This stunning book is the story I've been waiting for my whole life; where girls rise up to claim their space with joy and power. I resolve to give a copy to every teenager I know!” —Laurie Halse Anderson, New York Times bestselling and award-winning author of SPEAK and SHOUT
“An extraordinary story of two indomitable spirits, the power of friendship, and what leadership looks like in the hands of young people today, Watch Us Rise is the novel we all need right now.” —Brendan Kiely, New York Times bestselling co-author of ALL AMERICAN BOYS and TRADITION
“Timely, thought-provoking, and powerful. Watch Us Rise is an immediate young adult classic.” —Julie Murphy, New York Times bestselling author of DUMPLIN'
“Watch Us Rise is a source of inspiration on every page and a remarkable story of the power of young people to make a difference. And it's a great read.” —Caroline Kennedy, bestselling author and editor of SHE WALKS IN BEAUTY
“In this hybrid almanac of poetry, narrative and novel, Watson and Haganpiece together the ultimate pictorial of friendship, life, elegy and New York City. Through the eyes of Chelsea and Jasmine we celebrate legacy and cultures, art and diaspora, feminism and home! Read this today. Give it to the young person in your life. It is an instruction manual to freedom and love and voice. It is a triumphant example of how literary arts and poetry intersect in our everyday lives and fortify the marrow of our survival.” —Mahogany L. Browne, author of BLACK GIRL MAGIC and WOKE BABY
“A highly needed work for the #MeToo movement. . . . Watson and Hagan do not disappoint in this powerful story of two girls who take a stand against injustice while learning how to navigate a world that seeks to silence them.” —School Library Journal, starred review
“A manifesto for budding feminists . . . An inspiring look at two strong-willed teens growing into even stronger young women ready to use their voices and take on the world” —Kirkus Reviews, starred review
“This intersectional, layered novel . . . covers a wide breadth of topics-institutionalized racism, how we undermine young women, feminism in the modern age-with a clear message: Girls are going to come out on top.” —Marie Claire
“A complex and socially conscious coming-of-age tale featuring young women of color. . . . It's a message, and a story, that any teen could benefit from and enjoy.” —Publishers Weekly
“Readers will be inspired by this story in which teens have the conviction and power to change and make their world better.” —VOYA
“The girls' movement is compelling and meaningful . . . and their poetry and prose are polished and powerful.” —BCCB
“A refreshingly unapologetic celebration of young women's voices. . . . Readers won't be able to help feeling empowered and uplifted by the end of the novel.” —Booklist Online
“Timely and timeless, Piecing Me Together is a book about the ways young people deal with the hardships and heartbreak of everyday living while remaining whole and true to themselves.” —Jacqueline Woodson, National Book Award-winning author of BROWN GIRL DREAMING on PIECING ME TOGETHER
“Watson, with rhythm and style, somehow gets at the toxicity of sympathy, the unquenchable thirst of fear, and the life-changing power of voice and opportunity, all wrapped up in Jade” —Jason Reynolds, New York Times bestselling and award-winning coauthor of ALL AMERICAN BOYS on PIECING ME TOGETHER
“An important and deeply moving novel. Highly recommended.” —John Green, New York Times bestselling and award-winning author of THE FAULT IN OUR STARS on PIECING ME TOGETHER
“An honest look at how girls stitch together their talents to find their voice and power. Renee Watson is a top-rate storyteller about what impacts young women today.” —Meg Medina, award-winning author of BURN BABY BURN on PIECING ME TOGETHER
“Teeming with compassion and insight, Watson's story trumpets the power of artistic expression to re-envision and change the world.” —starred review, Publishers Weekly on PIECING ME TOGETHER
“A timely, nuanced, and unforgettable story about the power of art, community, and friendship.” —starred review, Kirkus Reviews on PIECING ME TOGETHER
“This unique and thought-provoking title offers a nuanced meditation on race, privilege, and intersectionality.” —starred review, School Library Journal on PIECING ME TOGETHER
“A thoughtful testament to the value of growth and of work, of speaking up and of listening, that will resonate with many readers engaged in 'discovering what we are really capable of.'” —starred review, BCCB on PIECING ME TOGETHER
“Writing with the artfulness and insights of African American teen-lit pioneers Rita Williams-Garcia, Angela Johnson, and Jacqueline Woodson, Watson shows Maya exploring concerns rarely made this accessible . . . essential for all collections.” —starred review, Booklist on THIS SIDE OF HOME
“Watson paints a thoughtful, powerful picture of the complications of contemporary African-American experience, especially when it rubs up against the hipster middle class.” —starred review, BCCB on THIS SIDE OF HOME
12/03/2018
From poet Hagan and the author of Piecing Me Together comes a complex and socially conscious coming-of-age tale featuring young women of color. Jasmine, a plus-size African-American girl with a passion for acting, and her best friend Chelsea, a white girl and budding feminist, attend a social justice–focused high school in Manhattan’s Washington Heights neighborhood. As the two struggle with the racism and sexism that are thriving even in seemingly progressive spaces, they come into their own as young activists pushing back against injustice. The characters are very human in both their passions and their frailties (Jasmine’s struggle to cope with her father’s terminal cancer; Chelsea’s occasional concessions to the same female ideals she rails against), but strong messaging can sometimes bog down the book’s pace as the girls stop everything to educate their parents, teachers, and a crush about institutionalized discrimination. The most important message is actually more subtle than the girls’: by following their convictions, young women have the power to change the world for the better. It’s a message, and a story, that any teen could benefit from and enjoy. Ages 13–up. Author’s agent: Rosemary Stimola, Stimola Literary Studio. Artist’s agent: Cindy Uh, Thompson Literary Agency. (Feb.)
★ 12/01/2018
Gr 8 Up{amp}mdash;A highly needed work for the #MeToo movement. Told from the viewpoints of Chelsea and Jasmine, this thought-provoking novel explores ideas of body-shaming, racial stereotypes, and gender inequality. Chelsea is a poet and Jasmine is a writer and actress. Fed up with their school's lack of acknowledgement of women's rights, they decide to take a stand with their blog, "Write Like A Girl." It catches the attention of many of their fellow classmates and other teens, but causes problems for them with faculty. Will they be able to enlighten their school community or make things worse for themselves? Readers will enjoy the original poems and creative, witty blog entries. The ending will leave teens inspired to make a difference and challenge the status quo. Watson and Hagan do not disappoint in this powerful story of two girls who take a stand against injustice while learning how to navigate a world that seeks to silence them. VERDICT A timely and must-have collaboration for all YA collections{amp}mdash;Cicely Lewis, Meadowcreek High School
★ 2019-01-23
A manifesto for budding feminists.
At the core of this engaging novel are besties Chelsea, who is Irish- and Italian-American and into fashion and beauty, and Jasmine, who is African-American, loves the theater, and pushes back against bias around size ("I don't need your fake compliments, your pity. I know I'm beautiful. Inside and out"). They and their sidekicks, half-Japanese/half-Lebanese Nadine and Puerto Rican Isaac, grow into first-class activists—simultaneously educating their peers and readers. The year gets off to a rocky start at their progressive, social justice-oriented New York City high school: Along with the usual angst many students experience, Jasmine's father is terminally ill with cancer, and after things go badly in both their clubs, Jasmine and Chelsea form a women's rights club which becomes the catalyst for their growth as they explore gender inequality and opportunities for change. This is an inspiring look at two strong-willed teens growing into even stronger young women ready to use their voices and take on the world, imploring budding feminists everywhere to "join the revolution." The book offers a poetic balance of dialogue among the main characters, their peers, and the adults in their lives. The exquisite pacing, which intersperses everyday teen conflicts with weightier issues, demonstrates how teens long to be heard and taken seriously.
A book that seamlessly brings readers along on a journey of impact and empowerment. (resources for young activists, endnotes) (Fiction. 12-18)
