The Librarian Writer

Title : Pretty Crooked Author : Elisa Ludwig Publisher : Katherine Tegen Books Publication Date : March 13, 2012 ISBN-13 : 978-0062066060 236 pp. ARC from publisher via Netgalley What's weird is that as I'm writing this book review at a coffeehouse, two young white women are talking about their time in private school and how two Latino kids (the only two in the school!) spoke Spanish together in the cafeteria and how stigmatizing that was. So Elisa Ludwig seems to have tapped into a certain private school zeitgeist in her debut novel (the first in a series), Pretty Crooked . Willa Fox is the newbie at ultra-rich Valley Prep. After years of moving around the country with her bohemian mom, a big sale of her mom's artwork gives them the cash to live it up in fancy schmancy Paradise Valley, Arizona. Willa starts hanging out with the all-powerful Glitterati and moons over cute boy Aidan. Except all is not well in her shiny new world. First of all, Willa learns...

Summer reading programs are starting and as I've mentioned before, the theme at the libraries where I work is One World, Many Stories . In addition to the books that I've previously listed , there are also some fabulous movies with multicultural stories that you might be interested in. Bend It Like Beckham : A Pakistani teen in London defies her parents by playing soccer. The Chorus (Les Choristes) : At a school for troubled boys in France, a music teacher changes their lives. Empire of the Sun : A young English boy tries to survive in a Japanese POW camp during World War II. Into the West : Two Traveller brothers find a mysterious white horse in their Irish slum. Osama : A 12-year-old girl disguises herself as boy after the Taliban takes over Afghanistan. Quinceanera : Magdalena gets kicked out of her home when she finds out she's pregnant, but finds a new home with her grandfather and gay cousin. Rabbit-Proof Fence : Three aboriginal girls escape government custody and at...

Summer reading programs are kicking off soon at the libraries where I work, and this year's theme is "One World, Many Stories." As I've mentioned before, I believe multicultural stories aren't just for people of color and I love that so many kids will have the opportunity to learn about the big, beautiful world we all share. Here's a short list of books about people from the four corners the world, including right here in the USA. Picture Books Angel City by Tony Johnston, illustrated by Carole Byard An African-American man adopts a Latino boy and when tragedy strikes this unlikely family, love is what keeps them going. Not for younger readers, but older children can appreciate the book’s message of tolerance and compassion. D Is for Dragon Dance by Ying Chang Compestine, illustrated by YongSheng Xuan Vibrant illustrations celebrate the traditions of Chinese New Year one letter at a time. Pablo Neruda: Poet of the People by Monica Brown, illustrated by Juli...

I've been thinking about this topic for awhile, and since it's Black History Month, it seems like a good time to blog about it. First, my Person of Color cred. I'm Latino, third generation, non-Spanish speaker. Most of my friends are white, I married a white guy, and I'm often told that I'm white (including by the census). But I've never felt "white." I'm olive-skinned with dark hair. Strangers have asked me if I'm Greek, Persian, Jewish, Pakistani, Indian, Eastern European, Turkish, Filipino, Italian, and, occasionally, Mexican. I obviously don't look white. I look "other," even though people have trouble figuring out what that "other" is. I grew up feeling that "other" because there was no one on television who looked like me except Maria on Sesame Street . There were no books about girls like me. I read Wonder Woman comics because at least she was a brunette. Yay, 21st century! Now there's Dora the Expl...