Welcome to Litsy!

Jade is a teen growing into adulthood and finding self amidst the challenges of being a black scholarship student at a prestigious high school. Jade lives with her hardworking grounded mother and young uncle E.J. The struggles of not fitting in and growing up are beautifully portrayed in this novel. A 4 �� pick for this one.

I really didn‘t expect to like this book as much as I did! True, it was serious and pretty heavy- handed, but the characters leapt off the page. They were vivid and sympathetic- this really is essential reading for teens.

Last book for this week's homework! I really should've done some of this over spring break, yeesh. 😮�💨

#CuriousCovers @AlwaysBeenaLoverofBooks @Eggs

This book was such a great read. I love this cocer too ðŸ˜� The main character is an artist who makes collages, so this cover is very fitting. #LittenListen @aperfectmjk

Fans of Jacqueline Woodson should try this one. It reminded me of her books with the empowering, lyrical writing.

I was drawn to this one because of the cover. 💚 and I fell in love with it because of the writing. This story explores growing up poor, dealing with racism, and just trying to do the right thing in a world that judges you on the color of your skin.

#BookSpinBingo @TheAromaofBooks #LittenListen @aperfectmjk

Loved this so much � Can't believe I only came across this book because I needed a book set in Oregon. Jade was just fab!
#ReadingUSA2020 #Oregon (49th state)

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“I think about this as a ride to school. How I am someone‘s answered prayer but also someone‘s deferred dream.â€�

“Traveling changes you. It open to up in ways you never imagined and makes you appreciate home.�

“I don‘t know what‘s worse. Being mistreated because of the color of your skin, your size, or having to prove that it really happened.â€�

These are the type of books that make me love reading, that can make me examine myself and try to learn from someone else‘s perspective. I found myself siding with Jade‘s friend, Sam as she (like myself) will never know what it feels like to be in Jade‘s shoes. But then, I realized this is part of the problem. This is where I can learn and do better. I loved this book, it was absolutely engrossing!

Piecing Me Together by Renee Watson 4/5��
This is the story of Jade, a high school student striving to make the best of her situations. I‘d never heard about this book until I saw a list of Newberry awards at my local library - it‘s not overall dark or dramatic but it‘s a great read about race, rights, friendship, and real struggles of teens in our time.

#ya #contemporaryfiction #family #comingofage #corettascottkingaward #newberryaward

This is a wonderful story about a young black girl who faces in fights against stereotypes, micro-aggressions, & negative perceptions of poverty. It beautifully interweaves her journey of finding her voice to not only stand up for herself and what is right but to ask for the opportunities that she wants, as she finds her place in the world. This was beautifully written and expertly told. I have not been so hooked on a book for a long time.

I love this book.

#YAApril book 10

There‘s so many amazing young adult covers! Here‘s one of my favorites which I‘m #currentlyreading for #YAApril.

#CoverCrush

Jade comes from a low income neighborhood but goes to an elite school from being granted a scholarship. In this book you deal with life, family, friends and just trying to figure out herself and what she really wants out of this world. Sometimes just to be seen as a person and not by the color of her skin. A super fun quick read.

#QuotsyJan20 #quilt

“Our bodies a quilt that tells stories of the middle passage, of roots yanked and replanted.
Our bodies a mosaic of languages forgotten, of freedom songs and moaned prayers.�
—From Black Girls Rising by Lee Lee Simmons

From a poem written by a character in the tagged YA book which I recently bought as a Kindle Deal. I hope to get to it soon.💜

This book is as close to perfect in terms of adding to one's classroom library. A negative with a lot of BLM books is that my white colleagues will say that it makes them feel guilty, angry, etc, so they shut off and don't really get anything out of it. Watson does an excellent job at giving a window into what many of our students may be experiencing in language that is clear and detailed and embraces the reader.

#day5 of #7days7covers - @TrishB - have you played yet? 7 covers for 7 days without explanations.

US Kindle Deal: I really enjoyed this short YA novel. The characters have fresh and unique voices. I don‘t recall it being whiny or unduly teen angsty, which is a turnoff for me.

Please read this beautiful book. Renee Watson did such a great job showing how a young girl of color changes from a quiet person, who lets events happen, to a powerful woman who MAKES her own opportunities. Just powerful!!

I wonder how a people's culture, a people's history, becomes a mascot.

I have always wondered too.

Here‘s the collage...lots of quotes in it. Not sure if it‘ll make sense to anyone else, but was fun for me.

THE best. I so needed this book. You know when G-d gives you the right thing to read at the right time? It‘s the best. Felt like He was talking to me through certain “Golden Linesâ€� in this book. Love love loved it. Very strongly considering teaching it to my seventh graders this year. Also, definitely inspired me to make a collage. Will post it when I‘m finished, if I‘m brave enough...Thank you, Ms. Watson, thank you.

Outstanding YA novel about a young woman straddling two worlds and trying to prove that she is capable of giving help to others, not just receiving help. Deals with racism, friendship and learning to self-advocate. https://cannonballread.com/2019/06/piecing-me-together-elcicco/

This was a beautiful and insightful book full of feeling. I was sucked into the story immediately. The world Jade lives in is compelling and real and made me rage against the injustice she experienced so casually every day. Just an overall worthwhile read.

[Pic: Oak leaves at the nature preserve near my house!]
I thought this book was perfect. I appreciated the threads throughout the book about persistence, self-advocacy, listening, and meeting the needs of the people you love in the way they ask you to meet those needs. I loved the way that Jade challenged the world around her and the perceptions and actions of her friends, family, and mentor.
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Geez, this book is such a heavy hitter... Beautiful. #corettascottkingaward #beanstackchallenge

The story is reflection on stereotypes and prejudices of today‘s society, and Jade, black, young, growing girl, is confronted with all of them.
I have to say that the reading of YA literature is very unsatisfying experience for me, I‘m always left with the craving for more, deeper digging into themes ... so, because of that just three â­�ï¸� from me.

#booked2019 #DiverseMiddleGrade
#ReadingWomenChallenge #YAbookByAwoc

A good story, easy to read. Enjoyed. I also liked the integration of Spanish, since it was a main interest of the character and how the cover was chapter 15 and also her art.

On the enjoyment of learning Spanish

Chapter one complete, and I‘m hooked in...

Everytime I read this book it hits me right in the feels. It is the kind of book you start and don't put down until you are finished. The audiobook narration is also wonderful.

Pretty good. Quick easy read. Liked the first 2/3 more than the last 1/3. I give the book a B-

This book is so amazing. White people need to read this. Jade, a black teen girl, has a lot to tell you about her life and we all need to hear it.

This book. I found Jade so empathetic, & this whole book hit me so deep. I occasionally just marked whole pages in my Kindle.
Watson makes a point that girls & women like Jade who are just normal hard workers playing by the rules often don't speak up for themselves - whether for lack of knowledge or opportunity. Jade experiences both, and needs to learn how to manage those situations.
I read the whole thing in a single day. Loved it.

Similar to The Hate U Give but, in my opinion better. I cared so much about Jade and loved watching her grow and develop throughout the book. Watson was able to pull the reader into Jade‘s world and not let go. When you get to the end of the book and you think, “that‘s it?â€� It‘s a good book. Read it.

Gentle, yet penetrating, because of the nuanced layers touching on timely social & political issues. I was made aware of a Portland, Oregon that I hadn‘t known before, seen through the eyes of 16-year-old Jade. She is a collage artist with “coal skin & hula-hoop hips.â€� Refreshingly, her size is never an issue in the YA sense, & also there‘s no romance to clutter the story. Two adults in her life are also fleshed out & authentic women. Excellent!

Things That Are Black and Beautiful:

A Starless Night Sky
Storm Clouds
Onyx
Clarinets
Ink
Panthers
Black Swans
Afro Puffs
Michelle Obama

Me

“They look like if you walk up to the paintings and say hello, they will say hi back to you. They look like regal queens but also like my next-door neighbours.�

—Main character, on seeing a Kehinde Wiley exhibition. (Above image is detail from one of Wiley‘s paintings.)

This novel about a teenaged collage artist had me googling references to real-life African American collage artists like Mickalene Thomas (see image above) and Romare Bearden.

Honestly and artfully done ♥�

Serendipity: concurrent books with charitable organizations in them called Woman to Woman.

Loved it!

#goodtogether #septemberdanes
A good Y/A read ��

I'm on a long-term quest to read all of the Newbery books. Every year, I read a decade of winners (this year it was the 1970s), one year's Honor books (2014, this year) and the current year's winner and Honor books. This is my last book to accomplish all of those goals this year!