Bloggin' 'bout Books: 2012 YA Contemporary Challenge

2026 Literary Escapes Challenge

- Alabama

- ~~Alaska~~ (1)

- ~~Arizona~~ (2)

- ~~Arkansas~~ (1)

- ~~California~~ (8)

- ~~Colorado~~ (2)

- ~~Connecticut~~ (1)

- ~~Delaware~~ (1)

- ~~Florida~~ (4)

- ~~Georgia~~ (1)

- ~~Hawaii~~ (1)

- ~~Idaho~~ (2)

- ~~Illinois~~ (2)

- ~~Indiana~~ (2)

- ~~Iowa~~ (1)

- ~~Kansas~~ (1)

- ~~Kentucky~~ (1)

- ~~Louisiana~~ (2)

- ~~Maine~~ (4)

- ~~Maryland~~ (1)

- ~~Massachusetts~~ (4)

- ~~Michigan~~ (2)

- ~~Minnesota~~ (2)

- ~~Mississippi~~ (1)

- ~~Missouri~~ (1)

- ~~Montana~~ (1)

- ~~Nebraska~~ (1)

- ~~Nevada~~ (1)

- ~~New Hampshire~~ (2)

- ~~New Jersey~~ (1)

- ~~New Mexico~~ (1)

- ~~New York~~ (7)

- ~~North Carolina~~ (3)

- ~~North Dakota~~ (1)

- ~~Ohio~~ (4)

- ~~Oklahoma~~ (1)

- ~~Oregon~~ (2)

- ~~Pennsylvania~~ (1)

- ~~Rhode Island~~ (1)

- ~~South Carolina~~ (1)

- ~~South Dakota~~ (1)

- ~~Tennessee~~ (2)

- ~~Texas~~ (3)

- ~~Utah~~ (1)

- ~~Vermont~~ (2)

- ~~Virginia~~ (3)

- ~~Washington~~ (2)

- ~~West Virginia~~ (1)

- ~~Wisconsin~~ (3)

- ~~Wyoming~~ (1)

- Washington, D.C.* (1)

International:

- Australia (8)

- Austria (1)

- Canada (4)

- England (27)

- Fiji (1)

- France (1)

- Ireland (3)

- Italy (3)

- Mexico (1)

- Morocco (1)

- New Zealand (1)

- Norway (1)

- Romania (1)

- Scotland (3)

- The Bahamas (1)

- Vatican City (1)

Showing posts with label 2012 YA Contemporary Challenge. Show all posts

Wednesday, January 18, 2012

Black Boy, White School Frank, Affecting

1:00 AM

(Image from Barnes & Noble)

Anthony "Ant" Jones has never really felt safe in his inner-city East Cleveland neigh

borhood. Teeming with gangsters, drugs and crime, it's the kind of place where violence can break out at any time over any little thing. The 14-year-old is used to it, but when his best friend is killed in a drive-by, Ant knows he can't stay in the ghetto for one more minute. Fortunately, he's got a way out—he's been offered a scholarship to an exclusive boarding school in Maine. Unfortunately, Belton Academy's student body is made up mostly of kids who are wealthy and white, two things Ant most certainly is not. It's not the ideal situation for a black city boy, but Ant's determined to make the best of it.

When he arrives at Belton, Ant's happy to discover he's not the only minority in residence. There are a few oth

ers, most of whom are athletes, all of whom are there thanks to financial aid. Ant doesn't like the message Belton's meager attempt at diversification sends—not all black people are poor and good at basketball (his game, for instance, needs some serious help). Determined to change that image, Ant does his best to fit in. Only he doesn't. Not really. His temper flares every time someone looks askance at him, he bristles each time someone assumes something about him because of his skin color, and he gets especially riled up when his black friends accuse him of becoming too white. The more time Ant spends in his whitewashed new world, the more he begins to wonder who he really is. Is he some prep-school white boy wannabe or a tough-as-nails E.C. homeboy? Both? Neither? As Ant struggles to find his place in the world, he has to ask himself some tough questions—and face the hard truths revealed by his answers.

Black Boy, White School, a debut novel by Brian F. Walker, takes a hard look at issues like race, inner-city violence, poverty and white privilege . The author, whose life path curved in similar ways as that of his protagonist's, clearly knows his stuff—not just the gritty details of ghetto life, but also the difficulties minorities face when navigating their way through an often biased, all-white world. While Walker focuses on racism toward black students, he remains sensitive to the fact that prejudice goes both ways, making his story ring authentic and true. White readers may still be put off by Walker's frank discussions of uncomfortable subjects, but it's difficult to deny the need for YA books that address these issues in honest, affecting ways, especially through the eyes of black protagonists. That being said, I would have liked Black Boy, White School to have a little more plot, a lot better character development, and a less predictable ending. Walker's storytelling seemed to sag under the weight of the messages he was trying so hard to get across. Perhaps that kind of subtlety simply comes with experience, which bodes well for Walker, who will no doubt hone his skills with every new book he writes.

(Readalikes: Reminded me a bit of What Can't Wait by Ashley Hope Perez; Standing Against the Wind by Traci L. Jones; 8th Grade Superzero by Olugbemisola Rhuday-Perkovich; and books by Walter Dean Myers)

Grade: C

If this were a movie, it would be rated: R for strong language, violence, sexual innuendo and scenes depicting underrage drinking and illegal drug use

To the FTC, with love: I received an ARC of Black Boy, White School from the generous folks at HarperTeen. Thank you!

Labels:2012 YA Contemporary Challenge,50 States Challenge,Black/White Issues,Boarding School Stories,Brian F. Walker,C Grade Books,Mixed Racial/Cultural Identities,R-rated Books,YA Novels | 1 bookworm(s) said...

Monday, January 16, 2012

Crazy Fun and Entertaining

1:00 AM

(Image from Barnes & Noble)

Except for the fact that they all go to Clifton Springs High School, Sicilee Kewe, Maya Bar

aberra and Waneeda Huddlesfield have little in common. Until a gorgeous new boy arrives, that is. Now—probably for the first time in their lives—the three girls want the same thing: Cody Lightfoot. A transplant from California, Cody is not just good-looking, he's also charming, friendly, and smart. Before long, he's starring in the daydreams of nearly every girl at CSHS. Since he can clearly have anyone he wants, the only question is—who will he choose?

Sicilee knows she can turn Cody's head. She's got the looks, the fabulous wardrobe, the star power that comes with being one of the most popular kids in school. What she doesn't have is the effortless cool that makes Maya stand out. Not that Sicilee's worried. Much. Waneeda, on the other hand, knows the hottest guy to ever walk the corridors of Clifton Springs would never look her way. Until he does. She may be a dumpy, junk food-obsessed nobody, but she also has a tiny, flickering hope that maybe, just maybe, she can win the heart of one Cody Lightfoot.

When Cody joins the very unpopular Environmental Club, the girls discover where his true passion lies. And rush to exploit it. In a mad scramble to out-granola each other, the trio commit to veganism, bicycling to school every day, wearing recycled clothes—anything to get Cody to notice them. But as the days go by, the girls find themselves asking if living so unnaturally is really worth it, if he is really worth it. Because, seriously, isn't this whole love thing getting just a little bit crazy?

I always need a nice, light read to buoy me up after consuming a dark dystopian and The Crazy Things Girls Do For Love by Dyan Sheldon worked like a dream. It's a funny, lighthearted novel that, despite being utterly predictable (and a tad preachy), is also totally entertaining. A bubble-gummy read it may be, but I enjoyed it nonetheless.

(Readalikes: I should be able to name dozens of titles, but I'm drawing a blank. Any suggestions?)

Grade: B

If this were a movie, it would be rated: PG-13 for language (no F-bombs) and sexual innuendo

To the FTC, with love: I received a finished copy of The Crazy Things Girls Do For Love from the generous folks at Candlewick Press. Thank you!

Labels:2012 YA Contemporary Challenge,Dyan Sheldon,PG 13-rated Books,Recycling/Environmental Responsibility,Romance,YA Novels | 2 bookworm(s) said...

Monday, January 02, 2012

Because Failing Miserably Is Always An Option

8:00 AM

Because I did so brilliantly with 2011's reading challenges, I decided to sign up for a whole slew of 'em for 2012. Why not, right? I actually love reading challenges, especially when I don't take them too seriously. Lots caught my eye this year and, as usual, I had a very difficult time resisting the urge to sign up for every single one. I finally narrowed it down to five. What about you? Do you love reading challenges? Hate them? Which are you joining this year?

Mine are:

Bookmark Break Challenge - Because this one is so simple (all you have to do is read), I totally rocked it last year. I'm going to see if I can win it two years in a row ...

50 States Challenge - I didn't quite finish this one last year, but I came pretty close. Plus, I enjoyed doing it. So, I'm giving it another go this year.

Adoption Reading Challenge - I've always been interested in the subject of adoption, but even more so since experiencing it for myself. This one sounds fun and informative.

You don't have to make a reading list, but I'm going to do it anyway. I'm choosing Level 3, which requires that you read 12 books about adoption - 6 fiction, 6 non. I'm totally excited. Here's what I'm thinking I'll read:

Fiction:

The Red Thread by Ann Hood
Then She Found Me by Elinor Lipman
The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton
The Kitchen House by Kathleen Grissom
Girls in Trouble by Caroline Leavitt
The Buffalo Soldier by Chris Bohjalian

Non-fiction:

The Blind Side by Michael Lewis
There Is No Me Without You by Melissa Fay Greene
The Lost Daughters of China by Karin Evans
Swimming Up the Sun by Nicole J. Burton
The Girls Who Went Away by Ann Fessler
Jessica Lost by Bunny Crumpacker and J.S. Picariello

Dystopia 2012 Challenge - I love dystopian and am always reading it, so why not join up with this one? I'm going for the Contagion level, which means reading 15 books. Here's my list:

Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi
Pandemonium by Lauren Oliver
Monument 14 by Emmy Laybourne
Ashfall by Mike Mullin
Crossed by Ally Condie
Possession by Elana Johnson
Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi
1984 by George Orwell
1Q84 by Haruki Murakami
Under the Dome by Stephen King
Fear by Michael Grant
Inside Out by Maria V. Snyder
Sapphique by Catherine Fisher
The Other Side of the Island by Allegra Goodman
The Death Cure by James Dashner

YA Contemporary Challenge - I'm also loving contemporary lately, so I decided to challenge myself to read more realistic fiction. I'm going for Level 2, which involves reading 10+ books. Here's my list:

52 Reasons to Hate My Father by Jessica Brody
Bittersweet by Sarah Ockler
Black Boy, White School by Brian F. Walker
Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan
Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins
Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins
Paper Towns by John Green
Beauty Queens by Libba Bray
How to Save A Life by Sara Zarr
The Crazy Things Girls Do For Love by Dyan Sheldon
Along for the Ride by Sarah Dessen
Dreamland by Sarah Dessen
Sparrow by Sherri L. Smith

Labels:2012 50 States Challenge,2012 YA Contemporary Challenge,Adoption Reading Challenge,Bookmark Break Challenge,Dystopia 2012 Challenge,Reading Challenges | 6 bookworm(s) said...

Books Read in 2026 (asterisks denote favorites)

1. Such a Clever Girl by Darby Kane (Jan)
2. When No One Else Will by Amanda Skenandore (Jan)
3. Atomic Habits by James Clear* [re-read] (Jan)
4. Murder on the Farm by Kate Wells (Jan)
5. Murder at Ochre Court by Alyssa Maxwell (Jan)
6. Not Dead Yet: The Memoir by Phil Collins* [audio] (Feb))
7. The Women in White by Sarah Pekkanen (Feb)
8. The Missing Half by Ashley Flowers (Feb)
9. One Big Happy Family by Jamie Day (Feb)
10. A Tour to Die For by Michelle Chouinard (Feb)
11. Bluebird by Sharon Cameron* [re-read] (Feb)
12. The Lake Escape by Jamie Day (Feb)
13. Treacherous is the Night by Anna Lee Huber [audio] (Feb)
14. The Last Resort by Erin Entrada Kelly (Feb)
15. The Missing by Kristen Landon (Feb)
16. Dark and Bright by Catherine Lyon (Feb)
17. The Wild Robot by Peter Brown* [audio] (Feb)
18. Boiled Over by Barbara Ross (Feb)
19. Some of Us Are Looking by Carlene O'Connor (Feb)
20. Coach by Jason Reynolds* [audio] (Feb)
21. The List of Suspicious Things by Jennie Godfrey (Feb)
22. The Claiming by Jasmine Warga (Feb)
23. Dark and Deep by Catherine Lyon (Feb)
24. Ours is a Tale of Murder by Nora Murphy (Feb)
25. Zoom With a View by Jess Cannon (Feb)
26. The Nowhere Child by Christian White (Feb)
27. An Ordinary Kind of Evil by Kelley Armstrong* (Feb)
28. Half a Soul by Olivia Atwater (Feb)
29. Murder at 30,000 Feet by Susan Walter (Feb)
30. Dive Bar at the End of the Road by Kelley Armstrong (Feb)
31. You Were Always Mine by Nicole Baart [audio] (Feb)
32. In Case I Go Missing by R.N. Swann (Mar)
33. A Lie for a Lie by Ren DeStefano (Mar)
34. Local Gone Missing by Fiona Barton [audio] (Mar)
35. Murder is a Piece of Cake by Valerie Burns [audio] (Mar)
36. Murder at the Dolphin Hotel by Helena Dixon (Mar)
37. Death at the Dinner Party by Ellie Alexander [audio] (Mar)
38. The Secret Lives of Murderers' Wives by Elizabeth Arnott (Mar)
39. A Holiday Homicide by Elile Alexander [audio] (Mar)
40. Summer's Never Over by Darby Bozeman (Mar)
41. The Body in the Woods by April Henry [audio] (Mar)
42. Every Borrowed Beat by Erin Stewart (Mar)
43. First Lie Wins by Ashley Elston (Mar)
44. Please Enjoy Your Stay by Tara Goedjen (Mar)
45. This Weekend Doesn't End Well for Anyone by Catherine Mack (Mar)
46. A Victim at Valentine's by Ellie Alexander [audio] (Mar)
47. Rock-Solid Relationships: Strengthening Personal Relationships With Wisdom from the Scriptures by Wendy Watson (Apr)
48. A Body at the Book Fair by Ellie Alexander [audio] (Apr)
49. Our Marriage is Murder by Carol Goodman (Apr)
50. A Spy in the House by Y.S. Lee (Apr)
51. Dear Mrs. Bird by A.J. Pearce [re-read] [audio] (Apr)
52. Live and Let Chai by Bree Baker (Apr)
53. Talking to Strangers by Fiona Barton (Apr)
54. The Rush by Beth Lewis* (Apr)
55. Not If I Save You First by Ally Carter [audio] (Apr)
56. Angels & Demons by Dan Brown [re-read] (Apr)
57. The Cry by Helen Fitzgerald (Apr)
58. Heiress of Nowhere by Stacey Lee (Apr)
59. The Murder at World's End by Ross Montgomery (Apr)
60. Weightless: A Doctor's Guide to GLP-1 Medications, Sustainable Weight Loss, and the Health You Deserve by Rocio Salas-Whalen (Apr)
61. Dust by Alison Stine (Apr)
62. What I Mean When I Say I'm Autistic by Annie Kotowicz (Apr)
63. The Cartographer's Secret by Tea Cooper [audio] (Apr)
64. A Cute Little Murder by Molly Harper (Apr)
65. Pretty Dead Things by Kelsey Cox (May)
66. Stabbed in the Baklava by Tina Kashian (May)
67. The Chambermaid's Key by Genevieve Graham* (May)
68. The River Knows Your Name by Kelly Mustian (May)
69. This Story Might Save Your Life by Tiffany Crum (May)
70. Dissection of a Murder by Jo Murray (May)
71. The Good Sister by Sally Hepworth* [re-read] (May)
72. Meet Your Baker by Ellie Alexander [re-read] (May)
73. Last One Out by Jane Harper (May)
74. Missing Molly by Natalie Barelli (May)
75. Family of Spies by Christine Kuehn (Jun)
76. A Map to Murder by Michelle Chouinard (Jun)
77. How to Kill a Crime Writer by Sarah Lotz* (Jun)
78. What We Did to Survive by Megan Lally (Jun)
79. Devils at the Door by Tessa Wegert (Jun)
80. The Chow Maniac by Vivien Chien (Jun)
81. My Husband's Wife by Alice Feeney (Jun)
82. The Secret Thread by Eve Chase (Jun)
83. Suddenly a Murder by Lauren Munoz [audio] (Jun)
84. The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown [re-read] (Jun)
85. The Hike by Lucy Clarke (Jun)
86. The Foundling by Ann Leary (Jun)
87. Her Royal Spyness by Rhys Bowen* (Jun)
88. Mad Mabel by Sally Hepworth* [re-read] (Jun)
89. 100 Rules for Living to 100: An Optimist's Guide to a Happy Life by Dick Van Dyke (Jun)
90. You Let Me In by Lucy Clarke (Jun)
91. Anatomy of an Alibi by Ashley Elston (Jun)

Search This Blog

2026 Bookish Books Reading Challenge (hosted by Yours Truly)

My Progress:

2026 Cover Lovers Reading Challenge (hosted by Yours Truly)

My Progress:

2026 Literary Escapes Challenge

My Progress:

2026 Historical Fiction Reading Challenge

My Progress:

2026 POPSUGAR Reading Challenge

My Progress:

Booklist Queen's 2026 Reading Challenge

My Progress:

2026 52 Club Reading Challenge

My Progress:

2026 Build Your Library Reading Challenge

My Progress:

2026 Craving for Cozies Reading Challenge

My Progress:

2026 Medical Examiner Mystery Reading Challenge

2026 Mount TBR Reading Challenge

My Progress

2026 Around the Year in 52 Books Reading Challenge

My Progress

Shelf Reflection Candy Reading Challenge for Kids (and Adults)

My Progress:

2026 Countdown Reading Challenge

My Progress:

2026 Series Reading Challenge

Dragon Rambles' Law of Fives Bingo

My Progress:

2026 Southern Literary Reading Challenge

My Progress:

2026 Reading Challenge (by Linz the Bookworm)

My Progress:

2026 Pioneer Book Reading Challenge

My Progress:

European Reading Challenge 2026

My Progress:

2017 Pick Your Poison Reading Challenge (retired challenge - doing old boards for fun)

My Progress:

2026 Reading Challenge Addict Reading Challenge

My Progress:

The 100 Most Common Last Names in the U.S. Reading Challenge

My Progress:

The Life Skills Reading Challenge

My Progress:

Black Boy, White School Frank, Affecting

Crazy Fun and Entertaining

Because Failing Miserably Is Always An Option

Readin'

Listenin'

Followin' with Bloglovin'

Followin' with Feedly

Grab my Button!

Blog Design by:

Blog Archive

2026 Goodreads Reading Challenge

2026 Reading Challenge

2024 - Elementary/Middle Grade Nonfiction

2023 - Middle Grade Fiction

2022 - Middle Grade Fiction

2021 - Middle Grade Fiction

2020 - Middle Grade Fiction

Books Read in 2026 (asterisks denote favorites)