February: Roundup of Discussions

Just in case you missed any of the great discussion with Sharon, check out these links and drop your comment!

February Newsflash
Welcome to Sharon!
Things to Know About Sharon

Reach Out: Haiti Relief
Copper Sun Playlist
postergirlz recommends
rgz LIVE!
Chat Wrap
Party it Up: Book Club Ideas

Discussions...
Can you imagine being sold?
What does family strength mean to you?
Post of Awesome by Sharon
Is anyone pure evil?

Why are evil characters so appealing?

Have you ever felt trapped?

What keeps oppressed peoples from fighting back?
What freedom would you miss most?
The importance of your history

Thank You, Sharon Draper!

Here's a big DANKE to the very thoughtful and inspiring Sharon Draper for joining us at readergirlz this month!

We loved hearing stories from Sharon and learning more about the research and themes behind Copper Sun.

Some highlights:

Sharon's Post of Awesome about family.

How Sharon got the strength to write the scene when Amari is sold (details in the comments).

The why-evil-characters-appeal-to-us discussion, started by Sharon's insightful commentary.

We've so loved having you here this month. Thank you, Sharon!

February: The Importance of Your History

From the day you were born to today is your personal history, and it is important. You learned, you made mistakes, and you grew. Why is it important to know your own history? Why can't the past simply be ignored?

Party It Up: Copper Sun

Planning your own book group/get-together for Copper Sun? Here are some party ideas from author Sharon Draper.

Invite: Use Kente designs.

Attire: Dress in authentic African outfits.

Food: Red Red, also called Doh-doh-chie (cooked plaintain with red sauce), tatale (Ghanaian plantain cakes), and chocolate

Décor: Use African Kente cloth (shown).

Movies: Amistad, Roots, Follow the North Star

February: Freedom

In Copper Sun, Amari has no freedom. What freedoms would you most miss if you were to lose yours?

February: Is the History of Slavery Important?

A student recently said, "I don't care about slavery. That happened a long time ago, and I don't want to think about it in my life today. It is no longer important." What do you think about that statement? Tell why you agree or disagree. What would you tell that student if you had the chance to have a conversation?

February: Chat Wrap by JenFW

Check out the lovely wrap up of last night's chat with JenFW. Here's just the opening of her post...

"Last night was the live readergirlz chat with Sharon M. Draper, author of Copper Sun, this month’s featured book.

I love the readergirlz chats, so much so that I’ve decided to attend even when I haven’t yet read the book–I am severely book-acquisition challenged, as you know. Hearing the author discuss his/her book, research (Sharon made three trips to Africa), the writing process (she gets up at 4 a.m., too), and what she craves for dinner (teriaki chicken) is always the highlight, but there’s more."

Click here to read the rest. Thanks, Jen! Oooo, could this turn into a monthly feature? You can read the full chat transcript here.

rgz LIVE! with Sharon Draper

Welcome to the readergirlz LIVE! chat with Sharon Draper! We're super excited to have her visit, and the chat will start at the top of the hour--make sure you're here!

February: postergirlz recommends

Don't forget to check out the postergirlz recommended reads for Copper Sun, rgz! Do you have a fav?



Fiction
Chains by Laurie Halse Anderson
Day of Tears by Julius Lester
Touching Snow by M. Sindy Felin
Chanda's Wars by Allan Stratton

Non Fiction
The Bite of Mango by Mariatu Kamara with Susan McClelland

Happy Black History Month!

rgz LIVE! chat with Sharon M. Draper tonight!

Tonight, here at the readergirlz blog at 6 p.m. PST/9 p.m. EST, join us while we chat with COPPER SUN author Sharon M. Draper. Here's a little hint of Sharon's ability to draw us into Amari's world:

In spite of the heat, Amari trembled. The buyers of slaves had arrived. She and the other women were stripped naked. Amari bit her lip, determined not to cry. But she couldn't stop herself from screaming out as her arms were wrenched behind her back and tied. A searing pain shot up through her shoulders. A white man clamped shackles on her ankles, rubbing his hands up her legs as he did. Amari tensed and tried to jerk away, but the chains were too tight. She could not hold back the tears. It was the summer of her fifteenth year, and this day, she wanted to die.

We hope to see you tonight.

February: What Keeps Oppressed Peoples From Fighting Back?

Featured author Sharon Draper asks, "In the time of Copper Sun, Why didn't more slaves rise up and protest or fight back? What social and cultural pieces were in place to prevent it?"

More to think about: Are these or other social and cultural pieces still in place today for any group of people?

We Are The World 25 for Haiti

Twenty five years after the first "We Are The World" song released for relief efforts in Africa, a new generation records the song to aid disaster relief in Haiti. Here's the official video:




This month, our spotlight Community Service at readergirlz is on The International Red Cross's Haiti Relief and Development. So check out the song, and consider offering your support!

February: Have you ever felt trapped?

In Copper Sun, Mrs. Derby is the lovely young wife of plantation owner Mr. Derby. She is not in love with him, and in a way, she's almost like a slave herself.

Have you ever felt trapped in a place or a situation that didn't fit you? How were you able to free yourself from it?

February: Why are Evil Characters so Appealing?

In our last discussion on whether there's such a thing as a purely evil person, featured author Sharon Draper raised this question:

Why are evil characters so much more interesting that characters who smile all the time and never break the rules?

What do you think, readergirlz?

February Reach Out: Haiti Relief and Development

On January 12th, 2010, a 7.0-magnitude earthquake struck Haiti. The devastation was immense, made worse with every aftershock. The number of persons killed, injured, or displaced continues to rise.

Many service organizations are providing relief, and they need your assistance. The International Red Cross has multiple ways to donate funds or other means of support. If you go to the donation page at their website, you will see these options, one of which is Haiti Relief and Development. You may also contribute to their Disaster Relief Fund or learn how to get involved with Your Local Red Cross Chapter. You may donate in honor or memory of someone special instead of or in addition to your own name.

Zynga, the company which created and runs well-known online games such as FarmVille and Mafia Wars, has taken note of the impact of social gaming, stating at their website, "We are thrilled to be able to offer our players the opportunity to be part of change in a way that can represent positive contributions to human kind." Three of their top games are participating in a special relief campaign to help earthquake survivors in Haiti, donating 100 percent of the proceeds raised by online users to the World Food Programme (WFP). For more info, please visit zynga.org or email socialchange@zynga.com.

February: Is Anyone Pure Evil?

In Copper Sun, the slave owner who buys Amari gives her as a gift to his son Clay. In his own way, Clay has complicated feelings for Amari. Both he and his father emerge as characters who have layered emotions -- they seem pure evil at times, but show vulnerability in some moments.

Have you come across complex people such as this, in fiction or in reality? Do you think there are people who are just pure evil, or is there always a human side to everyone, somewhere deep down?

February: Post of Awesome by Sharon

In a previous thread, Sharon asked the following, and I didn't want anyone to miss it. Take a stab at an answer and give a shout out to the person who matters so much to you!

Amari found "family," as well as strength, in people she met on her journey.
But what IS family? Your mom and dad? Your brothers and sisters? Grandparents? Aunts and uncles and cousins? Can friends be considered family? What about those you work closely with, like people in the band with you , or on a sports team? What is family when your immediate family is not around?

February: What does the strength of family mean to you?

In Copper Sun, Amari and her parents have a very close and loving relationship, as do Amari and her little brother Kwasi. Later, when she's sold into slavery, the strength of her family -- even though they're gone -- makes a difference in her life and helps her survive. Do you feel that your family's strength has helped you through difficulties? How?

February: Things to Know About Featured Author Sharon Draper

On the nightstand: Wrapped in Rainbows - the biography of Zora Neale Hurston

Favorite library: All of them!

Pets: Dog: Honey, Cat: Miss Kitty

Place to write: Office - at my computer - at 4 AM

Inspiration: Sunshine

Favorite outfit: Jeans and sweats

Laptop or longhand? Laptop

Next up: Out of My Mind (coming in March)

Author idols: Those who write with passion and still answer their emails!

Other YA Novels:
Tears of a Tiger
Forged by Fire
Darkness before Dawn
Romiette and Julio
Double Dutch
The Battle of Jericho
November Blues
Just Another Hero
Out of My Mind

Website: www.sharondraper.com

Read more about Sharon in this month's full issue!

February: Can You Imagine Being Sold?

The very first page of Copper Sun, just before chapter one, tells of a slave sale and how it must feel to be fifteen years old, stripped naked, and standing on the auction block. Imagine the emotions of the girl being sold. How would you feel, or how did you feel just reading this scene?