The Girl in the Garden by Kamala Nair Contest

The Girl in the Garden by Kamala Nair Contest

Hometown Track Minnesota Author in the Spotlight for the month of August, Kamala Nair, is giving away 5, count them now, FIVE, copies of her book to Booksnob followers that are residents of the U.S and Canada. 

Here is my book review:  The Girl in the Garden

Here is the synopsis from Goodreads:

The redemptive journey of a young woman unsure of her engagement, who revisits in memory the events of one scorching childhood summer when her beautiful yet troubled mother spirits her away from her home to an Indian village untouched by time, where she discovers in the jungle behind her ancestral house a spellbinding garden that harbors a terrifying secret.

Rules:
Fill out the form below.
Must be a resident of U.S./Canada
Contest ends 8/31
I would love it if you left a comment.

Good luck!!!

The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle by AVI

The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle by AVI

The year is 1832 and Charlotte Doyle is about to board a ship bound for home.
Charlotte is taking this journey to reunite with her family,  who are awaiting her return in America.  Ms. Doyle boards the Seahawk in England as a special young lady but quickly things go awry when her traveling companions fail to show up for departure.  She is the only female aboard the ship and fears the social implications.

Charlotte quickly makes a friend in the old black cook named Zachariah.  He gives her a knife and a stern warning about the hated Captain Jaggery.  Charlotte being so high-minded ignores his warnings, much to her peril, and the ship and crew quickly spiral out of control and into mutiny. 

There are many twists and turns in this yarn as Charlotte transforms from prissy girl to an important member of the crew.  She helps sail the ship through a hurricane and even ends up on trial for murder. Most girls I know would adore this book of travel and adventure.  Plus it is soon to be a movie directed by Danny Devito, starrring Morgan Freeman as Zachariah.  I can't wait to share the book and movie with my daughter.

Yesterday, I went to Camp Readalot and AVI was the guest speaker.  AVI has written over 70 books for young adults, an amazing feat in my opinion, considering he announced that he has dysgraphia.  Dysgraphia is a writing disability closing related to dyslexia.  AVI worked for 25 years as a librarian before becoming a full time writer. I have read two of his books and I must say, I enjoyed both  Crispin and The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle.  I will definitely read more of his work.

"A sailor, chooses the wind that takes the ship from safe port...but winds have a mind of their own." (pg 210)  "Be careful of the wind you choose." (pg. 198)

They Called Themselves The K.K.K. by Susan Campbell Bartoletti

They Called Themselves The K.K.K. The Birth of an American Terrorist Group by Susan Campbell Bartoletti

Currently there are over 900 active hate groups in the United States today.

A major hate group called The Ku Klux Klan began immediately after the Civil War in Tennessee and spread like wild fire throughout the Southern portion of the U.S.  The founders of the K.K.K. were Six Confederate officers from Tennessee who were disheartened and worried over Republican rule and the loss of their right to vote after the war.  They also were unhappy with the equal rights movement which constituted the 14th Amendment and wanted to go back to White majority rule in the South.
So these six men started a club.

So while the K.K.K. practiced hate and forced poor, illiterate white men to join, the black majority worked, learned to read and write and tried to use their rights as citizens to vote.  Many blacks faced violence, beatings, cruelty and even death by the hand of the K.K.K..  Once Johnson was out of power Grant was elected President and tried to limit the power of the K.K.K. in the South.

This is a very informative book that looks at all sides of the issue of Reconstruction and how it affected the White and Black majority living in the South.  This book explains how the K.K.K. was formed and its subsequent underground terrorism of Blacks and Whites who sympathized with them.  The artwork, political cartoons, with some by Thomas Nast, and pictures add greatly to the book.  As a Northerner, I now have a clearer understanding of the South's hatred and distrust of the North and the Southern fear of Republican rule and their ingrained societal racism of which we can still see the affects today.

They Called Themselves The K.K.K. contains valuable information for teachers and would be a useful learning tool in the classroom.

Roots by Alex Haley. Week #8 of the summer Read-A-Long

Roots by Alex Haley.
Read-A-Long Week #8

Pages Read:  703 - 799
Chapters Read: 102 - 109

Note:  I am reading ROOTS in honor of my former student Quincy Blue who was recently found murdered, his body burned beyond recognition, in Saint Paul, Minnesota.

There is only 100 pages left to read in this book and I know I am going to really miss this family, whom I have spent my summer reading about.

  This week there is another major turning point in the book.  Chicken George and Massa Lea go to a huge chicken fight at Massa Jewitt's plantation where a Englishman has brought his game fighting cocks for the biggest competition in about 50 years.  Both George and the Massa take most of their life savings to this fight and Massa Lea is goaded into betting an absurd amount of money he doesn't have.  He loses.  Everyone loses. Chicken George is forced to go to England as part of Massa Lea's debt and train cocks there for two years, which turns into 5.   As a small consideration, Master Lea writes George his note of freedom which he will receive when he gets back from England.

Meanwhile, the Master has nothing left and needs to pay  his bills so he sells off George's family to Massa Murray.  Grandmother Kizzy is not included in the sale and never sees her son or grandchildren again.

Chicken George arrives home from England to find the Lea's place in disarray, his family sold, the Master drunk and over 80, Pompey, Sister Sarah and his mother dead as well as Missus Lea.  Miss Malizy is losing her mind and her and the Master barely  have any food to eat.   Chicken George steals his freedom papers and goes to find his family. 

Mostly, they live a good existence on the Murray plantation.  Tom is the blacksmith and marries Irene who is expecting a child.  Almost all of George's children are married.  The telegraph line and the railroads are coming to North Carolina. Hotels are being built. The tensions between the South and the Northern abolitionists are rising and Lincoln is soon to be president.
The Civil War is coming.

I can't wait to read the conclusion.

The year is 1859
Location:  North Carolina
Kunta is dead
Kizzy is dead
Chicken George is about 54
Tom is about 26

These are the bloggers/readers participating in the Read-A-Long.  Please visit them and comment.  Also if you are participating and want to be included on this list, please comment and I will add a link to your blog.
Thanks everyone for participating.

1.  Bre from Booksnob Wannabe
2.  Sherrie from Just Books
3.  Laurie from Whatsheread

Zombies vs. Unicorns by Black and Larbalestier

Zombies vs. Unicorns by Holly Black and Justine Larbalestier

I never thought I would ever have to pick a side between a zombie and a unicorn.  Who would?  I mean Zombies are gross and they eat people and Unicorns are extinct over rated horses that probably never existed. 

The authors Holly Black and Justine Larbalestier have been arguing for years about zombies and unicorns, and got a bunch of authors to pick sides and write stories about it.  It is like a heavy weight boxing match of stories and the reader is supposed to choose a team to support.  Team Zombie or Team Unicorn?

I have to say all the stories are pretty good and entertaining.  Some are funny and some are totally gross and all are written by young adult authors of high caliber.  Also Holly and Justine argue back and forth throughout the book with Holly supporting Unicorns and Justine supporting Zombies.  I know Justine thinks she wins the battle because she keeps vocalizing it throughout the book, but Holly keeps mildly quiet and seems to be the better sport.

OK, so I know you want to know what team I am on and why.  I chose Team Unicorn!!  Basically Zombies are really gross and make me have bad dreams.  Unicorns are the other hand are historical, magical beings that live in people's imaginations and bring them hope.  Zombies are not hopeful, they are death reincarnated and they are ugly too.  I love myths and horses and history so I guess my choice is basically a no-brainer.  It took me two stories to pick a team.  GO TEAM UNICORN!!!!

Which side are you on?

The Latte Rebellion by Sarah Jamila Stevenson

The Latte Rebellion by Sarah Jamila Stevenson

"Is your complexion the color of a latte?  A Cappuccino? Perhaps an Expresso?  Have people called you Cinnamon, Caramel, Olive...or just plain Brown?  Do you love to drink coffee?  Help further the cause of Brown people in America!  Join The Latte Rebellion! (pg.28)

Asha and Carey love Latte's and want to go on a trip after high school.  They have absolutely zero cash and they decide to sell T-Shirts and promote The Latte Rebellion at their high school to pay for their trip.  They both happen to be students of mixed race and feel that mixed race students fit into a category all their own and want to capitalize on it.

Their small money making idea begins to gain momentum and eventually spins out of Asha and Carey's control becoming a nationwide movement.  Their friendship suffers, their grades and relationships with their families suffer as well.  Asha faces expulsion from school and the possible exclusion from her college of choice.  The girls need to figure out what is important in life and must rise to meet the challenges. 

I prefer tea over coffee and can honestly say I have never had a latte of any sort. This book makes me want to try a latte for the fun of it and maybe even wear a Latte Rebellion T-shirt (you can actually buy the shirt at www.zazzle.com).   I love the idea this book conveys.  It promotes problem solving, life lessons and creating a social movement for something you believe in.  Drink Up People and Unite in solving today's social issues!

War and Peace Summer Readalong Week #4

War and Peace Summer Readalong Week #4

War and Peace By Leo Tolstoy
Summer Read-A-Long sponsored by Laurie at What She Read blog.

 Week #4
Pages read:  295-346
Chapters read:  1-26
Volume 2, Part One read.

So much happened in 50 pages, I can hardly believe it.
There were several marriage proposals, a duel, a birth and a death, a huge gambling debt, and a marriage separation.  A lot of excitement in these pages to keep you reading late into the night.  I love how Tolstoy pieces his characters lives together. 

Let me quickly update you on the main characters.

Pierre Bezukhov:  Pierre married the lovely Helene awhile back (Paris and Helen) and Pierre has heard rumors that Helene has been unfaithful with Dolokhov.  So Pierre challenges him to a duel.  Pierre injures Dolokhov and no dies but Helene is fuming mad. Pierre is decidedly irritated with his choice of a wife and ends up leaving her.  Unfortunately, he makes her power of attorney and she gains all of his assets.  In my opinion, this was not a wise choice.

Natasha Rostov:  This is Nickolai Rostov's sister.  Rostov comes back from the war and brings his friend Denisov.  Denisov later proposes to Natasha and she says no.  She is still quite young, maybe about 15 years old.  Rostov's other friend, Dolokhov (guy from the duel) falls in love with Sonya, Natasha best friend who is in love with her brother Nicolai.  Because Sonya refuses his marriage proposal, Dolokhov challenges Rostov to a gambling match and he incurs a debt of forty-three thousand.  Dolokhov is a card shark and chooses this number of 43 thousand because it is the sum of his and Sonya's ages. 

Prince Andrei Bolkonsky:  Andrei is injured and captured in the Battle of Austerlitz by the French. He is presumed dead.  His wife is pregnant when the family receives word of his disappearance and supposed death and they decide to spare her until the birth of her child.  When the princess goes into labor, Andrei appears miraculously at the house and visits her at the birth of their son.  Unfortunately, the princess dies during child birth.  What a turn of events!

Roots by Alex Haley. Week #7 of the summer Read-A-Long

Roots by Alex Haley.
Read-A-Long Week #7

Pages Read:  602 - 702
Chapters Read: 90 - 101

Note:  I am reading ROOTS in honor of my former student Quincy Blue who was recently found murdered, his body burned beyond recognition, in Saint Paul, Minnesota. 

Kizzy's son George acquires a nickname, Chicken George and Haley refers to him with this nickname continually throughout the pages of the book.  Chicken George is a natural at cockfighting and loves his chickens, hence the name Chicken George.  He is also a tomcat and runs around on different plantations with women, until he meets Mathilda.  Mathilda is a religious woman and won't let him touch her and it gets Chicken George to thinking that he wants to marry her.  So the two jump the broom and Mathilda comes to live on Massa Lea's plantations.

Mathilda is one amazing woman.  First of all she puts up with Chicken George and all his antics, including drinking and carousing.  She forms a strong and special bond with her mother in law, Kizzy and she bears George 8 children, 6 boys and 2 girls.  The kids are Virgil, Ashton, Tom, George, James, Lewis, Kizzy and Mary. 

During this time Uncle Mingo dies and leaves Chicken George alone at the chicken coops and this gives him plenty of time to think.  He begins to think how maybe he would like to be a free man.  Mathilda and George create a plan to save up enough money to pay for the whole families freedom.  In total they figure it would cost them about $7000 dollars to free the whole family including Kizzy.  They realize the value the White man has placed on slave labor.

With only 200 pages left I can't wait to find out what happens next.  I really miss Kunta and Bell and assumed they have passed on by now. 

The year is 1836
Location:  North Carolina
Kunta is about 86 if he is still alive.
Kizzy is over 55
Chicken George is about 33

These are the bloggers/readers participating in the Read-A-Long.  Please visit them and comment.  Also if you are participating and want to be included on this list, please comment and I will add a link to your blog.
Thanks everyone for participating.

1.  Bre from Booksnob Wannabe
2.  Sherrie from Just Books
3.  Laurie from Whatsheread

 

Hometown Track- MN Author Spotlight #13

Hometown Track- MN Author Spotlight #13

Happy August Everyone!!!  I just got back from my back packing trip on the Superior Hiking Trail and it was wonderful, although my muscles are screaming and I have tons of mosquito/fly bites, I am happy with our experience.  My son tried wild blueberries and gooseberries for the first time.  We saw a beaver chewed tree still standing and swam in a waterfall whirlpool and slept on Blueberry Hill.  It was a great trip and I am glad to be home sleeping in a bed.

Now on to the Hometown Track Minnesota Author in the Spotlight announcement.  I am pleased to announce that Kamala Nair is the Minnesota Author in the Spotlight.  Kamala grew up in Minnesota and her young adult novel The Girl in the Garden is partially set in Minnesota. 

This month you can expect a guest post, an author interview, hopefully a contest and a re-posting of my book review. 

I hope you have a great August and check back often.

Roots Readalong and Hometown Track Author

                                                            Hey Roots Readalong Fans.

The Roots post for week 7 is postponed until Wednesday.

I am currently back packing with my son on the Superior Hiking Trail in Minnesota until Tuesday.  We will be hiking from Castle Danger to Gooseberry Falls and then to the Split Rock Lighthouse.  We are hiking 15 miles, pack in and pack out everything you need.  We will emerge, stronger, tired, bug-bitten, sweat ridden and happy to be home.  I can't wait!

The Hometown Track Author in the Spotlight will be announced on Wednesday as well after I have had a good night's sleep in my own bed.