YA Book Review and Giveaway: Lies We Tell Ourselves by Robin Talley

Lies We Tell Ourselves by Robin Talley

Set in 1959 Virginia, this unforgettable novel tells the story of Sarah Dunbar, a member of the first group of African American students to integrate her town’s public high school. Extremely bright and ambitious, Sarah faces numerous threats, verbal abuse, and physical violence so she can further her education in one of the best schools in town. Complicating matters is the unexplainable attraction she feels for Linda Hairston, the daughter of one of the most vocal white segregationists in town, a girl who despises Sarah and her black classmates.

Told in alternating viewpoints, Sarah’s and Linda’s, the novel shows us how their romantic relationship grows despite racism and discrimination from their peers. Though the story is set in a fictional town, it feels unflinchingly true-to-life, as we see through Sarah’s eyes the fear and unreasonable hatred she faces from her fellow students. Sarah is a religious Christian, and because of this feels very confused about her sexuality and is unsure of what it all means. While the budding friendship and romance between Linda and Sarah feels realistic, I wasn’t quite sure I believed the love-at-first-glance chemistry that the two girls felt for each other. They meet on Sarah’s first day of school, and I had trouble understanding how Sarah, who was terrified for the physical well-being of herself and her sister, was even psychologically able feel attracted to anyone, much less one of the meanest girls at school. I also wished that we could’ve learned a little more about Sarah’s home life as there are so few stories about everyday life for African Americans in the 1950’s.

But those minor points aside, Lies We Tell Ourselves is an eye-opening and compelling novel. I am really in awe of Robin Talley’s bravery in telling this story.

My review is based on a free copy I received from the publisher, and now you have a chance to win your own! The winner of the Rafflecopter giveaway below will receive 1 free copy of Lies We Tell Ourselves by Robin Talley from the publisher. Click the “Terms and conditions” button on the Rafflecopter widget for more information.

Edited to add: This giveaway is open to US residents only.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

#bookreview #lieswetellourselves #robintalley #YA

Recap #3: Quotes from the Asian American Children’s Author Series

The Asian American Children’s Author blog series has come to an end! What was originally going to be summer series went all the way through to October. I interviewed 16 Asian American kid’s authors, asked them the same 3-4 questions (the 4th one was optional), and learned so much about them and myself in the process. I hope you’ve enjoyed the series too, and like me, are now completely excited by your to-read list!

For this final recap blog post, I’ve put together a list of the authors and included my favorite quotes from their interviews. Many of these are quotes from their “advice for Asian American readers” but there are some nuggets of writerly and readerly wisdom as well. Enjoy!

1) Padma Venkatraman

“I had a very tough childhood, one that I wouldn’t wish on anybody, so books were my saving grace. They helped me escape sometimes, but more often, they helped me empathize, and helped me remain a good and kind kid, despite all I went through.”

2) Emily Jiang

“Create art and build

bonds with people who get you.

Life without regrets.”

3) Wong Herbert Yee

“In library class we picked a book from the shelf and sat down to read. When time was up we put it back. That was where I got my reading done. I am still a regular visitor at the local library. Find a book you like and read it. If you don’t like it, put it back and pick another.”

4) Sayantani DasGupta

“There’s nothing like opening up a book and ‘seeing yourself’ — the character doesn’t have to look exactly like you or even be from your same cultural background to resonate with you, but it does feel terrific when a character reflects your family’s heritage, customs, language or experience.”

5) Nandini Bajpai

“Your life experience as an Asian American is interesting and worthy of sharing with others. Be authentic and be heard!”

6) Mitali Perkins

“If you survive growing up “between cultures” you gain a big advantage as an adult. You will always be able to cross cultural borders easily and make yourself feel at home anywhere. You are becoming proficient in two cultures, which will enable you to acquire mastery of a third or fourth culture much faster than your monocultural peers.”

7) Livia Blackburne

“If you have the opportunity to learn more about your cultural background, be it practicing the language or renewing ties with older relatives, take advantage of it.  The opportunity won’t be there forever.”

8) Varsha Bajaj

“My advice to Asian American and all kid readers would be read with a open mind and heart and to read everything you can get your hands on.”

 9) Uma Krishnaswami

“I don’t think of myself as identifying with any of my characters. When I’m writing I’m simultaneously in their skins and at their sides, taking turns almost, dancing around inside the story and trying to bring it all to the page one or two layers at a time. Sometimes I’m close to a scene. At other times I may be hovering above the story trying to see its bigger picture. I have no time to stop and think about who I love most in that story. That’s not the way I see my job. I’m looking in many mirrors at once, playing with the story’s light and shadow and trying to figure out the lives of the fictional people I’m following.”

10) Fonda Lee

“I shake my head when I hear people say things like, “oh, I don’t read fiction” or “I don’t read YA” or “I don’t read comics.” There is something worthwhile, enlightening, or enjoyable about almost everything that is well done, and if you can appreciate it, it will open your mind to being a better reader and a better writer.”

11) Kashmira Sheth

“Read as much as you can. It may be difficult to find books that reflect your experience of being Asian American but all stories hold deeper truths from which you can learn. Also, listen to the stories your parents and grandparents tell you. Those stories will keep you connected to your past.”

12) Sheela Chari

“You don’t always have to read about characters that look different from you. On the same token, you don’t have read only one kind of book about Asian-Americans either – the horizon is opening up to include fantasy, mystery, adventure and even historical fiction. In the end, an interesting book can be about anybody in any circumstance, but it’s important to keep your eyes and ears open.”

13) Grace Lin

“…you will never be Asian and you will never be American. You will always be Asian-American. Don’t try to choose a side, because it is not a dividing line.  And while there will definitely be points in your life where that hyphen between the two identities seem like it is subtracting from the other, in the end you’ll find it’s actually a wonderful bridge. Life with a hyphenated-identity is actually doubly richer.”

14) David Yoo

“…whenever an adult figure told the teen me not to sweat the small stuff, I’d always scoff/roll my eyes at them (behind their backs). That they considered the issues in my life small stuff I interpreted as proof that they were utterly clueless about what it’s like to be a teen… I still remember how pointless it was to tell a teenager to trust that things get better–no offense to the whole “It gets better” movement! Frankly, a kid doesn’t have the patience to feel happy knowing that, decades from now, things will turn around. That there will come a time when you look back on this sad or lonely or depressing moment and find humor in it, even. The only reason you appreciate things when you’re older is because you have more perspective on life, which you simply don’t have when you’re younger. So I hesitate to tell AA kid readers, hey, it’ll be all right, even though it’s true.”

15) Mike Jung

“…when I was a kid reader, I devalued my own identity as an Asian American. I lived in an overwhelmingly white community, I wanted very badly to fit in, and looking back now it’s easy to see all the little ways in which I accepted the idea that being Asian American was some kind of stain on my identity that needed to be removed or at least hidden. I hope my book, and all of my future books, will be helpful and positive to you in resisting that kind of impulse, and those pressures. Remember that your identity counts; remember that YOU count. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.”

16) Veera Hiranandani

“…if you ever feel different, remember we’re all different in some way. Anything that makes you feel different is usually what will make you stronger and will probably turn out to be one of your best qualities.”

That’s all for now, folks!

#AsianAmericanAuthorSeries #recap

Get to Know Asian American Children’s Authors: Veera Hiranandani, Author of the Phoebe G. Gree

The next author in my Asian American Children’s Author blog series is Veera Hiranandani, author of the middle grade novel, The Whole Story of Half a Girl. She has two books coming out today (!) in her brand new Phoebe G. Green series, Lunch Will Never Be the Same and Farm Fresh Fun.

1) Which of your characters do you most identify with and why?

Veera Hiranandani: I definitely identify with Phoebe in my new chapter book series, Phoebe G. Green. I was a bit of a young gourmet like Phoebe discovers herself to be, so that was part of the inspiration for the series. I always loved trying new foods, even foods my friends thought were gross like chicken liver, spinach, and mushrooms. I also really liked spicy foods at a young age like lamb vindaloo.

But I identify most with Sonia from The Whole Story of Half a Girl. My mother is Jewish American and my father is from India. I also grew up in a similar place as Sonia and had to change schools like Sonia, but for different reasons. Many of the social and identity issues that Sonia struggles with are very close to what I experienced back then.

2) If you could give your Asian American kid readers one piece of advice, what would it be?

VH: Well, I think this advice could apply to any young person–if you ever feel different, remember we’re all different in some way. Anything that makes you feel different is usually what will make you stronger and will probably turn out to be one of your best qualities.

3) Who is your favorite Asian American children’s author right now (other than yourself)?

VH: I have many favorites, but Mitali Perkins is at the top of the list. I also love Sheela Chari and Uma Krishnaswami. I’m a big fan of Jhumpa Lahiri, but she’s an adult author. Something to look forward too!

About the Author:

Veera Hiranandani is the author of several works for children including the novel, The Whole Story of Half a Girl (Delacorte Press), which was named a Sydney Taylor Notable Book and a South Asian Book Award Finalist. She is also the author of the new chapter book series, Phoebe G. Green (Grosset & Dunlap). She received her MFA in fiction writing at Sarah Lawrence College. A former book editor at Simon & Schuster and Montessori teacher, Veera is now focused on writing, teaching, and family life. You can learn more about Veera at www.veerahiranandani.com.

#JhumpaLahiri #LunchWillNeverBetheSame #VeeraHiranandani #TheWholeStoryofHalfaGirl #UmaKrishnaswami #SheelaChari #FarmFreshFun #chapterbook #MG #AsianAmericanAuthorSeries #PheobeGGreen #mitaliperkins