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“I can’t adequately convey how cute and fun this book is.” ~Rhapsody in Books

title: The diary of B. B. Bright Possible Princess

authors: Alice Randall and Caroline Randall Williams

illustrator: Shadra Strickland

date: Turner Books; September, 2012

main character: B.B. Bright

reading level: 3.0

B.B. Bright is an orphan girl who lives on an island with her three godmommies. As she faces her thirteenth birthday, she begins to realize that she wants more than the protection of the island. She wants to meet boys, wear stylish clothes and have friends. But, to get off the island, she must pass the princess test. As she writes in her diary, we learn what her preparation requires.

No doubt, this book has a slow start. I thought I was going to be stuck in the world or preteen angst as scenes of complaints lasted just a bit too long. I am so glad I didn’t let that deter me from continuing to read. I was quickly lost in B.B.’s fantasy world which was framed in an expert use of language,  crafted in master storytelling techniques and decorated with darling drawings. The authors took care to define each character and to underline their uniqueness, an essential element in the story’s message. Readers who may not even have ever wanted to be a princess will realize the everyday, the ordinary specialness in princesses and indeed in themselves. Being a princess here is more a euphemism for being a woman than for living on a glass pedestal.

In writing this story with its positive messages, Randall and Williams use this brilliant young black girl to show all girls their potentials. Both women (who are mother and daughter) are accomplished writers in their own right and this is their first published novel collaboration. Tomorrow, I’ll have post a recent interview with them.

Handcrafted quilts play an important role in this story. In fact, when I saw the octagon that B.B. drew, I

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thought about octagonal quilt pieces. I would invite young girls who read this book to stitch an octagonal block and to either write or embroider one facet of their personality on each of the eight sides of the piece. Backs can be sown onto the individual quilt squares or they can be sown together to create a group quilt. What did B.B. see in herself? What do you see in you?

Ghetto Cowboy

author: Greg Neri

illustration: Jesse Joshua Watson

date: Candlewick, August 2011

main character:  Coletrane “Cole”

Middle Grade Fiction

Cole’s mother has reached her last straw. She’s been raising him alone and with Cole cutting classes and facing the option of failing or going to summer school, she decides that it’s time for Cole to spend some time with his dad. This would be the father the 12 year old has never met. Upon his arrival in Brooklyn, Cole soon realizes that his father lives with a horse. In fact, he raises horses and lives by the cowboy code and yes, this is a contemporary story.

Through the horse community, young Cole begins to find a purpose and a reason to stay in school. We see him grow and mature as the routine of caring for the horses begins to take on a real meaning to him. His relationship with his father is naturally strained and develops in a believable manner.  It may be hard to get young boys to want to read a book about horses, but if they’ve read any of Neri’s previous books, they’ll eagerly read this one.

review copy received from the publisher