Let's Booktalk--Becoming Billie Holiday by Carole Boston Weatherford (Author) , Floyd Cooper (Illustrator)

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“Cause I could not wait a minute longer

to burst on the scene, and 2:30 a.m.,

April 7, 1915, was as a good a time as any

 to grasp my first breath, cry my first chard.” (12)

When a voice like Billie Holiday, nee Eleanora Fagan, comes into the world there is no better way to do this than through the prose of poetry. She was a voice no one could forget, but she first had to grow up and experience the world in all its glory and prejudices to become one of the most predominant singers of Jazz music history.

“The jazz bug bit me good

when Louis Armstrong and his Hot Five

swaggered through “West End Blues”

and turned music on its ear.” (39)

Let's Booktalk--Outlaw: The Legend of Robin Hood by Tony Lee, Sam Hart, & Artur Fujita

Courtesy of Goodreads
Click HERE to hear
the story read to you.

Every legend has a beginning, but not every outlaw will become a legend…unless you are Robin Hood.

What is it about a guy with a hood and a bow that just makes us root for the outlaw? Could it be because he robbed from the rich to give to the poor? Could it be because he always gets the girl, and defeats the evil sheriff? Or maybe, its because he lives in the woods with other people who are outlaws just like him?

Robin of Locksley was born the son of an Earl, but as a man he would see war, poverty, famine, and corruption. Robin has returned from the Crusades to find his country home of Sherwood being ruled by a tyrant, who will kill before granting mercy and takes what he wants, especially the beautiful Maid Marian. So, can an outlaw change things for the better?

Let's Booktalk-- The Espressologist by Kristina Springer

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Jane Turner is Jane Austen, if she was a teenage barista working to save up for college. Although, Austen may turn in her grave knowing such romance was occurring over a cup of hot or cold java instead of a cup of tea, this doesn’t hamper Jane Turner in the slightest. As an “espressologist” she can match anyone through their drink order, except herself. “I can’t just make our drinks match”, (108) she proclaims when discussing her own love life.

So, we have a matchmaker using coffee orders to determine compatibility, a best friend who finds love in all the wrong places, the main character’s love interest who is not the perfect match for her, and the perfect match that is dating the best friend. Can love for Jane Turner, have the same happy ending as one of Jane Austen’s novels? Or, will it end in spilt coffee and a shattered mug for a heart? Whatever happens just remember to tip the barista when you are through.

Let's Booktalk-- The Coldest Winter Ever by Sister Souljah

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Who is Sister Souljah? Winter tells us straight up she hates her. She tells us straight up she ain’t no charity case for Souljah to fix. Winter is a “bad bitch” and she will get what she wants in the end. That’s what her mom taught her growing up after all. So, who is this Sister Souljah, telling her how to live? Telling her beauty is more than what you are, but what you are willing to do to be it? Winter knows Souljah don’t know anything, just because she thinks she’s doing the right thing.

The right thing to Winter is doing what you want, and getting what you want, when you want it. Her mom did that up till she was shot, and Winter will do it too. So, what does Souljah know? Winter is beautiful, and she will get with whoever will give. It is Winter’s choice, so what if she chose better? Would she still be serving 15 years? Would she see one of her sisters making the same choices she did? Would she be a Sister Souljah?

Listen to the author talk about her book! HERE

Let's Booktalk--Blood and Chocolate by Annette Curtis Klause

Courtesy of Goodreads

Vivian Gandillon is a smart, beautiful, strong sixteen year-old woman. She likes chocolate, running through the woods, and whether the moon is full or not she can shapeshift into a wolf. But, never make the mistake of calling her a werewolf. Her family is from an ancient line of loups-garoux, who were blessed by the moon goddess Selene with the ability to transform into a wolf at will. Something to be proud of, right?

“I had the taste of blood and chocolate in my mouth, one as hated as the other” (Klause 1). A member of the pack is killing humans. For Vivian this only brings back memories of her father and her loss. To make matters worse she has met a human boy, Aidan. She is proud of who she is and where she comes from, but can she trust him? Can she trust herself?

“Her heart broke for him because he feared, because he couldn't see the wonder, then raged at him because he made her feel unclean” (Klause 169). Vivian cares for Aidan, but he is human, and may never accept her for who she really is, a wolf in human skin. Gabriel is the new leader of the loups-garoux pack, and inadvertently Vivian declared herself his mate, but she wants Aidan her human. When someone loves you they accept you for who you are, right?