Retaliation - What Would You Do If... by Yasmin Shiraz

*2009 ALA Quick Pick for Reluctant Young Readers

Tashera Odom is a quiet, intelligent, seventeen-year-old that works hard to stay out of the drama that plagues her violent Washington D.C. neighborhood. Known mainly for her pleasant personality, good grades and hair styling abilities, Tashera isn’t the type of teen that one would call ‘troubled.’ Her life changes when she is brutally attacked in an alley by three girls from her high school. The reader learns quickly that this attack is not random but deliberate. One of the attackers is the ex-girlfriend of Tashera’s boyfriend Ahmed and is jealous of the relationship.

While Tashera physically heals from the attack in the hospital, her mother, Shelia and wheelchair bound older brother Khalil both take matters into their own hands. Their main objective is to seek retaliation for the attack. The story quickly intensifies when Shelia is jailed after physically attacking the mother of one of the attackers. Meanwhile, Khalil plots to strike back at Tashera’s attackers by reconnecting with his former Deus-Tres gang members. The reaction of the attack described from the viewpoint of the police, school and community is raw and honest by the author and motivational speaker, Yasmin Shiraz. Since there are some surprises in the story, I won’t give away the events that lead up to the ending of the story.

I have had “Retaliation” on my bookshelf for months and kept putting off reading it due to other projects I’ve been working on. When I finally had the opportunity to read it, I did so in three sittings over a 24-hour period - I just couldn’t put this book down because it was so true to life. The book is based on Shiraz’s experience working with a 15 year old that was attacked by teens in her neighborhood. She vividly describes the violence in a community and how different members of the community react to it. I think the lingering question Shiraz presents readers with is if they think violence is the answer and a justifiable reason for retaliation. Given what is taking place in my city as well as other large urban cities across the nation, I think that this book should appear on district reading lists for pre-teens and teens and shouldn’t be missed.

Article About Urban Fiction Written By Teens

Teenvoices.com

This is a really interesting article about Urban Fiction and it's appeal to teens. You can really get an insightful perspective about this genre from the teen authors of the article. I especially liked the last portion of the article that focuses on alternate titles that students would enjoy.

http://www.teenvoices.com/issue_current/articles/oct_09_urbanfiction.html

"16 On The Block" by Babygirl Daniels

Summer Flynt’s life has always been rough. Her father left the family years ago leaving Summer, her mother and sister Trish to fend for themselves. When her mother is killed in a store robbery, Summer and Trish are placed in the Detroit foster care system. When Trish becomes of age, she petitions the court system and gains custody of Summer. The girls are finally reunited.

Summer moves in with Trish and her boyfriend Boss to begin a new life. Since Trish is not financially stable, she relies heavily on her boyfriend Boss for support. Summer attends a new High School and receives designer clothing, jewelry and money from Boss and Trish. Her ‘new look’ places her in the elite crowd at her school and among her peers in her neighborhood. She even receives the attention of Jus, one of the cutest boys in the neighborhood and one of Boss’ lieutenants in his organization. Overall, Summer is happy that her life is finally ‘normal’ but becomes more and more concerned for her sister Trish.

As the story progresses, the reader learns that Boss’s income is solely made from drug dealing. To make matters worse Boss has pulled Trish into the operation, sometimes puts her life at risk. Just when Trish tries to break ties with Boss, she is mysteriously killed. Summer, heartbroken and now without a family, suspects Boss for the murder. The story really picks up when Jus and Summer go on the run to hide from Boss and prove that he killed Trish. After Trish’s killer is revealed, Jus helps Summer put her life back together.

Marketed as “The Coldest Winter Ever” for teens, Babygirl Daniels gives readers a real page turner. “16 On The Block” contains some elements of ‘Bonnie and Clyde’ and ‘The Coldest Winter Ever.’ Since there’s violence, some language and one mildly graphic sexual scene, this book should only be added to high school collections. The story was a little rushed at the end, but overall was a good read and a good alternate title to some of the books marketed to an adult Urban Fiction audience. Teens can learn some life lessons in this edgy debut novel from Babygirl Daniels.

Step to This by Nikki Carter

“Step to This” is the first book in the So For Real series by Nikki Carter. This book is the ‘softer side’ of Urban Fiction for Middle and High School Students.

Gia is a high spirited, Tweety t-shirt wearing, high-school sophomore. She's not in the in-crowd but popular within her own circle of friends. When her friend Ricky persuades her to try out for the High-Steppers dance team and wins a spot on the squad, her social life changes. She receives a style and hair makeover from one of the most popular girls in the school. Gia also receives adoration from her peers she has never received and enjoys it. Though Gia loves her new image and status at school, she clashes with her religious mother and uncle who is also the pastor of her church.

After attracting the attention of the schools’ star football player, she feels that she has been elevated to the ‘elite’ status in her school. To get out of the house to meet Romeo for their first date, Gia lies to her mother which goes against her mother’s rules. During the date, Romeo tries to persuade Gia to have sex with him. When Gia refuses, Romeo becomes angry and leaves her stranded without a ride home forcing her to call her mother and her Deacon boyfriend to pick her up.

What I really liked about ‘Step to This’ is the energy and humor of the characters. The other thing I liked about this book is the accurate description of what teens will do and say to fit in. Carter has captured the ‘voice’ of teens in ‘Step to This’ and this book is one that should not be missed.

Keysha's Drama by Earl Sewell

This book is the first in the Keysha Series by Earl Sewell.

Keysha is a Chicago teen who lives with her 'party girl' mother Justine. When she and her mother are evicted from their apartment, Keysha's world is turned upside down. With no money or hope, she is placed in foster care and connected with her real father she has never met.

Despite having her own room, new home and school to attend, Keysha still has drama. She doesn't want to forget where she has come from so she battles with her hard as nails step-mother and spars with her annoyng step-brother Mike. When she connects with the wrong crowd, her actions land her deep in trouble with her family and causes a great deal of embarrassment. This is where Sewell is at his best: describing the inner thoughts of Keysha as she struggles to fit in with her family/classmates and make positive decisions. Many authors attempt to do this, but fail to do so because they cannot capture the character's 'voice'. Not the case with Sewell; this is probably why the Keysha series is so popular with teens.

Though "Keysha's Drama" is directed at teen audiences, adults can learn some valuable lessons from the story as well. This is a good book for pre-teens and teens that will surely spark lively discussions.

Patterson Heights by Felicia Pride

Avery and his brother Rashid are inseparable. He idolizes his older brother and aspires to be just like him. When Rashid is tragically killed during a basketball court altercation, Avery's world is turned upside down. The family moves out of the Patterson Heights neighborhood into a small cramped apartment on the other side of town.

Avery attends a new school, becomes depressed and stops speaking. His home life isn't easier. His mother begins a crusade to learn who killed her firstborn son and his father becomes distant from the family. When Avery attends group therapy sessions at "Let's Straighten it Out," he finally has a emotional breakthrough and slowly begins to speak and interact with his family and friends.

Along the way, Avery befriends, Pretty Ricky and Natasha who both help him cope during this period. I really don't want to give away the last two chapters of this book because it will really keep you on the edge of your seat. Patterson Heights was a page turner from author Felicia Pride. Not many teen books tackle the sensitive subject of sibling loss, therapy and vividly as Pride does. The scenes where Rashid speaks to Avery are heartfelt and touching. This book can be used as a alternate title for Yasmin Shiraz's 'Retaliation.'

The Bluford Series - Let me just say, I just love these books!

“The Bully” by Paul Langan is the story about a quiet teen named Darrell Mercer. Darrell is nervous about moving to California with his mother and attending a new high school. Anxiety over transferring to a new school is a common issue with high schoolers, but the reader learns quickly that Darrell is different. While attending his previous high school, Darrell never had to stand up for himself and was ‘protected’ from bullies by his friend. Now a new student at Bluford High, the 15 year old that has a physical build of a 12 year old becomes a victim of bullying. Tyray Hobbs and his gang of followers bully Darrell daily out of his lunch money and destroy his self-esteem.

Life at home isn’t any better. Darrell’s mother is pre-occupied with her new job and his uncle believes the solution to all of Darrell’s problems is for him to just ‘toughen up.’ When Darrell’s English teacher Mr. Mitchell gives him the book, “The Hamlet” to read, things begin to change. Darrell joins the wrestling team and his self-confidence and popularity improves. His classmates give him a new respect for trying and shows interest a classmate, Amberlynn. Despite these social gains, Darrell continues to be tormented by Tyray and he makes a decision: run or fight. In a climatic cafeteria scene, Darrell finally stands up to Tyray, breaks his arm and embarrasses him in front of the entire school.

Despite the predictability of “The Bully” I really liked it. Langan captures the voice of teens and their experiences effectively in the story and I believe this is why books written by him are so popular with pre-teens and teens. Readers can really experience the pain of bullying and cheer Darrell on as he makes accomplishments on the wrestling team. This book could be used with boys beginning in 7th grade as a platform for discussion on the subject of bullying. Kids that read this book will definitely relate to this story and either place themselves in the shoes of Darrell or Tyray.

"The Bully" by Paul Langan is a must read book for reluctant readers and should not be missed by pre-teens.

From PUSH to Precious

I just can't wait for the theatrical release of "Precious" by director Lee Daniels. I'm often leery of books that make it to the big screen because often times there are some elements of the story that are left out. Despite this, I've read some press about the movie which has been quite favorable. I like many will be in line at the local movie theatre on November 6th to see "Precious."

The movie "Precious" is based on the 1997 novel "PUSH" by Sapphire and focuses on the vicious cycle of incest and abuse. "PUSH" is about a Harlem, NY illiterate teen named Clareece "Precious" Jones who has low self-worth/esteem in herself. Why??? Her homelife is dysfunctional. She has been impregnated by her father twice and her abusive relationship with her mother affects Precious in her daily struggle to just survive. Precious finally experiences a 'breakthrough' when she is sent to an alternative high school and meets her teacher, Ms Rain who helps her raise her reading level to a 7th grade level and helps her discover how beautiful she is.

Author Sapphire wrote this book as a result of her own sexual abuse she suffered and her experience with working with troubled teens. "PUSH" is a book that at sometimes was very hard for me to read because it taps into the emotion of the reader. You cheer when Precious makes strives towards building her self-esteem and you just want to shake her poor excuse of a mother.

PUSH is a book that is intended for adults but will teens read this book? Of course, given the projected commercial promotion of the movie. Recently, I asked the manager of a Borders Book Store on the far south side of the city of Chicago if the sales for 'PUSH' had increased over the last month. She said that they had and they cannot keep the books on the shelves. I'd be really curious to see what percentage of sales are from teens...hmm.

PUSH is the first book written and published by poet, Sapphire. Like many authors that experience rejection from the major book publishing companies, Sapphire self-published "PUSH" until picked up by DoubleDay. Recently, CBS Evening News Anchorwoman, Katie Couric conducted a really nice interview of the author, Sapphire. The interview is approximately :45minutes in lenght but well worth the view.

Enjoy! http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=5426254n

K.C.

The 2009 Illinois School Library Media Association Conference has ended. I have been a member of this state library organization for about 6 years attending conferences in both Springfield and Arlington Heights, Illinois. Attending sessions during the conference weekend has always been a real treat and a 'mini-vacation' from the job.

I just sit back with admiration and listen to the talented librarians that share their knowledge with workshop attendees. Each year I walk away with valuable information and practices that I know I can use. I always wonder, "How do these busy librarians make the time to prepare a thought provoking presentation?" Well this year I learned first-hand it's through preparation, organization and creativity. This year marked my first year serving as a workshop presenter for this conference. It was fun! My session about Urban Fiction books for middle school students was well received and I had the opportunity to meet more people this year than I had in years past. For that, I'm grateful for the experience.

That being said, after saying to myself for at least two years, "I'm going to start blogging" and the constant suggestions from friends, I found my nerves and some time to finally begin. Essentially, the ‘Miss Domino Blog’ is dedicated to the genre of Urban Fiction in particular those books and alternate titles that appeal to both pre-teens, teens and adults. From time to time, I will share my thoughts on books within this genre as well as other pressing issues that pertain to Library Information Science. I hope that you will enjoy my posts and log in from time to time to read what I have to say.

Smooches,
K.C. Boyd

P.S. The ‘Miss Domino Blog’ is named after my 1 year old Tuxedo female cat named Domino.