August Genreflecting: Review: Habibi by Naomi Shihab Nye

The day after Liyana got her first real kiss, her life changed forever. Not because of the kiss, but because it was the day her father announced that the family was moving from St. Louis all the way to Palestine. Though her father grew up there, Liyana knows very little about her family's Arab heritage. Her grandmother and the rest of her relatives who live in the West Bank are strangers, and speak a language she can't understand.

It isn't until she meets Omer that her homesickness fades. But Omer is Jewish, and their friendship is silently forbidden in this land. How can they make their families understand? And how can Liyana ever learn to call this place home?

From Goodreads

Liyana has a valid reason to feel like an outsider in so many ways. An Arab-American who grew up in the very modern & liberal United States is obviously going to have some adjustment issues when moving to a more rural & structured life in Palestine. There are so many expectations to be met and protocols to be followed in a world where your whole life can be in upheaval at any given time. What's most important is how each situation is handled. As she begins to navigate the slippery corridors of social interactions, Liyana begins to find herself and more importantly her position in her new world.

Considering this book's age (originally published in 1997) the story itself is still quite relevant for today's struggling teens. While some things have gotten better, and some worse, in the Palestine/Israel area, one thing remains the same: people must continue to live their lives. Time stops for no man & it certainly doesn't stop for children. This book gives us a small glimpse into a pretty typical experience for people who embark on the adventure of living in a foreign country or culture.

What really has an impact on the reader are the responses to certain situations. It's in those moments that we learn so much about the culture, story, & character(s). Watching Liyana spend time with her grandmother, with whom she can't communicate, is important because her grandmother is trying to impart their heritage onto her. With each passing scenario, we see Liyana wrestle not only with her feelings, but also with her desires. These little interactions really drive the narrative and help to focus the story on Liyana.

This book settles nicely into the subgenre based around one's own culture. While there are several represented in the book (Arab, Jewish, Armenian, and more) what we're really attuned to is Liyana's role within her own culture and how that impacts her interactions with the other groups. 

Be sure to come back next week when I host a giveaway & review Secret Keeper by Mitali Perkins!

August Genreflecting: Multicultural Fiction: The Details

Based on the Collins English Dictionary, a subgenre is "a category that is a subdivision of a larger genre." (Source) Multicultural Fiction is a fairly broad topic that tends to be all encompassing. Even so, there is still plenty of niche room available in this domain. You can choose to read about just one type of culture or you can choose to read about just one type of situation.

As I pointed out in The Basics post, there are two main types of books in this genre. The first follows a character within their own culture. They could be struggling to come to terms with certain aspects of their heritage, opening resisting their culture, or simply engaging in traditional rites of passage. These types of books can go any number of ways, but for the most part they focus on just one experience.

The other types of books in this genre involve some sort of clash. This could manifest itself in the shape of gang violence, interracial relations, or all out war. Any manner of encounter between two differing cultural groups gives these books their story. Personally these are the books that I tend to find myself reading more often because I like books to be driven more by events involving several characters rather than focusing on just one person's experience.

Now, with all that being said, there is a third type that many might not consider officially "multicultural." I believe that if a core character of the story represents any type of minority group that the book should be considered multicultural. In all honesty I believe this simply because we are never able to turn our backs on our heritage. It will always play a role in how we interpret & react to the situations that arise.

I think these excerpts from interviews with Jacqueline Woodson & Tanuja Desai Hidier really highlight what I've been trying to explain about Multicultural Fiction & why it deserves to be its own genre.

TEACHINGBOOKS: Can you share part of what you’re striving for in your writing?

JACQUELINE WOODSON: I write realistic fiction because I want to put onto the page people who I didn’t get to see in books when I was growing up. A lot of the books I read did not have some part of who Jacqueline Woodson was in them. There weren’t a lot of books at the time about growing up in Brooklyn or about African-American girls. I never read a book where there was a deaf kid, or where there was a single mom and a grandmother making up a family.

I was growing up in a rich culture where all different people are living around me, having 

different experiences — this was the real world to me. So to go to read books sometimes and not see myself in the pages made me think, “Well, where am I?” and by extension, “Who am I?” It made me start writing about the things that really mattered to me.

From TeachingBooks,net

Tanuja wanted to tell her desi (term for the people, cultures, and products of the Indian subcontinent or South Asia and, increasingly, to their diaspora) story to the world in her short stories -  Desilicious anthology. "... Born Confused was my way of writing about how positive it is to have desi heroes and heroines from the diaspora. I wanted to shape a period of cultural confusion and cultural exhilaration. I wanted to find out - What does it mean to be Indian? To be South Asian? To be American? And at the heart of that: To be yourself? I also wanted to redefine the C in ABCD - the term 'American Born Confused Desi' - because there certainly are people who are unsure about their cultural identity."

From her blog [definition from en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Desi]

I hope this was education but fun! Be sure to check back next week when I review Habibi by Naomi Shihab Nye.

August Genreflecting: Multicultural Fiction: The Basics

I wanted to do a reading challenge for the subject of Genreflecting, but I didn't get much feedback (maybe because it asked you to read 2 books for each genre and discuss them or because it's not really a "reading challenge" per se, but more an educational experiment), so I've turned it into a monthly feature! For each month of 2013, there will be a specific genre that will be analyzed. I'm planning to have author input and at least 2 reviews of books in the genre as well.

August's genre is Multicultural Fiction! These books are part of a growing trend that stemmed from readers. In our increasingly globalized world, people want to read more about other people's lives and how they differ from their own. In the same token, people want to read books about others like themselves that they can relate to in a cultural/geographical sense. While many would argue that this doesn't constitute a genre, more a theme, I think that any book that has someone from another culture (other than the majority represented in the story) in a central role can fall under this category. 

There is no one, true definition of Multicultural Fiction, but there are two main types. The first follows the lives of characters within their own culture (whether they struggle with it or just exist) and the second follows a cultural clash between two or more "opposing" groups. Most importantly though is the underlying theme of similarity. Young adults often turn to books to see and find themselves. These books allow that on a broader scale. (paraphrased from Teen Genreflecting, 2003)

A few of my favorite authors you may recognize in this genre are:

• Sharon M. Draper- Romiette & Julio
• Jacqueline Woodson- The House You Pass on the Way
• Walter Dean Myers- Fallen Angels
• Tanuja Desai Hidier- Born Confused
• Alice Mead- Girl of Kosovo
• Amy Tan- The Joy Luck Club (not YA, but still acceptable)
• Tell me some of your favorite books!

I'm excited to say that I've chosen my two books, one older and one newer, to read for this challenge. The older book is Habibi by Naomi Shihab Nye (originally published in 1997) and I'll have a review and analysis up on Friday, August 23rd. The newer book is Secret Keeper by Miltali Perkins (originally published in 2008) and I'll have a review and analysis up on Friday, August 30th. I'll also be hosting a giveaway, so stay tuned!

January Genreflecting: Giveaway & The Brothers Torres by Coert Voorhees review

Frankie Towers has always looked up to his older brother, Steve, and with good reason. Steve is a popular senior who always gets what he wants: girls, a soccer scholarship, and--lately--street cred. Frankie, on the other hand, spends his time shooting off fireworks with his best friend Zach, working at his parents' restaurant, and obsessing about his longtime crush, Rebecca Sanchez. 

Frankie has reservations about Steve's crusade to win the respect of the local "cholos." He doesn't think about them, though, until he gets into a fist fight John Dalton - the richest, preppiest kid in his New Mexican high school, and longtime nemesis of Steve. After the fight, Steve takes Frankie under his wing - and Frankie's social currency begins to rise. The "cholos "who used to ignore him start to recognize him; he even lands a date to Homecoming with Rebecca. 

The situation with Dalton continues to simmer, and after another incident Steve is bent on retaliating. Frankie starts to think that his brother is taking this respect thing too far. He may have to choose between respecting his brother and respecting himself. 

In an honest and humorous debut novel, Coert Voorhees uses a coming of age story to look at where loyalty ends and the self begins.

From Goodreads

The Brothers Torres is a rather fast-paced story. It takes place in a few short weeks during a pivotal time in Frankie Towers' life. I think just as important as the characters, is the setting. I don't think this story would have had quite the same effect if set anywhere else. New Mexico is the perfect location for its mixture of cultures & history without being overwhelming diverse.

As the kid brother of the star soccer player, Frankie has never really had his own direction. He did as he was told for the most part & didn't mind getting in trouble for doing stupid stuff. What he doesn't expect is how quickly things can go wrong when you fall in with the wrong people. While there comes a time in everyone's life where they have to choose to stand up for themselves, having that time chosen for you does nothing to help your personal development. Frankie appreciates Steve and his friends' help, but fears that they may be doing more damage than good.

At times I found the characters one sided because it seemed like they only focused on one thing at a time, but I eventually realized that they all represented different parts of a whole person struggling to coexist. I loved the Spanish mixed into the dialogue with no glossary provided because I think it helps give a little insight into the cultural variations among Borges' townspeople. The story was a bit of a slow build, allowing the reader to formulate their own opinion on the situation before delving into the actual plot. I think that really helped me connect better with the characters.

As a newer representative of the Contemporary Life genre, The Brothers Torres does a fine job. While given the background information on the issues that Frankie faces in his life, the focus remains on his reaction to them & his experiences. We get to see Frankie evolve from a bumbling doormat into a self-respecting guy. The trials he faces throughout the book aren't necessarily any different from ones that other teens might face, but the way he handles them is what makes him unique.

The basic obstacles facing the protagonist are often times the same things just in different manifestations. In this book, peer pressure can be represented by the cholos & jealousy can be represented by budding relationships (both platonic & non-platonic). This book is more than just about a boy & his life, it's about every teen and the types of struggles they face. What do I say to a date's parents? Will I be the laughing stock if she turns down my dance request? These things are so mundane that it really takes a personal experience to bring them to life. Coert Voorhees has done a phenomenal job capturing the difficult stages of adolescence in a unique venue!

Now onto, the fun part! As part of the Genreflecting feature, each month I will be giving away a book in the genre I explored. As this month is Contemporary Life I have chosen to give away 13 Little Blue Envelopes by Maureen Johnson! The giveaway is open from now until 10 PM on Wednesday, January 30th to US residents. Good luck! a Rafflecopter giveaway

North of Beautiful by Justina Chen Headley review

As he continued to stare, I wanted to point to my cheek and remind him, But you were the one who wanted this, remember? You're the one who asked-and I repeat-Why not fix your face?
It's hard not to notice Terra Cooper.
She's tall, blond, and has an enviable body. But with one turn of her cheek, all people notice is her unmistakably "flawed" face. Terra secretly plans to leave her stifling small town in the Northwest and escape to an East Coast college, but gets pushed off-course by her controlling father. When an unexpected collision puts Terra directly in Jacob's path, the handsome but quirky Goth boy immediately challenges her assumptions about herself and her life, and she is forced in yet another direction. With her carefully laid plans disrupted, will Terra be able to find her true path?
From Goodreads
Terra Cooper is the youngest child (and only daughter) of a former world-famous cartographer. Now the laughing stock of the cartographic world, her father takes his personal anguish out on everyone in his life. Terra has always been a blight in his world because of the port wine birthmark that covers a good majority of her face. Disallowing her from making her own choices in her life has simply made Terra's choices easier. Just as her two older brothers have done she intends to leave their home & never look back. That is until she literally runs into Jacob on her way back from a procedure on her face. He sees her for who she really is & who she can be & helps to inspire her to look beyond what she's carefully laid out in her life.
Justina Chen Headley deserves a big hats-off for this phenomenal book about accepting & creating yourself. Terra is such a versatile character. While she's pretty, with a popular boyfriend & decent grades, she's also introverted, artistic & self-conscious. She is every teen girl wrapped into one. I found her very appealing & sympathetic. Watching her grow & become inspired/learn from others' mistakes around her was such a thrilling part of the book.
Jacob adds a twist in the tale as the devil's advocate to almost everything Terra says & does. He's always pushing her, but at the same time allowing her to do things herself. He is also a different facet of what Terra could be. Jacob has encountered some of the same issues that Terra currently faces & he proves to her that there is a different way to handle the situation.
There is a lot of character development & cartographic references that might not appeal to all readers, but I really enjoyed those parts. Justina seems to have a knack for allowing a story to flow while still giving it a needed structure. While I felt like I wanted to know more about some of the peripheral characters, I realized that it would have detracted from the overall story. So if you're looking for an inspiring, realistic fiction you can't do any better than this book.

Border Crossing by Jessica Lee Anderson

The mixed-race son of apple pickers, Manz lives with his hard-drinking mother and her truck-driver boyfriend in the hardscrabble world of dusty Rockhill, Texas. Forced to take a summer job rebuilding fence of a cattle ranch, Manz works alongside his friend Jed and meets a girl named Vanessa — but even among his friends, Manz suffers from an uncontrollable paranoia. As the summer wears on, Manz becomes convinced that "Operation Wetback," a brutal postwar relocation program, is being put back into effect. As the voices in his head grow louder and more insistent, Manz struggles to negotiate the difficulties of adolescence, the perils of an oppressed environment, and the terror of losing his grip on reality.

From Goodreads

There was no better way to sum up this book than with that blurb. I tried for quite a while to write a better summary, but this one was much more concise and clear than anything I had written.

In short, this book was marvelous!! I found myself absolutely mesmerized by Manz's thought process; it just drew me in completely. We meet him and jump right into the thick of his confusing life with a withdrawn alcoholic mother, who ends up being more like a child than Manz. His mostly absent, truck-driving step-father is a sight for sore eyes, providing tension relief at just the right time; but it's not enough to keep Manz firmly planted in the here and now.

As the story moves along, the author acknowledges that no one can make it through this tough a situation alone by introducing Manz's best friend Jed and his romantic interest Vanessa. While he tries desperately to hide his deteriorating condition, Jed and Vanessa just seem even more drawn to him. Not surprisingly, Manz has a difficult time accepting their help, support, and friendship as his paranoia becomes more and more severe. The author really captured the complexity of this situation while maintaining an easy to follow storyline. There wasn't too much going on at once to where you are confused, but there is enough going on that it keeps your attention. The realism in this book is astounding and the author deserves HUGE props for accurately portraying the reactions of the characters to the situations that they face. I HIGHLY recommend that if you like the raw, grittiness of Ellen Hopkins that you give this a try. It's not as harsh, but still truly amazing.

Are you planning on picking it up?

Magic Under Glass by Jaclyn Dolamore

Nimira is a trouser girl. Not many people think much of these talented singer/dancers anymore. Once they were the highlight of the night life and quite well respected, at least in Nimira's home country. Those days are sadly long gone and Nimira has been forced to perform in a seedy night show routine at a dirty bar. Until the night that Mr. Parry shows up and informs her that he is in need of a singer to duet with his piano-playing automaton.

At first Nimira is reluctant to leave the familiarity of her current troupe, but she determines that there is very little really keeping her there. So she packs up her meager belongings, mostly heirloom items that her mother made, and heads out to meet the mysterious Mr. Parry. After a long and bumpy road they arrive at his estate; and what an estate it is! There are multiple floors, more rooms than she can count, and a library to rival anything she's ever seen.

Unfortunately that's not all it comes with. There is talk of other girls who ran away claiming that the automaton was alive and a nefarious house maid who doesn't like Nimira from the moment she set foot in the house. Nimira decides to put all that aside and just do as she is being well-paid to do. Only when she beings practicing with the automaton does she begin to believe that the stories are true.

His name is Erris and he suffers through a terrible existence. A soul trapped in mechanical armor, all he wants is some company. After establishing a communication system with Nimira, Erris starts to tell his story and ask for help. Only, since nothing can ever goes as planned in these stories, they are continually interrupted by the sketchy Head of the Sorcerer's Council. He has taken a keen interest in Erris and is determined to get to the bottom of the situation and rid of Nimira.

This book was quite an adventure. You could tell that it was set in a fantasy world as it speaks of fairies and "far off lands" but it wasn't a major plot point. It was almost as if I was reading a story taking place in a foreign country more than one in a separate system or universe. This was a very easy and pleasant read. Nimira was a bit flighty for my tastes; one minute she was being a good girl and following orders, the next she was defying everything and everyone and being her own person. I felt she could have been a touch more independent, but I think her hesitance was intentional. Mr. Parry, her benefactor, was a likable enough guy, but his actions were very opposite of her personality. Erris was well-played. His personality and reactions were right on the mark for what was to be expected for his character.

The overarching storyline was fairly interesting. The fact that a "nobody" kind of girl could free a soul trapped in a metal body and then take on a powerful sorcerer made this a fantastic read. I felt so drawn to Nimira and her plight. I felt like I really was there, rooting for her. The plot was a little heavy handed and seemed to jump around a bit, but when you consider that this is a debut novel, I can overlook somethings. Most of all I liked how the ending left off. It was an ending befitting a single book or the beginning of a series. It was a great way to leave it. Overall I really enjoyed this book. It wasn't the best book ever, but it was decent. Let me know what you think if you've read it.

Oh and one last thing. This is the new cover:
All I can say is that I LOVE IT! It is so much more appropriate than the first one. I'm going to have to buy it just for the cover! Ok, I'm done now, I promise. :D

Perfect Chemistry by Simone Elkeles

Imagine "Grease" meets "West Side Story" and you've got Perfect Chemistry. Alejandro "Alex" Fuentes and Brittany Ellis are both quite perplexed when they are forced to be chemistry partners. He is a Mexican gangbanger with tattoos and a bad reputation. She is the white head cheerleader with a serious need for perfection.

Alex has Brittany pegged as a bimbo with too much money and not enough sense. After being challenged in a bet, Alex starts to put the moves on Brittany. With her relationship with high school football star Colin in the dumps, she doesn't mind playing with Alex's head a little. Neither of them expects the reaction that they create.

Being forced to spend time together working on their project gives them a chance to catch a glimpse into each others' lives. What they find out about each other not only gives them insight in to the other person's behavior, but it also gives them insight into their own lives. Things start to heat up in their private lives with an escalation that can't be missed.

Something in the way this book is written just absolutely sucks you in. The characters are very likable and relatable, while maintaining their believability. A big selling point is that this book is writen about a sunject that many teens can relate to. Gangs are a prevalent problem, but a "necessary" one for many teens looking to protect themselves and their families. This story takes a hard look at the reality of the danger, but also the hope that is always present no matter how hard the situation.

Flygirl by Sherri L. Smith

This fantastic historical fiction, set during World War II, is about one girl's dream to fly. Ida Mae is a fair-skinned African-American girl whose father taught her to fly so that she could help dust the crops. Sadly, his passing in a tractor accident left behind Ida Mae, an older and younger brother, her mother and her grandfather to tend to their strawberry farm in Slidell, Louisiana.

With World War II coming to the home front, Ida Mae's brother quits school (where he is studying to become a doctor) to join the fight as a medic. Frustrated by her imposed role due to her gender and race, Ida Mae decides to try out for the WASP (Women Airforce Service Pilots). She "passes" for a white woman and goes through her training.

She meets some special and interesting characters along the way, like the wing walker Patsy "Cakewalk" Kake and the sweet, charming Lily Lowenstein. Their story provides a look into the all guts and little glory that was the life of a WASP.

While based on actual history, this particular story is not true; that the author knows about. Compellingly written with some Southern charm and accurate historical facts, Flygirl is a must read for teens looking to get a little history lesson while enjoying a good story.