Reach Out: FORWARD

In No Laughter Here by Rita Williams-Garcia, best friends Akilah and Victoria find their relationship changed after a summer when Victoria goes through a traditional Nigerian coming-of-age ceremony. But Akilah is determined to find out what happened, and why her best friend now slouches instead of standing tall.

The World Health Organization (WHO) defines female genital mutilation as the range of procedures which involve "the partial or complete removal of the external female genitalia or other injury to the female genital organs whether for cultural or any other non-therapeutic reason." Approximately 138 million women around the world have undergone FGM. Every year, another 2 million girls are at risk of the practice.

To learn more about female genital mutilation, watch this YouTube video. Then visit FORWARD (The Foundation for Women's Health, Research and Development) to find out ways you can help.

No Laughter Here: The Playlist

Every month we ask our featured author to create a playlist to go with the spotlighted book. Check out who's in the mix for our February title, Rita Williams-Garcia's No Laughter Here, and listen to the full soundtrack here.

Corinne Bailey Rae





Jill Scott





Jordan Sparks

A Valentine's Day Book Party!

Sometimes on Valentine's Day, you just want to share some book love. Lucky people who live in the northeast can attend this literary Valentine bookstore event tomorrow (authors signing books! everywhere! go! go!).

Or maybe you want to throw your own book party with friends (also BIG fun).

Here are some festive ideas to celebrate this month's spotlighted read, No Laughter Here by Rita Williams-Garcia:

Invite: A handwritten letter sent in the mail, as letters are so important to Akilah in the book. Decorate the letter and envelope with moons.

Food: Like Akilah and her mother, serve crumpets and raspberry tea.

Décor: Use a dish of pineapple Lifesavers for a centerpiece.

Movies: The Day I'll Never Forget, American Girl: Kit Kittredge (for the "girl power"-ness of it all), Boy in the Striped Pajamas.

Craft: Everyone knit a seven-inch by seven-inch square in shades of pink and red, and then join them together to make a quilt to commemorate “V-Day” to stamp out violence against women and girls.

Rgz LIVE! with Rita Williams-Garcia TONIGHT

Tonight in the readergirlz forum at 6pm PST/9pm EST, we'll be chatting with featured author Rita Williams-Garcia about her awesome, funny, moving and powerful book, No Laughter Here.

Some discussion questions that readers might ponder with this title include:

• At what point do you tell a secret?
• Without getting too personal, what was your worst fall-out with friend? Was it fixable?
• Akilah's mother is open with her about puberty, etc. How comfortable are you with talking to your mother figure?
• What coming-of-age rituals do you find interesting?
• What is it about crushing on your best friend's older sibling?
• Akilah and her mother are so much alike. Anyone dare to admit to similarities with their mother figures?
• What would you do if your culture demanded that you did something that would change you forever?

So come on over and ask your questions, hang out with Rita and the readergirlz divas, and just have fun chatting with other readergirlz! See you tonight.

Upcoming rgz LIVE! with Rita Williams-Garcia

rgz LIVE! is early this month, everyone. Thursday night, February 12th, 6:00 Pacific, at the rgz MySpace group forum. Join us as we talk about No Laughter Here with Rita Williams-Garcia. It's going to be intense, honest, and real.

See you at the forum. Maybe you'll win the book giveaways!

Get to Know Rita Williams-Garcia

We are loving hanging out with featured author Rita Williams-Garcia this month. Here are a few things you should know about what she drinks (chocolate dropping is genius!), where she'd like to travel and her killer legs (and awesome confidence--yay!). Find out more on readergirlz.com, and join us in the forum all month long to chat with Rita about her fantastic book, No Laughter Here.

Favorite drink while you write: Hot, hot coffee - half full-strength, half-decaf with a Hershey's kiss thrown in.

Place to write: Any outdoor bench under the sun.

Inspiration: Fried catfish, nachos with cheese. Can't write hungry.

Dream book tour: To all of the states with 75 degree weather.

Cure for writer's block: Hitting speed bag with boxing gloves

Favorite outfit: Brown Old Navy skirt with gladiator sandals during the summer. Will wear three days in a row. Change top, of course!

Stilettos or Uggs? Stilettos. Killer legs. Thanks, Mom.

Website: www.ritawg.com

Roundtable: readergirlz divas and postergirlz discuss No Laughter Here

February's Pick: No Laughter Here by Rita Williams-Garcia

Help us welcome the amazing Rita Williams-Garcia!

Our February pick is a book that deals with darkness in a very compelling and empowering way. You will stand up and cheer for the heroine--and best friend ever--Akilah.

No Laughter Here by Rita Williams-Garcia

Even though they were born in different countries, Akilah and Victoria are true best friends. But Victoria has been acting strange ever since she returned from Nigeria, where she had a special coming-of-age ceremony. Why does proud Victoria, named for a queen, slouch at her desk and speak in a whisper? Why won't she laugh with Akilah anymore?

When Akilah learns Victoria's terrible secret, she has even more questions - but they might not have answers. Readers will identify with headstrong, outspoken Akilah, whose struggle to understand what's happened to Victoria reveals a painful truth in an honest and accessible way.

And other people like it too:

"[A] richly layered . . . skillfully told, powerful story." - Booklist, starred review

"Eye-opening and grounded . . . Unapologetic, fresh, and painful." - Kirkus, starred review

Texas Tayshas List

One of Booklist's Top 10 Black History Titles for Youth

ALA Best Books for Young Adults

Head over to the forum and start the discussions with us, readergirlz!