are fine.

Prizes! There will be prizes, both for this main challenge and for various mini-challenges throughout the year. Keep an eye on the blog for details.

I will focus on YA but I have a few adult titles I’d like to read and I will focus on poc and women but not exclusively. My target level is Pink Triangle. Here’s my short list:

A Burst of Light by Audre Lorde
Sister Outsider by Audre Lorde
Some of Us Did Not Die by June Jordan
Ash by Malinda Lo
Magic or Misery by Peter Marino (YA)
The God Box by Alex Sanchez (YA)
Say The Word by Jeanine Garsee (YA)
Hard Love by Ellen Wittlinger (YA)
M+O 4EVR by Tonya Hegamin (YA)
Oranges Are Not The Only Fruit by Jeanette Winterson
Go Tell It On The Mountain by James Baldwin
Dramarama by E. Lockhart (YA)

Books I recommend:

Kindred by Octavia E. Butler
Burn by Black Artemis
The Other Side of Paradise by Staceyann Chin (memoir)
Luna by Julie Ann Perters (Transgender; boy to girl) YA
Parrotfish by Ellen Wittenger (Transgender; girl to boy) YA
From the Notebooks of Melanin Sun by Jacqueline Woodson YA (Lesbian)
The House You Pass On The Way By Jacqueline Woodson YA (questioning orientation/Lesbian)
Down To The Bone by Mayra Lazara Dole YA (Lesbian)

What do you think? Interested? Have you read any of these?

YA 2010 Reading Challenge

I've chosen to join this challenge because it aligns with my reading habits but more because I like group activities; they're opportunities to discover new reads.

There are four levels:

--The Mini YA Reading Challenge – Read 12 Young Adult novels.

--Just My Size YA Reading Challenge – Read 25 Young Adult novels.

--Stepping It Up YA Reading Challenge – Read 50 Young Adult novels.

--Super Size Me YA Reading Challenge – Read 75 Young Adult novels.

3. Audio, eBooks, paper all count.

4. No need to list your books in advance. You may select books as you go. Even if you list them now, you can change the list if needed.

5. Challenge begins January 1st thru December, 2010.

I'm going for Stepping It Out. I normally read YA. In 2010, I'm going to spend some time reading adult so I'll stick with 50 for this. I'm adding my short list for now:

Magic or Misery by Peter Marino
The God Box by Alex Sanchez
Say The Word by Jeanine Garsee
Hard Love by Ellen Wittlinger
M+O 4EVR by Tonya Hegamin
Dramarama by E. Lockhart
Ask Me No Questions by Marina Budhos
Beneath My Mother's Feet by Amjed Qama
I Wanna Be Your Shoebox by Christina Garcia
Climbing The Stairs by Padma Venkatraman
One Crazy Summer by Rita Williams-Garcia
Perfect Chemistry by Simone Elkeles
Blessing's Bead by Debby Dahl Edwardson
Shooting Kabul by N. H. Senzai
A Mesquite in the Rose Garden by Guadalupe Garcia McCall
Indie Girl by Kavita Daswani
Wanting Mor by Rukhsana Khan

2010 Challenges

I'm participating in the following challenges between now and the end of 2010. Check back periodically. This list is going to grow:

Women Unbound
My reading list
November 2009-November 2010
Join us.






January 2010-December 2010
My reading list





The Challenge That Dare Not Speak Its Name
My reading list
January 2010-December 2010

J. Kaye's YA Challenge
January 2010-December 2010
My reading list

Reading The World Challenge at Paper Tigers