Publishers Weekly
03/20/2023
Plans to turn a plantation into a wedding venue force a Black teen to confront loss while fighting racism in this moving novel by McWilliams (Mirror Girls). Harriet Douglass is passionate about highlighting the legacy of Westwood, a museum in Louisiana focusing on enslaved people’s history, which her mother curated up until her death from cancer. When Harriet discovers that the Belle Grove plantation next door has been bought by white soap opera star Claudia Hartwell to host celebrity nuptials, Harriet determines to prevent it from becoming a party venue. Claudia’s daughter, Layla, a popular online influencer, shares in Harriet’s disappointment about her mother’s plans and—despite Harriet’s original mistrust and Layla’s initial microaggressions—the pair work together to “cancel Belle Grove,” developing genuine friendship along the way. Meanwhile, Harriet’s private struggles regulating strong emotions; managing romantic feelings for a childhood friend; and navigating her father’s grief are exacerbated by her school’s intention to host prom at Belle Grove. McWilliams pens a touching story about grief, compassion for one’s ancestors, and one teen’s pursuit of justice in this thoughtfully rendered telling, which interrogates the romanticization of Black pain and the pros and cons of social media activism. Ages 12–up. Agent: Michael Bourret, Dystel, Goderich & Bourret. (May)
From the Publisher
"McWilliams’ portrayal of grief is well written and appropriately nuanced; readers will feel angry and sad and will cheer for Harriet all at the same time. The book’s confrontation of the romanticization of plantations and present-day medical neglect of the Black community is not only important, but necessary. An emotional exploration of the continued impact America’s racist history has on contemporary society."
—Kirkus
"A well-written, insightful, and emotional look at healing, stewardship, action, shame, and traumatic grief. A powerful, unflinching look at the hard truths of the legacy of slavery, mental health issues, and the connection between medical neglect and racism."—SLJ
"A well-rounded story, well characterized with snappy dialogue and moments of levity and romance."—Booklist, starred
"A moving story about sisterhood and perseverance in the face of a society that tells Black girls they are worthless."—Booklist
"McWilliams stuns with this well-told, honest story that peels apart the legacy of slavery to examine the undeniable connection from past horrors and trauma to present oppression and violence, in obvious and less obvious forms."—BCCB, starred review
"McWilliams pens a touching story about grief, compassion for one’s ancestors, and one teen’s pursuit of justice in this thoughtfully rendered telling, which interrogates the romanticization of Black pain and the pros and cons of social media activism."—Publishers Weekly
"McWilliams is an expert at character building, and Harriet is a wonderful and welcome addition to YA."—Buzzfeed News
School Library Journal
08/01/2023
Gr 8 Up—A white soap opera star purchases a Louisiana planation with plans to turn it into an event venue, spurring a neighboring Black teen out of her grief shell and into righteous indignation and action. Harriet Douglass is heading into senior year and reeling from her mother's death from cancer. She lives with her depressed father, a historian, and busies herself working at her family's museum, which honors and centers the narratives of the enslaved. Though she's been working on grounding techniques and coping skills through talk therapy to help with her complex PTSD, Harriet's anger and sadness overwhelm her, sometimes giving her amnesiac events fueled by what she thinks of as her "rage monster." The plantation next door becoming a place to hold weddings and proms (where guests can enjoy the romanticized "antebellum aesthetic") is the last straw. Harriet teams up with Layla, an influencer and neighboring soap star Claudia's rather fickle daughter, for sabotage through social media activism. Layla and Harriet, with the allyship of classmates and childhood-friend-turned-maybe-boyfriend, Dawn, hope to get Claudia and her plantation canceled. As she works with her community, Harriet realizes she's not nearly as alone as she has felt. Though secondary characters are not nearly as richly developed as the impassioned Harriet, this is a well-written, insightful, and emotional look at healing, stewardship, action, shame, and traumatic grief. VERDICT A powerful, unflinching look at the hard truths of the legacy of slavery, mental health issues, and the connection between medical neglect and racism.—Amanda MacGregor
Kirkus Reviews
2023-02-25
High school senior Harriet Douglass lives on a former plantation in Louisiana.
Westwood is an outlier in the area, not only because it is owned by Black people, but also because it’s not a bed-and-breakfast: Harriet and her parents moved to the former sugar cane plantation when she was 9 and restored it into a museum honoring the enslaved people who lived and worked there. Harriet loves being a tour guide teaching visitors the hard truth about Westwood, even when the weight of its tragic history takes an emotional toll on her. Since her mom’s death from cancer, Harriet has also had trouble regulating her emotions, and when her “rage monster” shows up, she blacks out and loses control. Her temper has led her to distance herself even from those closest to her, but when a White actor buys the plantation next door—turning it into a wedding venue—Harriet needs help from friends. First, a celebrity wedding is scheduled and then her prom is booked there. Harriet decides to use social media to fight back and spread the truth about plantations. McWilliams’ portrayal of grief is well written and appropriately nuanced; readers will feel angry and sad and will cheer for Harriet all at the same time. The book’s confrontation of the romanticization of plantations and present-day medical neglect of the Black community is not only important, but necessary.
An emotional exploration of the continued impact America’s racist history has on contemporary society. (author’s note) (Fiction. 12-18)
