Zetta Elliott's Blog, page 40

see you in White Plains!

Deye mon gen mon

“Behind one mountain is another mountain.” I finished my novel last night, the novel I started back in 2003. I needed some help with a Haitian proverb and my friend Gabrielle kindly shared this one with me: “Deye mon gen mon.” I needed something an elder might say to a young person struggling to be true to herself, and this makes perfect sense. If you conquer one problem, there will always be another for you to deal with. So be prepared to keep climbing and don’t waste energy trying to dodge obstacles. I’ve finished a draft of The Door at the Crossroads, but I still have revisions to do and the fact-checking will take hours of additional research and I’ve got another MG novel to finish next month AND I’m working on a new picture book right now! But I’m still going to celebrate with cake later today. When it comes to publishing my work, there are too many mountains to count. But 2016 is the year for me to focus on abundance instead of lack. I still have over a dozen manuscripts on my hard drive and that means more opportunities to collaborate with talented people. Purple Wong (who illustrated I Love Snow) is working on another book for me and I’m loving her illustrations. I’m 43 and my dad died 12 years ago, but I still miss holding his hand and that prompted me to write A Hand to Hold. I don’t know how I’m going to turn the rest of these stories into books, but I know it can be done because I’ve already self-published 16 books! And if this editor rejects Crossroads, I’ll self-publish that as well. And then start climbing the next mountain…

 

the road rose up to meet me

Sometimes I need a little push because I’m not always motivated to push myself. I run every other day but I don’t time myself or think about finding a different route; I’m content to run the same circuit through the park with only an occasional detour. Yesterday I woke up, scarfed down a handful of almonds, and went to the park for a run. I considered running the whole park but took my usual shorter route—why not? I’m not a die hard runner (I prefer power walking) and only run (jog slowly) so I can fit into my jeans. I went home, made some oatmeal, and finished writing comments on my 10th graders’ report cards. Most of my students really put a lot of effort into the class, but one student always phoned it in and I found myself writing him a short lecture on the importance of self-motivation. How do we learn as children to push ourselves? In the early years we generally have an adult standing over us, making sure we do what’s expected of us. But then the adults move on and many of us have to learn to hold ourselves to a higher standard because most folks don’t expect a whole lot from a young person of color. I’ve been underestimated most of my life and I think that motivates me to excel. Yet once my reports cards were turned in, I thought about whether or not I really wanted to walk over to the convent I’m writing about. Founded by Irish nuns, Mercy Home (as it’s now called) is in Clinton Hill and used to take in “unwed mothers” back in the 1860s. I’d already written a scene set in the convent but figured I could go see what it looks like now and maybe try to peek inside. But it was a grey day and the scene was already written…I don’t generally struggle with self-motivation but some days it’s easier to just curl up with my laptop and a cup of tea; I’m averaging 1300 words a day and at this rate, I should finish the novel by the end of the week (YAY!). I’m keeping my Xmas tree up until this novel’s done, and its soft lights make it tempting to plant myself on the couch and write using only the resources I find online. But then I decided I wanted cake, and I did need to go to the bank, and my short run only earned me 6000 steps…so I took the shuttle train three stops and then walked, and walked, and hoped the convent would be worth the trek. It was! I couldn’t find an entrance and so walked around the block until I saw a woman exiting through a door in the fortress-like wall. I went up to the door and thought about pressing the buzzer, but then thought maybe a glimpse of the courtyard was enough. I’d taken pictures of the convent’s exterior so maybe I should call it a day and just go get some cake. But then a young Black man saw me peering through the door and said, “You coming in?” Before I could answer he opened the door from the inside and then asked if I knew where I was going. I told him I wanted to see inside the convent’s oldest building and he directed me to the basement entrance. A sign next to the door said to press the bell and face the mounted camera. I did that three times but nothing happened. “Oh, well—I tried,” I thought to myself. I couldn’t see anyone through the glass part of the door but knocked anyway and a friendly face immediately appeared. Because I didn’t give up, I got a tour of the first floor of the historic convent including the Heritage Room and the chapel, which is stunning. Afterward I got my cake, went to the bank, came home, put my feet up (14,000 steps!), and rewrote the chapter I set inside an inaccurately austere convent. I logged off after writing 1400 words and sent a thank-you email to my friendly tour guide. When you have an active imagination, it can be easy to opt out of the real world. People have been pretty disappointing as of late and it makes me want to stay off Facebook, turn off the nightly news, and just stay home where I’m safe inside my head. But that’s not how life works and when you go out to meet the world, sometimes the road really does rise up to meet you.

2015 African American MG & YA Fiction

It’s that time of year again! Middle grade (MG) and young adult (YA) novels by African American authors often don’t get the kind of publicity they need to reach readers, so each year we put together a list of the books published in the US. We want to celebrate Black authors who got their books into print, but we also want to remind folks that around 3,000 novels are published for young readers in the US each year. So this is also a reality check! These annual lists get the most hits on my blog, and many educators and librarians tell me they never knew half of these titles were published—which means they weren’t added to classrooms and library collections. If I’ve missed a title, let me know in the comments section. I do NOT include self-published titles because we’re trying to paint a picture of the traditional US publishing industry’s output. This list is built from Edith Campbell’s 2015 Booklist, which includes African American, Latino, Asian American, and Native American authors.

The Boy in the Black Suit by Jason Reynolds (Atheneum). Soon after his mother’s death, Matt takes a job at a funeral home in his tough Brooklyn neighborhood and, while attending and assisting with funerals, begins to accept her death and his responsibilities as a man.
X: A Novel by Ilyash Shabazz and Kekla Magoon (Candlewick). Malcolm Little’s parents have always told him that he can achieve anything, but from what he can tell, that’s a pack of lies—after all, his father’s been murdered, his mother’s been taken away, and his dreams of becoming a lawyer have gotten him laughed out of school. There’s no point in trying, he figures, and lured by the nightlife of Boston and New York, he escapes into a world of fancy suits, jazz, girls, and reefer. But Malcolm’s efforts to leave the past behind lead him into increasingly dangerous territory. Deep down, he knows that the freedom he’s found is only an illusion—and that he can’t run forever. X follows Malcolm from his childhood to his imprisonment for theft at age twenty, when he found the faith that would lead him to forge a new path and command a voice that still resonates today.
Stella by Starlight by Shapon Draper (Atheneum). When a burning cross set by the Klan causes panic and fear in 1932 Bumblebee, North Carolina, fifth-grader Stella must face prejudice and find the strength to demand change in her segregated town.
Chasing Freedom : The Life Journeys Of Harriet Tubman And Susan B. Anthony, Inspired By Historical Facts by Nikki Grimes and Michele Wood (Orchard Books). In this imaginative biographical story, Harriet Tubman and Susan B. Anthony sit down over a cup of tea in 1904 to reminisce about their struggles and triumphs in the service of freedom and women’s rights.
Streetball Crew Book Two Stealing the Game Hardcover by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar & Raymond Obstfeld (Disney Hyperion). When eighth-grader Chris’s older brother, Jax, is caught betting on the pick-up basketball games that Chris and his friends play, Chris becomes involved in the police investigation.
Gone Crazy in Alabama by Rita Williams-Garcia (Harper Collins/Amistad) Delphine, Vonetta, and Fern are off to Alabama to visit their grandmother Big Ma and her mother Ma Charles. Across the way lives Miss Trotter, Ma Charles’ half sister. The two half sisters haven’t spoken in years. As Delphine hears about her family history, she uncovers the surprising truth that’s been keeping the sisters apart. But when tragedy strikes, Delphine discovers that the bonds of family run deeper than she ever knew possible.
This Side of Home by Renée Watson (Bloomsbury). Twins Nikki and Maya Younger always agreed on most things, but as they head into their senior year they react differently to the gentrification of their Portland, Oregon, neighborhood and the new–white–family that moves in after their best friend and her mother are evicted (ages 12-18).
The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind young readers edition by William Kamkwamba and Bryan Mealer (Penguin). When a terrible drought struck William Kamkwamba’s tiny village in Malawi, his family lost all of the season’s crops, leaving them with nothing to eat and nothing to sell. William began to explore science books in his village library, looking for a solution. There, he came up with the idea that would change his family’s life forever: he could build a windmill. Made out of scrap metal and old bicycle parts, William’s windmill brought electricity to his home and helped his family pump the water they needed to farm the land. Retold for a younger audience, this exciting memoir shows how, even in a desperate situation, one boy’s brilliant idea can light up the world. Complete with photographs, illustrations, and an epilogue that will bring readers up to date on William’s story, this is the perfect edition to read and share with the whole family (ages 10 and up).
by Mo’ne Davis (HarperCollins). At the age of thirteen, Mo’ne Davis became the first female pitcher to win a game in the Little League World Series and the first Little Leaguer to be featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated. A month later she earned a place in the National Baseball Hall of Fame. This inspiring memoir from a girl who learned to play baseball with the boys and rose to national stardom before beginning eighth grade will encourage young readers to reach for their dreams no matter the odds. Mo’ne’s story is one of determination, hard work, and an incredible fastball. Mo’ne Davis is a multisport athlete who also plays basketball and soccer, and is an honor roll student at her school in Philadelphia.
The Boy Who Carried Bricks: A True Story by Alton Carter (Roadrunner). Abandoned by his father, neglected by his mother, shuttled between foster homes and a boys ranch, a young African-American man refuses to succumb to the fate that the world says should be his. Told by the man who lived it (ages 12-18).
The Sweetest Heist in History (Randi Rhodes Ninja Detective) by Octavia Spencer (Simon and Schuster). A hard-to-prove art heist makes a New York City mystery for ninja detective Randi Rhodes in this second book in a series full of humor, adventure, and heart from Academy Award–winning actress Octavia Spencer. Randi Rhodes and her fellow ninja detectives, DC and Pudge, were flying high after solving the Case of the Time-Capsule Bandit. But life in sleepy Deer Creek has begun to feel…a bit boring. There are no crimes to investigate! But a trip to New York City to visit Randi’s aunt changes that! While the ninja detective trio explores Randi’s old neighborhood in Brooklyn, they uncover an art heist. Except no one will believe them. So they’ll just have to catch the criminals in the act… (ages 8-12).
Endangered by Lamar Giles (HarperTeen). The one secret she cares about keeping—her identity—is about to be exposed. Unless Lauren “Panda” Daniels—an anonymous photoblogger who specializes in busting classmates and teachers in compromising positions—plays along with her blackmailer’s little game of Dare or . . . Dare. But when the game turns deadly, Panda doesn’t know what to do. And she may need to step out of the shadows to save herself . . . and everyone else on the Admirer’s hit list (ages 12 and up).
Tiny Pretty Things by Sona Charaipotra and Dhonielle Clayton (HarperTeen). Gigi, Bette, and June, three top students at an exclusive Manhattan ballet school, have seen their fair share of drama. Free-spirited new girl Gigi just wants to dance—but the very act might kill her. Privileged New Yorker Bette’s desire to escape the shadow of her ballet star sister brings out a dangerous edge in her. And perfectionist June needs to land a lead role this year or her controlling mother will put an end to her dancing dreams forever. When every dancer is both friend and foe, the girls will sacrifice, manipulate, and backstab to be the best of the best (ages 12-18).
Bayou Magic by Jewell Parker Rhodes (Little, Brown). It’s Maddy’s turn to have a bayou summer. At first she misses life back home in the city, but soon she grows to love everything about her new surroundings — the glimmering fireflies, the glorious landscape, and something else, deep within the water, that only Maddy sees. Could it be a mermaid? As her grandmother shares wisdom about sayings and signs, Maddy realizes she may be only the sibling to carry on her family’s magical legacy. And when a disastrous oil leak threatens the bayou, she knows she may also be the only one who can help. Does she have what it takes to be a hero? (ages 8-12).
Make it Messy by Marcus Samuelsson and Veronica Chambers (Delacorte). Marcus Samuelsson’s life and his journey to the top of the food world have been anything but typical. Orphaned in Ethiopia, he was adopted by a loving couple in Sweden, where his new grandmother taught him to cook and inspired in him a lifelong passion for food. In time, that passion would lead him to train and cook in some of the finest, most demanding kitchens in Europe. Samuelsson’s talent and ambition eventually led him to fulfill his dream of opening his own restaurant in New York City: Red Rooster Harlem, a highly acclaimed, multicultural dining room, where presidents rub elbows with jazz musicians, aspiring artists, and bus drivers. A place where anyone can feel at home (ages 12 and up).
Delicate Monsters by Stephanie Kuehn (St. Martin’s Griffin). When nearly killing a classmate gets seventeen-year-old Sadie Su kicked out of her third boarding school in four years, she returns to her family’s California vineyard estate. Here, she’s meant to stay out of trouble. Here, she’s meant to do a lot of things. But it’s hard. She’s bored. And when Sadie’s bored, the only thing she likes is trouble. Emerson Tate’s a poor boy living in a rich town, with his widowed mother and strange, haunted little brother. All he wants his senior year is to play basketball and make something happen with the girl of his dreams. That’s why Emerson’s not happy Sadie’s back. An old childhood friend, she knows his worst secrets. The things he longs to forget. The things she won’t ever let him. Haunted is a good word for fifteen-year-old Miles Tate. Miles can see the future, after all. And he knows his vision of tragic violence at his school will come true, because his visions always do. That’s what he tells the new girl in town. The one who listens to him. The one who recognizes the darkness in his past (ages 14-18).
Rid wit’ Me Part 2 by Joy Deja King (A King Production Presents A Young Diamond Book). The Romeo and Juliet of the streets are back in Ride Wit’ Me part 2. Mercedes and Dalvin are fighting to keep their love intact and make it down the isle. Will the two lovebirds be able to overcome their obstacles and finally become husband and wife? Find out in this next installment.
Dork Diaries 9: Tales From A Not So Dorky Drama Queen by Rachel Renée Russell (Aladdin). Nikki’s diary is up to the month of April, and springtime is sure to bring more wacky adventures with Nikki and her friends Chloe, Zoey, and Brandon! (ages 9-13).
Show and Prove by Sofia Quintero (Knopf). The summer of 1983 was the summer hip-hop proved its staying power. The South Bronx is steeped in Reaganomics, war in the Middle East, and the twin epidemics of crack and AIDS, but Raymond “Smiles” King and Guillermo “Nike” Vega have more immediate concerns. Smiles was supposed to be the assistant crew chief at his summer camp, but the director chose Cookie Camacho instead, kicking off a summer-long rivalry. Meanwhile, the aspiring b-boy Nike has set his wandering eye on Sara, the sweet yet sassy new camp counselor, as well as top prize at a breakdancing competition downtown. The two friends have been drifting apart ever since Smiles got a scholarship to a fancy private school, and this summer the air is heavy with postponed decisions that will finally be made. Raw and poignant, this is a story of music, urban plight, and racial tension that’s as relevant today as it was in 1983.
Finding Someplace by Denise Lewis Patrick (Henry Holt and Co.). Reesie Boone just knows that thirteen is going to be her best year yet-this will be the year she makes her very first fashion design on her Ma Maw’s sewing machine. She’ll skip down the streets of New Orleans with her best friends, Ayanna and Orlando, and everyone will look at her in admiration. But on Reesie’s birthday, everything changes. Hurricane Katrina hits her city. Stranded at home alone, Reesie takes refuge with her elderly neighbor, Miss Martine. The waters rise. They escape in a boat. And soon Reesie is reunited with her family. But her journey back home has only begun. This is a story of a family putting itself back together, and a young girl learning to find herself.
Shadows of Sherwood (Robyn Hoodlum series) by Kekla Magoon (Bloomsbury USA). The night her parents disappear, twelve-year-old Robyn Loxley must learn to fend for herself. Her home, Nott City, has been taken over by a harsh governor, Ignomus Crown. After fleeing for her life, Robyn has no choice but to join a band of strangers-misfit kids, each with their own special talent for mischief. Setting out to right the wrongs of Crown’s merciless government, they take their outlaw status in stride. But Robyn can’t rest until she finds her parents. As she pieces together clues from the night they disappeared, Robyn learns that her destiny is tied to the future of Nott City in ways she never expected.

Kicking off a new series with an unforgettable heroine, readers will be treated to feats of courage and daring deeds as Robyn and her band find their way in this cruel, new world.
Untwine by Edwidge Danticat (Scholastic). Giselle Boyer and her identical twin, Isabelle, are as close as sisters can be, even as their family seems to be unraveling. Then the Boyers have a tragic encounter that will shatter everyone’s world forever. Giselle wakes up in the hospital, injured and unable to speak or move. Trapped in the prison of her own body, Giselle must revisit her past in order to understand how the people closest to her — her friends, her parents, and above all, Isabelle, her twin — have shaped and defined her. Will she allow her love for her family and friends to lead her to recovery? Or will she remain lost in a spiral of longing and regret? Untwine is a spellbinding tale, lyrical and filled with love, mystery, humor, and heartbreak. Award-winning author Edwidge Danticat brings her extraordinary talent to this graceful and unflinching examination of the bonds of friendship, romance, family, the horrors of loss, and the strength we must discover in ourselves when all seems hopeless (ages 12 and up).
Everything Everything by Nicola Yoon (Delacorte). My disease is as rare as it is famous. Basically, I’m allergic to the world. I don’t leave my house, have not left my house in seventeen years. The only people I ever see are my mom and my nurse, Carla. But then one day, a moving truck arrives next door. I look out my window, and I see him. He’s tall, lean and wearing all black—black T-shirt, black jeans, black sneakers, and a black knit cap that covers his hair completely. He catches me looking and stares at me. I stare right back. His name is Olly. Maybe we can’t predict the future, but we can predict some things. For example, I am certainly going to fall in love with Olly. It’s almost certainly going to be a disaster (ages 12 and up).
Hoodoo by Ronald L. Smith (Clarion Books). Magic: hoodoo, as most people call it. But even though his name is Hoodoo, he can’t seem to cast a simple spell. When a mysterious man called the Stranger comes to town, Hoodoo starts dreaming of the dead rising from their graves. Even worse, he soon learns the Stranger is looking for a boy. Not just any boy. A boy named Hoodoo. The entire town is at risk from the Stranger’s black magic, and only Hoodoo can defeat him. He’ll just need to learn how to conjure first. Set amid the swamps, red soil, and sweltering heat of small town Alabama in the 1930s, Hoodoo is infused with a big dose of creepiness leavened with gentle humor (ages 10-12).
Juba!: A Novel by Walter Dean Meyers (Amistad). This engaging historical novel is based on the true story of the meteoric rise of an immensely talented young black dancer, William Henry Lane, who influenced today’s tap, jazz, and step dancing. With meticulous and intensive research, Walter Dean Myers has brought to life Juba’s story. The novel includes photographs, maps, and other images from Juba’s time and an afterword from Walter Dean Myers’s wife about the writing process of Juba! (ages 12 and up).
Monster: A Graphic Novel by Walter Dean Myers, Guy A. Sims, Dawud Anyabwile (Amistad). A stunning black-and-white graphic novel adaptation of Walter Dean Myers’s Michael L. Printz Award winner and New York Times bestseller Monster, adapted by Guy Sims and illustrated by Dawud Anyabwile. Monster is a multi-award-winning, provocative coming-of-age story about Steve Harmon, a teenager awaiting trial for a murder and robbery. As Steve acclimates to juvenile detention and goes to trial, he envisions the ordeal as a movie. Monster was the first-ever Michael L. Printz Award recipient, an ALA Best Book, a Coretta Scott King Honor selection, and a National Book Award finalist (ages 12 and up).
President of the Whole Sixth Grade by Sherri Winston (Little, Brown). Brianna Justice is determined to raise enough money for the big class trip to Washington, D.C., but she’s up against a lot: classmates who all pretend to be something they’re not, a new nemesis determined to run her out of office, and the sinking feeling she’s about to lose her two best friends. But just when she begins to lose hope, she comes to realize that sometimes surprises can turn out even better than the best-laid plans (ages 8-12).
The Toymaker’s Apprentice by Sherri L. Smith (G.P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Children). Stefan Drosselmeyer is a reluctant apprentice to his toymaker father until the day his world is turned upside down. His father is kidnapped and Stefan is enlisted by his mysterious cousin, Christian Drosselmeyer, to find a mythical nut to save a princess who has been turned into a wooden doll. Embarking on a wild adventure through Germany, Stefan must save Boldavia’s princess and his own father from the fanatical Mouse Queen and her seven-headed Mouse Prince, both of whom have sworn to destroy the Drosselmeyer family (ages 10 and up).
See No Color by Shannon Gibney (Carolrhoda Labs). Alex has always identified herself as a baseball player, the daughter of a winning coach, but when she realizes that is not enough she begins to come to terms with her adoption and her race (ages 12 and up).
The Middle School Rules of Charles “Peanut” Tillman by Sean Jensen and Max Smith (Broadstreet Publishing). A collection of stories from the childhood of Charles “Peanut” Tillman, who would grow up to play as a cornerback for the Chicago Bears and have his off-field work recognized with the 2013 NFL Man of the Year award (ages 8-12).
This Way Home by Wes Moore and Shawn Goodman (Delacorte). Elijah, seventeen, has always been sure of just one thing–basketball–and believes it will be his way out of West Baltimore, but when gang violence knocks him down, helping a veteran repair his rickety home helps Elijah see what really matters (ages 12 and up).
All American Boys by Jason Reynolds and Brendan Kiely (Atheneum/Caitlyn Dlouhy Books). A bag of chips. That’s all sixteen-year-old Rashad is looking for at the corner bodega. What he finds instead is a fist-happy cop, Paul Galluzzo, who mistakes Rashad for a shoplifter, mistakes Rashad’s pleadings that he’s stolen nothing for belligerence, mistakes Rashad’s resistance to leave the bodega as resisting arrest, mistakes Rashad’s every flinch at every punch the cop throws as further resistance and refusal to STAY STILL as ordered. But how can you stay still when someone is pounding your face into the concrete pavement? But there were witnesses: Quinn Collins—a varsity basketball player and Rashad’s classmate who has been raised by Paul since his own father died in Afghanistan—and a video camera. Soon the beating is all over the news and Paul is getting threatened with accusations of prejudice and racial brutality. Quinn refuses to believe that the man who has basically been his savior could possibly be guilty. But then Rashad is absent. And absent again. And again. And the basketball team—half of whom are Rashad’s best friends—start to take sides. As does the school. And the town. Simmering tensions threaten to explode as Rashad and Quinn are forced to face decisions and consequences they had never considered before.Written in tandem by two award-winning authors, this tour de force shares the alternating perspectives of Rashad and Quinn as the complications from that single violent moment, the type taken from the headlines, unfold and reverberate to highlight an unwelcome truth (age 12+).
The Jumbies by Tracey Baptiste (Algonquin Young Readers). Corinne La Mer isn’t afraid of anything. Not scorpions, not the boys who tease her, and certainly not jumbies. She knows that jumbies aren’t real; they’re just creatures parents make up to frighten their children. But on All Hallows’ Eve, Corinne chases an agouti all the way into the forbidden woods. Those shining yellow eyes that follow her to the edge of the trees, they couldn’t belong to a jumbie. Or could they? Corinne begins to notice odd occurrences after that night. First she spots a beautiful stranger speaking to the town witch at the market. Then this same beauty, called Severine, turns up at Corinne’s house, cooking dinner for her father. Danger is in the air. Sure enough, bewitching Corinne’s father is the first step in Severine’s plan to claim the entire island for the jumbies. Corinne must call on her courage and her friends and ancient magic to stop Severine and to save her island home (age 9-12).
Amphibians’ End: a Kulipari Novel by Trevor Pryce, Joel Naftali, and Sanford Greene (Harry N. Abrams). In this third book of the Kulipari series, the future of the Amphibilands has never looked so bleak. With Lord Marmoo stronger than ever and still maniacally bent on taking over the outback, Darel can’t fathom why the Rainbow Serpent wants him to lower the Veil, the Amphibilands’ only source of protection. But the Serpent’s message is clear, and in preparation for the inevitable battle, Darel and the Kulipari go out in search of someone—anyone—to fight on their side. In their travels, the frog warriors make a perilous discovery: the outback’s water supplies are mysteriously disappearing. Without water, there can be no life. With the odds stacked against them, Darel and the Kulipari must take one final stand to protect their home, before it becomes . . . the Arachnilands. The Kulipari trilogy comes to its thrilling conclusion in this action-packed adventure by NFL veteran Trevor Pryce and acclaimed comics artist Sanford Greene (age 8-12).

counting my blessings

I can’t seem to get a visual image for this slideshow, but the link is still active. Every year I say I won’t do another slideshow and every year I do…because it’s a useful exercise to sift through your photos and remember all the people who supported you and the places you visited. I feel truly blessed and will strive to make 2016 another year of growth. Happy New Year!

This free slideshow created with Smilebox

how I feel today

This is how I feel today. It’s raining, the neighbor’s dog is whining pitifully, and I am fighting the urge to crawl back into bed. But then I heard someone (my better self?) say, “Your voice is needed now.” So I will try to write today the essay I was planning to write next week. And I will let myself sound like a broken record because some words bear repeating over and over again. I look at Lucille Clifton’s words pinned to my bulletin board: “everyday/something has tried to kill me/and has failed.” Tamir is dead but we are still alive. We must testify. They kill one to cow a thousand of us into silence, but we will not comply.

check, check, & check!

I often complain about my neverending To Do list, but I’m happy to check ALL of these items off my winter break list! I’ve been binge-watching Vikings but took a break yesterday to walk around the botanic garden in the rain (#2). I don’t like this balmy weather but I do love waking up to a dark apartment and plugging in my pretty Xmas tree. Woke early but stayed in bed for an extra couple of hours this morning (#1), then went for a run in the park (#5), but first drank a cup of eggnog (check #7). I went to the library and got Re Jane (#3), which I meant to read earlier this year after hearing the author interviewed on WNYC; fortunately it came to my attention again when I found this great list of 10 Overlooked Novels by Women of Color in 2015. I fell asleep last night watching Scrooge (1951) so I’m watching it now—in stretchy pants and a t-shirt, which is almost like pajamas (#10). The goal today is to write, so that will satisfy #6. Or I could watch the Poldark marathon on PBS. A friend and I have decided to have a goal-setting session in the next few days, and Chani Nicholas provided some really helpful prompts on her website:

How do I want to feel about my work, relationships, body, spiritual life/relationship with myself?
What old paradigm do I want to outgrow?
What life affirming feeling do I want to grow into?
What bonds am I ready to free myself from?
What guilt, shame and self-doubt can I lay down?
What actions can I take to help my self esteem and quell my self-doubt?
What self-care practices can I give to myself considering the nature of my work?
How can I give that which I want to cultivate?
What do I need to become more sensitive to?
What might I need to have a thicker skin about?

It feels quite luxurious to have several days on the calendar with NOTHING penciled in, but I don’t want to waste the break by doing too much of  #11. It’s all about balance, right? Hope you’re enjoying the holidays!

fighting symbolic annihilation

Last February I flew to Austin, Texas to film a 10-minute segment on the importance of diversity in children’s literature. That talk for Blackademics TV aired on Austin PBS on November 15, 2015, and the video is now available on the KLRU website. You can watch the video here (my talk starts at 10:08). Some really great scholars participated in this program so be sure you check out their talks, too!

Blackademics TV

My talk for Blackademics TV aired in Austin on KLRU/PBS on November 15, 2015. You can watch the video here (my talk starts at 10:08)

my first bilingual book!

With the help of Oralia Garza de Cortes, Lucia M. Gonzalez, and my translator Vilma Álvarez-Steenwerth, I am almost ready to release a bilingual edition of Let the Faithful Come! And the Spanish edition of Max Loves Muñecas! should follow next week. I can’t speak or read Spanish, so I am very grateful for these Latina librarians/authors/scholars who so graciously shared their time and expertise with me. I’m working on 6 books right now and just applied for a residency in Miami, a conference here in Brooklyn, and I’m considering a trip to Antigua to conduct research on my memoir The Hummingbird’s Tongue. I made Xmas toffee last night and will start the more serious baking next week…the tree just needs a bit more tinsel…2016 is on its way!