Archive for June, 2009

Part of today’s Friday plugs have a more serious tone–I’ve been trying to follow the events in Iran closely, and am grateful to the many bloggers that have helped to simplify things and explain them in ways that people like me, an ordinary American, can understand.

In addition to the video I posted below, author John Green talks about the religion of Islam and the voting fraud in Iran at his blog.

Colleen posts, at Chasing Ray, amongst her many other intelligent posts, photos that display what is happening in Iran.

On a somewhat related note, author Justine Larbalestier discusses the banning of Maureen Johnson’s The Bermudez Triangles, and homophobic book banning (a particular topic of interest to me here in Cleveland as our annual Pride parade is tomorrow).

And then on the lighter side of things, Scott Westerfeld teases his readers with a blog post about an Uglies movie! (Wooohoooo!)

Happy blog-reading!

Many young adult authors have been blogging and tweeting about the injustices happening in Iran, as we speak. Scott Westerfeld, author of the Uglies series, noted that Iranian censors were seeking web sites set to Tehran local time in order to find out about, and shut down, protestors’ sites. He’s encouraged the blogosphere to change your web site or blog time to Tehran time (UMT +4:30) to help confuse the censors.

As soon as I can figure out how to do it, I will do the same for my blog.

If anyone out there is reading, I’d like to encourage you to do this. Or blog about the horrific events happening in Iran. This is a subject that we cannot and SHOULD NOT be quiet about. In America, we are given the freedom of speech. This is not a freedom granted everywhere in the world–it is something many people must fight for every day. And they are literally fighting for it–many people have been injured, and continue to be harmed. I have seen some of the photos other bloggers have posted, and they are terrifying.

I was going to try and explain the situation that is happening in Iran for the benefit of those who may not know, or those who may be confused, but I saw this wonderful video by John Green and realized he says it MUCH better than I ever will. So watch and learn!

I encourage everyone to stay informed on this situation and speak out!

A few years ago I discovered the poetry of Mairead Byrne, an Irish poet. I’m not a student of poetry, although I love to read and write it, so I can’t name her style, if you could even categorize it, but her poems are very current, but have a lyrical longevity to them. I can feel the beat and the power behind the words. At her blog you can read a lot of poems that she posts, in addition to information regarding readings and events.

I’m a fan of many types of poetry, from all eras, but modern poetry, describing modern issues (see her poem on June 2 called layoffs) is especially appealing to me, and I think could be especially appealing to teens. Many of the poets today that write for a teen audience adopt this similar flow of words that are biting yet powerful. Take, for example, Sonya Sones, and What My Mother Doesn’t Know, and Ellen Hopkins, with Crank, and many other voices out there today.

What entices teen to this form of poetry? I can imagine it is the same reason they are drawn to other works based in reality. These voices speak when they cannot. They describe what they may not understand. They give power to the crazy tangle of emotions that is adolescence.

Let me start today’s blog post with this: Tamora Pierce is one of my favorite authors of all time. I’ve read all of her books, ALL, and I especially enjoy her series of books that take place in the fantasy realm of Tortall. Her latest novel, Bloodhound, is the second of a trilogy surrounding Beka Cooper. Beka is a Dog for the city of Corus, the capital of Tortall. Bloodhound follows the story of her second year in the service of the crown (a Dog is like a modern day policeman/detective), and her first adventure as a full-blown member of the patrol.

This time around, Beka travels to Port Caynn with her partner, Clary Goodwin, to investigate possible counterfeiting (or colemongering, as the locals would say). Accompanied by a scent-tracking hound, Achoo, she finds herself almost immediately in the midst of everything, surrounded by new friends and new enemies, including the fearsome Rogue of Port Caynn, Pearl Skinner, and the charming gambler, Dale Rowan.

As I began Bloodhound, I thought to myself that I certainly didn’t love Beka Cooper as much as Pierce’s other heroines. How could anyone top Alanna the Lioness, or Daine the Wild Mage? But after finishing, I’ve realized that Beka’s voice has found her own way into a little corner of my heart. Terrier, the first book in the series, and Bloodhound, are unique from Pierce’s other novels in that it is written in diary format. However, after a few pages, you don’t even realize that–this book is so action-packed, so funny, and so full of well thought out, descriptive characters, that you’d never think twice about the format.

I imagine that once this trilogy of books is complete, Beka Cooper will have her place amongst the heroines of Tortall (or so perhaps she has found that place already!), and I hope that readers will also find a place for her on their shelves. Any fan of fantasy with a strong, stubborn heroine that is far from perfect, but ever lovable, will enjoy Bloodhound.

Other Recommended Reads: Check out Tamora Pierce’s other novels of Tortall, including the Lioness quartet, which feature Alanna, the lady knight, and also Beka Cooper’s ancestor, George Cooper, King of the Rogues.

I’m probably one of the last people on board, but I’ve finally hopped on the Percy Jackson bandwagon and begun Rick Riordan’s awesome series of books. I’ve just finished the first book, The Lightning Thief, and am ready for more!

For those not in the know, Percy Jackson is a sixth grader with unique abilities and unique parentage. His dad is Poseidon, god of the sea, one of the big 3 gods of Mount Olympus, who, by the way, are very real and very much still around.

After being attacked by a variety of monsters straight out of mythology, Percy finds himself at Camp Halfblood, a safe haven/training camp for the children of the gods like himself.

At the camp, Percy discovers his heritage, while also learning that his dad was currently in a dispute, to put it lightly, with Zeus, lord of the sky, over a particularly important possession of Zeus’ that was discovered missing.

Percy finds himself in the midst of this problem as Zeus accuses him of being the thief. And with the threat of the worst war in human history looming (should Poseidon and Zeus begin to brawl), Percy is sent on a quest to the realm of Hades, lord of the underworld, to find Zeus’ missing lightning bolt.

This is a great beginning to what I expect will be an excellent and addicting series (and hey, I don’t have to wait to read them all). Riordan has Percy face many challenges, but physical and emotional. The dynamics of the relationships in this book are complex and growing. I can’t wait to read more on Percy’s developing relationships with his friends Annabeth and Grover, the satyr.

This book is a great read for all ages, even younger readers. The story is quick, funny, suspenseful, and entertaining. I can’t wait to pick up the next book!

Other Recommended Reads: For another book that deals with children of the gods, check out Tera Lynn Child’s hilarious Oh. My. Gods. and the upcoming sequel, Goddess Boot Camp. (Check out Nisha Sharma’s interview with Tera Lynn Child’s!)

In the summer I always remember some of my fondest traveling experiences. In college, I was fortunate enough to travel to many cities in the US and also Europe during many of my summers off from school. I tried to write wherever I went, even if just a log of what I did, what I saw, so that I’d be able to have that memory forever.

When I think poetry and travel, I always think of The Road Not Taken by Robert Frost and his famous line that he took the road “less traveled by.” Of course, this is a metaphor for much more than a trip; it’s a description of how the narrator of the poem lived his life, and how many people live their lives. Do you take the least popular road? What is your path in life?

As a teen, I felt I did march to my own beat, but I was not adventuresome–my timidity stopped me from trying new things, meeting new people, traveling a different road. That has come later in my life, and it’s still something I work for every day. In many cases, there is nothing wrong with taking the popular road, the route that everyone before you has gone along. But the new path may lead to an adventure, or to new sights, feelings, or people–take a leap of faith and give something new a try!

I have a few poems I wrote while traveling that I thought convey the mood of this post.

My Italy

Take me back to
the cobblestone streets
and the hills
and the food
and the gypsies selling snakes
Take me back to my Italy
where I’ll fall in love
on a beach
underneath
the sun that
shines eternal.

Belgrave Street

Dreary clouds over
Belgrave street,
I stand and watch
my feet,
Passing time
waiting for the
bus.

I wave out my
hand and smile,
And the red vehicle
stops, right at my
toes.

Here goes!

Place des Vosges

Spring chills
Lover lies on the grass
Musicians and a
sparrow paint the
air in melody,
Not quite yet in bloom.

Just a quickie Friday Plugs this week as I am off sick from work (don’t worry–I’m OK) and just relaxing. I have two great posts to share from the past week!

Maureen Johnson shares her awesome adventure at LeakyCon @ Maureen Johnson Books. Can we talk about how jealous I am? Someday I will make it to LeakyCon…

Judy Blume discusses the SAT, her experiences with it, and her thoughts on its relevance for admission into today’s colleges @ Judy’s Blog. What do you think about the SAT? I’m planning a Hot Topics post for next week on it!

Thanks all, catch you later!

Hello dear readers! I am currently beginning The Obernewtyn Chronicles by Isobelle Carmody. I picked up the first one at Target quite some time ago and have finally begun. So far, so good! The Chronicles tell the story of Elspeth, an orphan living in a post-apocalyptic world that categorizes people with “mutations” as Misfits, unfit for interaction with “normal” human society. I am enjoying her story thus far, although I found it a little bit confusing at first. There is a lot of history thrown at you, and because of the odd, unique nature of the world, there is a lot to learn that the reader has to catch up with.

I think I’m going to enjoy the rest of these. The fantasy aspects are great, and I’m finding the plot very different from other fantasy novels I’ve read lately, so it’s refreshing. I’ll be sure to keep you all updated as I continue on with the series!