The Sunday Salon - Diversify Your Reading Challenge

Coretta Scott King 2011
Cindy Pon and Malinda Lo have issued a challenge on their wonderful site, Diversity in YA.  They challenge readers/librarians/bloggers to diversify their reading by incorporating more books by and/or about people of color or books by and/or about LGBT into their reading lives. 

I spend a lot of time reading about other cultures (looking through the window of literature) and want to spend more time reading young adult and middle grade literature that feature my own culture (looking in the mirror).


John Steptoe 2011There are many awards for literature out there but the major players for books intended for youths come from the American Library Association (ALA). The two I'm most familiar with are the Newbery Award given to outstanding American literature intended for children ages birth - 14 and the Printz Award given to outstanding literature intended for young adults aged 12 - 18.

These two awards have many "Mock" blogs  and Goodreads groups where people try to discern the next winner before the committees make their announcements. I've participated in both Mock Printz and Mock Newbery clubs over the past years.

What does this have to do with Diversity in YA you say?

Did you know that the ALA also administers two major book awards for African-American literature for youth? The Coretta Scott King (CSK) Award is given for outstanding depiction of the 'black experience' by African-American authors and illustrators while The John Steptoe (JS) Award for New Talent, sponsored by the CSK committee, is given for outstanding first works by African-American authors and illustrators

I have found only two blogs that focus on the "Mock" Coretta Scott King Award:
Allen County Public Library Mock Coretta Scott King Award - does both Author and Illustrator awards
Black Threads in Kid's Lit - does more than the Mock CSK author and illustrator

I've decided that I will start blogging the Mock Coretta Scott King author award and the Mock John Steptoe Award for New Talent author award. This will be my official focus starting in January 2012.

In the meantime, I will read and review the past 5 years, 2007 -2011, of author and honor books for both awards.  Then I will write about my thoughts for the Diversify Your Reading Challenge. I will also include a page at the top for the books I will be reading for both this challenge and, eventually, the Mock CSK and JS.

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Breadcrumbs by Anne Ursu - Bookaday #16

Breadcrumbs by Anne Ursu
Walden Pond Press/HarperCollins Children
September 2011/ARC

"It would just be like she was a leper, and leprosy really wasn't so bad once you made it part of your routine."

"They were plastic flowers of words -- but they looked nice on the surface."

"This is what it is to live in the world. You have to give yourself over to the cold, at least a little bit."

Hazel’s parents are divorced and she lives with her mom next door to her best, and only, friend Jack. She was adopted from far away and has always felt like an outsider at school. Jack is the only one who's paid her attention. Until one day he doesn’t. This snowy day Jack gets hit in the eye and leaves school for the day. But, overnight he changes. Then he disappears. When Hazel finds out what may have happened to Jack, there’s only one thing she can do. Rescue him. Hazel is an avid reader and knows how fantasy novels work: find entry to the other world, go there, get help, solve problems, find friends, come home. Unfortunately, the real world doesn’t always work like books. Wait, isn’t this a book?

Ursu takes the (previously unfamiliar to me) story of Hans Christian Andersen’s The Snow Queen (1844)and brings it to life. Breadcrumbs weaves the tales to together into something more familiar and relatable than Andersen's original. Jack and Hazel’s friendship comes to life, something you don’t see between Gerda and Kay, the original boy and girl. This makes Jack’s defection all the more heartbreaking. We understand why Hazel wants to rescue him and we root for her along the way. Get this one!

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Eon: Dragoneye Reborn by Allison Goodman - Bookaday #14

Eon: Dragoneye Reborn by Alison Goodman
Viking/Penguin
2008

I've had this book on my shelves since 2008, when it first came out.  It reminded me of Mulan, girl passing self off as boy.  Not that I've ever seen Mulan, but I'm sure it's on the shelves somewhere.  Anyway.  Eon is in training to be one of the next Dragoneye apprentices.  There are 12 dragons, each corresponding to a line on the compass, who chose a Dragoneye Master to wield it's power.  The Dragoneye Master are trained fighters and they use the magic of the dragon to control the weather and protect the villages.  They are also very rich and powerful as they have the ear of the Emperor as well.  Twelve 12-year-old boys are chosen each year to train with a Master and eventually take his place.  The families of the twelve can be assured of a secured near future.  Those not chosen can be assured of ruin.  Also, women are not allowed, keep out.  So, Eon, who is this sixteen year-old girl who used to be on the streets, is posing as a 12 year-old boy.  Her master, Heuris Brannon, has pledged pretty much everything he owns, including his reputation, on her being chosen.  If she fails, the whole house of Brannon fails. If anyone finds out she's a girl, the whole house of Brannon fails. No pressure.  Many twists and turn and lots of intrigue, very well researched.

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The Grand Plan to Fix Everything by Uma Krishnaswami - Blog Tour

The Grand Plan to Fix Everything
Uma Krishnaswami
Atheneum/2011
266pg

"Some people would say kismet means fate, but really it is a far more beautiful idea--it is the idea that in spite of all the obstacles, some things are meant to be."

Dini and Maddie are looking forward to summer when they get to go to Bollywood dance camp. They are huge fans of Bollywood movies! But, Dini's mom has big news.  Her grant has finally been funded and they are moving to India. Dini is sad, she will miss her best friend Maddie, but she is also happy, her favorite movie star, Dolly Singh, lives in India.  Maybe she can get to meet her?  Coincidence, kismet, fate; call it what you want, it's the main ingredient in Dini's grand plan.

Uma Krishnaswami fills this story with believable, fun characters and a colorful setting.  Veeran, huge fan of Dolly's and taxi driver, Priya, human beatbox and possibly Dini's new friend, Soli Dustup, Dolly's manager and friend, and Mr. Chickoo Dev, owner of Sunny Villa Estates in Swapnagiri where Dini and her family rent a house.  The story moves swiftly from the introduction in Maryland, when Dini sends her letter to Dolly all the way to Swapnagiri also known as Dream Mountain, with a quick stop in Mumbai, otherwise known as Bombay.  You can tell Krishnaswami knows this landscape and the setting becomes a secondary character that allows the story to progress.  Krishnaswami's multicultural tale of friendship and support is packed with humor and students, aged 9 and up, will identify with Dini's movie obsession and want to sign up for their own bollywood dance camp.  I only wish Mera Jeeran, Tera Jeeran (my life your life) was a real movie!  Don't miss this

Check out this interview with Uma Krishnaswami on Mitali Perkins Fireplace.
Uma Krishnaswami's website
More stops on The Grand Plan to Fix Everything Blog Tour.

Take a look at this video trailer:



Come back Monday for Uma Krishnaswami's guest post on Reading Like a Traveler.


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The Sunday Salon - Monthly Updates - March 2011

This was a pretty slow month for me. I could not focus and when I did, it wasn't on reading. Still busy at work. Still trying to find my way back to reading and blogging.  Hanging in there!

Challenge Update
POC Challenge (10)
Warp Speed by Lisa Yee

Graphic Novel Challenge (7)
The Odyssey by Gareth Hinds

Overall (10)
5 Young Adult
4 Adult
1 Middle Grades

Best Book - Paranormalcy by Kiersten White and Red Glove by Holly Black

Only 10 books read this month.  Sad face.
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The Sunday Salon - Working My Way Back You - February 2011

I've been insanely crazy busy this past month and I'm still reeling! I've read some but mostly I've watched movies.  But I'm staging a comeback starting with a wrap up of February!

Here's to my success!

Challenge Update

POC Reading Challenge (9)
Lost and Found by Shaun Tan
Voices by Ursula LeGuin
Camo Girl by Kekla Magoon
Taking Sides by Gary Soto
Hereville: How Mirka Got Her Sword by Barry Deutsch

Debut Author Challenge (7)
Page by Paige by Laura Lee Gulledge
Sudden Moves by Kelli Sue Landon
Ruby Red by Kerstin Gier
The  False Princess by Eilis O'Neal


Graphics Novel Challenge (6)
Ghostopolis by Doug TenNapel
Lost and Found by Shaun Tan
Knights of the Lunch Table by Cammuso
Empire State by Jason Shiga
Janes in Love by Cecil Castelluci
Hereville: How Mirka Got Her Sword by Barry Deutsch

Overall (23)

3 Adult
6 Middle Grades
14 Young Adult

Best Book - Okay for Now by Gary Schmidt

Numbers-wise, I'm doing ok on my challenges but I'm failing miserably on the review front and that needs to change. So I'll work on that.

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

The Great Wall of Lucy Wu
Wendy Wan-Long Shang
Scholastic Press
January 2011
312 pgs. ARC

Soon to be twelve-year-old Lucy Wu just wants to have her own room and play basketball.  But it seems as if the universe is conspiring against her.  Her parents want her to go to Chinese school and her dad wants her great-aunt, Yi Po to move in with them.  Wouldn't you know that Chinese school is Saturday mornings - same as basketball practice!  And where will Yi Po sleep?  In Lucy's room, of course!  Fine, Lucy decides to sabotage Chinese school so they will force her out and to build a wall that separates her side of the room from Yi Po's.

Good news - basketball practice is moved to an earlier time and now Lucy can do both.  Bad news - she may have to battle mean girl Sloane Connors for captain of the students during the student-faculty basketball game. Sloane wants to be captain and wages a smear campaign to get everyone to back down.  Lucy does NOT want to attract Sloane's attention but everyone keeps pushing her to go out for captain.  Now that Lucy has what she wants, how will she keep it?

 Good news - Yi Po stays on her side of the room.  Bad news - Lucy's side quickly becomes a hazardous area with her clothes, homework, basketball and other items strewn about the small space.  Lucy has learned more and more about Yi Po but she refuses to accept her as part of the family. She's sorry about Yi Po's past but that shouldn't ruin Lucy's present!  But the more she learns about Yi Po, the more Yi Po reminds Lucy of her grandmother.  How can she keep her distance and get Yi Po to move out sooner? Does she really want her to move out sooner?

A great middle-grade read about fitting in and dealing with change.  Lucy fights to be American and Chinese and seems to be failing at both.  She has her whole year planned out and is forced to accept changes she had no say in.  Though parts of the Great Wall of Lucy Wu were predictable, you are vested enough in Lucy's character to want to give her a hand yourself.

Thank you to Scholastic Press for this ARC.  Review also posted at Discovery Middle School IMC page.
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The Sunday Salon - Are You Up to the Challenge?

I usually avoid entering challenges because I never complete them; I'm a better sprinter than marathoner. (sorry Dana Reinhardt)

But this year I'm focused on Generosity; including cutting myself some slack.  Doing #bookaday has reminded me that the journey counts just as much as the outcome.  So, here are some challenges that I'm joining in 2011:

POC Challenge - it's important that I continue to diversify my reading but in addition i need to write about the books I read.  I'll be joining at Level 5  and here are some of the books I plan on reading:

1. Latte Rebellion
2. The Trouble With Half a Moon
3. Great Wall of Lucy Lu
4. What Can't Wait
5. Vanished
6. Red Scarf Girl
7. The Kayla Chronicles
8. Revolution is not a Dinner Party
9. Hole in My Life
10. Flygirl
11. A Girl Named Mister
12. Windup Girl
13. Does My Head Look Big in This
14. Shine
15. We Could Be Brothers
16. Where the Streets Had a Name
17. Bitter Melon
18. Standing Against the Wind

update 12/12/11 Terrible. Only 3 titles.

Books I Should Have Read In School - Each year the 8th graders have to read and debate whether a known classic should continue being read.  It's been a long time since I've had to read these and I need a refresher and I need to expand my knowledge so that I can book talk more choices.  I'm entering this one at the Graduate School level.

1. Little Women
2. A Tale of Two Cities
3. Adventures of Tom Sawyer
4. Anne of Green Gables
5. A Tree Grows in Brooklyn
6. To Kill A Mockingbird

update 12/12/11 NONE!

Graphic Novels Challenge - This a tough format for me because I don't come across them as much as I do ebooks since not all books make good graphic novels.  I know many students become hooked once they discover this area so I need to bone up for book talks. I'm going for the Expert level.

1. Copper
2. Spacehaedz
3. Hereville
4. Secret Science Alliance
5. Resistance
6. Ghostopolis
7. Cloud Searchers (I've read and loved the first two)
8. Athena
9. The Unsinkable Walker Bean
10. The Sons of Liberty

update 12/12/11 only 40% - fail.

Debut Author Challenge - I like new: new clothes, new books, new authors.  This is purely for fun! Finding new writers and then watching their careers is mighty awesome let me tell you.  This list will change the most! 

1. The False Princess
2. Water Wars
3. Great Wall of Lucy Liu
4. Here Lies Bridget
5. Ten Miles Past Normal
6. The Latte Rebellion
7. Trouble with Half a Moon
8. What Can't Wait
9. Vanished
10. Sequins, Secrets and Silver Linings
11. ?
12. ?

UPDATE: 12/12/11 actually read more - they are just not listed! Will plan better next year.

One,Two Theme - seems like an interesting way to learn more about things.  This will also help me increase my nonfiction readings.

1. Education 1 book
2. Race Relations 2 books 
3. Poverty 3 books

update: another fail.

NOTE: All reading lists are subject to change as I learn about other offerings and start reading for Mock Newbery and Mock Printz clubs.  I will also try to increase my nonfiction reading.

12.12.11 Update - All in all - I need to plan out this better.  I know what my reading normally looks like - I just need to expand in some areas and pull back in others. I'll join these same challenges if they are open next year. 

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