Three cheers for theme days!
Hooray for Haiku Day!
Yes, we Blogathonners love playing with that 5-7-5 syllabic pattern, especially when a poem gets us that much closer to our goal of blogging every single day of June!
Again, a blank page.
Desperation? Reflection?
Poetry saves us.
My Blogathon haikus from past years are here and here and here and even here.
Do you haiku?
**kmm
Each girl-child is cherished,
every boy-baby expendable,
the old land’s prejudices reversed –
yet is this more fair?
“The girl problem” – created by cultures valuing male heirs so much that girl babies are discarded, leaving a vast imbalance of men to women when that generation wants to marry – is turned on its head in the fictive land of Koyanagar which walled itself off from (probably) India in 2042 to protect its females.
Yet not every girl in this women-dominated society believes that boys should fight on stage to be lifelong husbands, tasked with fathering girls. And not every impoverished boy believes that becoming a housebound husband with extra food is worth the price that their society demands.
Have you experienced “the girl problem” personally?
**kmm
Book info: 5 to 1 / Holly Bodger. Knopf Books for Young Readers, 2015. [author site] [publisher site] Review copy and cover image courtesy of the publisher.
My book talk: Three days to decide their fates – a privileged young woman and the 5 boys competing to become her husband and provide daughters – in a series of unfair Tests that two of these 17 year olds are determined not to win!
In this walled country of Koyanagar, women are valued, unlike the land which they separated from in 2042, where so many girl babies were discarded that only 1 in 5 boys could find a wife.
Sudasa is 17 now and must choose a husband at her Test, where she finds that her powerful grandmother has ensured that the teen’s only male cousin is competing against 4 uneducated boys for her hand!
Boy number Five doesn’t think the contests are fair either – because he doesn’t want a life of tame luxuries as a house-husband. He’d rather stay with Abba in their poor coastal village and find a way over the deadly Wall to search for his mother who couldn’t get back inside when its gates closed forever a decade ago.
In Sudasa’s poetic voice and Five’s carefully reasoned tones, the three days of Tests in intelligence, skill, and sport grind on.
Can he find a way to escape both marriage and certain death as a wall-guard?
Can she escape her grandmother’s plotting and choose her own future?
Do any of Koyanagar’s other 200 girls turning 17 this year feel trapped too?
Like a funhouse mirror, the 5 to 1 ratio of girls to boys in this fictional future country points out the disappearing girls in cultures today which value male heirs over all else. (One of 6,000 books recommended on www.abookandahug.com)
Be a “good girl” until married? (unlike her own mom)
Go to college? (unlike her immigrant parents)
Do anything to be popular? (unlike…hmmm)
Gabi feels pulled apart by all the different demands of her mom, her teachers, her very-Mexican friends, her be-more-white schoolmates, society’s get-skinny-now-fat-girl messages – what’s going to come out on top during her senior year?
Now out in paperback, find Gabi and her outspoken journal at your local library or independent bookstore.
How do you stay strong against societal pressure?
**kmm
Book info: Gabi, a Girl in Pieces / Isabel Quintero. Cinco Puntos Books, 2015. [author site] [publisher site] Review copy and cover image courtesy of the publisher, via Edelweiss.
My book talk: Conflicting messages from family, friends, and society leave Gabi wondering if she can truly achieve her dreams or if she must conform to the expectations of her Mexican heritage in Southern California.
As her senior year begins, Gabi still wants to lose weight, have a normal family, and have a boyfriend (and a first kiss!). Instead, she copes with her best friend’s unintended pregnancy, her meth-head father’s random appearances, and the fallout of her other best friend finally coming out to his very traditional Mexican family.
Creative writing class becomes an unexpected source of joy in her life, a distraction from the escapades of her younger brother (always overlooked by their mom, who is so critical of Gabi) and the overlong visit of her busybody aunt.
A first kiss – hooray! Macho heartbreaker – boo!
Supporting Cindy through morning sickness – not fun. Working with Martin on poetry – much better!
All the drama with mom and dad – so bad. A chance to attend prom with a real boyfriend – excellent!
Will Gabi be able to escape her mother’s unending lectures on staying ‘a good girl’ and go to college away from this stuffy town? Read her honest journal to find out. (One of 6,000 books recommended on www.abookandahug.com)
Not a suicidal teen,
not a real-estate financier,
not a homeless woman –
is anyone in her town what they appear to be?
This is a teen detective tale with twists, as Scarlett’s routine investigation into a suicide turns up an online game gone deadly in the real world, mystical objects from King Solomon‘s days, and strange connections to her Muslim community.
Read the first 3 chapters here free – I know that you’ll want this May 2015 book ASAP!
**kmm
Book info: Scarlett Undercover, by Jennifer Latham. Little Brown Books for Young Readers, 2015. [author site] [publisher site] Review copy and cover image courtesy of the publisher, via NetGalley.
My book talk: When a young girl asks Scarlett to investigate her big brother’s connection to a recent suicide, the 16 year old uncovers local California teens lured into locating talismans belonging to King Solomon, unaware of their mystic powers or history in her Muslim community.
After their father was killed and a family heirloom statue stolen, Scarlett worked with area police in vain, then graduated early from high school, bored. Following their mother’s painful death from cancer, big sister Reem donned the hijab and went to medical school.
Now Scarlett is trying to find out if Gemma’s big brother made Quinn jump off the bridge, what the strange pattern on his wrist means, and why her sweet Decker has the same design on his chest.
Threats to a philanthropic building project, trying to keep Gemma safe, that symbol appearing again and again – Scarlett can’t stop looking for the answers.
Being followed on the street, ducking questions from her self-appointed guardian angel at the laundromat, summoned by a Muslim tattoo artist (when tattoos for Muslims are haram, forbidden) – someone wants Scarlett to stop looking.
A mystic quest, well-meaning family friends who urge her to leave now for college, kidnap attempts – Scarlett has her hands full and won’t back down till she solves this! (One of 6,000 books recommended on www.abookandahug.com)
Uberwolf ambush,
humans good and bad,
can Watersmeet remain a safe haven?
Fairies are only interested in what benefits them, but if they ally with militant followers of the evil White Worm, what hope is there for those who wish to live in harmony?
The story begun in Watersmeet (my no-spoiler recommendation here) rumbles across the plains and threatens the fragile peace forged by dwarves, fauns, centaurs, and humans.
Read the first chapter here courtesy of the author, then ask for The Centaur’s Daughter at your local library or independent bookstore (if it’s not in stock, they will order it! Support local businesses!)
**kmm
Book info: The Centaur’s Daughter (Watersmeet, book 2) / Ellen Jensen Abbott. Skyscape, 2011 (paperback, 2014). [author site] [publisher site] Review copy from the author; cover image courtesy of the publisher.
My book talk: Chosen to follow her long-lost father as Keeper of peaceful Watersmeet settlement, Abisina may have to lead its creatures to save the humans who cast her out so that both groups may be free from ultimate evil.
Humans had despised Abisina in their village merely because of her hair color – will they accept her leadership to fight against the evil one when they discover she is a centaur-human shapeshifter?
Centaurs and humans have been enemies for generations, earth-deep dwarves have stayed clear of both groups forever, fauns and hamadryads need the forest’s protection – can they band together to cross plains and mountains to keep the White Worm’s unholy allies from destroying their lands?
As told in Abisina’s journey to Watersmeet in book one, the prophecy about The Centaur’s Daughter must be supported by creatures and humans alike, if there ever is to be a safe place for those who wish to live in peace with The Keeper (book 3). (One of 6,000 books recommended on www.abookandahug.com)
In transports, tanks, and trenches,
packed into troopships and training camps,
ready to read while waiting to fight!
During World War II, librarians were determined to get books into soldiers’ hands. When publishers agreed to help, millions of pocket-sized Armed Services Editions of classics, plays, memoirs, and novels were eagerly shared by service people, sparking a reading culture that led to large participation in GI Bill higher education opportunities after the war’s end.
The ASE program also spurred the paperback publishing that we know today, you’ll learn from this fascinating book. The author provides a free excerpt here so you get a taste of her engaging prose style.
If you could only have a handful books with you during stressful times, as these fighters did, which titles would you choose?
**kmm
Book info: When Books Went to War: The Stories That Helped Us Win World War II / Molly Guptill Manning. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2014. [author site] [publisher site] [author video interview] Review copy and cover image courtesy of the publisher.
My book talk: Fighting World War II with more than bullets and bombs, an armada of pocket-sized free books created a positive “war of ideas” and values as they were eagerly read and shared by American soldiers and sailors around the globe.
Librarians began collecting books for American troops in the war’s early days, but couldn’t gather and ship enough suitable volumes for the demand. Working with publishers and authors, a compact format reprinting of classics, popular novels, memoirs, plays and other reading material was developed, using very small print and less paper.
The program put Armed Services Editions of over 1300 separate titles into the hands of countless soldiers, sailors, and airmen during its 3-year existence, with these pocket-books being shared and shared again all over the world.
This fascinating book recounting the history of these little books of big ideas also highlights the Council on Books in Wartime’s efforts to prevent censorship of ASE titles and the impact that this program had in preparing America’s fighters to become higher education students when the war ended.
Time to download this week’s eerie pair of free audiobooks from SYNC so you can read with your ears!
Yes, these are complete audiobooks available from Thursday through Wednesday, and they’re yours until you delete them from your computer or electronic device.
If you miss the free download time for any works mentioned, you can find buying info at http://www.audiobooksync.com/ Check your local library, too!
A Corner of White
by Jaclyn Moriarty
Read by Fiona Hardingham, Andrew Eiden, Kate Reinders, Peter McGowan
Published by Scholastic Audio
Missing persons, interconnected worlds with uncrossable barriers that Madeleine and Elliott somehow get past! I recommended this first book in trilogy on BooksYALove here in 2013.
Dracula
by Bram Stoker
Read by David Horovitch, Jamie Parker, Joseph Kloska, Alison Pettitt, Clare Corbett, John Foley, David Thorpe
Published by Naxos AudioBooks
The vampire tale that started it all, read by an outstanding actor cast, complete and unabridged!
Have you read either of these changed-world titles before?
**kmm
Ruling as powerful pharaoh – yay!
Becoming immortal – cool!
Stuck in middle school for eternity – ughhh!
And Tut’s forever-13-life becomes more complicated as a cult dedicated to evil god Set targets monuments in Washington DC, the general who killed his father is after him, and a mortal classmate gets involved in the hunt!
Lots of Egyptian gods hanging around the US Capitol these days, it seems…
Be sure to check out the book trailer here and the author’s website where you can visit the novel’s world in Minecraft, play games, and solve puzzles.
Would you let a friend join you in a dangerous quest?
**kmm
Book info: Tut: The Story of My Immortal Life / PJ Hoover. Starscape, 2014. [author site] [publisher site] [book trailer] Review copy and cover image courtesy of the publisher.
My book talk: Immortal teen Tut suddenly has bigger problems than an overprotective guardian and middle school bullies as the man who killed his father centuries ago reappears as head of an evil-worship cult in present-day DC.
Rescued by the god Osiris from assassination, now Tut lives with a golden scarab heart, forever age 13. Centuries later, his middle school’s field trip turns ugly when “Tut’s Tomb” exhibit includes dark god Set, much hated by the real Tut.
Scarabs swarming everywhere, exploding obelisk monuments, and too much attention from kids at school – many eerie things are happening in Washington DC.
When the general who killed Tut’s father escapes from his eternal prison to lead Set’s followers in destruction, Tut and mortal friend Henry follow clues found by his army of tiny shabti soldiers and advisor Horus in cat form.
Can they save DC residents from this supernatural peril?
Why is Tut’s guardian hiding a deadly secret?
Will Tut have to use the last spell in The Book of the Dead to stop Horemheb?
Egyptian gods and strange connections abound in this action-packed adventure! (One of 6,000 books recommended on www.abookandahug.com)
Magic, malice, bodies switched, perhaps love? Time to download this week’s free audiobooks from SYNC so you can read with your ears!
These complete audiobooks are only available from Thursday through Wednesday, but once downloaded, you have free use of them as long as you keep them on your computer or electronic device
Click on the title to go directly to its AudioSYNC download site, enter your name and email, and follow the instructions to get these magical, dangerous tales for yourself.
The Ring and the Crown
by Melissa De La Cruz
Read by Jennifer Ikeda
Published by Recorded Books, Inc.
To escape an arranged marriage in the Franco-British Empire, the princess will give her identity to Morgan whose magical talents almost equal those of the Empress herself. But can the deception keep both girls safe?
Sea Hearts
by Margo Lanagan
Read by Eloise Oxer, Paul English
Published by Bolinda Publishing
As the sea witch discovers how to turn a seal into a woman, the magical consequences may affect everyone on her remote island. Is creating the perfect wife for a sailor worth the risk?
Have you ever wished that you were someone else?
**kmm
At a comic-con, he’ll be happy.
Finally away at college, she’ll be overjoyed.
Trouble… who wants that?
When 13-year-old Clayton slips out of the QuizBowl team hotel for his first comic-con, Ana is terrified – if she loses track of him, their hyper-protective parents will disown her like they did when big sister stepped out of line.
And when things go sour during their search for Clayton at WashingCon, Zak boggles at constants that could end and possibilities that arise- without cons in his life, what else would a certified geek do?
Happy book birthday to The Improbable Theory of Ana and Zak, your invitation to explore the world of comic-conventions, gaming, and love among geeks. For some how-to from the female perspective, try The Fangirl’s Guide to the Galaxy recommended here last week.
So, be honest – Star Wars or Star Trek?
**kmm
Book info: The Improbable Theory of Ana and Zak / Brian Katcher. Katherine Tegen Books, 2015. [author site] [publisher site] Review copy and cover image courtesy of the publisher.
My book talk: Chasing her little brother through a comic-con wasn’t on Ana’s list of ways to stay perfect, but with the help of cute slacker Zak, she may get the QuizBowl team back together before curfew… or maybe not.
If no-effort Zak wants to graduate, he must serve as QuizBowl alternate during weekend of Seattle’s biggest comic convention, even though he’d already planned out every moment in geek paradise.
If super-achiever Ana wants to please her parents and not get thrown out of the house like her big sister, she’s got to win this QuizBowl tournament, even though it’s no fun anymore.
If her whiz-kid little brother Clayton wants to check out WashingCon because Zak said it was cool, he’s gonna go, because why not?
The search for Clayton jumps from Ana’s world of well-rounded student activities to Zak’s universes of cosplay and card games to the death, as t-shirt slogans, a backpack mixup with deadly consequences, and the clock ticking down to QuizBowl curfew send them all racing through the night.
Zak’s old friends, Ana’s new enemies, and a cross-cultural wedding (Trek or Wars, the eternal con question) punctuate the pair’s growing appreciation for one another’s strengths and charms, as they chart their progress (or lack thereof) in alternating chapters. (One of 6,000 books recommended on www.abookandahug.com)