GLBT Challenge

I saw this challenge and decided to use it as an effort to try and be more active on this blog again. GLBT is one of my absolute favorite genres to read (especially YA GLBT) and I have a whole shelf of my bookshelf with only GLBT-related books. So I thought this would be the perfect challenge.

Rules/Guidelines:

The basic idea of this challenge is to read books about GLBT topics and/or by GLBT authors.

The challenge runs year-round, and there will be three levels of participation:

• Lambda Level: Read 4 books.
• Pink Triangle Level: Read 8 books.
• Rainbow Level: Read 12 or more books.

You don't need to choose your books right away, and they can change at any time. Overlaps with other challenges are fine.


You can read more about it here. I'm so excited to get started on this. I already have a couple of books in mind that I haven't read yet that would be perfect for this, and am also planning to re-read a few of my favorites. I'll aim for the Pink Triangle Level first and see how things go from there.

Books I've Read For The Challenge So Far:
1. David Inside Out (1/20/10)

Review: Hold Still

Title: Hold Still
Author: Nina LaCour
Publication date: October 20th, 2009

Summary:
dear caitlin.
there are so many things
that i want so badly to tell you
but i just can't

That night Ingrid told Caitlin, I'll go wherever you go. But by dawn Ingrid, and her promise, were gone, and Caitlin was alone. Ingrid's suicide immobilizes Caitlin, leaving her unsure of her place in a new life she hardly recognizes. A life without the art, the laughter, the music, the joy she shared with her best friend.

But Ingrid left more than a memory behind. Devastating and hopeful, playful and hopeless. In words and drawings, Ingrid documented a painful farewell in her journal - just for Caitlin. Journeying through Ingrid's final days, Caitlin fights back through unspeakable loss to find renewed hope.

Review:
Hold Still is a beautiful novel about a girl struggling with the suicide of her best friend. It was very emotional and powerful and it's one of those books that I know is going to stick in my head for long after I've read it. I especially loved two things about the novel, one being the fact that it's divided into seasons. The seasons seemed to mark different periods in Caitlin's life as she dealt with the depression, and I liked seeing the growth in each one. The other thing I really liked was how Ingrid's drawings and handwritten journal entries were incorporated, making the novel seem more personal. Hold Still was a beautifully written, captivating book that really let me see how it would feel to be in Caitlin's shoes. It's very raw and very real, and a book that I would definitely recommend. I really can't say enough about it.

Characters: 9/10
Plot: 9/10
Originality: 8/10
Writing: 10/10
Overall grade: A

Review: Muchacho

Title: Muchacho
Author: Louanne Johnson
Publication date: September 8th, 2009

Summary:
Eddie Corazon is angry. He’s also very smart. But he’s working pretty hard at being a juvenile delinquent. He blows off school, even though he’s a secret reader. He hangs with his cousins, who will always back him up—when they aren’t in jail. T

Then along comes Lupe, who makes his blood race. She sees something in Eddie he doesn’t even see in himself. A heart, and a mind, and something more: a poet. But in Eddie’s world, it’s a thin line between tragedy and glory. And what goes down is entirely in Eddie’s hands.

Gripping, thought-provoking, and hopeful, Muchacho is a rare and inspiring story about one teen’s determination to fight his circumstances and shape his own destiny.

Review:
*I reviewed this book for BookDivas.com, so the review I'm posting here is the exact one I posted there.*

Though it wouldn't have been a book I'd buy, I liked this book and I'm glad I got the chance to read it. It was written almost like a journal entry, or like it was directly to the reader from Eddie. It had a raw kind of writing that made it seem as if I were reading a memoir of someone's rough life instead of a fiction book. I loved the glimpse that I got into Eddie's tough world of struggling and delinquency. This is one of those books that, while you might not necessarily love it, it's worth reading for the experience it puts you through.

Characters: 6/10
Plot: 6/10
Originality: 7/10
Writing: 8/10
Overall grade: C

In My Mailbox (11/2 - 11/7)

This week, I got two great books. One that I've been eagerly awaiting:

Hold Still by Nina Lacour

And another that I already have a copy of:

Evermore by Alyson Noel

Would anyone be interested in a giveaway of Evermore, or do most of you already own it? If I get enough interest, I'll hold a giveaway for it in a few weeks.

What amazing books came in your mailboxes this week? I've kind of been out of the loop for a few weeks, and I'm trying to really get back into blogging more. I'd love to see what books you all have been getting recently.

Winner of 100 followers comment contest!

It's time to announce the winner of my comment contest for reaching 100 followers, for a copy of Something, Maybe by Elizabeth Scott! Thanks to everybody for entering :) And the winner is entry #36....


Arielle from B.A.M. Book Reviews!

Congrats Arielle! Send me an email to claim your prize :)

If I don't hear from her within 72 hours, another winner will be chosen. Thanks again to everyone who entered and posted about my contest!