Girl Meets Boy

Girl Meets Boy: Because There Are Two Sides to Every Story; edited by Kelly Milner Halls, featuring stories by Chris Crutcher, Kelly Milner Halls, Jospeh Bruchac, Cynthia Leitich Smith, James Howe, Ellen Wittlinger, Rita Williams-Garcoa. Terry Trueman, Terry Davis, Rebecca Fjelland Davis, Sara Ryan & Randy Powell (ARC version) 2012
Chronicle Books

Rating: 2.5/5

IQ "I know this shouldn't be anything, shouldn't matter, but for some reason it does matter to me; Raffina is black, and I'm white. Of course, she's not really black any more than I'm really white. She's kind of dark brown, no, kind of medium brownish. I'm definitely sort of beige or something, light beige, tinted pink or red depending on how much time I spend in the sun (I don't tan, I just burn). Maybe a better way to put this is that Raffina's ancestors came from Africa, and my ancestors came from....I don't know....not Africa. Someplace like England or Germany or Canada or something." Sean + Raffina, Sean pg. 117 (Trueman)

Twelve authors, 6 stories, straight and gay relationships. One author tells the story from the guy's point of view, the other tells the story from the girl's point of view. I picked the quote I did because it made me laugh in its simplicity and truth.

 The back of the book describes this as a "collection of he said/she said stories" but I was disappointed in that regard. Instead these are stories about the differences between guys and girls ways of thinking but I was expecting each story to be about one situation/conflict told from the perspective of the guy and girl. Those sort of stories would have been more appealing in my opinion. The stories also did not seem to mesh well with the other half of the story, let alone the stories included in the overall collection and since they ended up not all being about romantic relationships I found it a bit confusing. I know short stories have to be short but these seemed to be too quick, the main character was developed but the other characters introduced sort of floundered. Furthermore found most of the characters to be rather forgettable and I was not particularly invested in the outcome of the so-called relationship. I also never thought I would say this but..the stories needed more romance. They just seemed bland.

 I did really enjoy the story 'Love or Something Like It' (its Chris Crutcher, who I love) and its complementary story, 'Some Things Never Change' (Halls) because they really took stereotypes and turned them on its head with the jock and the 'slut'. I felt Cynthia Leitich Smith and Joseph Bruchac did a good job of actually linking up their stories in  'Falling Down to see the Moon' (Bruchac) and 'Mooning Over Broken Stars' (Smith). And 'Launchpad to Neptune' (Sara Ryan & Randy Powell) is absolutely fascinating, it actually had a plot twist that I did not see coming and had well developed characters besides the main ones. There are points in each story that are relatable and while each story has one major issue and its all rather straightforward, they are stories that need to be told especially for those who need to get over their own prejudices. Books like these might help gently prod them to rethink their antipathy to dating someone outside their race, or to disapprove of those who are gay or lesbian or to judge people based on the number of people they may or may not have slept with.

Girl Meets Boy contains a collection of short and sweet stories from some of the best talents in the YA world and while I think these stories might have been more memorable if they were longer/a book of their own, better to have a little of the story than none at all. The stories can be heavy-handed at times and the supporting characters fell flat (and the cover's weird) but they are interesting. I also loved the last bit at the end where each of the authors (except Rita Williams Garcia, who I really wanted to hear from) shared their inspiration for their respective story. This book is a quick read that will pass the time but it most likely won't stay with you, read it at the beach or in a park.

Disclosure: This is embarrassing but I don't remember.....I think I got it from the publisher. Whoever it was, thank you!

Male Monday: Wolf Mark

Wolf Mark by Joseph Bruchac 2011 (ARC)
Tu Books/Lee & Low


Rating: 1.5/5

IQ "They say it's always darkest before the dawn. But what do you do when the sun comes up and it's still not a new day?" Dad pg. 338

Lucas King knows a lot, but what he doesn't know is what exactly his father does as a Black Ops infiltrator. He doesn't know why his family moves around so much. He doesn't know what happened exactly to his Uncle Cal, only that he's dead. When Luke and his father settle in a new town (I don't remember where, I think a small town out West) it seems as though they will be there for a while and maybe Luke can finally adjust and be invisible to everyone except his new friends, Meena and Renzo. But Luke has to come out of the shadows when his dad goes missing and he spots mysterious men near their trailer, he suspects they are waiting for him. Now Luke is on the run and with the help of some mysterious Russian hipsters, Luke might manage to out wit the kidnappers and save his father. But can the hipsters be trusted? And why exactly was his father kidnapped?

I wanted to like this book. The first book published by Tu Books, an imprint whose mission I adore. I have really liked previous books by Joseph Bruchac and yet Wolf Mark was a disappointment for me. First, this book commits one of my little pet peeves which is short but many chapters. There are 73 chapters, 374 pages and about five pages per chapter. I think that's a waste of a chapter, especially since each chapter ended SO DRAMATICALLY which was pointless. Why end with a cliffhanger when the reader will just turn the page and discover the big secret? It creates pointless drama and after awhile it becomes annoying and ridiculous. Another thing that bothered me was the character of Meena. She's Pakistani as the author likes to remind us whenever he bothers to mention her, she's solely there to be the love interest and the climax of the book features one of the most cliche scenes concerning love interests. I legitimately rolled my eyes. Plus I didn't understand why the author was obsessed with talking about the 'repressive culture' of Muslims in Pakistan and how Luke and Meena could never be together because of her father and yet when her father is introduced he doesn't seem all that conservative...But what finally drove me to the edge and made it impossible for me to finish this book was ALL THE METAPHORS. Not only were there too many metaphors, some of them were just strange. here's a sampling "I'd be listening as avidly as a lion in a zoo does when i hears the footsteps of its keeper approaching at feeding time with a bucket of raw meat. Growling with happy expectations" (pg. 178), "I'm further down the social ladder from them than a worm is from an eagle" (pgs. 17-18) and "she gives a little nod at that piece of information I've fed her as carefully as a zoo-goer slipping a piece of fruit through the bars to a sharp-beaked bird" (pg. 214). These metaphors are too long, too random and too ridiculous. Who thinks/talks/writes like that?

I could not even focus on the spy elements of the novel which I had thought would be the best part of the book because I was so busy rolling my eyes at the metaphors. I was also irked at how cliche the climax was, not only with Meena but also with the evil villain. And Luke even acknowledges that the whole scene is completely cliche but then....the author does nothing to make the scene any less of a cliche. Luke also intentionally reads like a know-it-all. He explains that he remembers everything, which is fine, but he feels the need to spout random facts that are completely irrelevant. Furthermore, there were dramatic moments in the story where Luke would say something like "I started thinking about....." and it would be SO RANDOM and take away from that particular scene that was getting interesting and dissolve into some philosophical musings (one particular scene towards the end comes to mind). I do however think that the genetically engineered beast hybrids were creative if not sad. And while I didn't like how the author used Luke as a mouthpiece to express his views, he makes some great points. Luke is also a funny guy which never hurts.

Wolf Mark has some good elements but they do not create the exciting story I was hoping for. The author clearly wants his readers to learn a lesson (he says as much in the Afterword) the problem is that the story is sacrificed for the lessons and the audience is forgotten. I was also bothered at how the evil villains all had to be racist. One of them kept saying "Honest Injun" which I thought was a phrase people stopped using around the '70s...but maybe in small towns? Or is it a Western expression? I don't know but it was jarring and it sounded alien to my ears which made the character who said it even more of a joke. Between the caricature characters (the elite Russian mafia-esque students that Luke sort-of befriends had potential but they are all so one-dimensional), the overuse of metaphors (I'm starting to realize that sometimes metaphors are not one's friends) and the random tangents on various aspects of today's societies (rants about our foreign policy, war in general, racism, etc) I could not handle this package. The many short chapters ironically enough made it harder for me to want to finish this book because it seemed to never end.

Disclosure: Received from Tu Books. Thank you! Especially for starting the imprint Tu Books =D

Sacajawea

Sacajawea by Joseph Bruchac 2000

Rating: 3/5

IQ "But that path also led into the heart. I learned to see with clear eyes into my own heart and into the hearts of others. I learned courage. [...] But one never knows how much strength one truly has until that strength is tested. I found that my strength was enough to carry me there and back safely-and to carry you as well." pg. 193 Sacajawea

Sacajawea is a historical fiction novel about Sacajawea, a Shoshone guide for the Lewis & Clark expedition. The novel starts off from the time when Sacajawea was captured (at the age of eleven) and taken to live with another tribe, the Manatrees. The novel is also told from the viewpoint of Capt. William Clark.

Sacajawea's personal life isn't much discussed in history and that's why I picked up this book, to learn more about what Sacajawea was like as a person. Also I had many questions like, how did she feel about being on the Lewis and Clark expedition? Did she like her husband and all the people on the expedition? This book starts to answer those questions, but they;re never completely answered. To be fair, a book about a person can obviously never fully know what they were thinking unless the person has told them, however I think the feelings of Sacajawea could have been expanded on a bit more, the chapters were very brief and didn't provide a full portrait of her.

What I did like about Sacajawea was learning more about her life story. She was kidnapped at the age of eleven (and already engaged) by the Manatrees and then she was given to a French trader who married her and another Shoshone woman, Otter Woman. The French trader was Touissant Charbonneau and I believe they only had one child together, Jean Baptiste Charbonneau (nicknamed Pompy by Capt. Clark). She was about sixteen when she was pregnant and her husband is a cowardly, clever, old man whereas Sacajawea is a brave, resourceful, and clever young woman. Her journey is an interesting one, but it's more factual than tangible. I didn't really connect with her. I also liked reading the alternate viewpoints of Sacajawea and Capt. Clark. Sometimes, Sacajawea's descriptions of events and objects were confusing (due to her not fully understanding the English language and American ways) and then Capt. Clark would clear them up. Also, Sacajawea was very modest, so she would act like her heroics were no big deal, but Capt. Clark would give her due credit and vice versa.

Another deligthtful aspect of the story is the beginning of each chapter. Each of Sacajawea's chapters would start with a traditional tale of her people, or a tale from one of the tribes that she met on her journey. Captain Clark's chapters started with a real journal entry. Both Sacajawea and Capt. Clark are telling their story to Pompy, who is very inquisitive and since he doesn't remember the journey (though he accompanied Sacajawea, resting on her back) he asks them to tell him about it. Another good part is learning about all the tribes and how they named each tribe and geographical feature. Native Americans have their own names for their tribes, but Lewis & Clark gave them different names.

I would have liked to read more about other members of the company. Sacajawea talks generally about them, that the men all treated her respectfully. The only man she talks about is York, Capt. Clark's slave and that is still only a brief mention. Capt. Clark goes into a slight bit more detail in discussing who gets lost or in trouble, but not much about their background. The book is very short, so the author could have gone into more detail about the men.

Sacajawea provides a good introduction to the Lewis and Clark expedition, but it doesn't provide much more than an introduction.I found it in the YA section of my library, but it reads like a children's book, appropriate, easy words and quick. 4th grade and up.

Male Monday: CodeTalker

CodeTalker by Joseph Bruchac

Rating: 4.5/5

IQ "You cannot weave a rug before you set up the loom. So I will go back to the beginning, pound the posts in the ground, and build the fame. I will start where my own story of words and warriors begins." Ned pg.3

I officially love Jospeh Bruchac. This is only my 2nd novel of his, but I enjoy his writing and his topics so very much. His books shine a much-needed spotlight on Native Americans and their history.

The author takes us back to World War II and the role that Navajos played in that war. Navajos were used as codetalkers, since their language is so complex and the Japanese had never learned it. The U.S. needed to use the Navajo language because the Japanese had learned all their other codes. As the main character, Ned Begay, points out, I found it rather ironic that a people who had been forced by the U.S. to give up their language for their country, now needed to use this language to save their country. I loved reading about how the Navajos used the code and the excerpts of their codes in the Navajo language added a crucial part (I think) to the story. It was nice being able to actually see the codes and from the codes I saw (and from what was explained), the Navajo language is hard! True any language you've never learned is hard, but it's considered one of the hardest American Indian languages to learn and only Navajos are absolutely fluent, which is why only Navajos were trained to use the code.

Once again, Mr. Bruchac provides a very detailed look at soldier life. It was interesting comparing the life of a soldier in WWII to that of a soldier fighting in the Civil War. The racial issues are essentially the same, all the Native Americans, regardless of tribe and rank are called "Chief" as in March Toward The Thunder. I also liked how the book was about the U.S. efforts in fighting the Japanese. There are so many books about the war in Europe and I thought CodeTalker helped fill in a nice niche not only on Navajo culture and codetalkers, but on the U.S. vs. the Japanese battles. Mr. Bruchac really humanized the Japanese and gave many details on their life and military fighting style that I found very helpful (being a prisoner of war is considered disgraceful and cowardly to the Japanese, it is better to commit suicide or be killed in battle). Personally, I would have liked to read more about WWII experiences that the Navajos had. The books is a bit long, but each chapter is relatively short and I would have liked to read a little more details about the battles. The characters were pretty well-rounded and developed, but I would have liked to see a little more interaction of Ned with the other characters and really see them grow.

It made my blood boil when I learned that the Navajos were not recognized for their sacrifices. They had to keep their work as codetalkers top secret, in case it was needed again so no one (including their families) learned about what they did until the '60s. Also the Navajos (I think this may apply for all Native Americans actually) weren't allowed to use the G.I. Bill to build their homes on the reservations.

I highly recommend this book once again. I think it's essential that not only Navajos and other Native Americans read this book, but all Americans. We need to honor all our veterans and I don't think the Navajo codetalkers have received full recognition yet, their stories aren't being told in all classrooms throughout the U.S. Even if you don't love historical fiction, this book is a good intro into the U.S. struggles against the Japanese.

I leave you with this quote: "It is not just my story, but a story of our people and of the strength that we gain from holding on to our language, from being Dine'. I pray that none of you will ever go into battle as I did. I also pray that you will fight to keep our language, to hold on to it with the same warrior spirit that our Indian people showed in that war. Let our language keep you strong and you will never forget what it is to be Navajo. You will never forget what it means to walk in beauty." Ned pg. 214

ETA: Check out this link with some awesome videos done by the Navajo codetalkers about their role in WWII as well as another good review. Go here for both :) Thanks Jill O. for drawing my attention to this great review!

Male Monday: March Toward The Thunder

March Toward The Thunder by Joseph Bruchac 2008

Rating: 5/5

IQ "Of course, I do not need it as a reminder of what war is about. I have seen too often that it is not conquering armies, but boys like yourself toiling in the rain and darkness with no thought of pride or glory or reward, their faces bathed in tears and their hands in blood." Clara Barton, pg. 279

"Get down!" Oh wait, hello 2009. *blinks and looks around*. You mean, it's not 1864 and I'm not fighting on the side of the Union in the Civil War? How odd. That is the effect March Toward The Thunder will have on you. I got so caught up in every single moment, I tore through the book at a rapid pace. I honestly, completely forgot that I don't live in 1864, I'm not a soldier and I'm not Abenaki or Irish. This book is also a good example of a book that is not very quotable but still wonderful.

March Toward The Thunder is the story of Private Louis Nolette. Lous is a fifteen year old Canadian Abenaki Union soldier. He joins the Fighting 69th which was known as the Irish Brigade. The Irish Brigade is legendary for their extraordinary courage. This book does a wonderful job of introducing readers to the Civil War. It's not chock-full of tedious facts, but instead full of riveting events concerning the effects the Civil War had on people, the battles, the daily life of a soldier and stereotypes. You will not get bored in reading this book.

I consider myself a pretty knowledgeable Civil War buff, but I learned so much I didn't know. It just goes to show you can ALWAYS learn more. I was attracted to this book because I realized that I'd never heard or learned anything about the roles Native Americans played in the Civil War (Black Angels was the first time I read anything about the role of Native Americans in the Civil, in which Betty Strong Foot is a double agent who doesn't care as to which side wins the war). I wanted to know whose side where they on? Why did they fight for the side they did? This book obviously can't speak to the reasons as to why every single Native American soldier fought, but I think it did a good job of explaining some of the motives.In the book, Louis joins the 69th Regiment because he believes that slavery is wrong, he wants respect from White Americans and he needs the money. I knew a little bit about the Irish Brigade's reputation, and it was an absolute delight reading about them. The regiment had a feeling of family and I could hear the lilting voice of Irish accents and see all these white boys sitting around a fire making fun of the lone Indian (whom they nicknamed 'Chief'), but all out of good-natured teasing. They all had great nicknames (Songbird, Joker, Bad Luck Bill, etc) and there was a real sense of family. They were also so brave and ferocious. The book offered an excellent portrait of how hard life was not as a soldier (little food, awful uniforms, terrible living conditions, etc). I learned about the types of soldiers everyone hated and envied (cavalrymen) and all the terms that the army uses.

Also, I loved how Louis either met the most famous people from the Civil War or was in the thick of many battles. He meets Abraham Lincoln, Clara Baron, General Ely S. Parker (the first Seneca, [well really the first and only high-ranking Native American], Union general AND chief of his people. Sadly, he's someone that is not taught about in history class). He fights in the battles of Cold Harbor, the Wilderness and is at The Crater.

The book also portrays how tough life was for Native American and African American soldiers. The Native American soldiers were either thought of as African American or made fun of sometimes in a light-hearted manner, sometimes in a mean-spirited manner. The incompetence of generals on both sides as well as their cruelty made me cringe. All the characters were three-dimensional. You could see everyone, hear them and sympathize with their plight. There were surprises that were very well concealed.

When I finished this book, I had a much greater appreciation for the sacrifices of all soldiers, especially those who fought in the Civil War. This Thanksgiving, I am thankful for the brave men and women who have fought and are currently fighting to protect America's wonderful people and freedom. I also had even more respect for Native American soldiers and Irish soldiers. As Louis said, "I may come out of this more Irish than Abenaki." I think I came out of this book, feeling more Irish AND Abenaki. I highly recommend this book, it's not too violent so it's a good start into the Civil War for younger, middle-school readers. However, it's also an excellent read for high school students because you can still learn about events and people you may not learn about in history class and you can use it later on (I certainly will be sharing my new-found knowledge since my U.S. History class is almost at the Civil War). A Must Read, even if you don't like historical fiction. Joseph Bruchac, you have a new fan. I can't wait to start CodeTalker!