Renée Watson

2018 Newbery Honor Book and Coretta Scott King Author Award Winner 'Important and deeply moving' JOHN GREEN 'Timely and timeless' JACQUELINE WOODSON Jade is a girl striving for success in a world that seems like it's trying to break her. She knows she needs to take every opportunity that comes her way. And she has: every day Jade rides the bus away from her friends to a private school where she feels like an outsider, but where she has plenty of opportunities. But some opportunities Jade could do without, like the mentor programme for 'at-risk' girls. Just because her mentor is black doesn't mean she understands where Jade is coming from. Why is Jade always seen as someone to fix? But with a college scholarship promised at the end of it, how can Jade say no? Jade feels like her life is made up of hundreds of conflicting pieces. Will it ever fit together? Will she ever find her place in the world? More than anything, Jade just wants the opportunity to be real, to make a difference. NPR's Best Books of 2017 A 2017 New York Public Library Best Teen Book of the Year Chicago Public Library's Best Books of 2017 A School Library Journal Best Book of 2017 Kirkus Reviews' Best Teen Books of 2017 2018 Josette Frank Award Winner

Piecing Me Together

Sarah Sammis

Piecing Me Together by Renée Watson is set in Portland, Oregon. It's told from the perspective of Jade, a Black teen who is coming into her own as a collage artist. She has grown up believing she has to escape her neighborhood if she is to make anything of her life. That means going across town to a better school, going abroad in school, so she can later get a scholarship to a college. 

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A timely and powerful story about a teen girl striving for success in a world that too often seems like it's trying to break her.

Patricia Nelson

I picked this up as part of an online book club, and I'm so glad I did. It is beautifully written. It is also a book that will continue to sit with me as I think through my reactions to current events and attitudes toward those around me. My words don't do justice to the book. Just read it.

2018 Newbery Honor and Coretta Scott King Author Award Winner "Timely and timeless." --Jacqueline Woodson "Important and deeply moving." --John Green Acclaimed author Renee Watson offers a powerful story about a girl striving for success in a world that too often seems like it's trying to break her. Jade believes she must get out of her poor neighborhood if she's ever going to succeed. Her mother tells her to take advantage of every opportunity that comes her way. And Jade has: every day she rides the bus away from her friends and to the private school where she feels like an outsider, but where she has plenty of opportunities. But some opportunities she doesn't really welcome, like an invitation to join Women to Women, a mentorship program for "at-risk" girls. Just because her mentor is black and graduated from the same high school doesn't mean she understands where Jade is coming from. She's tired of being singled out as someone who needs help, someone people want to fix. Jade wants to speak, to create, to express her joys and sorrows, her pain and her hope. Maybe there are some things she could show other women about understanding the world and finding ways to be real, to make a difference. NPR's Best Books of 2017 A 2017 New York Public Library Best Teen Book of the Year Chicago Public Library's Best Books of 2017 A School Library Journal Best Book of 2017 Kirkus Reviews' Best Teen Books of 2017 2018 Josette Frank Award Winner

elizabeth church

This book was beautifully written. Displaying important social issues and matters, while being accessible to younger ages as well. I think that is the most important thing about this book. The fact that such social matters are actively being presented to all ages is so important. Furthermore, making them fun to read as well! I thought this book was a great representation of the social matters at hand and I loved it from the beginning.

Alexa Jade

This book opened my eyes to things I had never considered before. I loved it so much.

Elizabeth Garza

Woof, this book pulls no punches, but it's not out to get you. It's out to show you an experience you may or may not relate to, to show you how you don't need to scream and kick to be heard but you do have to speak up. This book is there to be your friend and help you work through stuff but not coddle you. Tough love, but in the best kind of ways.

Jelke Lenaerts

This book has content warnings for racism, classism, racial profiling and police brutality.

This was a great book and I would highly recommend it. It's very slice of life and doesn't really have a big plot throughout the novel but it really worked. I really loved our main character. I love whenever main characters have like a hobby they're passionate about and Jade actually had a couple of things like that and I liked how those things played a part into the narrative. The side characters were also great. I liked how they were really well developed as well and were very nuanced. Lately I've just been reading a lot of books with one dimensional side characters and that really wasn't the case in this book. I really love the developement our main character went through and her learning how to stand up for herself. That's a journey a lot of teens have to go through and I just found it nice that this book was basically Jade learning to do that. It also discusses a lot of different issues, especially concerning on racism and classism and how the two co-exist a lot. The writing is also pretty easy and it's a very quick read so I would highly recommend this for every teen to read.

Jeni Enjaian

I absolutely loved this book. Watson creates a real, relatable character, a character that anyone can relate to no matter their gender, race, or ethnicity. Jade's selective silence, speaking only when she really feels like it will make a difference, resonated strongly with me. Often as a young adult, I stayed silent, my head full of thoughts and opinions that I expressed rarely. I also empathized with Jade's ardent love of the Spanish language. At the same time, as a white woman, I obviously do not empathize with the racism Jade faces in all shapes and sizes throughout the book. I found it illuminating though as told in Jade's highly relatable voice. Watson's characterization of Jade allowed me to see the world through Jade's eyes and have my own eyes opened even more.

I highly recommend this book to everyone.

"Timely and timeless." --Jacqueline Woodson"Important and deeply moving." --John GreenAcclaimed author Renee Watson offers a powerful story about a girl striving for success in a world that too often seems like it's trying to break her.Jade believes she must get out of her poor neighborhood if she's ever going to succeed. Her mother tells her to take advantage of every opportunity that comes her way. And Jade has: every day she rides the bus away from her friends and to the private school where she feels like an outsider, but where she has plenty of opportunities. But some opportunities she doesn't really welcome, like an invitation to join Women to Women, a mentorship program for "at-risk" girls. Just because her mentor is black and graduated from the same high school doesn't mean she understands where Jade is coming from. She's tired of being singled out as someone who needs help, someone people want to fix. Jade wants to speak, to create, to express her joys and sorrows, her pain and her hope. Maybe there are some things she could show other women about understanding the world and finding ways to be real, to make a difference.A 2017 New York Public Library Best Teen Book of the YearA School Library Journal Best Book of 2017, Young Adult

Megan

3.5. Really enjoyed this but I feel that there wasn't much of a plot? I love Renee Watson's writing though so I can't wait to read more of their stuff!!!

Kate

Piecing Me Together was beautifully, almost lyrically, written. It was powerful, honest and contained so many important messages that need to be said. If you’re looking for a short read that packs a punch, this is one I’d definitely recommend.