I'm a slayer, ask me how.

I have a small stack of books I have had on my desk for at least 6 weeks...and what did I read at lunch today? The new David Small graphic novel.

But I knew I could finish it in 2 days! Those other books are looooooooong!!!!

Want to play a really annoying game? Try finding traditionally published children's novels written by African-American authors that are NOT about slavery or the Civil Rights movement or sports.

:|

You can also play a similar game with adult fiction, except you have to find books set in the present that are *not* Urban Fiction with "Gangstas" and "Hos" etc.

Again, not impossible but still frustrating with how complicated it can be.

Can you tell I just set up a display? Last year, I did a display and did not put any kind of label on it to denote that these were African-American authors or characters, I just put them out and they circulated. I think if kids see the sign, they associate it all with being homework and an assigment and just walk right past the display, even if it is all popular fiction titles and stories. Same with the adult books.

Again, it is getting better, I have seen more picture books with people of color where the story is just every day kids stuff. Those make me happy. Now I just want more for the older kids, more than just the same group of authors.

So, instead of a "what I'm reading" wednesday, let's talk about what I am returning that I didn't get to read yet and will go back on the waitlist for until I have time to read them (ugh so many good books come out in the summer time!!!!!!)

I Love I Hate I Miss My Sister by Amelie Sarn

Ask Me How I Got Here by Christine Heppermann

Draw the Line by Laurent Linn

Level Up by Gene Luen Yang (they just reprinted this, I read it back when it first came out but I want to read it again IN COLOR)

Citizen: An American Lyric by Claudia Rankine

The Ballad of Black Tom by Victor Lavalle

Something New: Tales from a Makeshift Bride by Lucy Knisley

Bee and Puppycat created by Natasha Allegri (various authors)

Jackaby by William Ritter

Paper and Fire by Rachel Caine (I have both the book and audio...)

The Leaving by Tara Altebrando

The Geek's Guide to Unrequited Love by Sarvenaz Tash

Archie Volume 1 by Mark Waid

You'll Grow Out of It by Jessi Klein

Thanks for the Trouble by Tommy Wallach

Klickitat by Peter Rock

Grounded: The Adventures of Rapunzel by Megan Morrison

Exit, Pursued by a Bear by E.K. Johnston

Why Would You Do That? by Andrea Tsurumi

Golden Boys by Sonya Hartnett

...so now I have to sit here and decide (darling you gotta let me know...) who gets to stay and who shall go (back on hold)