Welcome!

Welcome to the Bitter and Sweet book blog project! I first discovered Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet, by Jamie Ford, not at the library or book store, but through research I was conducting on literary agents. I had stumbled across the web site of literary agent, Kristin Nelson of The Nelson Literary Agency. Her agency represents over twenty authors of diverse genres, many of whom write YA novels like the New York Times best selling Ally Carter of the Gallagher Girls series.

Within her web site, Ms. Nelson had posted several query letters from authors she now represents. Query letters are what writers send to agents or editors when they are seeking initial representation...they are written in an attempt to pique an agent/editor's interest in the story. Here's what Jamie Ford had to say in his query letter about his pre-published novel:

"It's the story of the Japanese internment in Seattle, seen through the eyes of a 12-year-old Chinese boy, who is sent to an all-white private school, where he falls in love with a 12-year-old Japanese girl.

But it's more complicated than that. It's a bittersweet tale about racism, commitment, and enduring hope-- a noble, romantic journey set in 1942, and later in 1986 when the belongings of 37 Japanese families were found in the basement of a condemned hotel."

After reading Mr. Fords's description of his book, I was hooked. The basis of the story was one I had never read in a book before, and I was intrigued by the conflict set between these two cultures at a set point in our history. My students know that I'm a "cover girl," a great cover is what first draws me to pick a book up off a shelf...and HOTEL's cover art is absolutely beautiful.

It didn't take me long to get drawn into the story, and by the time I was finished I already knew I wanted to share this wonderful novel with my students. Not only is it about friendship and family, but it's a story about cultures, about acceptance, discrimination and determination. This story offers a great opportunity for students to become familiar with events surrounding Japanese internment...something many 7th graders are unfamiliar with. This story also provides the opportunity to take a deep look at 1. characters- how they change, how they evolve, and how the things they do and say influence others 2. setting- how the micro and macro systems of place and time influence a story.

I hope you enjoy your reading journey through Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet as much as I did, and I'm looking forward to hearing about your thoughts.....