the hummingbird’s tongue

I had a moment yesterday when I wanted to quit teaching. As soon as I submitted my grades, the whining began…no matter how clear you are about the course requirements, no matter how many opportunities you give to earn extra credit, there are always a few students who think you owe them something more. I [...]

Read Full Post »

it’s raining

Actually, it’s pouring. Good thing I went out early to get some groceries: two apples, soy milk, juice, and a mini Toblerone bar. I needed some little treat since today I plan to get ALL my grading done. I’ve got one exam left and about ten book reviews. Once grades are in I can turn [...]

Read Full Post »

Blackout in the Great White North

I’ve decided to post my paper from last month’s “Race, Ethnicity, and Publishing” conference here on my blog. Unfortunately, I don’t have time this month to expand this essay, though I know it would benefit from input from Canadian publishers. I’m still hopeful that this topic will get the attention it deserves at a conference [...]

Read Full Post »

2011 Caribbean Children’s and Young Adult Books

This is a guest post submitted by Summer Edward. Last year, I was fortunate enough to meet Zetta Elliott at the A is for Anansi conference at New York University. Since then, I’ve been a loyal reader of her blog, Fledgling. So when I saw Zetta’s recent post listing MG and YA novels written in [...]

Read Full Post »

pink icing

On two occasions when I’ve been talking about my search for contemporary depictions of black teens IN Canada, Pamela Mordecai‘s book, Pink Icing, has come up. And twice I resisted adding the title to my study–after all, it’s not a novel and from the description I read online, it’s not a MG or YA book. [...]

Read Full Post »

magnet

I don’t know about you, but when I start thinking about a certain subject, I often find that my mind turns into a sort of magnet—suddenly everything I’m reading, watching, or talking about leads me back to that particular topic.  Right now, that topic is slavery; I’m teaching a new course on neo-slave narratives and [...]

Read Full Post »

round UP

Thanks to Nathalie at Multiculturalism Rocks! for posting this great review of Wish; this was my favorite part: If I were to walk by a fountain after midnight and to throw a penny in it, here’s the wish I’d make: For A WISH AFTER MIDNIGHT to be adapted on the big screen. I can’t wait [...]

Read Full Post »

party time!

Tonight’s holiday book party was AWESOME!  Thanks so much to Luc and Shara and their fabulous kids for hosting us at Daddy’s Basement Bookstore—it was great to meet Christopher Grant (he had the audience cracking up with his perfect rendition of a Caribbean father), and to see Rita and Kekla again.  We had a full [...]

Read Full Post »

have hope

It’s Remembrance Day in Canada and Veterans Day here in the US.  My 6-year-old niece made this beautiful piece of art to pay tribute to our troops and veterans—notice the peace sign in the sun, the red poppy, and soldier in camouflage.  The art some kids make just amazes me—it gives me hope to know [...]

Read Full Post »

bright future

Ok, so it’s just one list for one year, but it’s still very exciting to know that THREE black women authors made Amazon’s Top Ten Sci-Fi/Fantasy list!!!  Congratulations, ladies!  You can read my rave review of The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms here; I recommend Karen Lord‘s beautifully written Redemption in Indigo, and I’m planning to read [...]

Read Full Post »