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Fury of the Phoenix by Cindy Pon 2011 (ARC) Greenwillow Books/HarperCollins

Incredible Quote "I would fast for you, Li Chen Yong." Ai Ling pg. 310

*No spoilers for Silver Phoenix (well 1 tiny spoiler about relationships and a big one about a death) or Fury of the Phoenix are in this review*

Oh my goodness if you've read Silver Phoenix (and if not WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR, GO!) then you understand the significance and awww factor that line has. And I rarely aw, especially not out loud, but that line made my heart melt a bit. But things aren't purely sweet for Ai Ling and Chen Yong. Chen Yong has decided to go search for his birth father, to do so he will need to set sail from Xia, heading for Jiang Dao. Ai Ling has a dream that Chen Yong will be in danger on the voyage so she decides to follow him by sneaking on board. Hopefully she won't be discovered until after the ship sets sail and hopefully she will be able to save Chen Yong. But it's Ai Ling who may end up needing to be saved as well.... There's less action in this book but still plenty of excitement leaping off the pages! Everything is described in meticulous detail from the food, clothes, Jiang Dao, the ship, and of course, the mythical creatures that terrorize Ai Ling and Chen Yong.

While I was both delighted and disturbed by the new creatures and fantasy elements we were introduced to (the Sea Shifters, learning more about reincarnation, etc) I was even more pleased by the character development. You all remember Zhong Ye, the villain from Silver Phoenix right? He was evil, eviillllll! Well not quite. I didn't think Cindy Pon could make me care about him, but to my complete astonishment (and I'm not exaggerating) Zhong Ye's story tugged at my heartstrings. While he starts off ambitious, he wasn't always power mad and there's a lot of talk about the sacrifices made by an eunuch. In a way the process of being an eunuch is like genital mutilation and rarely does anyone voluntarily go through that. So to think that Zhong Ye willing gave up such a delicate body part. *winces* I still don't like him but I understand how he was driven to do what he did in the previous book.

And for those who like some romance with their fantasy, be prepared because there is a A LOT of sexual tension and it's intense, smoldering. I was equally annoyed, happy, or heartbroken because of Ai Ling and Chen Yong not being able to pull themselves together. Everyone else can see that they need each other, they complement each other perfectly. Why can't they??? There's lots of teasing, stolen glances, misunderstanding and awkward moments (awkward for the characters, not the reader ;) There is also the romance between Zhong Ye and Silver Phoenix and it actually borders on sweet, again, the author makes you start to care about Zhong Ye. There are a few new characters introduced in this book and they move the plot along, adding significant intrigue. *SPOILER: highlight to read* Not that I ever seriously though Chen Yong would marry Ah Na, but I did wonder if he would want to stay in Jiang Dao.*End of Spoiler* The afterlife is explored and I don't want to give much away but it's absolutely spellbinding and I wanted to stay in that afterworld for a little longer, to learn more about how it works (the Mirror of Retribution!)

Fury of the Phoenix is a seducing, irresistible tale. I loved this book even more than the first. The worldbuilding is just as wonderful as in the first, but we also get to see further character development and while in the first book I wanted more character interaction I felt thoroughly satisfied in this sequel. At first I was sad to leave the a

The Latte Rebellion by Sarah Jamila Stevenson 2011
Flux

Incredible Quote "'Because you're brown and they can't tell what you are.' Miranda picked at her cheese sandwich. 'You know, this is why the Latte Rebellion is a good thing. It'll open people's eyes. I mean, it's not like we just automatically identify with whichever group we look the most like.'
'Yeah.' I [Asha] nodded. 'Not to mention, ethnicity isn't anybody's whole anyway.'" pg. 158

Asha and Carey would love to have a best friend post-graduation trip to London. In order to raise the money, they decide to sell t-shirts that praise being mixed-race (or bicultural, what have you), they dub it the 'Latte Rebellion.' The girls expected to make some money, but they didn't expect people to actually get excited about their cause and turn it into a nationwide student social movement. Asha is both apprehensive and excited about this, but the Latte Rebellion is starting to mess with Asha's life. Her grades start slipping and she and Carey are fighting more and more. Before she can say 'latte', the peaceful Latte Rebellion turns violent and charges of terrorism are being thrown around. Does Asha believe in the Latte Rebellion enough to disprove the charges and fight to keep the group alive?

I don't usually mind slow starts in contemporary novels and this one was no exception. I liked getting the backstory and feeling completely immersed in Asha's world, I was satisfied with the little everyday details. I would warn you though that it takes awhile for the actual rebellion to start but stick with the book. I was a bit peeved at how some characters emerged for a chapter and then faded away, only to be called again a few chapters later. Thad and Bridget were both brought into the story but then they just disappear, Asha doesn't give them another thought. The biggest problem to me were the awkward transitions. Just when a chapter was starting to get really good, the story would stick to the present where Asha was in the middle of a school board hearing on her possible expulsion (her school viewed the Latte Rebellion as a terrorist group). Then just when the hearing started to get interesting, the story would change to the past events leading up to the hearing. Sometimes it seemed like the hearing was rushed, for example, I almost missed the decision the school board made because it was rushed over.

The most fascinating point to me was that Asha (half-Indian, a quarter Mexican and a quarter Irish) and Carey (half Chinese, half European) resent being forced to pick a side or idenitfy with what they are the most. I admit I'm guilty of thinking that way. I'm bicultural but I've definitely thought at times that if you if have more than three different cultural backgrounds, you can list them all but if you join a club, join them all or pick the one you identify most with. I get ticked when people do the whole '10% Irish, 10% Scottish, 15% Swedish, 2 % Cherokee' etc. Just pick your top two! However this book showed me that it's not that simple. I shared Asha, Carey and Thad's frustration at the lack of understanding/options for multicultural people. Just today I was registering for the SAT and I could only pick one race or chose to be 'other.' I ended up selecting Black but I was peeved that there wasn't a way for me to pick Black AND Latina. Real-life moment right there. I love that Asha starts The Latte Rebellion for purely selfish reasons. She wants to travel and needs the money so why not open a business that would appeal to certain people? That's what entrepreneurs do all the time and I thought it made the book even more fun. Asha st

Upstate by Kalisha Buckhannon 2005
St. Martin's Press

Seventeen year old Antonio is in jail for killing his father. He leaves behind a mother, two younger brothers and a devoted girlfriend, Natasha (who is sixteen). The story takes place in Harlem, New York, 1990s. Over the years Antonio and Natasha write to each other. Antonio is trying to maintain his sanity while in jail and plan his future once he's out of jail. Natasha is busy living her own life, she wants to go to a good college, away from home.

These letters felt very raw. They weren't flowery or ridiculously romantic. They are about romantic longing, but so much more. They talk about books, Harlem, their home lives, life in jail. Before jail, Antonio spent a lot of his time trying to be tough and not share details of his private life with Natasha. In the letters, he finally breaks down. I thought this was a bit too convenient, but I let it slide because I wanted to learn more about Antonio's life. Natasha wasn't as interesting to me. I felt that she was almost stereotypical, but that could be more of a result of how many YA books I've read with similar main characters. She was very determined and wanted to go to college and be a lawyer, and she wasn't going to let her economic background get in her way. Which is wonderful, but I felt that I had heard it all before. Antonio's background seemed all too familiar at first, but it got deeper and more unique. Besides being about the two main characters, we also learn A LOT about both of their families, which I really liked. The parents are a presence (for better or worse) and even the siblings have stories that are told.

Antonio's first letter starts with him asking if Natasha believes he kills his father. I was pleased at the fact that Natasha asks him if he did it. She doesn't blindly take his word for it. I understand wanting to see the best in someone you love, but I liked that Natasha was trying to be realistic and honest. One of the strongest parts of this novel is the language. The author writes very powerfully, you feel as if you are reading very private letters (which is against the law since it's not your mail! haha) and maybe you are intruding. At the same time, you can't put the book down because you need to know if Antonio killed his father and you need to know if Antonio and Natasha will stay together. The last letter is written in 1999 and while the letters are getting few and far between, it's evident that Antonio and Natasha still love each other. The question is if they have room in their lives for each other. SPOILER: Highlight to read: I was a bit ticked that Antonio didn't kill his father. Just once I would like to read a story where the main character killed someone on purpose. Not because I would enjoy it, but it would be very interesting to read about motive, etc.* End of Spoiler

Upstate is a sweet story about a not-so-sweet topic. The love story is original, emotional and very genuine. The circumstances the two main characters were born into suck and it's infuriating that they have to go through what they have to go through. They must grow up way sooner than many children. I can't say how authentic this book is in portraying prison life, I'm on the fence about that because I feel that it was a little too safe but at the same time, I've never been to prison so I wouldn't know. The author does an excellent job of creating characters that grab you and you will not forget about them right away. Perhaps one of the simplest but best parts of this book is the fact that it's about two African American teenagers who are deeply in love with each other. We

The Necessary Hunger by Nina Revoyr 1997
Simon & Schuster

Nancy Takhiro is a high school basketball star and she is in love with Raina Webber, her biggest competitor. Raina has a girlfriend and Nancy can't work up the courage to tell her how she feels. When Nancy's father falls in love with Raina's mother, the girls soon find themselves living together. They become good friends who are fiercely competitive with each other (they play on opposing teams). Together they will face the crazy world of college recruitment. Nancy isn't ready to leave the world of high school and L.A., Raina is ready to go.
The future is unforeseeable but their senior year is here and it's going to be one long journey.

"And there were certain topics we never touched upon-our missing parents, what my father might know about me, my utter lack of love life-because we couldn't have talked about anything real without talking about what existed, and didn't exist, between us. But the irony of our holiday crisis, the unforeseen result, was that our friendship, having survived it, was actually stronger. Because of the pain we'd experienced and the knowledge we'd gained, there was a fullness to our relationship that hadn't existed before. We appreciated it now, we meant more to each other." (pg.259) This quote is rather lengthy but it sums up the feelings of both girls for a large part of the book. The Necessary Hunger doesn't really seem to have a plot. It's mostly about Nancy trying to work up the courage to tell Raina how she feels and this takes an incredibly long time (368 pages). The book is a decent length, but I had a hard time concentrating in some places and it probably could have been pared down a little. I could only take so much of Nancy talking about her passionate feelings for Raina and then not acting on them. I also got tired of watching Nancy watch Raina and Toni (Raina's girlfriend) hang out and get in arguments. The end is extremely dissatisfying and yet, realistic of young, first love.

The best part of the novel is the snippets about the lives of Nancy's teammates. I LOVED all the basketball mentions in the novel. It's set in the 1980s before the WNBA was created, so the girls are wondering what's next for them after college. Some want to play pro overseas, others don't. Some of them make costly mistakes, some aren't good enough basketball players to get scholarships, others didn't apply themselves enough in school to get academic scholarships. Most of the girls are facing junior college. Nancy and Raina are one of the lucky ones from their neighborhood. At times, I wondered if people really treat high school basketball stars the way these girls get treated. Random people stop them on the street, especially young kids in order to praise them. We have a decent basketball team and the stars of the team are quite popular, but I doubt a junior high kid is going to stop the star girl or guy player. But that could just be me. Chicago is a big city and there's lots of star players so it's hard to know them all, but then again L.A. is a big city. Anyway, the author writes great descriptions of basketball games from the atmosphere of the crowd, the peeling paint of the gym, to the adrenaline of the players. It's an intense experience and while I don't play basketball anymore, it brought back some good (and painful) memories. The predictable ultimate basketball showdown occurs between Raina and Nancy, but you might be surprised by who wins.

Next to the intense basketball scenes and the glimpses int

The most frightening part of helping is getting involved.
~Dianne Ridley Roberts

Have you read Ari's most recent post? Are you a letter writer, protester, parent who speaks up at school board meetings or city council meetings? What motivates you to get involved? Have you been silent and wish you weren't? Have you been active and gotten off course or burned out? When do you feel compelled to speak up?


I'll share a few thoughts but I want to hear from you. Do read and please respond to Ari's call to action.

Harlem Summer by Walter Dean Myers 2007
Scholastic

Incredible Quote "Mark, you are a young black man. Sometimes, living here in Harlem, we walk on the sunny side of the street and sometimes we walk on the shady side. I know that because I've been black a whole lot longer than you. Anything you've seen-I've lived. But I also know that you got to be careful on both sides of the street." Daddy pg. 130

It's summer in Harlem in the year 1925. It's hot and exciting. Mark Purvis is sixteen and looking forward to his summer, as long as he doesn't have to work at his uncle's funeral parlor. Mark ends up getting a job working for The Crisis where he meets the "New Negro". He could care less about being a "New Negro", he doesn't even know what that means. He does know that he wants to play his saxophone with Fats Waller. Before Fats hears him play, he offers Mark a chance to earn some quick cash. Except it goes horribly wrong and now gangsters are after Mark and his friends. They want their money or they want Mark and co. dead. It's sure to be an amazing summer.

By now I think most of you know that the Harlem Renaissance is my favorite time period in American history so I was really excited to read this novel. I didn't really have any expectations of the story, I just wanted to get a better idea of what Harlem was like during the 1920s and on that front this book did not disappoint. I could feel the heat rising off the sidewalk and imagine all the nightclubs and aspiring musicians lining up to perform in the clubs. One of the most fascinating things about this book (for me anyway) was the characterization of DuBois. Many of you may know that there was a huge rift between W.E.B. DuBois and Booker T. Washington. Basically Washington wanted Black Americans to focus on being teachers, farmers, etc. He didn't really have a problem with segregation either. DuBois wanted Black Americans to enter politics, business and higher fields of education. He abhorred segregation. Both Washington and DuBois believed in education, they just wanted to sue the power of education differently. Anyway, I'm firmly on DuBois' side but this book portrays him in a mostly unflattering light. Everyone was terrified of him and he's seen as demanding and cold. I thought it was very interesting but I still love him for his ideas and starting The Crisis (one of the main Black newspapers of the time).

The story is funny, Mark tends to exaggerate and he doesn't always realize how grave a situation he's in. I did find it annoying how his luck always seemed to be good. Everything worked out for him, but the book could have been really sad if that wasn't the case. However I didn't mind it too much since I'm not in the mood for sad reads right now. Each chapter has a engaging title that makes you want to keep reading to figure out what it means. My personal favorite was "I Am Taken To Jail Like A Common Thug, Given The Third Degree, But Am Saved By My Reputation As An International Gangster, Bad Man, And The New Breed of Criminal." (pg. 134) The characters aren't as well developed as I would have liked. It very much seems to be written for young readers as an introduction to Harlem during the '20s, Mark meets some of the most famous people of the time. He also visits famous places, reads famous newspaper, etc. I just wish we learned more about the characters, instead they are simply commented upon as they pass by.

Harlem Summer is a lively story ab

Good Fortune by Noni Carter 2010
Simon & Schuster

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By: L. M. Baldwin, on 5/25/2010
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By: L. M. Baldwin, on 1/12/2010
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By: L. M. Baldwin, on 12/29/2009
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By: L. M. Baldwin, on 9/20/2009
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Class of 2012. New teachers, new students, same school. The thought of at least three hours of homework a night, seeing some people that I don’t particularly care for, and not being able to wear whatever I want (we have a dress code, we must wear a shirt with a collar and nice pants or a skirt) are what faces me in the upcoming school year as well as for the next two years. I also have sports practices and club meetings. Lots of work, but I do plan on having fun as well.

I’m entering my sophomore year and I have lots of plans. I’m joining some new clubs and going to try to be more active in the clubs I’m already a member of. I intend on making more time for friends (last year between two seasons of sports we didn’t hang out as much as I would have liked) and trying to reach out to new people. The people you hang out with at the beginning of freshman year are not the same people you will hang out your sophomore year or even the end of freshman year. I’ve seen sophomores walking around that I don’t know and we also got some transfer students and the new freshmen class. I want to stay on top of my classes, and keep up my GPA. Also, we sophomores are required to have 20 hours of service. Sounds easy enough, but it has to be at the same place and it’s pretty hard to get 20 hours when you have practice Mon-Sat as well as games. Finally, I want to be able to manage school, sports, service projects and blogging. This will be my first year of school while trying to manage a blog so it will be interesting to see how I do. My hope is to have at least four posts a week (Male Monday, Throwback Thursday, another book review, and New Crayons), but we’ll see.

Ultimately though, I need to remember to relax. School is important, but you also need to have fun. I don’t want to look back at my high school years and regret anything. I don’t think you need to go to every school function (dance, play, sports game), but you should try to go to school events at least once. Along with keeping up my grades, I want to be active in my school. Everyone says either their high school or college years were the best years of their life. I intend on making the best of them.
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Ari says she's sarcastic, caring, slightly crazy teenager. She loves to read, listen to music, dance and have fun. She's been reading seriously since second grade. Proud to be black. Ari is one of Color Online's CORA Girls. They rock. Check out her blog, Reading In Color.

4 Comments on Back to School: Something Old, Something New, last added: 10/15/2009

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zettaelliott said, on 9/21/2009 10:53:00 AM

Good idea, Ari--aim for BALANCE! Students today are under so much pressure, you really can miss out on the fun of your teen years. Good luck with everything!

rhapsodyinbooks said, on 9/21/2009 12:23:00 PM

I'm betting you do just great! Just remember the key is how you define "best" for "best years of your life!!!"

Nymeth said, on 9/21/2009 2:08:00 PM

It's definitely good to remember to relax! Good luck with everything, Ari! I think you're going to do GREAT :)

Alyssa Kirk @ Teens Read and Write said, on 9/21/2009 8:14:00 PM

Sounds like a full plate. I know it's crazy but enjoy it!

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By: L. M. Baldwin, on 8/18/2009
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Shine, Coconut Moon
Neesha Meminger
2009
Rating: 5/5!

I see that we're all, each and every one of us, like little palaces with invaluable, one-of-a-kind treasures inside. And if there's a part of ourselves that we don't claim, whether we forget to, choose not to, or feel forced to, we put that unique, precious piece outside on the porch. And we let the world know we don't want it, it's not welcome inside. Then the world is free to treat that precious valuable in whatever way it wants. But it's still a part of us even though we've closed the door. And at some point we have to come back outside to get it, in whatever shape it's in.~ Samar.

Beautiful. To me the above quote is absolutely beautiful, almost poetic in nature. I love it (it's a little long I know)! I've been waiting FOREVER to get this book. Well let me just say it was well worth the wait!

Uncle Sandeep is Samar's Sikh uncle who shows up on Samar's doorstep one day, shortly after 9/11. He hasn't seen Samar since she was two, Uncle Sandeep and his parents are estranged from Samar's mom (his sister). Samar is raised by her single mom, who rebelled against her parents strict traditions of their Sikh (Sikh is a religion. Samar is Sikh, Punjabi and Indian) heritage. She left them and never looked back. Samar knows nothing about her Sikh heritage or her family. Uncle Sandeep's appearance makes her want to learn more about her family and heritage. Especially after certain incidents occur against her uncle and Samar is called a coconut. A coconut is someone "who is brown on the outside, white on the inside."

This book made me angry. Angry at all the intolerance and ignorance there is in this world. The whole 'all Muslims/Middle Eastern people are terrorists' stereotype (like many stereotypes) is so dumb, and the people in this book say that but then they make comments toward Samar and her uncle and they aren't even Middle Eastern or Muslim! The incidents in this book made me so mad. I loved the comparison the author drew between the way the Japanese and Japanese-Americans were treated during WWII (with fear and ignorance, being put in internment camps) and the way Americans were reacting with fear and paranoia about Muslims after 9/11. I'd thought the same thing myself.The coconut label made me sad. It's the Indian (I think) equivalent of the African American "oreo" (black on the outside, white on the inside). How many people have been called oreos just because they try to get an education and talk properly? I understand why you might be called a coconut or oreo if you don't know your heritage, but if you want to learn it (like Samar) than you shouldn't be called a 'coconut' that just makes you more afraid to branch out and meet people like you and learn. You fear that they will just see you as a 'coconut' and dismiss you. Same goes for so-called 'oreos'.

Another issue that other ethnicities can relate to is the colorism issue (light is better than dark, you want to be light not dark). I'm not sure if this is an issue in all the Asian and Native American communities, but it definitely is in the Latino, African American and apparently Indian community. Samar's grandmother and mother both mention the topic. It was enlightening to me, because I didn't know that Indians viewed having lighter skin as being better than having dark skin. Yet another issue that needs to be addressed. *sigh*

My favorite character was Uncle Sandeep. He was so wise, calm and brave. He would rock as an uncle (mine is pretty cool too though!)! I really admire him for taking the first step in trying to get back into his sister and nieces life. That takes courage and humility.

I learned a lot from this book. For example, some Sikh families don't allow shaving. So girls that means no shaving legs or armpits, boys have beards. I can't imagine not being able to shave my armpits at least! Some of the rules seemed strict to me (there were times when I was reading this book that I told myself that I would leave my family if they didn't allow me to do x,y,z), but I reminded myself that I'm an outsider and I shouldn't judge. This book will open your eyes to a new culture and way of thinking. A book like this needed to be written, thank you Mrs. Memingr for writing it! I highly recommend this book. 8th grade and up.
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Ari says she's sarcastic, caring, slightly crazy teenager. She loves to read, listen to music, dance and have fun. She's been reading seriously since second grade. Proud to be black. Ari is one of Color Online's CORA girls. They rock. You'll hear more about them. Stay tuned. In the meantime, check out Ari's blog, Reading In Color.

13 Comments on Shine, Coconut Moon: A New Way of Thinking, last added: 8/20/2009

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campbele said, on 8/18/2009 8:38:00 PM

OK Susan, I'm going to get back with you after I read the book, then we'll compare notes!

Color Online said, on 8/18/2009 8:55:00 PM

Edi,

This is Ari's review. Though I did read it and I loved it.

rhapsodyinbooks said, on 8/18/2009 8:57:00 PM

Ari,
I hate the exploitative cover but I love your review! You are truly "a little palace" yourself! So glad you're blogging!

Color Online said, on 8/18/2009 9:10:00 PM

Jill,

You're the second adult who has says she doesn't like the cover. I wonder what teens think.

I remember Neesha and Mitali talking how hard it is to convince publishers to show South Asian faces on the covers.

MissAttitude said, on 8/19/2009 12:51:00 AM

aw thanks rhapsody! That's one of the nicest things anyone has ever said about me.
I'm not a big fan of the cover either. I wish that it had an Asian girl's face on it. Or that it had no face but not just a girl wearing a belly-baring t-shirt. Covers *shakes head sadly*

Taste Life Twice said, on 8/19/2009 3:15:00 AM

Very good review! I want to read this. And I LOVE that quote. I agree about the cover. Is it so hard to show a face that isn't white?

Tea said, on 8/19/2009 8:54:00 AM

That quote is "beautiful." Now that's writing. Lovely.

Neesha Meminger said, on 8/19/2009 11:08:00 AM

I don't usually like to comment on discussions about me or my work (I like people to feel free to state their thoughts and impressions without worrying about hurting the author's feelings), but I wanted to jump in here and say a few things about the cover for SHINE.

Personally, I think the cover is striking, if only because it is a hip, tough South Asian girl--the likes of which we rarely see out in the "wild." When I was a teen, I would absolutely have *drooled* if I saw something like this on a book shelf.

However, having said that, when my editor first asked for my thoughts on a cover, my immediate response was, "I'm fine with anything except a headless woman." :)

You can see how influential *my* opinion was. My editor did say that she put in a suggestion in for a "modern-looking" young Indian woman's face on the cover (we can discuss another time what "modern-looking" means). So, I'm thrilled that my editor "got" it and was pushing for something non-objectifying and representative of the character.

There was a problem, though. Apparently, another novel had been published the same year with an Indian woman's face on it. Obviously we couldn't have TWO novels with Indian women's faces on them in the SAME year.

So the plan was changed. And, since I had another issue with the cover, I chose to pick my battles. The one I fought was more important to me, and the cover was changed to reflect my feedback (which I am VERY happy about), so I was happier with how things turned out in the end.

Clearly, there is still a lot of work to be done, and we keep fighting as hard as we can as authors, agents, editors, bloggers, librarians, booksellers, and others who care, but oftentimes there are many battles that come at us at once, and we have to choose the ones we're going to take on.

I've written a bit about my cover story here: http://www.racialicious.com/2009/07/29/lying-on-the-cover/
and will write more on my own blog in the next day or so.

I'm so glad for forums like this where these kinds of exchanges can take place. Thank you so much, Susan and Ari!

Warmly,
Neesha

Color Online said, on 8/19/2009 12:17:00 PM

Neesha,

I understand you hanging back and I did for similar reasons. Now that you did, I feel free to say what I think.

I don't like images that objectify women. And I get the belly bothers some. For me though, I see a lot of teens and I get that for many of them, this is hardly any skin and it's not trashy. I'd say the same. The model has the body, she's young and the look is tasteful for what it is. I love the colors. I also live in a community that is largely Indian and let me tell you, most girls could not wear this. American Desai or not, most parents in my area wouldn't allow their daughters' this kind of freedom so I like the cover because it reflects the Samar's mom willingness to let Sam decide what is appropriate and what is not.

And Maude do I know about having to pick your battles. I know it's like pulling teeth to get a face on the cover. I think the shot does mirror who Samar is. She saw herself as American first. She grew into her cultural identity.

I could have done without the suggestion of Mike but again, this is representative of what Samar had to confront for herself. She realized things about him that she didn't know or denied.

Lastly, I work in a library. Ask me what gets picked up. The belly top suggest cool, the colors work. The book gets picked up and that's what you want: the reader to give it a chance.

Neesha Meminger said, on 8/19/2009 12:36:00 PM

"I could have done without the suggestion of Mike..."

Ha! LOL. I thought the same thing, but my husband said that he didn't even notice him -- that he sort of blends into the background, so I tried to work with it :).

I hope my post didn't come off as defensive. As anyone who's read my posts online would know, I am all about accountability. I just wanted to provide readers with an insider's perspective on the process.

Thanks for sharing your experiences and perceptions, too, Susan. Very interesting.

-N-

Color Online said, on 8/19/2009 1:03:00 PM

Neesha,

I read you regularly. You articles are very impressive.

No, you don't come off defensive, and I think behind the Liar controversy most readers here know that authors have little say in cover choices.

Nymeth said, on 8/19/2009 1:21:00 PM

I love the sound of this book, and I think I'd learn a lot from it too. I didn't know about "coconut", though I knew about "oreo" because when I was in highschool a classmate of mine got called that a lot - she was into indie rock, and apparently she was expected to only like hip-hop :/

And I wish the cover showed the model's face too. Just this morning I finished My Most Excellent Year, which is a great book with 3 teen narrators: one white, one Latina and one Asian. The cover shows the three of them, but their faces are hidden by an umbrella :(

MissAttitude said, on 8/19/2009 11:33:00 PM

Neesha I love your posts. Especially the post you did on your cover and the guest blogging post you did for Justine!
I'm glad you're happy with the cover, but I really wish more authors got a say in their covers. I'm a little unobservant because I didn't even notice Mike! But now I see him.
Susan makes a good point, that based on what the model is wearing, it shows the freedom Samar had to wear whatever she wanted, unlike some other Indian girls.

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