Amazon Trafford Publishing target Category:  Drama Publisher: Trafford ISBN-10:  142512836X Type: Fiction Pages: 349 Copyright: December 31, 2007 ISBN-13: 9781425128364 In THE BLACK COLLEGE SABBATICAL: Fall Quarter, author Tracie E. Christian tells the story of college life at a Historically Black University (HBU). Four young women meet at freshman orientation and become close friends; each of whom has issues that are covered randomly throughout the book The characters are well-defined and manage to linger in your mind in such a way that you will feel they are your friends, too. You will sympathize with Tina being a White student trying to succeed in a Black environment; you will cheer for CeeCee as she learns to overcome her various problems; you will mourn with Kyla as she struggles with two important relationships in her life; and you will ache for Ananda, as she struggles with being an overachiever who is not reaching what she feels is her full potential. In a nod to the new popularity of reality television, books and drama, The Black College Sabbatical is extraordinary in the fact that what happens to its characters is all too ordinary. Readers will be able to follow their heartbreak, their relationships with slimy men and their college experiences and think, "Girl, if you'd only talked to me first I could have already told you that!" This isn't a story of a woman becoming the first female president, or setting off around the world. Readers will thrill at the knowledge that the things these girls accomplish, the dreams they strive for, are all possible (without the help of a fairy godmother or a gigantic bank account). A quick heads up to readers, however; the author liberally sprinkles the girls'expressions with the kind of down home profanity that you'd hear in any college. Other than that, however, I found the book engaging and easy to follow. The Black College Sabbatical does a great job of showing the girls' lives from all angles without leaving the reader scrambling to understand what's going on. Two very enthusiastic thumbs up!   Excerpt *** Welcome to Heritage State Miss Ananda Lolita Harris “Okay darlin’ your room number is 232,” states the middle-aged Resident Director of Giovanni Hall, Ms. Mays as she extends a tagged room key to me. Here I stand, a tall, slender build, fair-skinned, B-boy kind of girl dressed in blue jeans, with a red and white I LOVE NYC t-shirt on and a matching cap turned backwards snatching the key with a less than pleasant look on my face. “Is there anything else I can help you with?” The old bag standing across the desk from me, asks sarcastically. “Yeah, which way is quickest up?” I ask making it obvious how frustrated I am. “Go left from here, down the hall and up the stairs. The even numbers are on the right side of the hall,” instructs the woman without even looking at me. I stomp up the stairs pissed off at the lack of professionalism exhibited on my first day on a college campus. The guidance counselor didn’t warn me of stuff like this. How could they lose my paperwork for housing? I think as I walk almost aimlessly through the hordes of people in the halls. I’m so deep in thought I just tune out the blasting of, Make it Clap by Busta Rhymes coming from the room at the corner. I don’t even see the girl tacking up the bare chest poster of Shemar Moore in the room across from that. However, I can’t help but notice the girl with an ace bandage wrapped around her ankle tongue kissing this tall, muscular, fine, drink of chocolate masculinity like she’s starring in a soft porno flick. Especially since they are in the doorway marked, what else but 232! “Excuse me. I hate to bother you but, this is my room,” I state softly but, again visibly annoyed. “Oh damn. My bad,” says the husky voiced gentleman in between kisses to the girls’ lips twice before stopping to turn his head and give eye contact. “Oops”, says the bow-hipped, thin-waist, short cocoa brown-skinned beauty as she slyly wipes her mouth and adjusts her shirt. “I’m sorry. You must be Ananda,” extending her hand. “I’m Cee-Cee…I mean Cierra Folsom, your roommate and this is my man, Derek.” The girl introduces as she continues to kiss and nibble on the brother’s neck. Shaking each of their hands and smiling, I reply. “Hey, Ananda Harris. Sorry to interrupt so rudely but, I’ve been through some shit these last two hours.” “It’s cool. We were the ones out of order,” Derek says. Eyeing me like a T-bone steak as he removes his girl’s arms from around his waist and slips around to stand conveniently behind his lady. “Damn chill baby.” He urges. “I can’t help it. I’m gonna miss you so much baby,” Cee-Cee says with conviction. Leaning down to kiss her as he maneuvers her body around to face him, Derek replies reassuringly. “I’ll be back this weekend and we’ll get a room to chill alone. Okay?” My roommate nods in agreement as she gazes at this man like he’s a Greek God, hanging on his words like he has the answer for Cancer or some shit. I stand stunned for a moment. Then, I just quickly recover my things and walk on through the doorway wishing I had someone to miss me like that. But I don’t and that sucks. The side of the room nearest to the window is already taken and decorated with a frilly, baby blue satin comforter and white sheets, along with matching curtains. “Damn!” I mistakenly blurt out as I go back in the hallway to retrieve the rest of my luggage, again interrupting the twosome joined at the hips. After squeezing back through the doorway and into my new room, I throw my stuff on the empty bed by the door. “Hey, you guys know where the Financial Aid office is?” I ask hating to interrupt again. Cee-Cee, all wrapped up into slobbing Derek down, barely hears my question until Derek stops abruptly and answers. “It’s on the other side of campus, close to the main entrance. It’s the big glass building I‘m sure you passed on the way to the dorm.” I fish around in my planner through some papers in my purse before shouting. “Here’s my Award Letter! The way they lose shit around here, it’s a wonder anyone actually graduates.” “Well, millions didn’t make it but, I was one of the ones who did,” Derek replies boldly. “Oh yeah? Well, that’s cool my brother. I’m just trying to get where you already are.” I rebut. “But they keep misplacing my paperwork and blaming it on me. It’s a good thing my counselor told me to make multiple copies of everything. I thought she was just tripping at first, but I see now that’s real up in this piece.” I ramble. “Cee-Cee I hope you did that like I told you to, because they will lose your shit. And I hope you’ve been using that ointment on your ankle like the doctor told you to.” Derek states to his lady as she leaves soft, wet kisses on his neck and upper chest. “I’ve got it covered baby,” she insists as she continues her activities. I feel the thickness in my throat swell as I watch the two of them in the doorway going at it with no shame. Coming to the realization that they have no intentions on stopping on my account. I decide to give them a little privacy, but also to alert them that I will be returning. “Well, I’m off to the aid office. I’ll holla at yawl later.” “Umm-hum,” the twosome offer in unison never breaking their lip lock. Wow. Welcome to Heritage State University. I think to myself as I squeeze passed them once again to handle my business.

Raw Sistaz Review
n THE BLACK COLLEGE SABBATICAL: Fall Quarter, author Tracie E. Christian tells the story of college life at a Historically Black University (HBU). Four young women meet at freshman orientation and become close friends; each of whom has issues that are covered randomly throughout the book

The characters are well-defined and manage to linger in your mind in such a way that you will feel they are your friends, too. You will sympathize with Tina being a White student trying to succeed in a Black environment; you will cheer for CeeCee as she learns to overcome her various problems; you will mourn with Kyla as she struggles with two important relationships in her life; and you will ache for Ananda, as she struggles with being an overachiever who is not reaching what she feels is her full potential.

You will care more about each character with every chapter you read, and by the ending cliffhanger, you know that you will be purchasing the next installment, because you have to know what happened to your friends. Christian leaves many problems unsolved, but she does it in such a way that it will lead the reader easily into the next book.

A guardian angel walks the reader through the book, summarizing events in previous chapters, and preparing the reader for the possibility of things to come, without giving away the plot. At the end of Fall Quarter, I still wasn't sure exactly which young woman the angel was assigned to, because she seemed to understand each character intimately and completely.

The supporting male characters in the book are wonderful also; and three of them contribute heavily to the storyline throughout the book. Even the briefly mentioned characters, such as the parents of some of the main characters, are memorable, and leave you with a lasting impression.

Not having attended a HBU myself, I truly enjoyed this glimpse into the magical collegiate world that can only exist at an HBU!! Personal friends who did attend HBUs could relate to passages I shared with them, and commended the author on doing a great job of covering the Black Collegiate experience.

I truly look forward to reading the rest of the books in this series! This one was easy to read, and very hard to put down!!

Reviewed by Rowena Winfrey
for The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers



AMAZON Review
In a nod to the new popularity of reality television, books and drama, The Black College Sabbatical is extraordinary in the fact that what happens to its characters is all too ordinary. Readers will be able to follow their heartbreak, their relationships with slimy men and their college experiences and think, "Girl, if you'd only talked to me first I could have already told you that!"

This isn't a story of a woman becoming the first female president, or setting off around the world. Readers will thrill at the knowledge that the things these girls accomplish, the dreams they strive for, are all possible (without the help of a fairy godmother or a gigantic bank account).

A quick heads up to readers, however; the author liberally sprinkles the girls'expressions with the kind of down home profanity that you'd hear in any college. Other than that, however, I found the book engaging and easy to follow. The Black College Sabbatical does a great job of showing the girls' lives from all angles without leaving the reader scrambling to understand what's going on.

Two very enthusiastic thumbs up!


Ardannyl Review - An Intellectual and Entertaining Read All Wrapped Up Into ONE!
By Ardannyl
March 31, 2009

Discussing a college experience is one thing however,writing about the African American college experience is another! Author, Tracie Christia takes us into the world of four young ladies from totally various backgrounds linked together through fate. As if freshman year on a black college campus is not overwhelming and challenging enough, Kyla, Ananda, Tina, and Cierra all face tribulations that easily amount up to that old saying,"What dose not kill you will definitely makes you stronger." From the deception of lovers to sibling rivalry and deceit,in this juicy read ladies and gentlemen,you get it all! Through her initial literary contribution to the world, Ms. Christian does a terrific job at allowing individuals unaware of the black college experience some eye opening insight and the opportunity for those who attended a historical black institution the opportunity to reminiscence. I hated that the Fall Quarter had to come to an end! However,I'm just anxiously waiting to read Winter Quarter, the 2nd Edition of The Black College Sabbatical. Hats off to you, Ms.Tracie!