Within the next couple of days I’ll be posting the Crazy Colored Summer list. I thought it would be good to mention the list’s back story: why I’m doing it, who it’s for and how books are selected.
Why? To color up summer reading! There are many, many fantastic books about teens of color that are too often missed by mainstream lists that I think they deserve to be highlighted somewhere for teens looking for some color to find them! While the books selected will be from the vast spectrum of hyphenated and marginalized groups, this marginalization will NOT be the focus of the books. I’m looking for good stories. Those that are fun. Funny. Provacative. Enchanted. Thrilling. Mysterious. Informative. Colorful! I think about teachers who are stuck on Sharon Draper and Walter Dean Myers and needing to be prodded along the spectrum.
Most students just don’t have time to read during the academic year. Hopefully, this list will help them develop the great American tradition of Summer Reading. I hope they will be able to select any one book on the list, read it and enjoy it enough to read another, another and yet another. I’m considering the student who already reads. I mean, what reluctant reader is going to wander into a library during the summer unless there is a torrential downpour and everything else is locked?
The most challenging part of this selection process, I think, is finding books that are suitable for both males and females. Most books are suitable for either, or. Trying to find 10 well rounded books is a challenge.
Speaking of a challenge… I already know that I will not have read every book on the list. I will challenge myself to read them all (and once you know my summer plans you’ll realize what a challenge that will be!) and I’m going to have to come up with a way to challenge my dear blog reads, too!
Cotton Quilts Edi 
Edi, I hear you. I’m glad to hear you say that too many teachers and librarians are stuck on Draper and Meyers, whom I love, but they don’t appeal to every reader and there are so many more authors to choose from.
While you focus on the student who already reads and I’ll continue to try to convert the reluctant reader. Together, I’m hopeful we’re truly reaching a larger number of kids. Thanks for doing this. I’m very excited to see what you come up with.
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Trying to get the list down to ten would be very diffcult. Now I feel kind of guilty for giving you all those titles. Since you’re trying to reach more readers, I think its okay to excede ten since you’re trying to be more inclusive. Good luck and we look forward to seeing the list. And if its more than 10 titles we won’t hold it againist you.
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Hey, ladies–this is a bit off-topic, but I’m a little worried about the use of the word “colored.” I’ve had students (white & black) submit papers using that word in reference to POC–is it back in vogue? Usually they’ll cite some person of color who used the word, b/c that then makes it ok. Can we leave off the “-ed”? And Doret, if Edi sticks to her ten-book limit, can you make a supplemental list on your site? The more options for teachers and librarians, the better!
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Mitali Perkins has issues with the term ‘color’. I’ve not read what they are, but I would be interested in knowing! I prefer it it white and non white, given that this is America and we will find terms to separate ourselves.
A list of 10, hopefully, gives students something they can attempt to achieve. I had considered bonus books, but that’s a way of cheating! But, no 10 isn’t easy!! Next year, this will have to be the work of a committee. Perhaps a little Skype session with teens and adults!
Feel free to add additional books on your site
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