Comments on: Another Fabulous Blog + Reviewing Challenge http://justinelarbalestier.com/blog/2009/07/26/another-fabulous-blog-reviewing-challenge/ writing, reading, eating, drinking, sport Thu, 09 Feb 2012 07:42:52 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Zetta Elliott http://justinelarbalestier.com/blog/2009/07/26/another-fabulous-blog-reviewing-challenge/comment-page-1/#comment-82600 Zetta Elliott Mon, 27 Jul 2009 02:49:51 +0000 http://justinelarbalestier.com/?p=5515#comment-82600 Greetings! I'd like to begin by saying that I think you've handled this difficult situation REALLY well...and I'd like to thank you for swinging this sudden spotlight onto other deserving blogs like Reading in Color and Color Online. Susan is one of the most committed literacy advocates I know, and through her site I've not only found great reading suggestions, I've met amazing readers who share my vision of a more just publishing industry. Another blogger who does an outstanding job of discovering and reviewing marginalized books is Doret over at The Happy Nappy Bookseller (http://thehappynappybookseller.blogspot.com/). Doret reads more than anyone I know, and as a bookseller, she's got a unique perspective on how customers perceive publishers' marketing strategies. I'm a writer, and a fairly solitary person, but my online community has become invaluable over time--esp as we face controversial issues around reading/writing/representing race. We'd love to see our community expand, and people of color desperately need allies, so thanks again for sending new readers our way. Greetings! I’d like to begin by saying that I think you’ve handled this difficult situation REALLY well…and I’d like to thank you for swinging this sudden spotlight onto other deserving blogs like Reading in Color and Color Online. Susan is one of the most committed literacy advocates I know, and through her site I’ve not only found great reading suggestions, I’ve met amazing readers who share my vision of a more just publishing industry. Another blogger who does an outstanding job of discovering and reviewing marginalized books is Doret over at The Happy Nappy Bookseller (http://thehappynappybookseller.blogspot.com/). Doret reads more than anyone I know, and as a bookseller, she’s got a unique perspective on how customers perceive publishers’ marketing strategies. I’m a writer, and a fairly solitary person, but my online community has become invaluable over time–esp as we face controversial issues around reading/writing/representing race. We’d love to see our community expand, and people of color desperately need allies, so thanks again for sending new readers our way.

]]> By: Ariel Zeitlin Cooke http://justinelarbalestier.com/blog/2009/07/26/another-fabulous-blog-reviewing-challenge/comment-page-1/#comment-82597 Ariel Zeitlin Cooke Mon, 27 Jul 2009 01:02:35 +0000 http://justinelarbalestier.com/?p=5515#comment-82597 I love Touching Snow too. I always recommend that book and I find it so surprising that it isn't better known. Felin had me hooked from the very first sentence: "The best way to avoid being picked on by high school bullies is to kill someone." I feel similarly about Chess Rumble by G. Neri, which is very different in form: an illustrated free verse novel about an inner city boy who learns to express his frustration by playing chess instead of fighting. (Also POC, btw.) Chess Rumble is esp great for smart, thoughtful kids who don't read fluently. I don't know why it's not everywhere. I love Touching Snow too. I always recommend that book and I find it so surprising that it isn’t better known. Felin had me hooked from the very first sentence: “The best way to avoid being picked on by high school bullies is to kill someone.”

I feel similarly about Chess Rumble by G. Neri, which is very different in form: an illustrated free verse novel about an inner city boy who learns to express his frustration by playing chess instead of fighting. (Also POC, btw.) Chess Rumble is esp great for smart, thoughtful kids who don’t read fluently. I don’t know why it’s not everywhere.

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