Weekly Roundup: June 9 - June 15, 2013

• Beyond 'Game of Thrones': Exploring Diversity in Speculative Fiction at the L.A. Times Hero Complex

• The Grey of Gender: Intersex and Gender Variant/Non-Binary Characters in YA  at Gay YA

• Book Shares Insights of Filipino Children  at Times of Oman

• Diversity in Literature and a Giveaway!  at Go Teen Writers

•  CGI Chicago: First Books Commits to Diversity in Children's Literature at allvoices

• YA Is Too Late: Gay Characters in Middle Grade Fiction  at Vikki VanSickle

• A New Definition of Fatherhood  at Colorlines

• Once Upon a Time  at Business Standard

• YA Books About Transgender Characters  at Diversity in YA

Weekly Roundup: June 2 - June 8, 2013

•  Children's Laureate Malorie Blackman: 'I'm Looking Forward to Redressing the Balance for Teenagers' at The Guardian

• New Book Details How to Teach Yoga to Autistic and Special-Needs Kids at SunSentinel

• The Worry-Free Vacation at Rich in Color

• A Short List of Great Resources for Racial Diversity in Young Adult Sci-Fi  at bitchmedia

•  Black Characters Put Parents Off Books, New Children's Laureate Says at the Telegraph

• What Is Authentic, And What Is Offensive?  at CBC Diversity

• Mermaids in America  at Diversity in YA

Five YA Fantasy Novels by Asian American Authors

Fantasy is my very favorite genre. It's a sad fact that as a person of color I rarely see myself reflected in the fantasy books I love to read. And when there is a character of color, they're usually a villain, stereotyped, or a cringe-worthy caricature. However, things are changing for the food, albeit it slowly. So, to continue celebrating Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, here are five books by five Asian American authors who are a part of that change! FYI for those of you that care about these sorts of things, Julie Kagawa's The Immortal Rules is sci-fi (in the dystopian/post-apocalyptic vein) as well as fantasy. All blurbs from Goodreads.

*I have only read the first three, but the others are definitely on my to-read list.

American Born Chinese
written and illustrated by Gene Luen Yang

***HIGHLY RECOMMENDED***
American Born Chinese is one of my favorite books ever!!! I cannot recommend it enough.

"A tour-de-force by rising indy comics star Gene Yang, American Born Chinese tells the story of three apparently unrelated characters: Jin Wang, who moves to a new neighborhood with his family only to discover that he’s the only Chinese-American student at his new school; the powerful Monkey King, subject of one of the oldest and greatest Chinese fables; and Chin-Kee, a personification of the ultimate negative Chinese stereotype, who is ruining his cousin Danny’s life with his yearly visits. Their lives and stories come together with an unexpected twist in this action-packed modern fable. American Born Chinese is an amazing ride, all the way up to the astonishing climax."

Silver Phoenix
written by Cindy Pon

"No one wanted Ai Ling. And deep down she is relieved—despite the dishonor she has brought upon her family—to be unbetrothed and free, not some stranger's subservient bride banished to the inner quarters. But now, something is after her. Something terrifying—a force she cannot comprehend. And as pieces of the puzzle start to fit together, Ai Ling begins to understand that her journey to the Palace of Fragrant Dreams isn't only a quest to find her beloved father but a venture with stakes larger than she could have imagined. Bravery, intelligence, the will to fight and fight hard . . . she will need all of these things. Just as she will need the new and mysterious power growing within her. She will also need help. It is Chen Yong who finds her partly submerged and barely breathing at the edge of a deep lake. There is something of unspeakable evil trying to drag her under. On a quest of his own, Chen Yong offers that help . . . and perhaps more."

Book Review: The Summer Prince

The Summer Prince
by Alaya Dawn Johnson

In the future city of Palmares Tres, located in modern-day Brazil, a Summer King is elected every five years. In a city ruled by women, the position holds little power--the main purpose of a Summer King is to reaffirm the right of the Queen to reign for another five years. This affirmation is given as the Summer King dies, sacrificed on an altar, his throat slit by the Queen herself. When June Costa's father takes her to see her first Summer King sacrificed, she is eight-years old and horrified by the bloody practice. However, by the time she is eighteen she is used to the tradition, but everything changes the year Enki, a beautiful, defiant young man, is elected as Summer King. The entire city falls in love with Enki--including June and her best friend, Gil. Like June, Enki is an artist, and together they produce some incredible art that shakes the very foundations of the principles their city is built upon. But unlike June, Enki wasn't raised in privilege, and his willingness to sacrifice his life to be Summer King is rooted in a purpose more radical than June is willing to accept. The closer June gets to Enki, the harder it is to accept his impending death. In the end, June will have to choose whether following the rules to achieve her dream of becoming a successful artist is more important than her principles.