Watch Us Rise

Reviews

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! 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. Timely, thought-provoking, and powerful. Watch Us Rise is an immediate young adult classic. 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. 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. 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. 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 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. 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. Readers will be inspired by this story in which teens have the conviction and power to change and make their world better. The girls’ movement is compelling and meaningful . . . and their poetry and prose are polished and powerful. 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. 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. 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 An important and deeply moving novel. Highly recommended. 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. Teeming with compassion and insight, Watson’s story trumpets the power of artistic expression to re-envision and change the world. A timely, nuanced, and unforgettable story about the power of art, community, and friendship. This unique and thought-provoking title offers a nuanced meditation on race, privilege, and intersectionality. 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.' 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. Watson paints a thoughtful, powerful picture of the complications of contemporary African-American experience, especially when it rubs up against the hipster middle class. Expand reviews