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AALBC Newsletter: Book Reviews, F.R.E.S.H. Book Festival, and More - 12/10/2019


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A ferociously talented writer makes his stunning debut with this richly woven tapestry, set in a small Nova Scotia town settled by former slaves, that depicts several generations of one family bound together and torn apart by blood, faith, time, and fate. More ►

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Jacob’s Ghetto by Travis Peagler

Usually commercial young adult novels steer clear of thorny issues, such as drug addiction, gang violence, racial profiling, or poverty. This one does not. Travis Peagler, the author and youngest of seven kids, was born in a low-income neighborhood on the east side of Dayton, Ohio. The author has seen a lot of the misery and suffering that comes with disadvantaged conditions, which forms the foundation of the plot of this scripted novel, Jacob’s Ghetto. More ►

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How We Fight for Our Lives: A Memoir by Saeed Jones

This memoir is fierce and knocks you out of breath with each page you turn, it is almost impossible to put the book down. It is the sword and armor a warrior would take into battle with them, and the battle cry that echoes afterward. It is a memoir in poetic fragments pieced together with such skill; it leaves one in chills for the entire read. Jones leaves nothing out as he becomes exceptionally personal, emotionally gritty, and unflinchingly candor, How We Fight for Our Lives is a perfect harmony of hostility, hope, violence, love, acceptance of self, transformation and resentment. More ►

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The Water Dancer by Ta-Nehisi Coates

To mix magical realism with historical fiction is a bold task. To discuss the topic of family pride from the perspective of the offspring of a slave and a master is an awkward task. To create a vernacular specific for a novel is a speculative task. To accomplish either of these tasks would require a seasoned fiction writer; however, Ta-Nehisi Coates’ premier novel, The Water Dancer, achieves these tasks. More ►

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The Day You Begin by Jacqueline Woodson

Have you ever felt like an outsider, or like you just did not belong? In this big world, with so many different faces, it can sometimes feel overwhelming and as if you are drowning, but in Jacqueline Woodson’s children’s book The Day You Begin Woodson flips this narrative on its head, by writing about the beauty that comes from being unique and different. In the book Woodson is writing about the first day of school, and how daunting of an experience this can be. Walking into a classroom full of new faces is never an easy thing to do, but Woodson’s storytelling has a way of humanizing everything and putting things into perspective. More ►

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Solving The Race Issue In America by H. J. Harris

He [Harris] suggests “the Paradigm of Slavery” is the creation of white Christian Americans and only be changed with a “Paradigm of Freedom” based on love, equality and justice. Whites must own up to their past sins against the Black race, he notes.

Here the argument is buttressed with various Biblical verses about equality, morality and evil, but the Christianity Harris is addressing is quite different from the one spotlighted in the media. This Christianity is based in division, intolerance, and prejudice. Nevertheless, Harris applies an Old Testament approach to the solution of “The Paradigm of Slavery,” citing that “virtually nothing has been done to date by white Christian Americans to undo the damage they have done to Black Americans for the last 400 years.” More ►

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The Roots of Rap: 16 Bars on the 4 Pillars of Hip-Hop by Carole Boston Weatherford

In Carole Boston Weatherford’s children’s book The Roots of Rap, Weatherford depicts the unique history of rap music and all the progenitors who made it into the success it is today. Through Weatherford’s catchy word play and intricate writing style, you really get a taste of Hip-Hop flavor. Weatherford’s words read as an alluring song, that will contiguously get stuck in your mind. With Weatherford’s wording, your child is sure to learn how to rhyme.

With all of the amazing art by Frank Morrison your child’s mind is free to run wild, and every page, is a different and introspective scene in which emphasizes to Weatherford’s story telling. More ►

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Unchon-ni: South Korea, I Remember 1962-63 by Codis Hampton II

Korea was also dangerous. Squads of North Korean regulars would come across the DMZ, take shots at them, and sometimes kill them. The darkness was also an enemy. You were warned to stay out of the dark alleys. You were warned not to get drunk where you couldn’t defend yourself. You were warned a village girl could get you in trouble. And you were warned to always use a condom when dealing with a Korean female. Period.

Hampton’s writing is very descriptive and informed in matters of the heart. He doesn’t shy away from wrestling with the insecurities and contradictions of being a teen coming into manhood. More ►

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F.R.E.S.H. Book Festival

Where: Midtown Cultural and Educational Center, Daytona Beach, FL
When: Saturday, January 11, 2020
What: F.R.E.S.H. Book Festival was developed to assist young inspiring authors with their marketing and to introduce them to veterans of the book business at the festival. Most first time book writers are eager to learn more about the business, and the F.R.E.S.H. Book Festival gives them the opportunity to receive information from other authors, publishers, script writers, and editors.

AALBC’s Founder and Webmaster will be on hand to talk about the Black Book Ecosystem.

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order-now-on-amazon

Why The Relentless Promotion of am*zon Is Bad for Everyone

Everyone knows am*zon sells books, so why do authors and publishers give the multibillion-dollar company free promotion by telling readers to buy their books from am*zon? In the early days of am*zon, there may have been some level of validation when am*zon offered one’s book for sale — sort of like seeing one’s book on the shelf of a prominent bookstore. More ►

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Dear Reader,

It is hard to believe the third decade of the 21st century is about to begin! Thanks to you, Reader, 2019 has been a year of tremendous change and growth for the AALBC. We upgraded our hardware to accommodate a record number of visitors. We began fulfilling book orders ourselves and have helped a record number of authors connect with readers.

Enjoy your friends and family this holiday season and please keep reading. I know I have several titles I’m anxious to start reading.

Peace and Love,
Troy Johnson
Founder & Webmaster, AALBC.com

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Consider sponsoring our eNewsletter or a dedicated mailing.
★ AALBC.com eNewsletter – December 10, 2019 - Issue #2

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