Mundie Moms

Monday, September 6, 2010

Banned Books Week: The Absolutely True Diary of a Part Time Indian

By: Sherman Alexie
Published: September 12th 2007 by Little, Brown Young Readers
Source: Library
4 Stars- I really liked this book. Go pick it up
Sherman Alexie tells the story of Junior, a budding cartoonist growing up on the Spokane Indian Reservation. Determined to take his future into his own hands, Junior leaves his troubled school on the rez to attend an all-white farm town high school where the only other Indian is the school mascot. Heartbreaking, funny, and beautifully written, The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, which is based on the author's own experiences, coupled with poignant drawings that reflect the character's art, chronicles the contemporary adolescence of one Native American boy as he attempts to break away from the life he thought he was destined to live.





The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, Alexie's YA debut, released in hardcover to instant success, receiving seven starred reviews, hitting numerous bestseller lists, and winning the 2007 National Book Award for Young People's Literature.


Mundie Moms has asked us to post about or review one of our favorite banned/challenged books. I chose The Absolutely True Diary of a Part Time Indian. I chose this book, because it represents exactly why I am against book bans. This is an amazing, award winning book, and it's being pulled off shelves, because a parent didn't like the content of the book.

I get it! Some of the language is offensive, and can be viewed as racist. The main argument is because a parent doesn't want his child to know what "teenage boys do". That doesn't mean every parent feels the same way. It's natural, it's normal; banning it doesn't make it go away.

Had those few parts been left out, I don't think we would have had an honest of character, as we do with Junior. This is his diary; he shares it all, the good, the bad, and the embarrassing.

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part Time Indian is basically a diary of Arnold Spirit (Junior's) decision to leave his life on the reservation behind, in order to excel. Rez life isn't glamorous, you're poor, your school books are the same books your parents, grandparents used- life on the reservation is a cycle, you born there, you go to school there, you are stuck there to raise your family. For Junior, life on the reservation was worse; he was born with a disability.

Junior decides he wants to go to school at the local public school; he refuses to be stuck in the cycle. When he turns his back on the reservation, his home life only gets worse. The local public school isn't that welcoming either, and their mascot is an Indian. He is an outsider, but he doesn't let that stop him. He will go to extraordinary measures to find his place.

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part Time Indian is a tragically beautiful read. Junior has his ups and downs, but it's all told in a humorous way. One minute you will be crying and then in the next breath be laughing. It truly is an emotional roller coaster.



Book Review- Firelight


By Sophie Jordan
Published by HarperTeen
To Be Released on September 7th, 2010 TOMORROW
Source- The Publisher
5 Stars- This is a Must Have

A hidden truth.
Mortal enemies.
Doomed love.

Marked as special at an early age, Jacinda knows her every move is watched. But she longs for freedom to make her own choices. When she breaks the most sacred tenet among her kind, she nearly pays with her life. Until a beautiful stranger saves her. A stranger who was sent to hunt those like her. For Jacinda is a draki—a descendant of dragons whose greatest defense is her secret ability to shift into human form.

Forced to flee into the mortal world with her family, Jacinda struggles to adapt to her new surroundings. The only bright light is Will. Gorgeous, elusive Will who stirs her inner draki to life. Although she is irresistibly drawn to him, Jacinda knows Will's dark secret: He and his family are hunters. She should avoid him at all costs. But her inner draki is slowly slipping away—if it dies she will be left as a human forever. She'll do anything to prevent that. Even if it means getting closer to her most dangerous enemy.

Mythical powers and breathtaking romance ignite in this story of a girl who defies all expectations and whose love crosses an ancient divide. (taken from HarperTeen)

The back of the ARC describes Firelight perfectly, "Mythical powers and irresistible passion ignite" to make Firelight one book that I was so enraptured with, I read it in one sitting. I've always been intrigued with the mythology of dragons, but I haven't read a book that made me really fall in love with them until I read Firelight. Sophie's characters and her world building hooked from page one and left me wishing her sequel was already out.

Firelight introduces a whole new character in the paranormal world- a Draki. Draki's are descendants of dragons who can shift between both dragon and human forms. While the pride closely guards their secret and where they live, they can easily blend in with humans and no one would know it.

Jacinda's rare gift of fire breathing makes her a unique Draki who's excepted to be with Cassian, the brooding, hot, Draki Prince whom she was once close to. Now that she's closely watched by her pride, and doesn't have a say in her future, she yearns for freedom. Wanting to get away, Jacinda goes against the pride's rule and flies during the day. This not only puts her in warms way when Draki hunters spot her, but she endangers the whole pride. She also wouldn't have met the Draki hunter Will, who finds Jacinda's Draki just as fascinating as Jacinda finds him. What's even more surprising, is that Will protects her from the other hunters.

Jacinda's already lost her father. In order to protect Jacinda and not lose her to the Draki world as well, Jacinda's mom flees from the pride with Jacinda and her sister 13 yr Tamra. Living amongst human's isn't easy for a Draki and living with a mom and sister who can't under Jacinda's Draki needs is even harder. Jacinda struggles with her new life, finds herself at a new school and face to face with the hot Draki hunter Will.

Sophie's talent for writing romance makes for some amazingly hot chemistry between Jacinda, Cassian and Will. Will and Jacinda have an undeniable attraction that left the pages of Firelight smoldering. It's not only one of danger as she's a Draki and he's a Hunter, but there's something more to it. I was really drawn to it. That isn't to say there's no attraction with Cassian, but Jacinda fights it. She doesn't want to be with someone who she thinks rule over her. She yearns for her freedom and wants to be loved for who she is, and not what she can do. Personally, I think there's more to Cassian than how Jacinda portrays him. I'm really looking forward to seeing more of them together in the sequel.

With it's hot chemistry, a captivating world, and an amazing dragon mythology, Firelight is one book I'll be reading over again. If you're looking for a fresh paranormal book to read, I highly recommend picking up Firelight when it releases TOMORROW.


Don't forget to visit these great sites to learn more about Sophie Jordan and Firelight:


Mundane Monday #49

Happy Mundane Monday!!!


His eyes widened. "Clary?"

"Who else would it be?"

He didn't smile. "You don't look like you."

"It's the dress." She smoothed her hands down the material self-consciously. "I don't normally wear things this...pretty."

"You always look beautiful," he said, and she remembered the first time he'd called her beautiful, in the greenhouse at the Institute. He hadn't said it like it was a compliment, but just as if it were an accepted fact, like the fact that she had red hair and liked to draw. "But you look-distant. Like I couldn't touch you."

She came over then and sat down next to him on the wide top step. The stone was cold through the material of her dress. She held her hand out to him; it was shaking slightly, just enough to be invisible. "Touch me," she said. "If you want to."

He took her hand and laid it against his cheek for a moment.

- City of Glass, pages 526-527, Jace & Clary

And The Winner Is.........




The winner of our Crescendo ARC giveaway is:

#266- Jessica Cochrane

CONGRATULATIONS!!! Thank you to everyone who entered! . We have a couple more giveaways going on, and we will a chance to win a *SIGNED* copy of Crescendo later this month.

Have a safe & wonderful Labor Day holiday today!

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