Summer Reading List

Summer is in full effect now! And there is no better time to open up a good book than during your free time. You don't have to worry about reading the book your teacher assigned. You can grab any book and curl up on the couch or head to the park or beach. It's always fun to get lost in a book and explore new places. We chose some books about young African-American girls like yourself who are dealing with issues of self identity, friendships, dating, etc. in hopes that you might be able to relate to some of the characters. Check out some books that the Brownstone Team picked out especially for you!

Living Consequences by Brittney Holmes
An 18-year-old girl finds her world turned upside down in this Christian-themed urban romance from Brittney Holmes. Nevaeh is a straight-A student with a near-perfect boyfriend...until their relationship faces a real test. Her best friend, Shimone, is pregnant at eighteen. And Sierra Monroe has spent years finding comfort in all the wrong places. But each girl will find that only God's love and forgiveness can carry her through the hard times.

Keysha’s Drama by Earl Sewell
Sixteen-year-old Keysha Kendall is a judge's signature away from foster care when she's sent to live with the father she never knew. Suddenly she has her own room in his big fancy house, a high-powered stepmother and a popular half brother who can introduce her to all the right people at her new school. But Keysha can't forget where she came from. And she won't let anyone else, either. Why should her father and his perfect family have it so easy when she and her mother had it so hard? And so Keysha hooks up with a rough crowd and does whatever she wants…until what she wants changes real fast….



Indigo Summer by Monica McKayhan
Fifteen-year-old Indigo Summer's world finally seems to be going in the right direction. She hooks up with the star linebacker on the high-school football team, gets a date for homecoming and makes the high-school dance squad all in the same week. But sometimes things are just too good to be true. After football star Quincy Rawlins abruptly dumps her for a girl who is willing to put out, Indigo's popularity and self-esteem take a nosedive. When her perfect world falls apart, Indigo turns to the one person who seems to have his head on straight--her next-door neighbor, sixteen-year-old Marcus Carter. The problem is, now that Indigo realizes what a great guy Marcus really is, so does someone else.

Happy Princess by Stephanie Perry Moore
On her journey into adolescence, eleven-year-old Carmen Browne finds herself facing a number of different challenges. Even when her changing moods and growing body could easily be distracting, Carmen must learn to trust God. Whether she’s stuck at a sleepover where the hostess shows an inappropriate movie or is surrounded by classmates gossiping about her family, Carmen knows she must take a stand for what is right.





Hip-Hop Poetry and The Classics by Sitomer, Alan Lawrence, Michael Cirelli
Hip-Hop's literary and artistic merits are evident when compared to classic poetry and it's easy to link the great poets of the past to the contemporary Hip Hop poets of today: compare Robert Frost to Public Enemy, Shakespeare to Eminem, and Shelley to the Notorious B.I.G. This interactive workbook-style format is fun for teachers and students, as it illuminates the art of the written word with in-depth analysis of poetic literary devices, writing activities, and other innovative methods.

Jason & Kyra by Dana Davidson
Jason is a basketball star and one of the most popular guys in school. Brainy Kyra isn't, but she doesn't much care what other people think.Under normal circumstances, Jason and Kyra would live in their separate worlds until graduation. But fate intervenes, and the unlikely duo is paired up for a class project. Although preconceived notions abound on both sides, Kyra soon realizes that Jason is not the dumb jock she anticipated. And Jason finds himself telling Kyra things he can't even tell his best friend. As the two become close and eventually start to fall in love, no one in school can believe it, especially Jason's ex-girlfriend, who is determined to get him back. Being together means navigating the obstacles that are coming their way -- but staying apart may be impossible.

Dymond in the Rough by Precious
Fourteen year old Dymond is at a pivotal point in her life... high school. Not only is she faced with the challenges of being a freshman, but also from members in her crew - Kera and Porsha. Both of them have boyfriends however; Dymond has yet to find one. Well, that is until she meets Kyle Banks. Dymond finds herself falling face first, nose wide open for him. Even lying to her mother (with the help of her girls) to be with him, but how many lies can you tell before it catches up to you? Ms. Dymond In The Rough will soon find out!

My Life Is All I Have by V. Anthony Rivers
Leesha Tyler is about to commit robbery when memories from her past start to consume her. Leesha looks back on her life and remembers the chaotic household she lived in -- with her mother and herself always at odds. Thoughts of the death of her grandmother and other untimely events only sadden Leesha further and make her more determined that the only solution to her problems is to get out of Los Angeles. And the only way to do that, or so she thinks, is to commit armed robbery.

Hope you enjoy our Summer book list. Write a book review of one of the books featured and you can be featured on the blog. Submit reviews to brownstonemag@gmail.com by 5 pm on August 15, 2010.

--Tymika Morrison
Brownstone Team