C.O.L.O.R.

I can now announce my sekrit project, that I've been thinking intensely about since making my New Year's Resolutions. I'm not going to apologize for the fact that I'm a blogger and activist and this project is a way for me to help other people discover all the diverse YA/MG books out there. So announcing...

C.O.L.O.R.

Coalition Of Librarians and Online Readers

Online readers being those of us who lurk around book blogs. The librarians (as of right now) are all librarians who blog. The end goal being to donate at least 25 books in two months to a library that could use a little extra TLC. I have four libraries as of right now and depending on the success of the project, more librarians and libraries will be added.

How it works: I provide the link to the wishlist. You buy the books. You are welcome to donate multiple copies of books on the wishlist. If you wish to donate a book of your own, please email the respective librarian or myself first (if possible). To start off, we are using the Book Depository so that international readers have no excuse not to participate ;) (unless they happen to be in one of the few countries the Book Depository does not mail to).

Why?: Budget cuts for libraries are increasing. Many of us love libraries and I want to help by sending books to libraries that have been hit hard by the budget cuts. A bonus is that I would like to only send books by/about people of color for children and teenagers, both fiction and non fiction. For now I am focusing on middle schools (6th-8th) and high schools in the U.S. The ideal scenario is to send books about Asians/Black people/Latinos and Native Americans to the library, but to have the majority of the books match the ethnicity of the students.

First up is Edi from Crazy Quilts (I highly recommend you check out her blog first, you won't be able to resist wanting to help this warm and informative librarian). Read my blogger spotlight with Edi.

Edi is a librarian at Arlington Community High School in Indianapolis, Indiana. The majority of her students (90%) are Black. To learn more about the school (including a matchup of Arlington Community High School students who pass their grades versus the state average which is depressing to say the least) go here.

Project for Arlington Community High School begins: February 11, 2011
Ends: April 11, 2011

Now that I've gotten you all eager to help out, go to the wishlist I made for The Book Depository. Wishlist from there you can easily buy the book and mail it out, easy peasy.

For your convenience I've included the wishlist titles below:

A Year in Japan by Kate T Williamson

Tales of Otori (1,2,3) by Lian Hearn (Thanks Kaz!)

Zaharah the Windseeker by Nnedi Okarafor (Thank you Tricia!)

Before You Suffocate Your Own Fool Self by Danielle Evans (Thank you Tricia!) Thank you also Ivanova!

Dragon Road by Laurence Yep (Thank you Ivanova!)

A.D.: New Orleans After the Deluge by Josh Neufeld (Sweet, thank you Zetta!)

Asleep by Wendy Raven McNair

Pyongyang: A Journey in North Korea; Burma Chronices by Guy Delisle

Aya: The secret comes out vol 3

Still I Rise: A Graphic History of African Americans by Roland Laird, Taneshia Nash Laird, Elihu , "Adofo" Bey, and Charles Johnson-Thank you Zetta!

Greatest Stars of the NBA Volume 1: Shaquille O'Neal by Tokyopop and NBA

Michelle Obama (Female Force) by Neal Bailey and Joshua LaBell-Thank you Jessi!

The Civil Rights Freedom Train (Comix With Content) by Bentley Boyd

All the Rage: The Boondocks Past and Present by Aaron McGruder-hugs and many thanks Neesha!

Nat Turner by Kyle Baker

Miss Emily the Yellow Rose of Texas by Ben Durr

Yellow Rose the Myth of Emily Morgan by Douglas Brode

Bessie Coleman: Daring Stunt Pilot (Graphic Biographies) by Robbins, Trina, Steacy, and Ken

Captain America: Truth by Robert Morales and Kyle Bake

Fist stick knife gun a personal history of violence by Geoffrey Canada (graphic novel)-Mil gracias Helen!

Tall Story by Candy Gourlay -Yay, thanks Jodie!

Black Frontiers: A History of African American Heroes in the Old West by Lillian Schlissel

Jackie Ormes: The First African American Woman Cartoonist by Nancy Goldstein

Buffalo Soldiers and the American West (Graphic Library, Graphic History) by Glaser, Jason, Smith, and Tod

Booker T. Washington: Great American Educator (Graphic Library: Graphic Biographies) [Paperback]by Braun (Author), Eric (Author), Martin (Illustrator), Cynthia (Illustrator)

Graphic Myths and Legends: Sinbad: Sailing into Peril: an Arabian Tale (Graphic Universe) by Marie P. Croalland Clint Hilinski Triple thank you Trish!

Beowulf: Monster Slayer (A British Legend) (Graphic Universe) [Paperback] by Paul D. Storrie (Author), Ron Randall (Illustrator)-Thank you so much Jessi!

Isis & Osiris: To the Ends of the Earth (Graphic Myths and Legends) [Paperback] by Jeff Limke (Author), David Witt (Illustrator) Thanks again Neesha!

If you go ahead and buy a book, please comment or email me with your name and the title of the book. I would like to thank you and recognize you on this post.

I'm really, really excited to be doing this. I need YOU to help me make this work. Please? It would honestly mean the world to me if you guys could help out. And while in the spirit of giving (it's so cold out in most areas of the country, something needs to cheer us up and isn't giving better than receiving?) consider donating money or a book to A Little Angel Named Kaylea who loves to read, is six years old and has leukemia.

PS If you can't afford to donate right now, want to consider making me a button? I really need to up my technology/designing skills :)

ETA: Apparentely the Book Depository isn't showing you guys the address so here it is (sorry about that!)

Arlington Community High School Grades: 06-12 C/O Edi Campbell
4825 N Arlington Ave
Indianapolis, IN 46226-2499
Phone: (317) 226-2345

AA Read-In Book Choice, Cool Links & New Crayons

The winning book is...

Bleeding Violet by Dia Reeves! My review. 61 people voted. That means 61 people are not allowed to say they don't any YA fantasy books with people of color main characters (does BV count as paranormal too?) because Bleeding Violet fits the bill. It also means that at least 61 people are committed to trying some diverse books and that makes me very, very happy =D

We are still trying to figure out how we are going to host the chat but the when will most likely be February 20th since that's President Day weekend. Does that work for everyone? More details to come

New Crayons-hosted by Color Online

Teenie by Christopher Grant

High school freshman Martine (Teenie for short) is a good student, with a bright future ahead of her. She's desperate to be accepted into a prestigious study abroad program in Spain so that she can see what life is like beyond the streets of Brooklyn. She wouldn't mind escaping from her strict (though lovable) parents for awhile either. But when the captain of the basketball team starts to pay attention to her after she's pined away for him for months and Cherise, her best friend, meets a guy online, Teenie's mind is on anything but her schoolwork. Teenie's longtime crush isn't what he seemed to be, nor is her best friend's online love. Can Teenie get her act together in time to save her friendship with Cherise, save her grade point average so that she can study in Spain, and save herself from a potentially dangerous relationship?

-I think I've made it pretty clear as to why I want to read Teenie. WoW and my interview with the author. Review coming on Tuesday, it was a most-excellent read just like I thought :) Bought!

The Great Wall of Lucy Wu by Wendy Wan-Long Shang

Lucy Wu, aspiring basketball star and interior designer, is on the verge of having the best year of her life. She's ready to rule the school as a sixth grader and take over the bedroom she has always shared with her sister. In an instant, though, her plans are shattered when she finds out that Yi Po, her beloved grandmother's sister, is coming to visit for several months -- and is staying in Lucy's room. Lucy's vision of a perfect year begins to crumble, and in its place come an unwelcome roommate, foiled birthday plans, and Chinese school with the awful Talent Chang.

Her plans are ruined -- or are they? Like the Chinese saying goes: Events that appear to be good or bad luck often turn out to be quite the opposite, and Lucy finds that while she may not get the "perfect" year she had in mind, she can create something even better.

-WoW and I have an interview with the author coming this Friday, perfect timing! Received from scholastic, yippee =)

The Latte Rebellion by Sarah Jamila Stevenson

Hoping to raise money for a post-graduation trip to London, Asha Jamison and her best friend Carey decide to sell T-shirts promoting the Latte Rebellion, a club that raises awareness of mixed-race students.

But seemingly overnight, their "cause" goes viral and the T-shirts become a nationwide social movement. As new chapters spring up from coast to coast, Asha realizes that her simple marketing plan has taken on a life of its own—and it's starting to ruin hers. Asha's once-stellar grades begin to slip, threatening her Ivy League dreams, while her friendship with Carey hangs by a thread. And when the peaceful underground movement spins out of control, Asha's school launches a disciplinary hearing. Facing expulsion, Asha must decide how much she's willing to risk for something she truly believes in.

-WoW and my Elated Over Eleven interview with the author. I've started reading this book but I need to drink a latte while I read it! But I don't like coffee. Any latte-coffee less recs?

Super-Awesome Kickstarter Campaigns, please, please consider donating! Or just spreading the word! Heather from the Secret Adventures of Writer-Girl pointed these campaigns out to me, thank you. I know you guys will come through (I will too), you were incredibly generous to Tu Publishing. Let's do it again

The Ground Beneath Their Feet: A Tale of Pakistani Women-The effects of the devastating earthquake in Pakistan on women (two have spinal cord injuries). The video will absolutely break your heart.

Words without Borders: Afghanistan Translations-Translations of books from Pashto and Dari, I hope to one day see more YA translations but for now, I'm just happy to see adult fiction being translated. Needs to be funded by March 11.

The Fifties: a Tale in Black & White-photographs of glamorous Black women from the 1950s? Yes please! Some of us are very stylish (myself being the exception ;)

Donate, spread the word and tell me if you do either of those things. And of course, share what new books you got and if you plan on participating in the Read-In.

We Remember

In Memoriam

My thoughts and prayers are with the families of the victims of 9/11 as well as our soldiers, firefighters, aid workers and all those who worked tirelessly to help on this horrific day.

I was only in second grade when 9/11 occurred. I have very few memories from the event. I remember seeing the planes crash into the Towers over and over again and not really understanding what was going on. I don't remember if we got out of school early or if anyone told us what was going on (I don't they did. I would have remembered that). I remember that even on the kids TV channels, all programs were interrupted to show coverage in NYC. I was mad about that. I remember suffering from information overload. I was afraid Chicago would be hit next, that my father would have to go to war because the draft would be re-instated (clearly I easily descended into paranoia at this time). The full impact of 9/11 didn't really hit me until 8th grade. For English class we read stories of 9/11, stories of heroism by people who were seemingly "ordinary." Most of my classmates started crying and I was near tears myself. Many of us didn't recall 9/11 so this was our first direct confrontation with it.

What do you remember?

As for this silly fear of all Muslims being terrorists. STOP IT. It's a ridiculous notion and people need to calm down. America is a land where we respect people's rights (it just takes us a long time to get there), we have freedom. Don't darken the name of America.

9/11 YA PoC Books

Love Is The Higher Law by David Levithain

Shine, Coconut Moon by Neesha Meminger

Educate Yourself

Does My Head Look Big in This? by Randa Abdel-Fattah

Borderline by Allan Stratton

Waiting on Wednesday: Caleb + Kate and Help Others!

This week I'm waiting on
Caleb + Kate by Cindy Martinusen-Coloma

Release Date: May 4, 2010

Private school, rich friends, vacations in France--Kate has it all, except a belief in love.

When Kate's family purchases a hotel in the Pacific Northwest, she enters a world that is wholly unknown to her. She never has any privacy because of the constant flow of guests. And as the hotel owner's daughter, she struggles to make friends.

Then she meets Caleb, a strange combination of working-class, Hawaiian culture, and Christian bad boy. He talks about love in an all new way that she finds so alluring. But the two have nothing in common. He rarely smiles, rides a motorcycle with a rough crowd from town, and worst of all, he totally ignores Kate. But Kate has something that he needs and she resolves to prove to him that what she has doesn't define who she is.

-Most likely going to be an off-color review, but it sounds really good. I want to know what Kate has that Caleb needs! And a book about Hawaii and love sounds lovely :)

Check out these links

Rainbow List 2009- A compilation of books found by the Rainbow Project ( a group that promotes GLBTQ literature) to be exceptional.

YA Books That Make Room for Queerness-Looks like a great list (I've only read one on the list, Liar) and of course Ash belongs on the list!

STAND- We are reading a book called Not on Our Watch in school and it's about the genocide in Darfur. It makes me angry and I want to help raise awareness and funds for Darfur. This is a link for all students to get involved (you can bet I will be getting involved and I'll be blogging about this issue in greater detail!)

ENOUGH-For everyone who wants to do more to end crimes against humanity.

Let's Say Thanks-Check out my first widget on how to send free thank you cards to soldiers. They deserve so many thanks and words can not describe how grateful I am for the sacrifices they make in order for all Americans to be free. Especially during the holidays, a thank you card is the least we civilians can do.

Reading in Color News

Finally, if anyone knows of anyone who does really good blog designs for FREE (that's been pretty hard for me to find right now, which is understandable since designing a blog takes a lot of time so naturally, people want to be compensated for their time), could they please email me or leave me a comment telling me about that blogger! My blog needs an upgrade and I may or may not have time to do it myself over the holiday break. So it would be nice to have some help, thank you!

Feed the Hungry! And Maybe Get a Free Book

Hi everyone! I want everyone to please check out this link. If Literanista gets 30 comments, General Mills will give one box of cereal to a food shelter. They will donate up to 3,ooo boxes of cereal for every blog that participates. More details at the link! Please, please comment (also Literanista is giving away any book of your choice to a random person if they leave one of the 30 comments). So far there's 6 comments! Tell 'em Reading in Color sent you :) Haha I forgot what movie/song that's from!