Library Loot

I had a really good time at the library today. I picked up several books last week so today I restrained myself but not denied. I got books that have been on my tbr list. I'm a very happy chica. On to the books:

Skin Deep by E.M. Crane is one of those titles that has been on my tbr for a year. I confess the cover alone was enough for me to pick this up today even though I couldn't remember why I put the book on my tbr list. All Andrea has to do is show up every day and life basically plays out as scripted. Then one day Andrea accepts a job. Honora Menapace–a reclusive neighbor–is sick. As in every other aspect of her life, Andrea’s role is clear: Honora’s garden must be taken care of and her pottery finished, and someone needs to feed her dog, Zena. But what starts out as a simple job yanks Andrea’s back-row seat out from under her.

I am embarrassed to say that down to the bone by Myra Lazara Dole has also been on my tbr and wish list forever. I have been unsuccessful in getting it on trade and until today, I had not seen it in our library. I may have to break down it buy it used. I won't be buying it from Amazon. If you haven't heard, read the link about Gay Book Burning link in my LLM post. Here's what it means to be a tortillera.
It means you're a girl who loves girls. Which means you get kicked out of Catholic school faster than Mother Superior Sicko can say "immoral."

Jumped by Rita Williams-Garcia. Read great reviews and no suprise there. I was already a fan. I've read Every Time A Rainbow Dies, Girls On The Home Front and No Laughter Here. Williams-Garcia is writer I intend to read through her entire body of work. Jumped explores the serious issue of girl violence in schools.

A Map of Home by Randa Jarrar is a new author for me. I can't remember where I first saw it mentioned. I have a strong affinity for coming of age stories and multicultural literature so this was an easy sale. It is a great example, along with Junot Diaz’s writing, of how the voice of a narrator can make you fall in love with a character and what she might have to say before the story really even begins. It is a bildungsroman, starring Nidali, a spunky charismatic firecracker of a girl, who is born in Chicago, grows up in Kuwait and then after war displaces her, moves to Egypt, and then after more difficulties moves to Texas. ~reader review

Library Loot is hosted each week by Eva at A Striped Armchair and Alessandra at Out of the Blue. See more book selections here.