Percy Carey came up in 1970’s and 80’s in Harlem.  In this autobiographical graphic novel, he talks about how as a child he was an extra on Sesame Street, but from there is life goes in a different direction.  Hip-hop was at its beginning and Carey was determined to become an emcee.  He became well known (by the name M.F. Grimm) in hip-hop circles, and can count people like Snoop Dogg, Lady Rage, Suge Knight, Roc Raida, KMD and Tupac Shakur among his friends and acquaintances.  Along with hip-hop came gangs, violence and drugs.  In the opening scene of the book, Grimm tells the story of the gang shooting that kills his brother and paralyses him for the rest of his life.  Along the way he goes to prison, and as one of the few prisoners who can read, becomes an advocate for prisoner’s rights, and finds the determination to change his life.

Sentences is an interesting story that is powerfully drawn.  Carey takes looks at his mistakes head-on without shying away from the violence, while still allowing the reader to be proud of his accomplishments.  Anyone interested in hip-hop and rap will want to read this book, but be warned— the violence, though not very graphically depicted, is there, as are drugs.  The language is pretty rough, with lots of profanity, which is what you’d expect from a hip-hop artist/former gang member.  It is the story of the beginning of hip-hop from someone who was there, and who is willing to talk about both the good and the bad without apology.   

If you like Sentences, you might also be interested in:

50 x 50: 50 Cent in His Own Words by 50 Cent

The Way I Am by Eminem

Born in the Bronx: A Visual Record of the Early Days of Hip-Hop by Johan Kugelberg et al.

Chess Rumble by Greg Neri

Street Scene: How to Draw Graffiti-style by John Lee
 

If you're looking for a book to read or recommend and all that's coming to mind are "classic" youth and YA books, here are some contemporary books that you might like!

Tempo Change by Barbara Hall

Tempo Change was a very good book even though it took time to read and understand. The main character has very complex thinking. It's about a high school girl name Blair Kelly and though her classmates don't know it, she's related to an indie rock icon. That icon left her mother and her when she was very young. She never played music and used the word artist as a deadly punishment instead of an admirable character. She was a musical critic for the school newspaper. She was a poet in secret and wrote amazing lyrics. She decides to form a band and gets some of the most unlikely people to join her for the ride. They make an amazing team and win their talent show and tie in a bigger contest. Then they reach the Meca of music. Coachella. Blair realizes this may be the chance she is waiting for, the chance to see the father she hasn't laid eyes on in almost 13 years.

OMG Saturday is the day we’ve been waiting for!  The DVD! 

We’ll be watching it here in the community room (aka theatre, HUGE screen) at 2:00 on Saturday (21st).  There’s going to be snacks, drinks and did I mention the big screen with surround sound?

One thing though:  This movie is rated PG-13, so the event is for Teens 13+ only.

To get your Twilight fix before the big day, check this stuff out:

Twilight: The Complete Illustrated Movie Companion by Mark Cotta Vaz

Twilight by S. Meyer

New Moon by S. Meyer (or the Audiobook)

Eclipse by S. Meyer (or the Audiobook)

Breaking Dawn by S. Meyer (or the Audiobook)

Stephenie Meyer's non-Twilight book The Host (or the Audiobook)

Lords of Dogtown directed by Catherine Hardwicke (PG-13)

 Harry Potter: Goblet of Fire & Order of the Phoenix for some Robert Pattinson as Cedric Diggory

Image courtesy of flickr user i_heart_him