NEW REVIEW!

Title: Is NO Not Clear Enough For You?
Author: Angelia Vernon Menchan
Publisher: M.A.m.m. Productions
Reviewed By: Idrissa Uqdah

Ageless Fiction

What I expected to be a Young Adult title, turned out to be something that was a good read for women of all ages. Is NO Not Clear Enough For You? By Angelia Vernon Menchan is a quick-witted story about young people who are learning the real life lessons while struggling to stay in God’s grace.

The main character, sixteen year-old Malaaka Green is the daughter of a single mother who made some choices early in life that she is determined Malaaka will not repeat. Somewhat estranged from her parents since she became pregnant with Malaaka in her first year of college, Ava Green has done her best to make up for her mistakes. Her parents, from the old Christian school still have not been able to let go of the past and their emotional distance causes Ava a great deal of pain. Although they dote on their grand daughter; the elder Greens can not forgive Ava for what they see as her “fall from Grace”. Ava on the other hand has to learn to forgive herself.

Malaaka is a smart and sassy young woman. She is very focused and obedient with goals and aspirations. Although she is spiritual and very involved in the church; she still knows how to have fun and how to enjoy being a teenager. Malaaka also has a mind of her own and doesn’t bow to peer pressure just to be popular. And that in itself, is what seems to make her so popular and so well loved by teens and adults alike in her community.

This coming of age tale is positive reinforcement without being preachy. The author gives her teen characters a voice and the realism of today’s young people is evident in their actions. Yet; the storyline is full of good advice and mother wit. The adults in the novel are also very real to life and handle the responsibility of mentoring and nurturing the youth of their community in a very practical way.

This is a book that you will want to buy two copies of; one for you and one for your teenager. You will want to share the lessons learned and encourage the young people in your life to reach for their own stars while making sure that they make good choices for their lives.

I found Is NO Not Clear Enough For You? an entertaining read and a refreshing portrayal of an African American community that seriously takes on the adage that It Takes A Village To Raise A Child.

What Readers are Saying...

Mrs. Menchan, after reading your book I had to reevaluate my own spirituality and what I thought being spiritual was all about...Pasch, 18 years of age Sierra Vista, AZ

Every young person and young at heart person should read this book, should be required reading, whether churchgoers are not, Alice, 74 Years young, Ocala, Florida

Is No Not Clear Enough For You touched me deeply...,Violet, 49 Years old, Jacksonville, Florida

Thank you Ms. Menchan for telling the world that a girl can be spiritual, fun, and sassy...we are just people like everyone else, we just try to live better...Sha, Florida

The readers have spoken and are speaking....

IS NO NOT CLEAR ENOUGH FOR YOU?
Ageless Fiction for the enlightened reader!
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Blessings,
Angelia V. Menchan

IS NO NOT CLEAR ENOUGH? - Reviews

Is No Not Clear Enough For You is an excellent book written by Angelia Menchan andpublished by M.A.M.M. Productions. The layout was phenomenal and the cover designedwas very eye catching. I think the title that Angelia chose for her book, Is No Not ClearEnough For You, speaks for itself and everyone can relate to. It is a title and statement thatalot of folks, particularly women say to their child(ren) or students.I really enjoyed reading, Is No Not Clear Enough For You and I highly recommend this book.It is definitely a book that you want to have apart of your collection! Congratulations on anexcellent job well done! Thank you for sharing this book with me! Stay blessed~Five Stars RatingReviewed by Afrika Midnight Asha Abney11-15-07


APOOO: 4.5
Amazon: 4
Title: Say Yes to You
What better way is there to tell your child what you want them to know, without sounding preachy? Leave it to Angelia Vernon Menchan to open their eyes through Is No Not Clear Enough For You?. She will get the task done.
Malaaka Green, a sassy, Christian, sixteen year-old daughter of a single mother, knows what she wants and it is not premarital sex. Her mother, Ava, and her mentor, Mrs. Brown, have taught her to believe in the word of God and to respect herself.
Kim Minton, Malaaka’s best friend, is the total opposite of her. She does not know the power of the word, which will earn her the respect and love from others that she deserves. Being the friend of a confident virgin proves to be very difficult at times for Kim. She does not realize her friend is always her friend and never judging her.
Jerald Jones, Malaaka’s fine, athletic boyfriend, has a big future ahead of him. He tries everything to get Malaaka to go against all she believes.
The cover of this book is a vibrant bright yellow, which reflects the personality of Malaaka. The picture on the cover also reminds me of when I am telling my own children no and pointing in their faces asking, "What part of no do you not understand?" which reminds me of the lessons taught to me by my own mother.
I am concerned about sassiness of the main character but when I think about it, teenage girls are often more likely than not to test their parents with their fresh mouths. Mrs. Menchan has written a book on a level where adults and young adults can relate. I recommend this book to parents of teenage girls, teenage girls, mentors and anyone who finds themselves as a role model to a girl still trying to find her way, especially when it comes to sex.
Jennifer Coissiere
APOOO BookClub
www.apooo.org

IS NO NOT CLEAR ENOUGH FOR YOU?
Available @
www.angeliavmenchan.com
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Blessings,
Angelia

Is No Not Clear - Chapter One

“Malaaka, I don’t know what the big deal is. Jerald really likes you. He's fine. Sex isn’t that big a deal.” Rolling her eyes at her friend Kim, Malaaka stated, “It may not be a big deal for you, but God made my body a temple and I’m not going to casually share it with anyone. If Jerald really likes me, he will understand that. Otherwise he can step and find someone else.”
“Well I would give it to him, otherwise you’ll lose him.”
“Stop me if I’m wrong, but you have given ‘it’ to several and they’re all gone.”
A flicker of pain appeared in Kim’s almond shaped eyes. She was a five-feet-three inch, African-Korean American dynamo. What she didn’t have in size, she made up for with attitude and loudness.
“Whatever…”
Malaaka stared down at her friend, standing to her full five-feet-eight inch regal height. She was an ebony-skinned beauty whose look screamed, “Look but don’t touch.” Reaching over she hugged Kim close to her.
“Girl, I’m not trying to be mean, but I don’t believe in all that. You know I believe in God. I also believe in me. At sixteen I’m not trying to be having sex or getting pregnant. My momma had me at eighteen and it took her ten years to get a college degree and even though we’re doing well, she gave up so much. There’s a long time to be thinking about all that.”
Strolling out to the parking lot the girls were waiting for Malaaka’s mom, Ava. Ava was a paralegal who always took her lunch hour to coincide with the end of the school day. She wanted to ensure Malaaka went straight home after school. Ava had been a good student and church girl but the first guy who said I love you had become Malaaka’s father. She didn’t want that for her daughter.
“Well, I would give it to him.”
“Okay, but not me, when Nancy Reagan said, ‘Just say No’, she meant more than dope.” The giggling teenagers ran to the car. They knew Ava didn’t believe in waiting.

“Hello, old lady.”
“Who’re you calling old, I’m only twice your age.” Ava swung her head around to look at her daughter as they climbed in the backseat. The twosome always rode back there, so they could giggle. The two girls were as different as could be, but had been inseparable for years.
“Ms. Ava you’re twice her age plus almost three. You’re almost thirty-five.” Kim always had to interject her two-cents. “That’s young. My Ma is almost fifty, ugh.”
“Hush Kim or you can walk home.” Giggling the girls knew Ava would never make then walk.
Ava listened to the girls chatter as Yolanda Adams played on the radio. Malaaka was such a good girl. So much more mature than she had been. She couldn’t wait to get out of what she felt was her parents old-fashioned household. Within months she was pregnant, coming home from college with her head down in shame. She could still remember the pain in her parents’ eyes. Jack and Pearl Green had doted on their daughter and had thought by keeping her in the house and in church they would keep her chaste. The fences had been mended but there were still some issues. They both loved Malaaka but wished Ava was married. What they didn’t understand is a celibate woman didn’t get many offers. Since rededicating her life to God five years ago she had been celibate. By the third date the guys would usually move on once she said no, even the church guys. She was glad her parents had made her work and care for her own child, while going to school. The accomplishments had been sweeter. But her accomplishments didn’t make her any less lonely. Sighing she pulled into the subdivision.
“You okay ma…?”
“Yeah baby, I am fine.” Malaaka jumped out of the car, they had already dropped Kim off. Leaning in the window Malaaka kissed her mom’s head.
“Okay, I will see you at six. Take out the chicken breasts. Prepare a salad and I’ll grill them when I get home.” She sat in the driveway until her daughter made it safely inside.
Walking straight to the refrigerator, Malaaka pulled out the chicken, placing it in the sink. Grabbing a handful of cookies she sat down to do her homework. She said a little prayer before she started. Her mom and Nana Pearl had taught her to pray about everything.

“Hello.” Malaaka was lying on her bed. She had prepared the salad and done her homework. She had a few minutes before Ava got home. She couldn’t talk on the phone the first hour her mom was home. That was dinner time and talk time. She could talk from seven until eight-thirty. From eight-thirty until nine they cleaned up together and nine until nine-thirty was bible study. Ten o’clock was bed time. She felt her mom was a little rigid with the rules but that’s just how it was. Ava gave her a lot more freedom than she had been allowed. She could go to movies, listen to secular music, read books that were pre-approved by her mom and since turning sixteen she had been allowed to date. But dinner time, clean up time, and bible study time were engraved in stone.
“Hey baby, do you miss me?” Jerald’s deep voice boomed through the phone. Jerald Jones was the school’s star athlete and an above average student. He'd won a scholarship to play basketball next year at the University of Miami. He would be the first person in his family to go to college. His family had tried to convince him to go straight for the NBA, but Mr. Black, his mentor had talked him out of that. Thank God.

Excerpt

“Jerald, get you hands off me!” Jerking away from him Malaaka was incensed. They had been enjoying the movie and she felt Jerald’s hands touching her, inappropriately. “You got to be kidding me. You’re my girlfriend. I’ve been trying to get with the no sex thing, but if I can’t even touch you what’s a man supposed to do?” He was getting tired of Malaaka’s just say no policy. He knew many girls would just say yes, even her friend Kim. “I’m not kidding with you. I won’t have you pawing on me like that. We’re in a movie theatre and you have no respect for me.” “So, are you saying that if we weren’t in a movie theatre, I could touch you?” “No I’m not, not like that. What I’m saying is I like you, a lot. But I’m a Christian girl and I’m not having sex with you. And I’m not going to do ‘near sex’ either. People kill me doing everything under the sun except having intercourse and saying they aren’t having sex. I will kiss you, and hold hands but we won’t do all of that other stuff. If you want or need that then I’m the wrong girlfriend.” Standing to his full height, he glared down at her. “I guess you are. I’m out.” Shock marred Malaaka’s face as she watched Jerald walk from the theatre. After about five minutes she realized she didn’t have a way home. Tears choked her as she sat there. “He’s not going to manipulate me. I’m not going to do that. I’m not ready for that and if I have to be to have a boyfriend then I just won’t have one.”

IS NO NOT CLEAR ENOUGH FOR YOU?

COMING SOON, ANGELIA VERNON MENCHAN, UNLEASHES HER FIRST YOUNG ADULT, TITLE FOR THE SPIRITUAL, FUN-LOVING AND SURE YOUNG WOMEN!

Sixteen year old Malaaka Green will tell the world, she can't be pigeonholed or stereotyped,
She is spiritual but she has fun...
She likes boys just fine, but she isn't going to do anything she doesn't want to do...
Malaaka owns Malaaka,
Along with Malaaka, you will meet Jerald,
The boy who says he loves her...
Kevin, the young music mastermind...
Her best friend Kim,
Who struggles with being the friend of such a confident young sister,
Her mom, Ava and grandparents, Pearl and Jack...
You will get to see how someone so young can have so much positive influence on those,
She loves and those who love her

'IS NOT NOT CLEAR ENOUGH FOR YOU?" December 1, 2007